Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange 2025

           Yahoo, we're back to celebrate the holidays.  What a wonderful gift from Carol and Joan.

                         I think I'm so happy that I'll do a gift too.  Details somewhere below.

I am writing this up while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade,  one of my favorite shows to watch .  I have been known to cry when I see Santa. (this year no tears just sniffles)

So some hops are harder than others to come up with wonderful ideas.  This hop was the opposite. 4 weeks ago one of the crafting groups I belong to had a group sew and we made Santa Hat Pillows using Quilt Company Designs by Karen Montgomery - Santa Hat Pillow pattern.

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It was a super easy project that holds a 14 inch pillow.  I've made 2 already. I don't think anyone in the group stopped at 1.  It's a project that has tons of potential.  Several members added names of kids or grands  or one side saying Naughty and the other Nice

                                      I already know who is Naughty and Nice at our house.

The flap of the hat can go either way.  I though that this year I would send this to my sister without telling her in advance what was coming.  That way I only had to send one.  Well the bonus to sending this unannounced was that I had to use a box that was too small and I really jammed the pillow in and super taped the box shut.

5 days later I get a call from sissie.  Apparently when she opened the box the pillow sprang out of the box pom pom first and her first thought was that it was a live animal. So, so sorry I didn't get to see that reaction live and in person.  thankfully by the time she called me she was laughing.

I generally participate in the swaps organized by Heather at  Sewing With Scraps.  They are usually scrap based, I needed to swap a placemat by 12/1.   I went into my bin of unfinished mini projects looking for a something to use as a starting point and found this block from I don't know when. My best guess is I was making it for me and didn't get if finished before the holidays and lost interest . 

Not only did I find this for the center I still had a chunk of one of the fabrics that was big enough to make it a full size placemat.

Forgot to take a real picture before mailing it out but it did make for a great placemat.  Hope my swap partner likes it. She should be getting it Monday.

While seeking out a mini block for the placemat I found the center for a table runner. I think the block was a design  from Cindy at Quilt Doodle Doodles.

Just another seasonal UFO.   I took it to a mini quilt retreat 2 weeks ago and is now a finished and active Christmas decoration or maybe a gift??????

 My most recent crafting adventure is using a Glowforge Laser. I started using it around Halloween at The Villages Woodworking Shop.

 

I have included a couple of pictures of several of the Christmas items I have made in the last couple of weeks. Hope you don't mind.

This Merry Christmas  piece is my give away.  It is made of MDF and is Laser cut.

It measures approx. 11 inches across, 3 inches high and

the base is about 1.5 wide. 

I won't be able to mail it until 12/10 so I will draw a name from  the comment list on the 9th.  All you need to do is mention that you would like to be included in the drawing.

Last but not least I am including Christmas Cookies for the Cookie Exchange, sort of.  I found this recipe back  in 2023  I think for gingerbread kids and a gingerbread house..

                               This batch is fresh. I made them this week specifically for this hop.

 

  When your recipe calls for cork they don't get moldy with time.  They will be good til they hang on                                                                      the tree for Christmas.

This was a wonderful way to kick off  My Holiday season. I'm one of those people who believes that Christmas season starts when Santa in his sleigh passes Macy's. 

Thanks so much Carol for coordinating yet one more wonderful Exchange of Cookies and Holiday ideas with friends.

                                                    I am including a full list of participants.  

                                  Stop by and visit and get inspired and leave a note of good cheer.  

            Wishing you and yours a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year.

DECEMBER 1^st

 

Just Let Me Quilt

Hill Valley Quilter

Karrin’s Crazy World

Lynn's Blog

Quilted Delights

Quilt Schmilt

Selina Quilts

 

DECEMBER 2^nd

 

A Quiltery

Ms P Designs USA

Bumbleberry Stitches

Texas Quilt Gal

Beaquilter

Quilted Snail

 

DECEMBER 3^rd

Just Because Quilts

Just Sew Quilter

Kathleen McMusing

Songbird Designs

Quilting Between The Rails

 Words & Stitches

 

DECEMBER 4^TH

 

MooseStashQuilting

Scrapdash

Sew Many Yarns

Happy Cottage Quilter

Days Filled With Joy

That Fabric Feeling