Memories

Thanksgiving is less than a week away. I was sitting here thinking about it and how it has changed over the years. Yes, it's still a holiday (day) where families gather for a big meal and spend family time together.

As a child that is all it was.... oh, and football afterward.  Grown ups took naps after eating so much and blamed it all on the turkey. 

Some years the weather was so bad that not all the family could make it in to the main meal destination.
Other years the house was full of family having a great get together. I never remember Christmas being in the picture at all. 

And now.... now that we've grown up..... Thanksgiving is a time of family, of gathering for a big meal and enjoying being with family.  BUT..... it is also a time to start decorating for Christmas; it's all about Black Friday and the sales (now also on Thanksgiving day). It's about people complaining because they have to work on Thanksgiving day and spend the day away from family. They have to miss the big meal. All because retailers are greedy and not only want the most money, they want to be the first to get the most money!  

Thanksgiving has now got to be the most stressful holiday there is!  Unless you are not affected by the retail aspect of it and have the day off and are not going shopping.... 
I know you are still affected by the Christmas sale add, the Christmas decorations being up already i some places and even Christmas music being played.
 
Where has family time gone?  Where has relaxing time gone?  Where has being close to family gone? 

However, if you are a quilter/crafter.... we always are thinking about Christmas and the gifts we need to make for everyone. Crafters like to see the holiday craft supplies out early. But we also like to take time to enjoy Thanksgiving and what it is all about. 

I, for one.... miss the Thanksgivings of childhood. 

I also will be working on Thanksgiving, right after an early meal with family----- wonderful life of retail. 

Til next time
Keep those needles stitching,
Those creative juices flowing
and Enjoy your weekend.

Phyllis



 

Life in the Studio

Welcome to more of the countdown to Christmas and the busy season. 
I had set a goal of things I wanted to get accomplished by today and well...... I'm only a day away from reaching that goal, so not too bad. 

Yesterday I finished two 5' Christmas stockings for a customer who wants them to decorate his doors and then have something to hand down to his children!  I'm honored!  

I also finished longarming a customer's quilt. It was her fourth of four in this order. I've done 16 of them for her just this year. She makes them to then donate them to the homeless children in a town near me. 

I also finished up a few folded fabric pine cone ornaments like the one above. Plus made two more of the regular folded fabric ornaments. And finished a folded fabric Christmas tree. (All finished to the point of ribbons to be added.... which I did a few of those today. )

Also yesterday, since my studio is at home I did three loads of laundry!  

Today.... I put the ribbons on several of the ornaments and pine cones. prepared, loaded and started longarming a queen size quilt for a Christmas gift (Personal). 

I'm also in the process of organizing my studio ---- again.  After working on several projects the area gets a bit messy and cluttered and I need it clean to work. While doing this I've gathered pieces of fabric that are too small to be put back on the boards and store on the wall shelves. Some too small to make fat quarters out of. I'm doing my best to get to the point of cutting them up in preparation for scrappy quilts. That is my downfall... I have a hard time with scrappy quilts.  Maybe that should be my goal next year..... to get over that 'fear'/challenge. 

All in all it has been a great weekend.  Ending too soon. 
Last weekend my computer died so I'm working with a new one now that I really love, but my old files and photos have not been transferred yet so am limited in what I can post in pics. As soon as get those on my new computer and get caught up on photos I'll post more of what I have worked on this year. 

In the mean time....

Keep those needles stitching, the creative juices flowing and have a wonderful week! 

Phyllis
 

The Holidays are Here

Yes, the holidays are here.  Halloween has come and gone. Thanksgiving will be here soon. And believe it or not, Christmas is just around the corner. 

We sit back for just a moment and wonder where the year has gone. What were we doing while it sped past us? 

I've been a busy quilter, photographer, Mom, wife and grandmother. 

Customer quilts kept me busy for most of the year which was a wonderful feeling. Always having those extra quilts spending a brief amount of time in my studio before they headed out to parts unknown was special. I enjoy being a part of the making of a special quilt for a special person. I also enjoy being a part of making quilts for charity. I usually don't have time to make the whole quilt, but have been involved with doing the longarm work for several quilts that have been made and then given to the homeless children in our area. 


It amazes me the time, money and work people put into quilts that are then given away to those we will never know. The love that goes into it. I hope  the person who receives it will feel that love when they wrap up in it. I hope it touches their lives in a positive way that they will remember forever and share over time.

As we all settle in for our long winters nap..... 

Oh, wait, most of us will be busier than even at this time of year!  

As we all settle in for running our sewing machines, cutting, washing, pressing, pinning, stitching and binding....... so others can enjoy that long winter's nap under a quilt ...... 

Take time to be thankful each day for something.  We are all blessed. If you are a quilter or other crafter you have been blessed with your creativity and talents. If you are not that creative you are still blessed. We often overlook the little ways we are blessed while we look for the big blessing. Take time to notice the little things. 

I leave you now for a little while. Nap time has come, with a busy day ahead. While life goes on, I'm also busy making a few major projects as well as working on Christmas ornaments again this year. I still have a few customer quilts to finish as well as one special personal quilt to get done. Whew ..... yep, no time for a long winter's nap. 

Til next time... 

Keep those needles stitching, 

those creative juices flowing

those blessings being counted

and encouragement going out to others. 

Phyllis :) ♥