Christmas Treasures...

One good, good thing about become 'elderly'...
'Gifts' at Christmas take on a whole new meaning..
Seldom do they come in a box...
Seldom with wrapping.
They are common items wrapped in the heart of a friend.
They are kind words spoken at the right time.
They are a renewed relationship after a bumpy patch.
They are memories of past times and lives intertwining.
They are inexpensive, meaningful and always from God.
HE knows what I need, want and will find joyful.
Today's journey brought my heart to a point of tears several times.
Good tears.
Knowing that this day was from the Father that has given me the Ultimate Gift, made it all the sweeter.
Enjoy my memories and may you be blessed in your journey as well....

In my journey around my Christmas gratitudes, I took this photo from my tree.
Simple, right? Nice little ornaments?
No.
The front little felt miniature stocking was made for one of my children from one of their childhood friends that was quite good at the crafts. Each year, as I place this little stocking on my tree, I smile, remembering the little girl that 'lived' at my house for many years, her relationship with my oldest daughter, beginning when they were three years old. Today, she left a lovely comment that brought me to tears.
Thank you Brandy....
Also, in this photo, is another ornament given to my husband and I long, long ago, by a appreciative Awana Cubbie mommy. She did not know that it was our anniversary on the day that she gave it to us.
But He did. The 'love' message on it reminds me again, each tree decorating day, that I am loved by my Father.
Also, in the photo, a tag from Baby Girls wedding last year, a glass red heart bought on another anniversary and a beautiful shell angel given to me from my sister years and years ago....
*sigh*


Having a mantel with an abundant fireplace is another treasure that my husband and I waited for many years.
Ten years ago, the move to our present location, with all it's upheaval and surprise, our Father gave us the 'bonus' of something our hearts had longed for in a house. He knew that we would need a little affirmation that only the three of us would be aware of...
We thank Him everytime we use it....
(and in the mantel photo is a little resin angel, given to me from a little friend that I met at Good News Club years ago.
She came to the Awana club that we were involved with, in all her shy, quiet self.
Last year, she had a friend of hers give me this little gift that she purchased at the school bazaar.
Can I tell you how valuable this little angel is to me?

My large jar of ornaments contain Christmas decorations from my in law's trees of the past.
A reminder of the wonderful people that my beloved husband of 37 years came from.
A new tradition as well; planting narcissus right before Thanksgiving for Christmas blooms.
Last year, they bloomed ON THE DAY of my daughter's wedding!
Coincidence?
I think not!
Thank you Father.

And then today.
I traditionally visit a local church's Christmas Bazaar.
I was introduced to it by my neighbor ten years ago.
The neighbor that I had prayed for when our world got a little rocked by our move.
I met this warm, loving woman the day we moved in, in our front yard, as she said to me: 'I'm so glad to meet you! I have been praying for you!!'
We shared property lines for several years, but still consider each other neighbors.
Today, while visiting the bazaar, there she was! Still helping her mom out with the details of a very involved Christmas event.
We were able to share a good church lunch, sharing our latest news, updating our lives....
So I had to buy another ornament from this craft show to remind, me again, of the special neighbor that God prepared for me before I even knew I would be moving! I smile each time I place the craft show ornaments on my yearly tree..
Thank you Lisa....
And today is another neighbor's birthday as well. Sweet Sharon will be moving away next spring and my heart is thrilled for her. But, selfishly, I am sad that the neighbor that introduced us to our first church here, will not be in visual distance from me...

Much emotion, many tears...
Joys of the Season...
Thank you Lord.....

Another Stocking!

I finished making three of those tied fleece blankets for Crazy Dee for her gift giving this year. I had also mentioned to her that I had just finished Miss Vivien's First Christmas Stocking. She immediately chimed in that her not quite one month old grandson needed a First Christmas Stocking!
And always wanting to please CD, I started making squares of the fleece scraps.
And now Jonathan Daniel has a fleecey new sockie. With a satin lining from scraps of long ago used bridesmaid dress material, Jonathan can be assured that many little toys can slink down to the very toe....
Yay scraps! Yay babies! Yay Christmas!

Comfort Night

Faithful Friend and I meet once a month.
Generally, at our favorite restaurant.
We usually stay there till they throw us out.
We linger longer than most of their customers, but they don't seem to mind. Too much.
Wednesday was our night to meet.
But it was cold and very rainy.
And FF had been at work all day.
Would be nice if we could just stay in near the fire.
Could I swing it on short notice?

Yes!

Crazy Dee had supplied me with enough leftovers from a previous feast that I could easily make FF and I a cozy meal near the fireplace.
Gather the wood! Turn on the Christmas music! Light the candles!
Make a Shepherds Pie from CD's gleanings, toss a salad and include CD's Youngest Daughter's most wonderful Squash/Sweet Potatoe/Chipotle Soup, brew a pot of hot tea and wait for FF to appear!

It was a lovely, cozy supper near the fire....
Thank you Lord, for Dear Friends....

From the sewing room....

