The Goose is Getting Fat

The first artificial Christmas trees were developed in Germany in the nineteenth century, when deforestation was a problem. They were tabletop trees, made from goose feathers that were dyed green. The feathers were wound onto small sticks that were then inserted into a larger stick which functioned like a tree trunk. These trees appeared in the U.S. in 1913, when they were offered through the Sears-Roebuck catalog. These little trees are highly valued by antiques collectors today.

The Addis Brush Company developed an artificial tree in the 1930s, using the same machinery used to produce toilet brushes. These trees had branches made from twisted wires with needles of pig bristles dyed green. These small branches were twisted together to make larger branches, which were inserted into a center pole. The branches were color-coded for easy assembly.

** IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE BLOG HOP GIVEAWAY - GO HERE**

CHRISTMAS QUILT ALONG

I was vending at a show the weekend of linking up with our finishes with the Christmas Quilt Along, so posting now. I found Sue's quilt along in June (started in Feb.) and quickly caught up with the Star quilt being offered. The once a month (second Saturday)project is very doable and I met some lovely new bloggers. Even got one of Sue's first book out (signed, yeah) 'Pick Four'.

From June to July I worked on the blocks and in August I finished into a flimsy (quilt top). I want this done by my longarmer who won't be available until January, so this is for next Christmas. All fabric was from my stash - even my backing is a piece I had.

During this time I, also, worked on this stitchery. It is actually finished with more detail and fabric framed - but moved on to it's new home as a gift and I didn't take a photo of the finished piece.

And for those who have followed me for some time, know that I did a lot of charity quilts in Sept and Oct. Our community - our valley - was devastated by 'Irene'. I assisted with our LQS to establish 'Quilts for Flood Victims' and so many of you sent on quilts as part of '100 Quilts For Kids'. I volunteered as a 'finisher' and enjoyed quilting off so many beautiful quilt tops donated. Over 200 quilts were personally delivered to those in need, especially to the children.

In October I also worked on the blocks for 'Gift Boxes' and now have this flimsy waiting on being longarmed. Although I am taking the Free Motion Quilting Challenge next year - maybe this quilt can be one of my projects? I do FMQ on small quilts - large ones are a physical challenge, but would love to master one.

And November was a lot of small projects. Getting gifts ready for the Senior Home, Community events, and personal gifts. I also spent the month cleaning and organizing.

I have already planned to participate again next year and the monthly schedule of hosts is prepared (I have July), so you know you are all going to hear about it here!

REMINDERS

That Holiday Spirit starts today (see button)
Sew We Quilt - month of small projects (see button)
Quilt Gallery Blog Hop (see button)
Sew MaMa Sew here Blog Hop

TRAVELING STASH

Box #1 - GrowingStitches comments open until Dec 13th

Box #2 - On it's way to Ali at Asquared

Box #3 - On it's way to Linda at StrayStitches

CLOSING THOUGHT

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat
Please put a penny in the old man's hat
If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do
If you haven't got a ha'penny, then God bless you!

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Lighting the Tree

By the 1870's, Glass ornaments were being imported into Britain from Lauscha, in Thuringia. It became a status symbol to have glass ornaments on the tree, the more one had, the better ones status! Still many home-made things were seen. They were imported into America around 1880, where they were sold through stores such as FW Woolworth. They were quickly followed by American patents for electric lights (1882), and metal hooks for safer hanging of decorations onto the trees (1892)

**QUILT GALLERY GIVE AWAY FOUND HERE**

OCCUPY YOUR SEWING ROOM

I enjoyed taking part in Barbara's 'occupy' project. It really helped in getting those final projects done and concentrate on sticking to it. Did you OCCUPY your room?

Dec 3rd I quilted very lightly this photo memory quilt made by my daughter for her MIL. And, did some serious house cleaning.

Dec 4th I did a lot of organization of patterns and books that had piled and collected. Dec 5th I finished my Clover & Violet tote along with some blocks in other quilt alongs and some eye glass cases.

Dec 6th I worked on some odd blocks I had found during that cleaning and reorganizing. These will be donated.

Dec 7th I set my mind to finishing my Stitch Along Christmas banner and hung it on my mantel. A few other stitchery pieces were worked on that day.

