jennifer, Author at Hopeful Homemaker

Mini HOME Christmas Blocks – with Christmas lights!

November 12, 2024 jennifer Christmas, Quilting and Sewing

After playing so much last month with my moody little HOME blocks (which became this and this), and then making my HOME beach hut pillow cover, I wanted to sew more blocks. I chose a Christmas theme, using the 4″ HOME quilt block size and alternating red and green colors. Now I’ve got a small collection of mini HOME Christmas blocks. And let me tell you, they are CUTE!

Happy sigh. Placed next to each other, I really like the secondary patterns in the corners. This would also be a fun theme to explore in a larger project.

Since these are Christmas houses, I thought they might like to have some little Christmas lights. Why not? The question was, white or colored, and how to do it. I decided to try colors, hoping to play up the candy shop color scheme in these blocks. First I selected six bright colors, and next I got out a ruler to measure the length of the roofline.

I decided that a 1/4″ spacing looked nice, and it allows me to rotate twice through all the colors with the first color on both edges and center top. I marked my lights with Sharpie, making tiny dots that aren’t difficult to cover with a French knot. Let the embroidery stitching begin!

And they are so much fun! I love these blocks with their little lights. Of course I had to keep going until all of them were fully decorated for the holiday.

Once I finished these mini HOME Christmas blocks, I looked at a 6″ Christmas themed block I’d sewn, and figured, why not? Using the same six colors, and the same 1/4″ spacing, I marked more lights and started adding French knots. Naturally we needed another line of them on the second roofline as well. I mean, who doesn’t love Christmas lights?

I’ve discovered my new favorite embellishment for these little blocks. Obviously I need to do something cute with them, like a bunting. I’m thinking more than one something cute, such as ornaments, or even a stocking. Stay tuned for more!

I’m headed back to my sewing machine. Have a great day!

-Jennifer

Collecting Leaves – more oak leaf applique

November 7, 2024 jennifer Quilting and Sewing

This morning on my way home from an appointment, the streets were covered in fallen leaves. Our weather change has been swift, so most of them were still a vivid green. We passed a trampoline covered in a thick blanket of dried leaves and joked about stopping to bounce them all off. I thought of a favorite quote by Albert Camus, “Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” This lovely art print captures that, I think. It’s a season that draws me outdoors much like spring, especially for collecting leaves. But this year, I’m collecting leaves made of fabric.

I now have a half dozen oak leaf applique blocks completed. When I first started my project, I assumed I would use all the pink, red, and orange fabrics on the honey yellow background. When I got started, however, I was drawn to a blue chambray background. I used the chambray recently on my Beach Hut pillow, and liked the contrast.

While I love the chambray, I don’t have much of it, so at first I started shopping online for more. I may regret it, but it didn’t feel right to buy fabric when I have plenty here at home. If I were on a walk through the forest, collecting leaves from the forest floor in various shapes, sizes, and colors, I would just rejoice in whatever I found. So, I decided to take that approach with my fabric. I’ll use what’s on hand. This led me to cut background blocks in another grayish blue and a dark gray. The gray reminds me of my Modern Maples quilt from many years ago.

Matching threads for applique reminded me of the multi-colored matchstick quilting on that quilt. It would be fun to do it again. For now, I have a LOT of applique to do. If I make a full quilt of these blocks, I only need at least…..90 more. Something tells me this won’t be a quick finish. No hand applique project is. I do love the organic feeling of all the hand stitched blocks. It will be worth it!

Time to cut and prep a few more!

Leaning into Gratitude

November 5, 2024 jennifer Musings on Life and Beauty, Thanksgiving, Uncategorized

It feels like anxiety and stress levels are running a little high for many of us, and for a myriad of reasons. Autumn blew in and suddenly today feels like winter, complete with tiny snowflakes swirling in the biting wind. Darkness settles over the day early, making me want to curl up with a book. Yet there is much to do; my calendar is full, so many people around me are struggling, and all of us watch the news in concern. What to do? I’m leaning into gratitude as a powerful tool for staying positive in tricky times.

I found a lovely printable gratitude tree recently which I intended to use at Thanksgiving. Today I changed my mind and printed a couple dozen copies. I think it’s time to use them now, so I’ll be sharing them with family and friends this week. The tree has 16 banners for writing down the blessings we’re grateful for. It also says “Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.” I agree. For many years I have loved the quote from G.K. Chesterton, “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”

So today, instead of worrying, here are just a few things filling me with wonder.

The last of my summer dahlias, cut and on the kitchen table.

One lone bells of Ireland plant in my flowerbed. I’ve tried to grow these for years with no success. Imagine my surprise and delight when a single seed grew this time! I can’t tell you how happy this makes me.

The sound of geese honking overhead, causing me to look up as they fly in formation across the pink-tinged sky at sunset. Against the backdrop of nearby mountains, it’s magical.

Watching one of my children light up with a new-to-them insight, and savoring the smile that comes with it. Small miracles like these remind me it’s amazing that we can keep learning.

Hot pink streaks on the back of fading flower petals. It’s the little things!

Cooking dinner for my family with food we grew in the garden, while savoring the colors, smells, and textures of fresh vegetables.

Slow stitching in the evenings, making steady progress on my applique project.

Studying the shapes and forms around me, because they are an endless source of inspiration and beauty.

What does leaning into gratitude look like for you? Savoring simple joys is, undoubtedly, a healthy practice. So lean a little more. Look for the good. Live in the gain. Do it emphatically, no matter what’s wrong out in the world. We’re going to make it!