Merry Christmas one and all!

'What's to-day, my fine fellow?' said Scrooge.
'To-day?' replied the boy. 'Why, Christmas Day.'

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Merry Christmas, everybody! 

 

 Wishing you a Christmas...

 that is merry and bright, ...

filled with the joy...

of the season!

Linda

Another "bear" day!

The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently approached..
It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand. 
"I am in the presence of the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come?" said Scrooge.
"You are about to show me shadows of the things that have not happened, but will happen in the time before us," Scrooge pursued. "Is that so, Spirit?"
The upper portion of the garment was contracted for an instant in its folds, as if the Spirit had inclined its head. That was the only answer he received.
"Lead on," said Scrooge. "Lead on. The night is waning fast, and it is precious time to me, I know. Lead on, Spirit." A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

As I've said before, sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you... he got me yesterday!  We were extremely busy at the office and almost short staffed because of all the use-or-lose leave people are taking now.  The team member that I work with, works at home on Tuesdays and it's usually seamless - in other words it's just as if he's physically at the office - but I swanee sometimes I think he falls asleep at home!  Else why doesn't he respond to emails or answer his phone, eh??  So much for that bear.

I was poking around on my junk design wall yesterday and saw this block I made a few months ago.  When I made it, my first thought was to make it the size you see here, but on second thought maybe I'll use it as the focal point for a larger hanging.  I fused some batiks to create a stained glass window slightly above and behind her, then again I don't know if I'll incorporate stained glass into the finished piece.  Still thinking about that one.

My guild is planning a quilt show for 2011, so there's a distinct advantage in making this block into a larger wall hanging...more mileage I guess.

This block is appliqued as you can see; I like the process because - at least the way I do it - it's more forgiving than following someone else's pattern.  Don't get me wrong, there are some beautiful patterns available and they have their strong points, but sometimes I have to find my own way through a piece.  The picture that inspired me was a full view of a young lady with her hair in a ponytail, in slacks, kneeling at a table.  I cut her off at the waist, moved her hands into a prayer position, and transformed the slacks into a dress or jacket (I'll let you decide!). I used a head dress instead of hair.

I think it'll turn out okay!

Linda

More retreat blocks

"Spirit!" said Scrooge in a broken voice, "remove me from this place."
"I told you these were shadows of the things that have been," said the Ghost. "That they are what they are, do not blame me!"
"Leave me! Take me back. Haunt me no longer!"
He was conscious of being exhausted, and overcome by an irresistible drowsiness; and, further, of being in his own bedroom....and had barely time to reel to bed, before he sank into a heavy sleep.  A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

* * * * * * * *

The days just don't seem long enough!  Today is Winter Solstice, so we start getting one minute more of daylight every day until Summer Solstice, where we start losing a minute every day.  But hey, I'm glad for the one-minute gain right now!  They're calling for more snow before Christmas, but they've been wrong before [crossing fingers].  Yesterday was cold, but sunny... it was sunny - if that makes a difference! 

For our Scrapbagger's retreat in Deep Creek in April, each person had to choose a block from a list that our fearless leader (Carolyn) gave us and make a bunch to swap with everybody else. We were given a half-yard of focus fabric, a piece of which had to be included in each block.  What a challenge!  I call her "fearless" because pulling together a retreat can not be an easy job!

All blocks came from Quilter's Cache; mine is called Wavy Navy... 7 down, 10 to go!  I believe it's okay to post this because it was not a secret project - we do have one assigment (a pass-it-along story) that she specifically said is a secret, so I won't mention that.  Another assignment is to make a quilt on a specific subject - Carolyn, I promise not to blog [blab] about it, LOL. 

Hello followers, it's good to see all of you! [waving and grinning]. 

Sew forth and sew on
Linda

---

No to this, yes to that...

The Ghost stopped at a certain warehouse door, and asked Scrooge if he knew it.
"Know it!" said Scrooge. "Was I apprenticed here?"
They went in. At sight of an old gentleman in a Welsh wig, sitting behind such a high desk, that if he had been two inches taller he must have knocked his head against the ceiling, Scrooge cried in great excitement:
"Why, it's old Fezziwig! Bless his heart; it's Fezziwig alive again!" A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

* * * * * * * *

By now you're probably wondering how the quotes from A Christmas Carol tie into my blog post... the answer is "not at all!"  I just thought I'd quote Dickens just for the heck of it.

Yesterday after checking my email, I had to pat myself on the back for saying "no"... I said "no thank you" to 50% discounts at eQuilter; "nope" to Hancocks of Paducah; "nuh-uh" to The Cotton Club; "no way" to Thousands of Bolts!   I spent some time organizing, sorting, playing with the fabric I already have, so it was easier to say no.  Sort of like saying "no" to a slice of sweet potato pie while you have a mouth full of lemon pound cake.  Tempting, but you know you can really do without it.

