Keep the Christmas Spirit All Year Long

Thanksgiving is past, black Friday is behind us, Small Business Saturday is also a memory. Cyber Monday is tomorrow. How have you spent your holiday week? 
I hope you were able to spend at least a little bit with your family, doing traditional family things.  Whether it included traditional foods, heading out shopping together on Black Friday (or the new 'Gray Thursday, as I call it). Or sitting around watching football. Or some headed out for the beginning of hunting season. Or decorating the house for Christmas. 
So many things going on at this time of year. Each thing taking up our time. We continue to put in our time at work, plus add all the other extras. We eat too much, we sleep too little, we overdo our lives in so many ways at this time of year. 

This year let's try to keep the spirit of Christmas in our hearts. We get stressed trying to do it all for our kids, our families, our co-workers, and ourselves. There does come a time when we need to step back and just enjoy. 
So, what if you don't get ALL the Christmas decorations up that you normally do. What if you miss just one(or more) of the many Christmas parties you used to attend. What if you don't spend the same or more money this year as last year. Does it really matter?  
Now, if for some reason it DOES matter, than those are the things you should be attending to.  If you can think about it and realize that it will be o.k. to do less this year, then do less. 

Many of us have gone through rough times this year. The economy has affected us, emergencies have taken our savings, loosing a job has taken it's toll. Give yourself permission to do less. 
Often when we do less, we are doing more. Instead of spending money, we spend time. We stay home with family. We make gifts instead of buying them. We teach our kids and grandkids to make things. We remember the homemade things we made as kids or our grandparents made for us.

Yes, doing less. I sit here writing this with my tree not up yet, the house not decorated, the gifts not all bought or even made. I'm o.k. with that. (Tree may go up today, the rest of the house won't be getting done this year. Not like it used to.) I'm giving myself permission this year to do less. I'll admit it is a bit stressful in not doing it all, but I'll get over it. I have so much other stuff going on I have to decide what HAS to be done and what can be done and what can be omitted this year. 

And so, I leave you now with thoughts of Christmas memories, time to come up with money saving ideas, time saving schedules, and ideas for home made gifts. And don't forget ---- quilts or other quilted or sewn items make great homemade gifts. And if you can't make them, you know someone how has them for sale..... Quilter's Pantry! 

I'll be back later this week with tips to save money and save time. 
 
Til next time -- keep those needles stitching.

Phyllis 

 

 
 

Happy Thanksgiving

 Happy Thanksgiving! 

( I got to sleep in a bit late this morning as I will be working 8pm - 4:30 am. at my job in retail) 

 Giving thanks today for all that we have been blessed with this year.
I also give thanks for all those who are working today. As much as we in retail complain about having to work horrible hours and get little sleep, we appreciate: our military who are working 24/7 for our freedoms; our medical personal who are there taking care of us when we are sick, or on call 'just in case'; the police who work to help keep us safe; and for those who are traveling we appreciate the hotels, convenient stores, gas stations who are there as we need them. And to all those on the TV and Radio supplying us with news and entertainment a thank you to you too.
We often don't give these groups of people a thought that they too have to rearrange their family time to accommodate being there for the rest of us. There is no "Normal" in our lives today. For what is 'normal' for one is not the same 'normal' as another. 

Take time if you are out today to say a special "Thank You" to all those who are working and are there for us when we need, and yes, 'want' them.

So today - enjoy your 'normal' day however you get to spend it and be thankful for all that you have been blessed with. Even when things don't seem to be going well for us, we are still blessed with so much. Having others to reach out to is one of those things. 

As for me ---
I am thankful for my family, friends and all my readers, my quilting family and those who just stop by and read what I have to say. You mean so much to me even though I may have never met you.

Have a blessed day. 

Til next time - keep those needles stitching.

 

Phyllis

THE DAY IN-BETWEEN

Today is the 'Day In-between" for me and a reminder of why we make t-shirt quilts.


 I am currently make three t-shirt quilts for a customer out of her late husband's t-shirts, jeans and a jean shirt. No real set block sizes, no sashing between the blocks. I'm just doing random squares of the logos and prints of a wide variety of t-shirts he had collected over the years.
He was killed in a motorcycle accident earlier this year and she is doing these for her young grandchildren.

As quilter's we often get asked if we make t-shirt quilts, quilts from old clothes, quilts from baby clothes that they have out grown. Many quilters do not, because of the detailed work involved. I do make them.

Today, for me is, as the title says, The Day In-between.  You see on November 12, 1979 my father passed away. He had COPD, had been a smoker most of his life. The memories he left me are many. These include a quilt my mother made when I was 10 and is featured elsewhere in this blog.
It was made with scraps of the fabric she used to make so many or our clothes. It was also my Daddy's favorite 'blanket' as it was heavy and he liked the weight of it.

Tomorrow is the anniversary from Nov 14, 1993 when my father in law passed away. I had only known him for 20 some years. But he was special. He was a man of integrity, man of his word. Believed in a handshake was a contract, you took a man at his word.

Both men served our country, my Dad in the Army, my father in law in the Navy.  The timing of Veterans day around the time they each passed.... also special. 

Another interesting thing about both these men. Their birthdays. Born in different years, but one was May 2 and the other was May 7.

I have found so many things that connect my husband and I with odd dates that fit both his family and mine.

Today, as I sit here listening to my precious new grandson wake up, I am reminded of the love of family.  The joy a family brings to each other. And the wonderful memories we have of passed family members. What a great memory to younger family members to have a quilt, especially to have one made out of t-shirts their parent or grandparent wore.

While most of you may not have a "Day In-Between' to remember loved ones, take time as we approach Thanksgiving and Christmas to reflect on family memories.

Thank you Daddy and Jack for the memories, love and joy you brought into my life.

Phyllis

FAMILY MEMORIES

We go through the year from special day to special day. We check our work schedules. We plan family events. We look ahead to what's coming up in the next week, next month. We write appointments on our calendars, in our phones, in our minds - which ever works for us to keep track of all that we have going on in our lives. 

At this time of year life gets real busy. We just got through Halloween and elections (here in the US) and now we look forward to Thanksgiving and then Christmas.  Sadly we spend more time thinking about Christmas than we do Thanksgiving. I say 'sadly' because we usually are thinking about the gifts, and what to get for whom and what we want for Christmas. 

We check the sale ads. The Black Friday ads that have been out for a few weeks already fill our email boxes. We hear about all the sales on the TV.  We plan our shopping day for Black Friday to get up as early as we can to get the best deal. And this year you don't have to get up early!  Just stay up all day and night. Some sales are starting at 8PM Thursday night (Walmart).  What ever happened to one holiday at a time? What ever happened to breathing? Now instead of planning Thanksgiving dinner with family and relaxing for a day of football or just family sitting around napping, eating, eating more.....we sleep, eat and now shop.  It's not even just 'another day'. It's become the official shopping day for Christmas.

Let us stop and rest our minds. Let us spend time remembering what we are thankful for this month. Many are posting on facebook each day the things they are thankful for. We are thankful for family, friends, jobs. We are thankful for our talents, our hobbies, our time that we have to enjoy the blessings we are granted. We all write and talk about the things we are thankful for, and like those who come to the end of their lives it is the little things, the family times that mean the most to us. 

With that in mind it does bring me to quilting. Quilts play a part in the lives of so many. Start a conversation about quilts and chances are the person will have a story about a quilt in their life. Whether it was made by their mother, grandmother or another relative most of us have been touched by a quilt.  They bring warmth both literally as we wrap up under one, or in the warmth of memories of our childhood. 
For me it was helping my mother make one when I was 10. I remember how my father loved it because it was heavy. While it is a bit stained and warn I still have the quilt. I also have the memories of the fabrics that went into it (all from scraps of fabrics that Mom had made our clothes from). 

This year, think about the memories you have of family, growing up and quilts. Let's make memories for our families. If you don't have the time to make a quilt this year remember many quilters, including myself, have quilts for sale. A label can be made to go with the quilt to add the memory whether you made it or bought it for them. 

I will leave you for now with those memories starting to overtake your thoughts. Memories both past and the ones you'd like to make for others. 

Have a great day and.....
Til next time --- -keep those needles stitching. 

Phyllis  
 
  

 

VOTE

Good morning. 


