Category: Holidays

Changing my Story: I’m Ready for Christmas

Christmas, Musings on Life and Beauty

I hear it every year, busy women asking each other, “Are you ready for Christmas?”  The big question is followed by many responses.

Almost.  I haven’t started shopping.  I just have a few more things to do.  I’m not even close.
What is your answer to the question?  I’ve probably given almost all of them over the years, but this year that conversation is bothering me a little.  So I’ve made a decision and I’m changing my story:  I’m ready for Christmas.


My kids are ready for Christmas.  They’re ready for all of it:  Christmas movies, twinkling lights, the first snowfall, Christmas music on the radio, hot chocolate, Christmas stories.  No matter their age, their hearts are open to the magic of Christmas.  My college student has been watching Hallmark Christmas movies since October – that’s how ready she is.


What it really means is that they’re ready for the feeling of Christmas.  Their hearts are open to the beauty of it all.  The lights went up on the house and it was magic for them.  We chose a tree and it was magic again.  They came home from school to find the stockings hung:  magic.  Oh yes, they’re ready.


For me, and for many adults, the question of being ready for Christmas has become a discussion of our to-do lists instead of a state of being.  It’s about our tasks instead of our hearts, because I think it reveals a tendency to act like the holiday is something we provide.  In truth it’s a gift for our taking as much as for our children.


I turned toward November and December with a heart in need of nourishing and a little healing.  There’s no way to overstate the miraculous and generous ways in which my family has been blessed this year, but there are wounds that came before the miracles and they need binding up.  In many ways, I’ve never needed Christmas more, so I’m coming to the stable with a yearning heart.


As I pondered this difference between myself and my kids, I realized it’s my choice.  The bell can still ring for me at Christmas, the magic is mine for the savoring.  I AM NOT THE GIVER OF CHRISTMAS.  It’s a gift from God himself, in the form of his Son.  To quote Jeffrey R. Holland, “But first and forever there was just a little family, without toys or tinsel, with a baby, that’s how Christmas began.”  And that’s where the power of Christmas really comes from.  The lights and the tinsel won’t bind up my heart.  Christ will.


This is why I’m changing my story,  I’m ready for Christmas.  I’m ready for His love, ready to adore Him, most importantly I’m ready to celebrate what He has done for me.  That feeling, that celebration, is free for the taking, regardless of my to-do list.  My new story starts now, because I’m ready for Christmas in the only place that matters, my heart.  Won’t you join me?

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Holiday Quilts: Giant Hunter’s Star

Christmas, Quilting and Sewing

Last month’s quick holiday quilt tops are now finished and in use.  I waited for our first real snowfall to photograph them, and it was worth it.  I enjoyed making these quilts!  When I wrote my Giant Hunter’s Star pattern , I wrote it with an option for using fat quarters, but I hadn’t made one for myself.


I split a fat quarter bundle of the Alison Glass Holiday collection into two different colorways and made a Giant Hunter’s Star from each stack.


The blue/green/gold colorway is such a pretty combination.  I love the festive feel of both quilts, without them being strictly red and green.


Each quilt is quilted with straight lines in a diagonal crosshatch pattern.  I followed seam lines where I could and used my hera marker to make crease lines for all the others.  It was a relatively fast and simple way to quilt them.


I have two favorite prints in this collection, the Kitschy print (left) and the Crossed print (right), so I chose one of each to use on the backs.


For my binding I used the same print on both quilts because I like the stripe.  It’s called Stripe (surprise, surprise!) and works great as a binding.


Now I’m two quilts closer to my goal of having a Christmas quilt at the foot of every bed this holiday season.  It feels great to finish them up, and they were fast, fun projects.


If you’re looking for a quick quilt to make, this pattern is fast and fun, and available here .

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Lone Star Tree Skirt Sew Along Finish

Christmas, Quilt Alongs, Quilting and Sewing

Here we are, at the end of the Lone Star Tree Skirt Sew Along!  I’m checking in today to share my finished Lone Star Christmas Tree Skirt.  If you’re not finished yet, don’t stress!  There is plenty of time to finish, or start one before the Christmas rush.  Please join us!  The tree skirt pattern is available here .


I finished the binding and tied a pretty bow, and promptly wished for a tree to wrap it around.


Instead, I contented myself with pulling out a few vintage ornaments.


This project has been a fun one for me.  I added black to the mix, tried new things with my quilting, and got comfortable with this view:


It turns out it’s fun to try new things, including staring at a video camera.  (Especially if something pretty, like a finished quilt project, comes of it)

For some reason the ties on this project kind of melt my heart.

No idea why, but they do.


I want to say THANK YOU to all of you who have sewed along with me!  Thanks for your encouragement, your feedback, your questions, your photos, and for purchasing the pattern.


I hope this sew along has made the lone star quilt block less intimidating, and that you’ve enjoyed making one.  Please share your finished Lone Star Tree Skirts with the hashtags #lonestartreeskirt and #hopefulhomemaker because I love seeing them!

Remember that all posts for this project can be found on the Lone Star Tree Skirt Sew Along page.  The videos will remain on my blog for your reference.

Happy Sewing!

Love, Jennifer

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