I was able to say a big  "yes" though... I went out on another car hunt and found the style and color I wanted, signed the papers, yadda yadda yadda, drove the car home.  I had an embarrassing amount of stuff to transfer from the trunk and the inside of the old car.  Golly geez, I found a CD that went missing over a year ago!  Now, all that mess is in the trunk of my new car.  I only wish I hadn't been stoopid enough to fill my tank before I went out, though.  Today is my work-at-home day, so I may spend my lunch break clearing some of that stuff out of there.

I saw this picture the other day and it just about cracked me up!  It's probably on somebody's Christmas wish list for so many reasons...

Until later

Linda

---

And the winners are...

"I wish," Scrooge muttered, putting his hand in his pocket, and looking about him, after drying his eyes with his cuff: "but it's too late now."
"What is the matter?" asked the Spirit.
"Nothing," said Scrooge. "Nothing. There was a boy singing a Christmas Carol at my door last night. I should like to have given him something: that's all."
The Ghost smiled thoughtfully, and waved its hand: saying as it did so, "Let us see another Christmas!" A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

* * * * * * * *



raffle tickets ready to roll!



Yesterday my guild had its annual Christmas party, and a grand time was had by all ! We had good food, good fellowship (especially with long-lost members), and a hilarious gift-swapping game where the recipient had to sing a Christmas carol pulled from a bag, in order to keep the gift. 

Three lucky winners won the drawing for the Chesapeake Treasures raffle quilts - king sized and queen/double sized bed quilts, and a 73x73 wall hanging.   My congratulations to the winners!

As I was listening to my iPod last night I noticed (again) how frayed my ear buds were, then I started pulling the stray pieces of rubber off ... bad decision!

The one on the left side lost a piece off the cord and separated right before my eyes!  Do you suppose it's time to get new ones??

Until later,
Linda

Preparations, preparations...

"Are you the Spirit, sir, whose coming was foretold to me?" asked Scrooge.
"I am."
The voice was soft and gentle. Singularly low, as if instead of being so close beside him, it were at a distance.
"Who, and what are you?" Scrooge demanded.
"I am the Ghost of Christmas Past."
"Long Past?" inquired Scrooge: observant of its dwarfish stature.
"No. Your past."   A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens

* * * * * * * *

Do you ever have times when the day "feels" like the day it is?  Saturday feels like a Saturday or Monday feels like a Monday?  To me, yesterday didn't particularly feel like any specific day, although it was Friday, the end of the work week.  Lest I laze the day away, I sorted some fabrics and worked on retreat assignments, so I had my nose to the needle most of the day.  Surprisingly, it was a nice sunny day after we got over the black ice at rush hour, a few accidents on the Beltway but I didn't have to be out there. There was still some snow on the ground and sidewalks that was the soft kind, meaning I shoveled my walk then used the broom to clear the rest of it - I didn't even have to use sand or salt!

This is my take on one of the retreat assignments; I don't think it's a secret, so it's okay to post it.  ;o)

Retreat participants were given a fat quarter of a blue batik and told to create a block that reminds you of the "ocean." Well, I sculpted a moon over the ocean at night, piecing for the base and then appliqueing pieces of fabric for the water. I also added a few beads to resemble bubbles floating on the waves.  I chose this design because I liked it, although the block didn't have to "be" the ocean, it had to "remind" you of the ocean.  I have to finish up two more retreat assignments, and I'm done!

I chatted with my sister in NJ yesterday, she's making her famous pork BBQ for Christmas, woo hooo!  She bakes the pork shoulder in a "secret" sauce and freezes it until Christmas - it's vinegary and delicious!  I've had it before, and I highly recommend it.

I might have mentioned before that I'm a member of Uhuru Quilters Guild; today is our Christmas party, ugly fabric auction, and the drawings for the raffle quilts.  Unlike previous years, this year there are three quilts of the same general design, but in three different sizes.  The quilts are really pretty - I hope one of my ticket buyers wins!

Linda

A few of my favorite things

"You will be haunted," resumed the Ghost, "by Three Spirits.... Expect the first tomorrow, when the bell tolls one.  Expect the second on the next night at the same hour.  The third upon the next night when the last stroke of twelve has ceased to vibrate...." A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

* * * * * *

At this time of the year I always look forward to seeing my favorite movies on TV... It's a Wonderful Life and The Polar Express are two of them. 

There are three scenes in The Polar Express that I just love... one is the Hot Chocolate scene on the train, those waiters have it all together! 