For all my USA readers:
I don't talk about politics on my blog or even my facebook page, but I do believe it is important that we all get out and vote. Let our voices be heard.  Take time out of your day, away from your work, your other activities and your quilting to go Vote.

For ALL my readers that are inside and outside the USA, keep us in your prayers.   Today is going to be a very long day. 

And while we all watch the results tonight, grab your hand quilting, or get in your sewing space and stitch away. Make the best of the time you have today as you stay up late.
 
Til next time - keep those needles stitching.  

Phyllis

 

Keeping the House Safe

Tiny hand of AJ

Little AJ sleeping at Granny and Papaw's

We have a new little one in our midst this holiday season. He is still tiny, but growing well. 
Seeing him grow before our eyes and knowing that it won't be long before he is crawling around got me thinking. Safety! 

This time of year we all get into decorating our homes. 
We move furniture, put up fall decorations. A wreath on the front door.
We place candles around the house for the aroma and glow. 
We bake cookies and other sweets to consume and share. 
Our quilted table runners and wall hangings grace our homes. 

And then the Christmas decorations and the tree get put out.  
We put ornaments on the tree, candles on the mantle, and the center piece of the table. 
We put tinsel and garland on the tree. 
We wrap the gifts and put them under the tree. 
We hang the stockings.

And we take so much for granted. We assume the little ones will keep their hands away from everything. We think that the little ones who join parents in a visit to our home will behave. 
I'm not saying that all kids will run around the house and break things, I'm thinking that little ones tend to find the little things we don't think about as being harmful. 

There comes a time in our lives when, if there are little ones in our lives, that we have to take precautions. Don't invite danger. Don't invite possible harm to them. 

A sterile house is nearly impossible - don't even attempt that one (unless you want to or have to). 
A clean house is not always possible 100% of the time. 
A neat house, an organized house.... we can try. 
A safe house ---- we can try harder. 

For those who have new little ones in the house, new grandchildren who will come visit and spend time with you, or little ones who may even just stop in to visit here are some things to look at and consider when you are decorating. 

* Electrical cords --- keep them hidden and out of the reach of the little ones who walk or crawl. 
* Candles - keep these out of reach. Those enclosed in glass may fall and break. Any candle lit should especially be out of reach and attention paid to them at all times while lit. 
* Tinsel on the tree can be reached by little hands. It can fall onto the floor and be picked up by little hands and even bare little feet. 
* Real pine can shed its needles can be when picked up be put in a child's mouth, or can almost act like a pin into their hands or feet. 
* Table runners can be pulled off tables.
* Food dropped on the floor can be picked up by those little hands crawling on the floor and put in their mouths.  I don't expect a spotless floor, just watch the little ones under foot while you cook and bake. 
* A hot stove, open oven door, open refrigerator, or pantry area -- all invitation to little ones. 
* Some plants are poisonous so be careful about those for kids as well as pets. 
* Artificial snow and small decorations should be kept out of  reach.  
* Wrapping paper, tape, ribbon and scissors - put them all away when you are done wrapping gifts. 
* And laptops, cords, cell phones and ear bugs, chargers, Ipods, Kindles, other electronic devices.... Remote controls.... keep in a safe place. This is also so you know where they are since many hands moving them around when your not watching may cause you undo stress from having to search for them.

And the best thing to remember --- when the kids are quiet ----- it's time to go find out why!  Trouble is sure to follow the silence. LOL
 
These are just a few off the top of my head.   I think this year we will be safe around our house as our little AJ won't be crawling yet. At least I don't think he will be. By next year he will be walking so this year I will pay attention to who I decorate and make notes for next year. 

As you prepare your home for the holidays, for extra company, and guests who just drop in, keep your home safe.

And for those whose quilting or craft area is in the main part of your home, it may be time to put more of your supplies up and away while others are there. Pins, needles, scissors, irons, threads, fabric and craft scraps.... Up up and away....

Til next time - keep those needles stitching. 

Phyllis 

PS - updates on making your home child safe:

** Medications! Keep them locked up or high enough they can not get to them. Even with child proof caps ---- kids can get them open. 
** Electrical outlets - keep them covered. Buy the outlet covers as little hands or mouths can get to them. 
**  To help figure out what they can get into, get down on the floor and crawl around. See what they see.  Reach what they can reach.