Paraskavedekatriaphobia--??

Here we are--Friday, 13th of the month!!  How superstitious are you?

If you are worried about what's in store this time, then you're not alone. Psychologists have even come up with a word for how you're feeling – paraskavedekatriaphobia, or fear of Friday the 13th.

One option is to stay tucked up in bed all day to avoid any potential Friday the 13th bad luck that may come your way, or alternatively, you could ignore the superstitious chatter and embrace it. The number 13 has been considered unlucky for many years, even before Christ. The number 12 is historically considered the number of completeness, while its older cousin, 13, has been seen as an outlier.

• There are 12 months of the year, 12 gods of Olympus, 12 hours of the clock, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 Apostles of Jesus, 12 Descendants of Muhammad Imams, among many incidences of the pattern historically.
• In many Western countries tall buildings are missing the 13th floor. In China the fourth floor and in some cases all floors with the number four are left out of Chinese buildings.
• Houses often do not have a number 13, and many hotels, including the Carlton in London, miss out a thirteenth floor.
• It is considered very unlucky for thirteen people to dine together, and the first to rise will reach serious misfortune – a superstition upheld by US President Roosevelt. He also refused to travel on Friday the 13th.In Somerset, it is said that whoever turns a bed on a Friday turns ships at sea. In Cumbria, babies born on a Friday were laid on the family Bible.In some areas, calling a doctor for the first time on a Friday is a certain omen of death. Cutting hair and nails on a Friday is a certain path to misfortune, and many couples will refrain from marrying on a Friday.

Dr Caroline Watt of the University of Edinburgh says that it is the belief in the Friday 13th superstition that could, in fact, prove the greatest risk to the average person: “If people believe in the superstition of Friday the 13th then they believe they are in greater danger on that day.

"As a result they may be more anxious and distracted and this could lead to accidents. It becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

“It is like telling someone they are cursed. If they believe they are then they will worry, their blood pressure will go up and they put themselves at risk.”

Dresden Plate Is Where It's At.....................

It seems that there are two (that I've found) Dresden Plate sew alongs

this year--Bee In My Bonnet has put her 'spin' on this

historic pattern.  Why was it so popular during the early 20th century, you may ask.

"The popular name for this quilt, Dresden Plate, reflects the romance of the Victorian Era with its love of elaborate decoration on household items and décor. Dresden, Germany was a center of 19th century romanticism movement in art, one that included the fine decoration of porcelain. The plates were embellished with elaborate design using flowers, fruits and foliage. The beautiful plates would surely have been admired by women of the early 20th century."  

Quilt Doodle Designs has added her touch to this pattern with what she calls

'a mystery'.  Each month she'll have a different take on the center--

Creepy!

Bet you never thought that spider webs were useful to the human race!

Well, guess again!  Some of these facts I already knew, but

didn't know about painting on cobweb canvases--

really interesting, huh?

To us weavers, we think that the spider is the first true weaver of fabric.

 A spider web, spiderweb, spider's web, or cobweb (from the archaic word coppe, meaning "spider") is a device created by a spider out of proteinaceous spider silk extruded from its spinnerets, generally meant to catch its prey.

Spider webs for humans

Uses of spider webs

Helpful spiders

Practice!

I hate knitting swatches for any pattern--but, these are great to practice for stranded knitting.

Yes, I know--just a little late for this year's Christmas tree--

there is always next year and you can begin now to create some interesting and colorful

ornaments.

The pattern is free from The House of Hogbuffer and of course, you can find it

on Ravelry--not a member yet?  It's easy and free to join!  

I think it's time to work these up through the year and be

ready for next year's Christmas tree or maybe even gifts to special friends!

Happy stitching!

Love Photography? This Is For You!

Okay, so I'm just a little late settling into this challenge, but this project can begin any week of the year.....................do you love to take photos but don't always have the perfect subject?

Soul Depiction Group on Facebook might be the answer to your dilemma.  There is 

other photography groups on Facebook as well that feed your soul, like

365 Days of Photos, which encourages you to take a photo and post each day--

this one will become your photo journal of your life.  I did this project several years ago

and thoroughly enjoyed my journey.

Here are some guidelines for photo junkies!

Silk Stitch Along

Since this seems to be the month to begin stitching, how about joining

with Laura Wasilowski as you learn these goals:

• Make an embroidered garden on silk. You can also use wool, cotton, or felt but silk is lovely to work with.
• Try new embroidery stitches and stitch combinations.
• Enjoy the challenge of free-form embroidery and improvise as we go.

And what better thread to use but SILK!  Gorgeous silk! 

She has listed three steps to organizing your work--to me, the best part of this stitch along is

to have fun! 

A Spinning We Go!

 ROC day is sometimes called “St. Distaff’s Day”. Of course, there is no such saint! It is celebrated on January 7th, the “first free day after Twelve-Eve Christmas”, which was a holiday of transition from Christmas revelries to the round of everyday work. It is also called “Rock” day, as the distaff was sometimes referred to as a rock. Traditionally, in old England, women did not spin during the twelve days of Christmas. ROC day or St. Distaff’s day, was their day to get back to work, and they certainly made the most of it! They were not without troubles during this time, because it was tradition that the plowmen thought it sport to set fire to the flax and tow.

The women kept buckets of water always ready to put out the fires. It was a game of sorts, with many young men being “drenched” to the bones! Also the spinners went back to work a day ahead of the weavers, so that they could have plenty of yarn for the weavers. It was their special day. THE SPINSTER In olden times, the fleece which was brought home in the summer was spun into clothing by the female part of each family during the winter.

It was a well known axiom that NO young woman was fit to be a wife until she had spun for herself a set of body, table, and bed linens. Hence the maiden was termed a spinner or spinster, and the married woman was referred to as a wife or as “one who has been a spinner” even though she carried on these traditions. Interestingly enough, is the term wife, which comes from the Anglo-Saxon word “wif” which is from the verb “wyfan” or “wefan” which means “to weave”!

January 7

St. Distaff’s Day

By Robert Herrick (1591–1674)

PARTLY work and partly play   You must on St. Distaff’s Day: From the plough soon free your team;   Then come home and fother them; If the maids a-spinning go,            Burn the flax and fire the tow. Bring in pails of water then,   Let the maids bewash the men. Give St. Distaff all the right;   Then bid Christmas sport good night,          And next morrow every one   To his own vocation.