The days and weeks following Christmas can leave many people feeling blue. I suppose it’s the natural let-down after all of the anticipation leading up to the holiday. But it’s also a result of the contemplation we often practice during the season . . . reflecting on our blessing and our losses can leave our hearts feeling heavy with joy and sorrow.
When I feel some of that post-Christmas melancholy, I try to “hunker in” in a positive way. One of the ways that I do that is by sewing “in season.” Winter is really just beginning for us in Minnesota, and it will stick around for a few months. I might as well embrace the beauty of my snow-covered landscape by starting some Christmas quilts for next year. (It’s much more fun to play with holiday fabrics in January than it is in July!)
Aren’t these blocks cute? I made them using my Next Up pattern and some festive fabric from my stash. Next Up is a quick and easy pattern that is charm pack or layer cake friendly, but you can just as easily sew from your stash by cutting the required number of squares. I’m making great progress.
You may recognize some of the fabrics from previous quilts I’ve made: Wintertide by Janet Clare, Homegrown Holidays by Deb Strain and Winter White by Holly Taylor. The fussy cut characters at the center of each block are from a Merrily panel (by Gingiber) that I have been saving for two years!
I guess you could say I am doubling my inner joy . . . by sewing in season and sewing down my stash. If you are experiencing a little post-Christmas sadness, I hope this blog post has inspired or cheered you.
Take care of yourselves, my quilting friends!
~Taunja
Other Next Up quilts I’ve made:
New pattern: Next Up, a charm pack or layer cake quilt