In one part, at the North Pole, they're waiting for Santa to appear, and some of the elves are harnessing the reindeer for the sleigh, and I tell you those feisty reindeer are jumping and leaping all over the place!  Everybody's singing, the elves are climbing over each other to get a good view, they're playing the trumpets... and when Santa finally appears they go wild!!  That's a really kewl scene.

Another scene is when the elves are filling Santa's bag with toys and they discover the main 4 kids in the bag, they tell this know-it-all kid to have a good trip [or "don't slip" or whatever] and boot his tail out.  Then they're loading Santa's bag on the sleigh when it gets stuck on the star at the top of this humongous Christrmas tree, then the parachute crew has to use ropes to guide it down.  I really like that movie!

Yesterday we were under a winter weather advisory - definitely NOT one of my favorite things!  I left the office shortly after 1:00 and got home (usually a 35-40 minute trip) at around 2:45.  The roads were so slippery, even at my top speed of 25 mph I skidded a couple times when I stopped at a red light.  Scary, I tell ya!  Isn't it funny how you don't notice those little hills until they're covered in snow or ice?  The good news is, they called off the advisory but now they're saying we may get more this weekend anyway.  I know I'm whining, but we're not supposed to get snow until January  :o*(

I didn't get any sewing time in yesterday, sometimes you get the bear and sometimes the bear gets you! That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Linda

VitaTops!

But why do spirits walk the earth, and why do they come to me?'
'It is required of every man,' the Ghost returned, 'that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide; and if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death. It is doomed to wander through the world-oh, woe is me!-and witness what it cannot share, but might have shared on earth, and turned to happiness.'
A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

* * * * * * * *

I've developed a taste for VitaTops!

I can't remember how I discovered them, but you can order them online or get them locally.  In the DC area the Giant Supermarket and Target carry them in the frozen food section, near the shelf where you find those veggie burgers *cough*. 

My personal opinion, I think VitaTops are tasty, especially CranBran and AppleBran: only 100 calories each, low sodium, low fat, 5g fiber.  Great for a snack; sometimes I eat one at lunch with a green salad  Actually, what they are, are carb-friendly muffin tops.



I made a few more iPod holders after I got home from work yesterday, they really work up fast.  For these I used batiks and I made them 1/2" narrower than the first ones, and I didn't see any significant difference in how my iPod fit in there.  I did notice, though, that when I went to turn them right side out, it was just a smidgen tighter but that's no biggie!

I'll take them to work and sew on the buttons and they'll be finished!  It probably would have been a lot easier if I had just used the same fabrics for all of them, but I wanted all of them to be different, what can I say?

And now, gentle reader ... I have a request that only you can grant!  If you are in the DC area and are singing "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" or "Baby It's Cold Outside" or "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow"... would you please stop!  I think the weather man is calling for a possibility of snow before the end of the week, let's not encourage him!!

Until later
Linda

Binding and shivering

As he threw his head back in the chair, his glance happened to rest upon a bell.... It was with great astonishment, and with a strange, inexplicable dread, that as he looked, he saw this bell begin to swing.  A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

* * * * * * * *

Last night was my night for binding a quilt as I listened yet again to "An Echo in the Bone" by Diana Gabaldon.  I love that Outlander series, she has such a way with descriptions that I can feel myself right there, in 1775.  While I was sewing I could hear the wind woo-woo-wooing outside, it even sounded cold!

I made this star quilt using crumb pieceing for the star centers with "liberated" points; for added interest (or confusion!) I used different color backgrounds around the star points. Then, as if that weren't enough, I used a black-and-white wavy striped fabric for the sashing, with white-and-black cornerstones ... and the Three Stooges are nyuck-nyuck-nyucking around the borders. Didn't I know when to stop?? I made this quilt last April at a "sew-away" weekend in Deep Creek, Maryland.  This one is for my bed; I named it "A Star is Borne" because I had taken (or "borne") stars to a place they'd never been before.  They may never go there again...

For a laugh, I thought I'd throw in this news item about peopling airing their Festivus grievances in Adams Morgan, Wash. DC.  (Note: if you're seeing this several weeks after it was posted, it has probably been archived by News 4, so the link will be broken.)  If you were a Seinfeld fan, you might recognize Festivus as an alternative holiday that George Costanza's father celebrated, airing grievances he stored up all year.

As you can see, Washington DC has some of everything, but as for me, I celebrate Christmas the good old-fashioned way!

