Just Some Reminders

Today - December 2nd - is the last day to enter Darlene's Holiday Quilt Show here. Remember to go back on Saturday/Sunday and vote for your favorites - one Christmas Theme Quilt and one Winter Theme Quilt in one comment. List name and number of entrant from list. Entrants can win, but so can you by just voting - how cool is that!! AND if you visit each blog and leave a lovely comment, go back and tell Darlene you did for another entry.

Just to let all you followers of the Traveling Stash know - they are ALL ready to be moved on now. So be sure to hop over and leave a comment on:

Box #1 - Growing Stitches comments will end Dec 13th

Box #2 - KelbySews comments open until 11pm Dec 9th

Box #3 - PhillysBlarney comments open until midnight Dec 4th

Sew We Quilt has a full month of quick gift tutorials you don't want to miss.

And a reminder that the Occupy Your Sewing Room begins Saturday (Dec 3)thru Dec 10. Then link up with CatPatches on Dec. 11 with your completed projects for some great prizes.

Something new (button will be on side bar all month) is a wonderful Bloggers Christmas Giveaway Hop to celebrate the Quilting Gallery's 4th Anniversary. Check out Quilter's Gallery for the rules on registering your blog for a give away. I know you all like to enter give aways, but consider doing this yourself - great way to expose your blog and spread some quilty love. You need to hurry - must register your blog by December 8th to be on the list of participating bloggers on the 9th. YES, I have registered!

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Time To Trim the Tree

Last year I dedicated December to the Seasonal Songs. This year I would like to dedicate the month to the history of the Christmas Tree. Let's start with some history:

The Egyptians were part of a long line of cultures that treasured and worshipped evergreens. When the winter solstice arrive, they brought green date palm leaves into their homes to symbolize life's triumph over death.
The Romans celebrated the winter solstice with a fest called Saturnalia in honor of Saturnus, the god of agriculture. They decorated their houses with greens and lights and exchanged gifts. They gave coins for prosperity, pastries for happiness, and lamps to light one's journey through life. Centuries ago in Great Britain, woods priests called Druids used evergreens during mysterious winter solstice rituals. The Druids used holly and mistletoe as symbols of eternal life, and place evergreen branches over doors to keep away evil spirits. Late in the Middle Ages, Germans and Scandinavians placed evergreen trees inside their homes or just outside their doors to show their hope in the forthcoming spring. Purhaps our modern Christmas tree evolved from these early traditions?

SWAPS

Some lovely Spool Blocks from Vanessa for the Austalian 6" block swap.

And this wonderful candle mat from Danette. We waited till each had our package and opened them the same day. Made this last swap special.

And this is the candle mat I made for her - photo taken from her blog as I forgot to do it.

BLOCKS

Not the best photo, but the November block for the Blogger's BOM. I did change it up from theirs as it was too busy - this is busy enough!

And my version of the wreath block for the Christmas Sampler Quilt Along. I just can't do (or like) machine applique - making blocks with tiny bits is more my style. I will add some beads, metallic threads, and bow with quilting. Today I think is the last block, so I left my few scraps of seasonal fabric out to play.

Not really a block, but a quilt along - Clover & Violet's 'Ruby Tote'. Making the lining step. I did change my pockets to meet the needs of what I carry to class/guild.

MINUTES FOR ME

I made this cute holder for my plastic grocery bags. I looked at some tutorials on-line and then did my own. Used some left over charms from a Marcus Brother line. Recycled some ribbon and lining is a recycled shirt, alpha letter wood beads (don't want this walking out the door), and a button.

And I started to do a little decorating. That's my tree! I only do my mantel. I hung my candle mat until I get the embroidered banner finished, then I can set up the side table. The Advent piece is old - made with a pre-printed panel when my daughter was 2 or 3 - she's 30 yrs. old now. And I don't do ladders well, so it will stay hanging crooked. LOL!!

I will be linking up with Marcia's CraftySewing blog for her Minutes For Me this week.

REMINDERS

Still time to link up with Darlene at SewCalGal for the Christmas Quilt Show.

Be sure to visit Sew We Quilt as December will be filled with quick project tutorials. Need an idea for a quick gift - pop on over.

TRAVELING STASH

Box # 1 - on it's way to Growing Stitches

Box # 2 - Kelbysews is ready to move this box on. She is leaving comments open until Dec 9th, so pop over and good luck.

Box # 3 - PhillysBlarney is ready to move this box on. She is leaving comments open until Dec 4th, so head on over and good luck.


GIVE AWAY WINNER

Remember those 600 pre-cut blocks? Well I gave my list of names to the neighbor who doesn't know Blogger from Adam and she chose Gmamma Jane. I will send seperate e-mail for information so I can get this right out. Thank you all for participating - the New Year may hit the 200 post mark!

CLOSING THOUGHT

One little star on the top of the tree,
Two little presents underneath for me,
Three silver ropes twisted around the tree,
Four colored lights shining prettily,
Five shining balls flowing silvery.
Oh, what a sight for use to see!
- ANON

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Christmas Quilt Show

I am excited to participate in this year's Christmas Quilt Show sponsored by SewCalGal. Please consider joining in or at least visit all the blogs with entries and casting votes at the end of the Show.

This a free BOM from Sulky International and from the year 2004. I wasn't quilting at that time, but a quilting friend showed me the Sulky site as I became an avid paperpiecer and I made the wallhanging in 2009-2010. It will be a heritage piece as I am planning on 'playing' with my grand children in finishing all the embellishing. Letting them choose a house or item that needs decorating over the years.

The SchoolHouse - my grandies aren't in school yet, so this one will probably wait a few years. And you may have noticed that I missed part of the star in my piecing - no worries, I'll embroider that section in.

Santa's Workshop and Row Houses. I think this year will be Santa's turn for some fun play.

The Candy Shop. I fussy cut the snow baby in the door - my Mom (their grandmother) collects snow baby porcelians and this will be a way of remembering her in the future. You may be able to make out the background fabric - it is the 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' story - the first holiday storybook I read to my eldest grandson.

Patchwork Shop and Post Office. Since we are a quilting family with quilt shop, this block is sure to get some goodies added. The mini holiday quilt is ready to hang on the line. The Post Office represents my Son-in-Law who is a route post deliveryman. Found this cute little envelope embroidery to stitch on the front.

The X-mas House - we had a local home that set up and displayed wonderful trees for the holiday and visitors were welcomed to enjoy. Church - our lovely little village churches are heavily damaged (Irene flood) and hopefully will be restored. Christmas Eve Service is a family tradition. Toy Shop - what little boy or girl doesn't love a toy shop! And the Bakery for all those lovely sweets during the holiday.

And my little box for storing goodies found with the hopes of being added to the embellishing of this wallhanging. Being a revolving-thru-the-years project, it will be fun to 'find' little items to put in that box for the grandies to search thru and select as part of the year's addition.

Thank you for visiting, maybe I have inspired to make a heritage piece to share with your grands. Please, be sure to visit all the bloggers participating and leave them a word or two (or more). Also, thank Darlene for hosting - after all, where can you see a Christmas Quilt Show without leaving your house!

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

In A Cavern

It is funny how we get so use to a set routine and when changed, we feel in the dark, feeling our way. I did enjoy time with my daughter, son-in-law and the grands - too much food and lots of hugs and kisses. But, then home to take part in 'support small businesses in your community' weekend. I spent the rest of the holiday weekend at Howes Caverns, a local attraction. They hosted a special tour weekend as well as a Holiday Craft Fair with local artisans. There were 12 of us in a wonderful setting in their dining room. They also had some raffles and sales which funds went directly to the Flood Victims Fund. I knew all of the vendors, so was a very warm, friendly weekend. My sister in-law even came to help out - got her feet wet in the business so to speak as we have two more weekends in local communities with similar ventures. No we didn't get the cavern tour into our time table, purhaps another time.

BUT I SEWED WHEN I CAME HOME AT NIGHT

The next FQ Star Quilt Along block with my recycled men's shirts.

My version of the ornament block for the Christmas Quilt Along. I am not fond of machine applique, and the original block had lots of small ornaments. I decided to just use my holiday scraps and make one large. I will add beading and a bow when ready to quilt.

I changed up the stocking block, too. Needs some embroidery and ribbon work for finishing.

And the new phone book arrived in the mail, so naturally that means the old one is fair game for some strip piecing play. That never ending scrap tote!!

Pretty string blocks - how I find it so relaxing to just mindlessly stitch these and find such a delight in how all those tangles of fabric turn into blocks. Oh, the little blue ones in the basket were inspired by the Orca Bay, but I am not participating in that - they will be used else where, but I have a lot of blue skinny strings!

And a thrill to find a package arrived - my candle mat swap. I am waiting to hear from Danette, so we can open them together.

TRAVELING STASH

Box #1 - GrowingStitches

Box #2 - KelbySews

Box #3 - PhillysBlarney

REMINDER

Christmas Quilt Show I need to pull my items to photo and will post for Tuesday.

CLOSING THOUGH

"While the spirit of neighborliness was important on the frontier because neighbors were so few, it is even more important now because our neighbors are so many." ~Lady Bird Johnson

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon