Welcome to the first day of the Cross Country Christmas Blog Hop! 

 

Just in case you have missed it, here’s another explanation of how this works – 12 designers from across the county have teamed up to bring you 12 days of Christmas Blog Hopping.  Each day a designer will be sharing a small christmas project for you to make, just in time for the holidays.  In addition to the free pattern, many designers will also be sharing a chance at a prize with their readers that day.  We will also have a drawing for a few grand prizes for bloggers that comment on each blog.  Each day will have a topic that we will share about, such as a favorite christmas gift or recipe.  It will be lots of fun for everyone, so spread the word! 

Here is the list of participating designers and the day they will be featured:

November 9th:  Gudrun from GE Designs

Nov 10th:  Sandy from Pieces from my Heart

Nov 11th:  Terry from Atkinson Designs

Nov 12th: Pat from Pat Sloan and Co

Nov 13th:  ME!

Nov 14th:  Pam from Pam Kitty Morning

Nov 15th:  Kari from New Leaf Stitches

Nov 16th:  Terri from Whimsicals

Nov 17th:  Sherri from This and That Pattern Co

Nov 18th:  Carrie from Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co

Nov 19th:  Roseann from Rosebud’s Cottage

Nov 20th:  Linda Lum DeBono

 

Today is Gudrun’s day to be the feature designer, so be sure to stop at her blog to see what she has designed especially for the blog hop!  In fact, while you are over there, be sure to thank her for all the work she had done in planning this blog hop.  If you haven’t already met Gudrun, used to own a quilt shop in Iceland, but is now a fabric and pattern designer living in Minnesota.  She is well known for her quilt-as-you-go  and strip pattern series, so be sure to check it out!

 

Today is also the day that the other designers will be sharing some favorite Holiday memories.

There are so many – where do I begin?

When you are little, it’s all about the presents -

 Sometimes it’s just as much fun to play in the wrapping paper, as it is to play with the presents!

It’s also about getting together as a family.  I have lots of memories of us all squeezing in around the tree at Grandma Bea’s house.  There were so many people, it was hard to find a place to sit  (still is).   We would always read the Christmas story, eat, say our Christmas pieces, eat some more, open presents, eat again, play games, and of course, eat some more.  I would look forward to it every year.

As a kid, I remember that the year seemed so long.  It took FOREVER for Christmas to come along again and I spent the whole year waiting for it.  I think part of the reason that it felt so long was that my birthday is 5 days before Christmas.  That meant twice as many presents, all at once, and nothing exciting happening the rest of the year.  The year no longer drags on like it used to, though getting together for the holidays is still just as much fun.

 

Another favorite holiday memory of mine is that people send out holiday cards with pictures of their families.  It’s so fun to receive them every year and then later, to go back and look through them and see how people have changed.  It’s also a chance to keep in touch with people that you may not get a chance to see every year.  We actually just took our family picture a couple weeks ago . . . which got me thinking about this.  So, from our family to yours -

Happy Holidays {a little early}!