Have A Holly Jolly Christmas!

Welcome one and all to my day of Buttermilk Basin's Christmas Joy Blog Hop!  

I'm so glad you came for a little visit!!

As the days are shorter, and the temperatures are getting colder, you can feel the Holidays in the air!  Thanksgiving is just a few days away, and after we take time to count our blessings, Christmas preparations will be in full force!

We've all created projects for your stitching pleasure to ring in the cheer!  Here's my gift to you this holiday season.

Holly Jolly

With a sprig of holly & berries, my Holly Jolly Santa is a pretty quick stitch.  It would be very easy to make a bunch for hand-made gifts this season!  And...there's just nothing better than that.  

Construction is pretty straight forward with the exception of the stitching I added in his beard and hat brim.  (Back to that in a moment.)  You might notice that I use a whip stitch instead of blanket stitch.  For reasons I really don't understand myself, I don't enjoy blanket stitching, and I truly have a love of the needle and just about all stitches, but just don't care for it.  So....I gave myself permission a while ago to do a whip stitch instead, and am very pleased with the results.  

Last year, I learned a really cool technique from my pal, Kathy Cardiff (of Cottage at Cardiff Farms) that I love for adding top stitches to pieces like this.  Allow me to repeat what Kathy taught us all last year on the blog hop.

After all my whip stitches were done, I traced the stem and berries, and Santa's beard wisps, onto Glad Press 'N Seal with a fine point Sharpie marker.  Allow to thoroughly dry.  Press onto the wool where you want to stitch, and stitch right through the plastic wrap!   

All the stitches are right where I wanted them to be!  Then, carefully tear away the plastic wrap.  Perfect!  Easy!!  Love this technique!  Thanks, Kathy for sharing this with us all. 

Click here for a downloadable, printable pattern.

True confession time....I've have not had the time I really wanted to properly finish my Holly Jolly, and so I Photo Shopped a frame around him for now.  Next week, I'll be able to finish him the way I really want to, and I'll share photos once he's all done.  You can make him into a pillow, pinkeep or frame him...whatever you'd like!  What will you do with your Holly Jolly??

The recipe I chose to share is Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms.  This new family favorite was discovered by my daughter, Nicki, and is absolutely delish!!  It's easy,and wonderful, and gone in a hot second, and we are always asked to share the recipe.  I hope you enjoy it sometime during your many holiday get-togethers!  

I also promised to pick a winner for a Fat Eighth bundle from my fabric collections (Marcus Fabrics) from all of the comments I received about my FREE Pocket Patchwork Sew-along called Tucker.  

Ruth is the winner, and she commented....

I love Tucker and can see how leaving the batting out would work well for some displays. I have a box full of 1 1/2" pieces just ready for a project like this. 

Congratulations, Ruth!  Please email me at Pam@HeartspunQuilts.com, and I'll have your bundle on its way to you mucho pronto.

If you'd like to know more about my FREE Pocket Patchwork Sew-Along, Tucker, click here.

Thanks so much for visiting me today, and I wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving, and blessed holiday season.  

Find some time for the stitching that feeds your soul........