Dec 8th I made some pillow cases for my Quilt Guild - they will be collected at our next meeting and donated to local Christmas Needs Charity Fund. On the 9th and 10th I was a local vendor at one of our commnity for the 'shop local' campaign. This will be linked up with CatPatches.

I missed out on Sue's Christmas Quilt Along wrap up link because I was vending , but will post about this tomorrow and information on next year's schedule for those interested in joining in.

CLOSING THOUGHT

May the days until Christmas be full of sweet pleasure,
And your holidays create joyful memories to treasure.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Quilt Gallery's 4th Anniversary Celebration

I hope you will join in the fun give aways here at Michele's (a.k.a. mishka) Quilt Gallery in celebration of 4 wonderful years. Over 200 bloggers from 20 countries are participating and a full list will be found on the site by midnight.

This is my give away. I know everyone likes to win fabric, but I am sure there will be plenty of that offered. So I decided for this special occassion to offer a piece that is dear to me. It's Christmas, and one gives from the heart. This is a self-design and one of a kind wallhanging that started me into quilting. Always an avid cross stitcher, I began experimenting with fabric framing my pieces - adding my signature metalic and silk threads, and beading. This was designed for entry into the 2008 Black Threads International Celebration of the African Woman Quilt Show. "Jubilation" has traveled and now home - looking for a new home.

This is a close up of the center. Over 200 color floss were used from 4 different companies as well as some hand dyed. Sulky metalic and silk thread were used in the cross stitch as well as to quilt - all quilting is done by hand. There is beading in the cross stitch center as well as thru the fabric framing. It is 29" wide by 32" in length. Hanging sleeve and labeled - another label will be attached with dedication to winner. This has been washed and care instructions will be given. You do not have to be a follower, but certainly welcomed. I will ship international and winner will be chosen at midnight, December 17th with name announced on the 18th - all efforts will be made to contact winner so be sure your e-mail information is available.

Enjoy the Blog Hop Party,
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

O Christmas Tree

In 1846 Queen Victoria and her German Prince, Albert, were illustrated in the Illustrated London News standing with their children around a Christmas Tree. Victoria was very popular with her subjects, and what was done at Court immediately became fashionable - not only in Britain, but with fashion-conscious East Coast American Society. The English Christmas Tree had arrived! Decorations were still of a 'home-made' variety. Young Ladies spent hours at Christmas Crafts, quilling snowflakes and stars, sewing little pouches for secret gifts and paper baskets with sugared almonds in them. Small bead decorations, fine drawn out silver tinsel came from Germany together with beautiful Angels to sit at the top of the tree. Candles were often placed into wooden hoops for safety.

REMINDERS

Visit Darlene here for information on the Accuquilt 'That Holiday Spirit' blog hop. Dec 12-16

Darlene has, also, updated the information to prepare for the 2012 Free Motion Quilting Challenge - along with a list of volunteer experts to help us out - you don't want to miss this if you have every wanted to learn FMQ. See the Dec. 7th post here.

Visit Michele here for details - as of today there are 226 blogs pre-registered from 20 countries. WOW - two blog hops the same week - so glad I am catching up with projects with 'Occupy'

Be sure to share you ME MINUTES over at Marcia's. Some great crafts, christmas gifts, recipes, and personal time things being shared there.

6" AUSTRALIAN BLOCK SWAP

These lovely spool blocks came from Lynette. They took time to arrive - due when we had our flood and then we had no post office or mail delivery, then she had some personal things. I told her not to worry, but here they are in all their glory and she included some of the scraps for me to use in my smaller spool blocks I am making to combine with this project. Thank you Lynette!

OCCUPY YOUR SEWING ROOM

My oldest son came to do laundry to I put him to work moving some of the heavier items for my 're-org' as well as winterize my front hall doorway. In the re-org I came across some 'blocks in progress' so did some finish up work on those. I probably will pass these on to Sarah for her ministry quilts - she and her girls do such a wonderful job and I love being a small part in it.

CLOSING THOUGHT

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
How lovely are your branches.
In summer sun and winter snow,
A dress of green you always show.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How lovely are your branches.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
With happiness we greet you
When decked with candles once a year,
You fill our hearts with yultide cheer.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
With happiness we greet you

- Traditional German Carol -

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon