Think Christmas!

138 Replies
Treacle Says “Think Christmas”

 

Morning Think Christmas Blog Hoppers and welcome to my day on the Think Christmas Blog Hop.  This is the second hop I have taken part in and had so much fun in the first one, the Red, White & Blue Blog Hop, that when Madame Samm announced this, being hosted by Lesley at The Cuddle Quilter (what a great name for a blog!!!) I had to join in.
I think I was a bit laid back with this hop, the first one I had it all done, prepared and photographed for weeks before and this I thought oh I have loads of time, but I forgot the Boys were going to be at home!!!!!  To say it has been a little rushed is an understatement!
Here goes and I hope you like the block I have chosen.
A Christmas House with an appliqued Snowman
I have seen on a lot of blogs recently these houses being made especially with Homespun fabrics and quite a bit of applique on.  Now this is only my second attempt at applique and it is getting easier each time I do some.
Having enjoyed making this block, I had some more fabric left so :

And I had still more fabric left so :

And more fabric left so :

I now have a Christmas village, well almost!!!!!

 This is what I have done with them  :

I ran out of time to put the binding on but will get it done and then show you a picture!  The blocks are 12 1/2  inches square before the borders.

The brief was to use Red, Green and White fabric and you can see the way I have used them, which I am pleased to say all came from my stash!  Lesley loves Santa’s but I only had snowmen, sorry Lesley!
I really wanted to try making these houses and was pleased to see how easy they are and along with the log cabin blocks I have been making are now one of my favourites.  Again I could do lots of things, I just need more time!!!!!!
I had to put Santa on for Lesley!

 Giveaway

Here is what I am giving away :
A Moda Winter Wonderland Charm Pack by Ingrid for Moda
All you need to do is follow my blog, if you are new, and leave me a comment to say Merry Christmas and to let me know you are a new follower or if you are already a follower just let me know you stopped by.  I will ship Internationally and please make sure you are not a no reply person.  If you are not sure, leave me your email address in your comment.  I will get the Random Number Generator to pick a winner on August 6th, the day after the hop finishes.
Christmas has always been my most favourite time of the year (sorry I don’t like New Year!!!).  When I lived at home we used to go to my maternal Grandparents for Christmas.  We used to leave on December 23rd and spend the whole of Christmas and New Year with them and my Great Grandmother Jones, who lived with them.  It was a lovely family time with lots of preparations for Christmas Day and last minute bits of shopping and craft making.  
My Grandad and Dad would be making sure there was enough logs for the fires over the holiday period, my Grandma and Mom would be getting the food prepared and wonderful puddings and mince pies made and I would be putting the finishing touches to the Christmas trees.  
 
Christmas Eve dinner would be early at 5.00pm and when I was little, scooted off to bed, but it was so difficult to go to sleep as I knew Santa was on the way.  One year I actually heard the sleigh and reindeer land on the roof and the sleigh bells ringing.
 
As I got older I was allowed to help with the preparations and every year before the big day one of my jobs would be to collect the feathers as my Grandma plucked the goose for Christmas dinner.  She had a small sitting room off the kitchen and all the doors and windows were closed and the room would be filled with feathers as she plucked and I had to pick them up, as they were used to fill the new pillows for the sofas.
 
Christmas Day was a magical day, opening presents from Santa in the morning around the Christmas tree in our PJ’s and a light breakfast, with the goose already cooking.  Grandma always made me hot chocolate and the adults had coffee with a tot of rum in, especially if it was really cold!
 
Dinner was always at 2.00pm, after a visit to Church, and then gifts were opened from under the Christmas tree.  In the evening board or card games were played with a light supper being served at about 7.00pm.
 
Boxing Day was a completely relaxed day walking the dogs in the morning and hopefully playing in the snow, if it had snowed.  Lunch was a cold buffet and dinner in the evening was only the adults, usually with friends and other relatives visiting us.  
 
As my Grandparents got older my parents took over the hosting of Christmas, but continued with all the traditions and I helped out more and more.  Sadly it all changed as my Parents and Grandparents died, but I have tried very hard to build our own traditions around Christmas for DH and The Boys.  We don’t have a goose anymore (none of them like it) but we do have turkey or chicken but it does come undressed!!
I hope you have liked a little insight into my childhood Christmases.  Thanks to Madame Samm for suggesting this and to Santa Lesley for hosting and organising us all (hope your back feels better soon Lesley) and Thanks to all of you for visiting my Blog.
 

Merry Christmas!

Don’t forget to visit the other ladies hosting today on Think Christmas Blog Hop.  They are :

Tuesday, July 31 

Susie’s World (You are here)
 

x

138 thoughts on “Think Christmas!”

  1. Susie Q

    Hi Sandi, thanks so much for stopping by. I love getting new followers and meeting new people, even if it is over the web! Really enjoyed making the blocks. Good luck in the Giveaway. Susie x

  3. Susie Q

    Hi Aiah Thank you so much for stopping by, I really enjoyed this Hop and thinking about Christmas already, it will soon be here. Good luck in the Giveaway Susie x

  4. Susie Q

    Hi Cokie K thanks for stopping by and becoming a follower. I loved doing these blocks. Good luck in the Giveaway Susie x

  6. Susie Q

    Hi Linda thanks for stopping by and becoming a follower. Glad you liked the blocks. Good luck in the Giveaway Susie x

  7. Susie Q

    Hi Pam, thanks for your kind words I had great fun making the blocks and planning to do lots more things for Christmas, time now where to get some more! Good luck in the Giveaway Susie x

  8. Susie Q

    Hi Aurea Thanks for stopping by and becoming a follower, the blocks were fun to do. Good luck in the Giveaway Susie x

  14. Susie Q

    Hi Nellie thanks so much for stopping by yes we take on all these projects and then see something else we want to do, time, time!!!! Good luck in the Giveaway Susie x

  15. Susie Q

    Hi Deborah, and welcome from DownUnder!!! Glad you liked the blocks they were so much fun to do. Good luck in the Giveaway Susie x

  16. Susie Q

    Hi Wanda Thanks so much for stopping by and becoming a follower. Treacle is a real character. Good luck in the Giveaway. Susie x

  17. Vicki

    Hi Susie, I have joined your site also. I really enjoyed reading about your childhood Christmases. I think tradition is so very important in family life whether it is an old tradition or a new one you create with your own family. Vicki vickilorraine at hotmail dot com

  18. Susie Q

    Hi Vicki Thanks for stopping by and becoming a follower. Love Christmas and everything that goes with it, even the shopping! Good luck in the Giveaway Susie x

  19. Linda in Calif.

    I'm new to your blog. I'm happy to have found you as your blog is very entertaining. (I'm a new follower) Those boys in your header are so darn cute! I did enjoy the your childhood Christmas stories. Christmas traditions do change and people pass on, & I'm like you, I try to keep some of the traditions and make new ones that work better for the family. Love the little houses in Christmas fabrics!

  20. Sheila

    Your house blocks are lovely and look wonderful all sewn together into this topper .I am a new follower and enjoyed my visit today . Thanks for sharing 🙂

  21. quiltmom

    I love house blocks- they are always so fun – your wallhanging will look great at Christmastime.
    Thanks for participating in the blog hop.
    Regards from western Canada,
    Anna

  22. maggie

    I just love your blocks, they are so cheery, so an early Merry Christmas to you! Thanks for sharing.
    I am now a follower of your sweet blog.
    I love reading about your childhood Christmas. It sounds lovely
    Cheers
    maggie
    maggiemine42@gmail.com

  26. Aggiequilter

    Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad from Texas! Your houses and snowmen are so cute. Thanks for sharing them with us and the chance to win!

  28. Susie Q

    Hi Maggie, thanks so much for your kind words, stopping by and being a follower. Good luck in the Giveaway. Susie x

  30. Sue

    Hi! I am a new follower. Love your blog! And it seems that we have similar tastes in books also! Am really enjoying the blog hopping!

  33. KatieQ

    Great little village. I love the way the snowman moves to different locations around the houses. Thank you for sharing your Christmas memories. It made me think about my own grandparents. I'm already a contented follower.

  38. Nellie Duclos

    Hi Susie – I love your neighborhood of houses! I have wanted to make a house block of my house but my house is more complicated than your blocks LOL Maybe someday. Thanks for sharing

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