Not much explanation, just teases...
(It's the Christmas Season after all...Secrets abound!)

Hmm...yarn, felt, soft peach cotton....

What looks like a humble stack of fabrics; what could they transmogrify into??

More felt....trims...free downloaded pattern from Heather Bailey...

And last but certainly not least...
One of my favorites things to do:
A Repurposing of the Best Kind...Memories turned into useable items with NEW memories....

Guess away!!!!!

Christmas Project!

Don't you think Vivien needs a Christmas Stocking?
One that can follow her through the years?
One that reminds her of her first encounter with design through her curtains, quilt, diaper bag, burp cloths and all the other little projects that those scraps came up with?

So we grab our scissors and eke out the tiny bits of Amy Butler et al, that remains of the First Year Projects.
Squares, approximately 3 1/2 inches, are cut.

Ten squares are made and placed into a configuration like this:

A handy little fabric marker was used to draw a stocking shape from the squarish one made with the little squares...
Fortunately, since the time I was young, I have always cut out, freehand, letters from construction paper. I guess I wasn't patient enough for stencils. Didn't even use a pencil. Just grabbed my scissors and had at it.
Not saying it is perfect, or even good; it's just how I do it.....

To apply the letters, I used Stitch Witchery first then used a simple blanket stitch for embellishment..( I love Stitch Witchery!)

Got into my stash to fill in when I ran out of Amy...
I pressed on some fusible fleece to the wrong side of each sockie..
(Here, you could place a backing and quilt the squares for an added touch..

I made a lining out of gingham, extra long at the cuff so that I could fold it out.
I placed the lining into the stocking, wrong sides together.
Folding the cuff down and adding a contrasting color, a real Christmas Stocking forms..
Cut a smallish piece, about 3 1/2 inches by 1 1/2 inches; sew right sides together, leaving ends open
Turn and place on heel seam at the top on the cuff.
Sew the hanger onto the cuff.
And here it is...
Ready to head off to the fireplace of a little girl in Mason Ohio!!!
(you hear me, Santa??)

Time to Backtrack

The day before Thanksgiving, before setting the table, making the last minute grocery run and before the last of the progeny came home, it was time for a little Thanksgiving craft at the elementary school.
Once a week, I volunteer at one of the many first grades.
I love helping out the very proficient first grade teacher, making copies, cutting out, tearing out, stapling or whatever else I can do to help her concentrate at the task of stretching these wonderful little kiddo's minds.
I love observing, listening and chuckling quietly to myself over some comment made by the usually uninhibited seven year olds.
Even on a day that was a bit willy nilly, I made sure that I took the time to be there to help Crazy Dee make necklaces for the pretend Native Americans in Mitchell's elementary.
A hoot as usual.
Worth every minute of it....
I am thankful for little minds that soak up knowledge and share their thoughts and emotions freely. I am thankful that some of them have school as a refuge to their harried lives. I am thankful for skilled teachers that truly love their students and spend an inordinated amount of time preparing for teaching them.
Having homeschooled all of my kids for a great deal of their schooling years, it is refreshing and comforting to know that bastions of learning exist like this particular teacher's class.
Next to Lovely Wife, she is one of my favorite teachers....



And since I have your attention, can I just share more Vivien stories/photos?
My little girl is very discerning.
Her eyes and hands latched on to this painting, done by her doting mother several years ago.
The bright colors and thick texture appealed to her good design sense..
Interesting, isn't it, that she was so drawn to only one of my paintings of the many in my home, and it was one done by her mama?

And here she spent some time watching the outside, while contemplating a good stand up...
Her little face melts me like nothing else....

Onward to Christmas, sewing for gifts for my faithful customers, decorating and otherwise enjoying this festive season....

Reverie

Can you hear my contented sigh from there?
Can you understand how terribly overwhelmed my little heart is having all 'my people' around me for a generous amount of time?
Let me give you some glimpses of the past few days..

Lots of table time...
Good food, good conversation and lots of laughter...

My favorite people drifting around our home...
Youngest son checking in...

Young Friend Emily...(the one that calls me Queen....)

Most Wonderful Granddaughter with her proper Thanksgiving attire, complete with "I'm stuffed" message on her bottom...

Did I mention that Baby Girl's Hubby did ALL the dishes??!!
Amazing...Without being asked...
Worth his weight in gold...

Multitudinous trips to the grocery. Even the off the beaten path whole foods type grocer to buy all the fixins for a proper Italian Thanksgiving (no, we're not Italian, but sure love the cuisine....)

Hubby despises Brussels sprouts.
But he allows them when they are cooked with chestnuts and pancetta and Sicilian olives...Beautiful color, huh??

Part of Vivien's Holiday apparel...Cute. Adorable. Temporary. Miss Viv hates bibs...

The goal.
The meal.
The quietness of all of us savoring the food.
My voice stilled by the overwhelming gratitude that fills my heart.
My precious people.
The extraordinary blessing that each of them are in my life.
The fact that we have reached this point at this time in our lives.
Grateful. Thankful.
Thank you Lord....