Holy Jolly!!

 We are at the beginning of December!  Holy jolly!!  How did we get here so fast?  

It’s our granddaughter’s birthday! So one good reason to celebrate the start of Holy month.  

We kick off the day with reading of chapter one of the book of Luke in the Bible.  Each day this month, we’ll read a chapter.  There are 24 chapters, taking us right up to the birth of Jesus in chapter 24.

There are several textile adventures waiting for us  as well—maybe, we can finish by December 25 if other plans don't interfere.

Jen Daly Quilts once again is offering this special holiday quilt.  Her past designs have been added to my quilt memories.  So join in for this year's quilt.

The Glad Tidings Quilt-Along will begin on Monday, November 28th and will continue every Monday and Thursday until December 22nd. Here’s the schedule for your reference:
–  Monday, November 28th – Intro/Cutting
–  Thursday, December 1st – Rows 1, 2, and 3
–  Monday, December 5th – Row 4
–  Thursday, December 8th – Row 5
–  Monday, December 12th – Row 6
–  Thursday, December 15th – Rows 7 and 8
–  Monday, December 19th – Assembly
–  Thursday, December 22 – Finishing

The Glad Tidings Quilt-Along is free to all and there’s no need to sign up. As we progress, she’ll make each set of instructions available on the QAL page and on her blog. If you’re on her mailing list, you’ll receive emails containing links to each day’s instructions ). The instruction sheets will be available through the end of December.

And don’t forget this one!  The first clue went up November 25 and continues through December—be sure to download the clues for future reference. 

Fort Worth Fabric Studio has their new sew along begins December 19–Frozen Memories

Join  Artesanitarium Designs, Mary E Rose , Tanja Luescher on Instagram to knit these advent socks!

Once again, I'm jumping into knitting another advent scarf with Tricia Weatherstone.  The scarf will be a long rectangle shape and is a geometric design. The theme this year is basketweave stitches and using the intarsia technique to achieve the design wanted. 

I’m really punishing or is it pushing myself to think I can do all these projects at once!  This one is from Talvi-knits

After all, I’ll need something to knit while movie watching!

Today! Is The Day!

 Yes!! We have arrived! The day after Turkey day! While others are out shopping till they drop—Today is the day we begin bingeing on Christmas movies! Oh yes!! And we’re not just watching movies but playing bingo as well!  This game is called Christmas movie bingo!  Last year it was Hallmark Christmas Bingo but this year it is any Christmas movie since some of our participants don’t have Hallmark Channel. 

You generate your own bingo card from several different sites—e.g. Bingo Baker or https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2017/11/24/turn-your-christmas-tv-movie-binge-watching-into-bingo-game/892087001/

We’ll begin on this day to watch and mark our cards—hopefully! The stakes are high!  Losers pay winner 5 bucks!  

I’ve got my shirt from last year’s contest, which we cancelled when one of our friends became very ill—we just couldn’t  go on without her.  But, she’s  well and chomping on the bite to beat us this year!  

The first movie I want to watch—? So many to choose from, so many streaming services.  Where do we start? 

And I can accomplish some knitting or stitching as the movie plays on!  

Look at me—I’m multi—tasking!!

Maybe, I can shout “ BINGO!” Soon!!

Gobble! Gobble!! Gobble!

OH -- Junk!

 The other day, as we tried to tidy up the house in preparation for Thanksgiving (still no idea whose turn it is to host, but we’ll be prepared if it’s our turn) someone was looking for scissors--not my good sewing scissors please!!!  The voice could be heard from the other side of the house--"look in the junk drawer".   Pull out the designated drawer and there were the all purpose scissors--right there in the Junk Drawer!  

Doesn't everyone have a junk drawer?? What's a junk drawer, you may ask? Then you don`t have a designated place to put your odds and ends of small stuff—

Indeed!  A drawer filled with “junk”—odds and ends of stuff that we might need sometime in the future.  For instance, a padlock with no key! Flashlight, no batteries; glue (that’s probably dried up),  rubber bands—at one time there was a rubber band ball (wonder where that went!?) matches AND a fire stick, of course when one doesn’t work, there is the other! 

There’s string and wire, sticky things to hang pictures on the wall; and don’t forget the batteries!! Probably no good but we saved them in the Junk drawer!  And you can’t have a junk drawer without duct or packing tape! 

Not only do we have a junk drawer, the BOWL is ready to be nominated for the next junk location!  The Bowl, which holds the garage door opener, contains billfolds, keys, pocket knife, business cards, zip tie, reading glasses container—NOT reading glasses!! Loose screws, of course! Oh and least we forget, the car touch up paint pen! 

Every once and awhile, the junk bowl becomes over crowded and spills into the junk drawer. 

Heaven forbid, we get rid of anything or move to another location—we couldn’t find any of that junk—who knows 

When we’ll need a padlock with no key! 

Boy!  I thought we had a messy junk drawer.  Daughter has not one but three junk drawers!! 

WOW!!

Whew!!

 The wedding is over!  We sweated about the weather—but, thank goodness, there were no storms!  No rain! cool temperatures, which was fine. We had heaters for the outdoor ceremony.  It was a beautiful wedding under the oak trees, covered with twinkling lights! 

The wedding and groom cake were centered stage

Bride’s nephew carried this satin pillow that first used in bride’s great grandmother’s 1940 wedding

After wedding clean up, there is a let down feeling—all that planning, shopping, friends/family departing—it is time rest and be ready for another day. 

Life continues—always moving fast! Never a dull moment as we move through our days of adventures.  Here is a progress of my fiber creations.  I'm trying to keep myself grounded--especially, with the holidays fast approaching.  One day at a time, one foot in front of the other.  I'm deciding whether to start on Bonnie Hunter's 2022 mystery, which begins day after Thanksgiving.  The color selections are on her website.  I will save all the clues and decide in the new year.

Fat Quarter Shop is hosting Sewcialites.  Each Friday a different pattern is released from a designer.  This is second pattern--I'm trying patriotic colors for now.

This is the first pattern.

This stack of stars have been staring me in the face for months--finally, I did it!!

I started putting them together!

Scrappy Stars by Kathleen Tracy

It's a start--just need seven more stars to complete the last two rows. Not sure I like the green squares-- but finishing up will be a bonus.  Another thing off my table stacked high with projects!  

Log cabin blocks made with scrap strips—didn’t matter size of strip,  just started in the center and work out till you have at least 12” block. If larger just square up.  

Once the blocks were together, I thought it needed a border.  A friend suggested piano keys—back to the strips sewn and cut to 2.5” length. 

The top still needed something else to make it complete— 

4” black border and ta da!  Finished!

What you reading?

 

Shannon Bream has this lovely book "The Women of the Bible Speak".  A great read!!  She has also written

"The Mothers and Daughters of the Bible Speak", which will be my next read.

I've always enjoyed Lisa See's books--this is interesting tale of how women can conquer the sea for their lively hood.  This book is about Korean women in their daily chores of the sea.

My Florida friend (formerly from Louisiana) has bragged about this book for months.  She says it is drop down hilarious—I finally succumbed to reading it—I’m not sure I would say hilarious, but it is light hearted enough to read between serious reads. 

Book one of three about Murphy Shepard—I’ve read “When Crickets Sing” by Charles Martin and found it to quite readable.  So, now I’m on the journey to learn about his character Murphy. 

Just finished listening to “The Hunting Party” guests arrive on a remote island for a wedding.  What can go wrong?  Many twists and turns in this one to keep you Interested.  When I do handwork, my ears are tuned to a book. 

Book sale!!!  OM!  Our local library had book sale one Saturday—would I miss it it?  Definitely NOT! Tables and tables of books!!

What are you reading?

 

Traditions!

 As we fast approach our granddaughter’s wedding, I’ve thought about wedding traditions and wondered about some of those special traditions.  Are these traditions still practiced anymore?

At the bridal shower, given by her friends, no one thought of making a rehearsal bouquet with gift ribbons; except the older generation.  The younger gals had never heard of such a thing.  She didn’t have many gifts with bows, so I did the best I could. 

But, they did know that all special events have a balloon arch!!  Lots and lots of balloons decorate the stairway railing—how on earth do you get rid of all those balloons ( some filled with confetti)?  You can’t pop them! So, the “arch” still rests on our stairway.  A suggestion was to leave it up through Christmas and New Year! 