Linda

Rainy Sunday

"Sitting-room, bed-room, lumber-room. All as they should be. Nobody under the table, nobody under the sofa; a small fire in the grate; spoon and basin ready; and the little saucepan of gruel (Scrooge has a cold in his head) upon the hob. Nobody under the bed; nobody in the closet; nobody in his dressing-gown, which was hanging up in a suspicious attitude against the wall. Lumber-room as usual. Old fire-guard, old shoes, two fish-baskets, washing-stand on three legs, and a poker." A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

* * * * * * * * * *

Yesterday the weather wasn't designed to make you jump up and click your heels, unless you like it dark, cold, and rainy.  I have no idea what the temperature was, I only know it was wet and c-o-l-d! 

As I was going through my sewing room yesterday, I found these little crooked house blocks in a container of odds and ends.  Donna Radner showed me how to make them a very long time ago (dare I say 3-4 years??) and I only made 5 at the time, intending to go back and make enough for a wall hanging.  I'll just add this to my "to-do" list ... this is not, I repeat not, a UFO! 

Since I refuse to create another UFO, I invented myself a very special category which I've named "whenever/if ever".  These blocks fit that category to a "T"! 

 

Here's a picture of the CR-V I'm thinking of getting... not in red though; it will either be the Royal Blue Pearl (another word for deep blue) or Opal Sage Metallic (pale green) - I think we pay them to come up with these color names. I'm leaning towards the green because supposedly light colors are easier to see at night. Whatever. 

In any case, I didn't do any car-hunting yesterday because it was so cold and dreary outside; I only wanted to stay inside and play with my stash.

Linda

And then there were two

'A merry Christmas, uncle! God save you!' cried a cheerful voice. It was the voice of Scrooge's nephew, who came upon him so quickly that this was the first intimation he had of his approach. A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens.

* * * * * * * * * *

Eeeeg!  After buying another throat plate, I can't believe I found my original one yesterday morning!?? I don't need two of these things, they're metal and they last forever!

I was doing a little tidying up in my sewing room when I found the original plate in a plastic shoe box under some pieces I cut who-knows-when for who-knows-what. I've said before that if you can't find something, look under a pile of fabric... I should have remembered that.

This is a quilt I made for my sister Ruby for Christmas 1997, one of my first quilts. It's a paper-pieced pinwheel design and, because she collected elephants (as well as being a Delta), I threw in one elephant block as a surprise (that's an elephant button on his face). I named it "One More Elephant."

Ruby passed away from cancer in 2008; she was one of the best sisters you could ever have! She was generous, inventive, fun-loving, not afraid of a challenge, and a good cook. One night several months after she died, my brother-in-law had gone to bed and was asleep when all of a sudden he stumbled into the hallway yelling, "Ruby! Ruby is in the bedroom!" To say he was "pale as a ghost" wouldn't be accurate because he's a rather dark-skinned Black man... but he was getting there. I'm telling this as I heard it. I don't know what he did to get on her bad side, but this happened twice already. Now, he's in his mid- to late-seventies and in reasonably good health, but if she pulls that trick just one more time ...

I didn't get any sewing done yesterday, but I did have adventures in Honda-land, as it were. I definitely want a new car before the end of the month and I'm pretty sure I want a CR-V, so I comparison shopped and test-drove three of them; man, it took hours. Naturally the dealer wanted to reel me in by offering a deal that was good only if I "accepted-the-deal-and-drove-the-car-home-today!" I was expecting that, but I still don't like being pressured, it "gets my back up." This is the end of the year, dealers want to move their cars, I believe I can get a good deal when I'm ready. 

Today I'll work on more retreat projects.  Until next time...

Linda

A lazy Friday

"Marley was dead, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that....Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail." Excerpt from A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens.

* * * * * * * * * *

Have you ever had one of those days when you know you should be doing something -- housework, laundry, shopping, de-cluttering -- but you just don't want to?  Me either!  ;o) 

Well, I didn't de-clutter or do housework or laundry, but I did go to Hancock Fabrics to pick up a throat plate from my favorite sewing machine repairman.  I misplaced or lost the one that came with my Singer Touch n Sew when I bought it way back in the last century ... 1971 to be exact.  That machine has so many good qualities, even after almost 40 years!

I wanted to play with my fabric, keep it moving from point A to point B, so I worked on my retreat projects and made a few more string blocks.  I don't have any real plans for these blocks yet, my first thought was to cut them in half and use them as a scrappy border.  They are trimmed to 9-1/2  inches square, simply because that's the size of the square ruler I had. 

Meanwhile I'll keep making these blocks whenever I don't want to "think" or follow a pattern; no pressure, no deadline.  I might start another batch that are color coordinated or all lights, in case I want to do Bonnie Hunter's Roll Roll, Cotton Boll mystery sometime later. 

Well, that was my lazy day, I hope you had one too!

Linda