Quilt Gallery Blog Hop Party Finale

I would like to thank all my visitors and the lovely comments left. Also, a huge welcome to all the new followers, look forward to your future visits. All entries were hand written on 2.5" x 3" cardstock as they came in - blogger is known to mess with you at the worse times and I didn't want to lose anyone.

Then those wonders were folded twice and a bit of a stir.

Then they were scooped into a pretty Christmas Bag and given a shake. BUT WAIT - my SIL wanted to pull the winner. So you will have to wait for her around 10ish (AM) - good luck to all.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Reynolds Wrap Christmas

1955 - Disneyland’s first Christmas Light Parade on Main Street and the incentive of the 'overly' decorated houses and lawns to come. In 1958 the aluminum tree was invented/marketed. The first aluminum trees could not be illuminated. Fire safety concerns prevented lights from being strung through the tree's branches; draping electric lights through an aluminum tree could cause a short circuit. The common method of illumination was a floor-based "color wheel" which was placed under the tree. Sometimes this spectacle was enhanced by a rotating Christmas tree stand. (I hated these)And the beginning of Reynold's Wrap commercials during holiday shows, featuring many uses of the product - from baking for the season to decorations to cleaning and hardware uses.

The 60's brought the era of Kraft commercials during holiday shows. Remember those? In late 1960 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' arrived. In
1965 it was 'A Charlie Brown Christmas'. And the Aluminum and artificial trees became popular due to the portrayal of 'Charlie's Tree' In 1969 it was 'Frosty the Snowman'. Gosh, these are still popular today.

MINUTES FOR ME

This has been my ME time - I bought myself EQ7 back in May as my birthday gift and only JUST loaded it. Oh, this may be beyond me. But now is a good time to read the manual while playing, view the tutorials, and practic the lessons. This is something I really need as I scratch notes and doodle sketches on almost any little bit of paper - AND then lose them! I started a notebook - made a pretty cover for it, too. BUT then everything started to go into it - and my handwriting is so horrible, that sometimes I can't read what I wrote!

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

SANTA SACK SWAP ONE

I have been very good - putting my received goodies into this beautiful bag with no peeking - some squishing, but no peeking. It was so stuffed. And today we are sharing our wonderful gifts and linking up with host MaMa Cheryl at Gone Stitchin'. My partner was Cheryl at Polkadots and rickrack - HI CHERYLs!!

First thing I opened was this adorable Halloween table runner. Oh, I couldn't have peeked - there was so much tape, heavy tape and heavy paper, oh my! I don't have any Halloween decor (the Ghastlies moved on to another home)so this is special.

And this is the back ! How cute this side is too - but hon, where is your label and/or signature?? My SIL helped with the unwrapping and was my holder. She was just as excited as me as she picks up my mail and saw all these packages go into that sack.

And dancing in joy - look at this whimsy! Just love these reindeer - those eyes just crack me up. My tables are covered with candle mats from other swaps, so this is hanging across the fireplace just under my stitched banner. Love it!

A wonderful checked kitchen towel with cute snow globe applique and rick rack trim. Already hanging on my oven front.

So this doesn't get photo heavy, I bundled up the smaller items. I collect piggies - look at that calendar with a cute little purse pocket notepad, SQUEEL!! Oh, the scissors - now I could have just gotten these and been so happy. I have wanted these, thank you Cheryl. A very pretty magnetic scissor keep and some small stitcheries. Great for my 2012 year of minis. A microwave potato bag - super. And a snap bag - oops, there was a tin of 'Dots' finger pads in there and I forgot to pull out for photo. And there's more!!

A mug rug with HO-HO santa mug, so cute. A beautifully made journal. A 2012 pocket calendar, need this badly for Quilt Guild and booking shows. And a hysterical book "Senior Moments" - little poems, jokes, quotes and witticism. I may need to share some of these in my closing thought segment.

A lovely red leather needle case, pin tin, heart pin/needle/project keep, and some little embroidery patterns.

Ta-Da - open them and just too much. The red case has a magnetic section to hold your needles and they are tiny needles - and other compartments. Love the turquoise blue pin heads in that little dot tin. And the heart keep opens into various pockets, bands and sections, just lovely. I am going to have to keep a close eye on this as I know it will 'travel' away.

Again, thank you Host MaMa Cheryl and Swap Partner Cheryl, you made a Merry and Bright Christmas for me.

CLOSING THOUGHT

C for the carolers, happy and gay,
H for the holly and Santa's red hat,
R for the reindeer, leaping the roofs.
I for the ice on snow-covered hills,
S for the stockings that Santa Claus stuffs,
T for the toys, the tinsel, the tree,
M for the mistletoe. Watch where it hangs!
A for the animals, out in the stable,
S for the sensing, the necessity of love.
- from Christmas Poems for Kids - ANON -

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

PS - HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE NEW FOLLOWERS

Jack Frost Nipping

In 1940 flocking was introduced. What is a flocked Christmas tree you ask? Well a flocked Christmas tree has artificial snow applied to it. Either an artificial or a live Christmas tree can be made into a flocked Christmas tree. Do you remember the home Flocking Kits? You could apply flocking with your vacumm - problem was it usually was everywhere - I can remember my Dad trying this when a child. The tree was removed, the house scrubbed and a new tree was had - not a happy time.

It took several years to perfect and many patents, but NOMA company finally introduced the popular bubble lights in 1946. I can remember my grandparents' wonderful bubble lights and many delicate glass blown ornaments from Germany. I can also remember how rare (and expensive at the time) tinsel was, and removing it carefully from the tree to be saved for the next year.

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

And the last of the ornaments have arrived from Tonya's ornament swap. From Jill, Sherry, and Evielynne, thank you dear ladies! I certainly will be looking forward to participating next year.

I finished all the little stitcheries fromPaula Stoddard's PacificPatchWork. The floss is a verigated grey,brown,purple so I need to think on the fabric to use for sashing/borders. This will go on my 2012 mini list.

I loved how the BlueBerry Crumb Cake charms arrived just as the last 12 of Hearts block came out on Michelle's RaspBerry Rabbits Blog. This is ready to sandwich up, quilt, bind and ready for the new year. Yeah, my Easter banner mini is done!

Look at all the goodies from my partner, Della, in the Santa Sack SwapII. My, oh, my!! I don't know if there is a specific day we are to open these - if not, these are my Christmas Eve gifts to open. Thank you Della. The 15th we get to open our Santa Sack SwapI gifts and I will share that.

SOMETHING NEW

There is a new button on my side bar for Marcia's new scrap challange using her 'denim block' tutorial construction. You have until Jan 17th to post on her link up and she is giving a 'free' quilting of your item as a prize. Check this out for all the rules - scrappy happy play, I'm in!

CLOSING THOUGHT

JACK FROST
Someone painted pictures on my window pane last night;
Willow trees with trailing boughs and flowers, frosty white;
And lovely crystal butterflies.
But when the morning sun touched them with it’s
Golden blaze, they vanished one by one.
- Helen Bayley Davis

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

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