Anyway, back to traditions—the bride to be is gathering something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue—where did that come from? 

Something old represents continuity; something new means a positive outlook on the future; something borrowed is a symbol of borrowed happiness; and something blue symbolizes fidelity, purity, and love. A sixpence in your shoe is of British influence. This timeless saying is a tradition where small charms are given and carried before walking down the aisle. 

 In the 17th century, wedding desserts were made in pairs — a bride’s cake and a groom’s cake, which was typically a small fruitcake. Instead of being served at the reception, the groom’s cake was cut up, packaged and given to guests as favors. The tradition of groom’s cakes actually died out for a while, but recently resurged in the U.S. "

What about the exchange of rings:  The circle represents eternity, because it doesn’t have a beginning or an end. During ancient times, women would wear rings made of papyrus around their wrists and ankles. Romans then began to substitute the material with iron, which ultimately led to the use of gold to make the first betrothal rings. The tradition of a diamond engagement ring was started by Archduke Maximilian of Austria when he proposed to Mary of Burgundy. Like circles, diamonds have long been considered as symbols of eternity because they are the hardest gems on earth. The placement of the ring on the fourth finger came from the Egyptians who believed that it was the finger that contained the vein that connects to the heart.

When doing research on this topic, more tradtions popped up; some I never even thought about.  Go HERE to learn about other traditions in other countries.

And here is a tradition I didn't think about--

• During the ceremony, the bride and groom typically stand across from each other, clasping hands or wrists, and the binding material is looped around their wrists. The Officiant then explains that the rope represents the couple being bound by their love and commitment and that they, like the cord, are two individual ends that are also one.

We will be looking for that perfect wedding cake and Jordan almonds to be served. 

• The bitterness of the almonds represents life, and the sweet coating represents marriage. Jordan almonds should only be distributed in odd numbers at weddings, as this represents the couple's indivisible bond and shared life together. Italians call Jordan almonds 'confetti.' Greeks call the same treats 'koufeta.'
• 
  The Ring Bearer, nephew of the bride, will carry the rings on a pillow that was first used in the wedding of the bride's great grandmother in 1940.
• Traditions, either new or old, carry through generations.  Most don’t stop to think—why are we doing this? There are reasons for what traditions we do. 
• 
  
  
  
• 
  
• 
  

Just What We Need!

                                                                                     Just what we need-- during this busy time of the year!! Of course, sometimes, these sew alongs give us a mental break to the busy time of the season.

Quilting Gail is offering this free Scrappy mystery.  And I do love a mystery!

• Oct 18: Clue #1: Fabric Requirements and Cutting
• Oct 25: Clue #2
• Nov 1: Clue #3
• Nov 8: Clue #4
• Nov 15: Clue #5
• Nov 22: Clue #6
• Nov 29: Clue #7
• Dec 6: Clue #8
• Dec 13: Mystery Quilt Parade

Join into this sewalong that has already began —make one block each week from October 21, 2022 and runs through April 14, 2023, with two more weeks afterward dedicated to finishing and backing the quilt. FAtquarter Shop

Them Holes Can Be Deep.

 I know!  I know!  I can go down rabbit holes and never surface--and when I do, there are so many ideas swimming around in my brain!  Sure, I want to do them all...........

I found this on an app--which one I couldn't tell you!  But, I love, love leaf quilts!  Then one of those rabbit holes I jumped into I found this free pattern for a leaf!

Of course, I grabbed a screen shot and then went searching to find the pattern

The Crafty Quilter offers this free pattern in Three sizes!  Now, that's a winner for me!

She also has other patterns on her blog--more time to explore will take me there

But, first, I must make one of these scrappy leaf blocks--I'll do a large size first--10"

I know I should be doing something else--there are so many Christmas items

to be working on instead of FAll leaves!

Then my brain went into overdrive--

Quilting.craftgossip has several versions of leaves.

Why not make a quilt with different leaf patterns??  

Shabby Fabrics shares this video for their style of leaf.

My friend has been gathering fat quarters for her leaf quilt. You can never tire of seeing fall colors! 

Did you ever wonder why we say "down a rabbit hole"? 

“down the rabbit hole” comes to us thanks to the great Lewis Carroll who introduced the term in 1865 in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. In the story, Alice literally falls down the hole of the White Rabbit, taking her to Wonderland. In this case, falling down the rabbit hole meant entering a strange and absurd alternate universe, which many believe was supposed to represent a psychedelic experience.

Today, when people say they “went down the rabbit hole”, they usually mean that they got sucked into spending way to long reading about or researching something on the internet.

another rabbit hole I jumped in--we have been watching a show that is Welsh--the language is interesting-very hard to understand.  So, where did Welsh language originate? Down the rabbit hole, I went.

Welsh language is one of the oldest language---Welsh is a Brythonic language, meaning British Celtic in origin and was spoken in Britain even before the Roman occupation. Thought to have arrived in Britain around 600 BC, the Celtic language evolved in the British Isles into a Brythonic tongue which provided the basis not only for Welsh, but also Breton and Cornish.

So, sometimes it helps to go down that rabbit hole!! But, we still use closed captions on this Welsh show!

TAlly Ho--OnWard WE Go!

 There hasn't been much time at the sewing machine--that's not to say the hands and brain haven't been functioning--maybe, not simultaneously, but working!

It starts out small--then it grows and grows--mindless (brain doesn't need to be engaged) knitting on this pattern  Musselburgh--it's two hats in one.

For this hat, I’m combining lots of small bits of leftover yarns—should be a colorful hat for someone. 

I found this yarn in my stash and couldn’t help but begin another hat—anxious to see how each color stacks up. And finished!!

Purl Soho is offering a Bandana Cowl KAL (knit along)  The pattern is free--learn how to do short rows on this knit.

Alycia Quilts has clues for the latest Quilt of Valor she designed.  Her quilt designs are always simple to complete for a special quilt for a special veteran.

Just in time for fall and the holidays, here is a free pattern for knitted pumpkins.

 

Take some time to begin on this sew along for Christmas--Lisa gives you the pattern in the notes and also walks you through all the pattern pieces.

 This is a busy season for all of us. Not only are the holidays upcoming, we are readying for a bridal shower and a fall wedding.

I Found A Heart!

 "I need a home!" says this little heart. 

There is a special project where quilters/craft folks make special hearts and leave the hearts in outdoor spots where someone can find them.

Usually, these hearts carry a note of encouragement and often the hearts are found by

someone who is need of  this special note of caring.

I found a quilted heart is where you can find all the instructions.

little quilted heart with a tag reading, “I need a home.” is just the right thing to leave for those who will give a heart a home!

The original heart is in the photo above and can be used  as an inspiration for the IFAQH hearts.  Hearts are made of fabric, generally the size of your palm, and can be any shape of heart you choose. Most have a layer of batting or fiberfill and you can embellish with buttons, sequins, ribbon, etc.   Have fun with your creative process!

In this time of year, there are many that need to find a heart--to participate, check out the website for the download of the tag.

• Do not hand, give or gift hearts to people. (Hearts need to be “found.”)
• Do not leave hearts on personal or private property, such as a front porch, vehicle, door, bicycle, mailbox, gate, little libraries, etc. (Not public)
• Do not leave hearts in a cluster, like a giving tree. (Not random)
• Do not leave hearts in places that are not public: hotel rooms, work desk, break rooms, office, private retreat, etc. (Not public )
• Do not leave hearts inside any kind of retail store or on retail displays. (Can be mistaken for merchandise.)
• Do not leave hearts in airports. (Homeland security does not approve!)
• Do not leave hearts in National Parks, Wilderness, Forests, Monuments, Bureau of Land Managements, or other Federal Public Lands areas. (Federal Regulation Title 36, 2.22 (a))
• Do not leave hearts in bathrooms, restrooms, washrooms, etc. (Unsanitary)
• Do not leave in places where they may be thrown away by staff. (Super Sad)

Travel Log Continued

 

I hate that the truck picks up hitch hikers, but they smash themselves into the window shield or get caught in the grill work.  It is migration time for certain butterflies.

Big Bend is a large park.  It is super that Texas has this National Park in the system.  Along the river road to Marfa and on we go to Fort Davis National Park.  This is the end of our journey in this small town that boasts this outstanding post that was used before the Civil War and afterwards.  Most of the soldiers were freed slaves.  The grounds were dotted with foundation ruins and replacement buildings. One evening we were fortunate to take the lantern tour, that happens once a year.  

We had some time in the afternoon to take a short drive to Chateau Wright Winery, outside of Fort Davis.  The location is remote but interesting to find some good wines.  We sat on the patio and visited with

 the winemaker.  It was a cool breezy afternoon

They are building their barrel room from hay bales--it will make great insulation.  

One wall displayed their wine bottles in macramé hangers.  It has been said that macrame' is making a comeback in the craft world.  I say "what goes around, comes around"  I taught Macramé to my Campfire troup 40 years ago!

We planned for many months to visit McDonald Observatory for a star party.   As the days rolled along, and the skies were mostly cloudy, we just knew we wouldn't have much luck--and we were right.  The night was cloudy, with a full moon, and little rain before we headed up the mountain to the top.  The guys stayed outside to view through telescopes Saturn; while the gals went inside to a program, which was interesting.  I'm not much for space but I admit the enhanced photos of star constellations, galaxies had me thinking how great if printed on fabric these would look! 

All good things must come to an end and so it goes with our trip to West Texas.

Back home, time to unpack and get back into a routine again.  It's always nice to go away for awhile, but it's difficult for me to settle down and get back to work.

and as Roy Rogers and Dale Evans said:

Happy trails to you until we meet again!

Travel is Awesome!

We took another road trip!  Packed and ready to travel; this time in hubby’s truck—which means, I’m a passenger.  Hands were busy knitting.  

I want to introduce you to my constant companions—no matter if I’m going far or near, these are always with me.

This is my spindle spinning bag!  Always ready to pull out and loaded with silk sliver—

Piggy is always at my side—and I mean always!  He has traveled far and wide—he has been to China, Mexico, Venezuela, Several states, Germany, England, France—you name it, he’s probably been there!

You can tell he doesn’t bathe too often—such a dirty face!

Notice his handwoven bands—he fell in love with a couple of weavers who made him these lovely bands. 

His backpack is ready for travel any time!  Oh the 'tales' he could tell you about his adventures!

Our travels this time took us to the far west of Texas--over 5.5 hours to reach our first stop--Marathon--We stayed at the historic Gage Hotel, which is said to be haunted—room 10 especially!  We were in room 8--heard no ghosts but lots of trains pass through the night!

Marathon is the gateway to Big Bend National Park; also served as an important military fort during the Mexican Revolution.

We are visiting our friend who works at Brick Vault Brewery and BBQ--she is a brewer. Sadly, the BBQ was all sold out when we arrived!  Beer was okay, although I’m not much of a beer drinker.  And our friend wasn't working this evening--we'll catch up with her later in our travels.

We stayed two nights in Marathon--one day we visited Alpine--the best way to plan your visit in the city is to drop into the visitor center--we collected many brochures of literature and we were off and running--well, in the truck!  Alpine is the home of Sul Ross University and we spent part of our time wandering the campus, visiting  the baseball field, said to be the Yankee Stadium of Texas;  we had lunch at Judy's bread and breakfast, visited the bookstore and several other small businesses.  Alpine has numerous murals

painted on the walls of buildings so we took the tour of seeing what we could see; we also took a window shield tour of the town--back to Marathon in time for our dinner at Gage Restaurant.  Our second day was spent touring the Gage gardens, visiting French Grocer and a few other galleries (window shopping as those were not open till weekend)

Next morning we were off to Big Bend National Park!

What a drive!  we stayed in Terlingua one night before heading out the next day, along the River Road, stopped in Lajatas for breakfast and looked across Rio Grande river to see Mexico.  The mayor of Lajatas is Henry Clay, a goat that is in the running for Mayor!

The view along the river road is awe inspiring!  We have never taken the road across Big Bend State Park--it was an interesting drive with views of mountains, canyons and access to the Rio Grande.

Our next stop was Marfa!  We're here to see the Marfa Lights--alas, it is cloudy most of the time and there was rain the afternoon we arrived. No star gazing but we did see the Marfa Lights!

To Be continued................................