Christmas Eve At The Thompson's

 Every year, on Christmas Eve, all my siblings, their spouses and children, gather together for our annual Christmas celebration. We have dinner together, read the Christmas story, and open presents.

  There are 11 of us kids, 3 boys and 8 girls. Two of my brothers are married, and I have 5 nieces and 3 nephews. We draw names amongst ourselves so the gift-giving doesn't bankrupt us. :) We get together on Christmas Eve so that my siblings that have their own families can have their own Christmas Day with their children. 

 This year I drew My sister Charity's name. She is 14 years old, and lots of fun to shop for. She wanted boots, cute shoes, a fun purse, bath and body works stuff...basically anything girly! :) So, I had a good time shopping for her.

 My sister Hannah(16) had my name, and got me......

  Hurray!! I am super excited about it! I had asked for it, but wasn't sure if I would get it or not, as it was a bit more than we usually spend on each other.

 I hope that all of you are having a Very Merry Christmas! I know I am! :)
 

The Christmas Story

¹And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.  ²(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
 ³And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
 ⁴And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
 ⁵To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
 ⁶And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
 ⁷And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
 ⁸And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
 ⁹And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
 ¹⁰And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
 ¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
 ¹²And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
 ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
 ¹⁴Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
 ¹⁵And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
 ¹⁶And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
 ¹⁷And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
 ¹⁸And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
 ¹⁹But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
 ²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Boy, am I glad that Christmas is about Jesus! Are there any greater words than the ones spoken by the angel? For unto you is born, this day, in the city of David, a Saviour which is Christ the Lord! Praise the Lord, a Saviour was born!!!

Mary Did You Know?

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am.

I am singing this song at my church on Christmas morning. It's one of my favorite Christmas songs. :) I always wonder if Mary did know all about what her little child would do. Probably not everything! I think it would have been a little overwhelming to her, had she known everything at the very beginning. But what an amazing testimony Mary was to us ladies. She had such a sweet, submissive spirit. - "And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her." Luke 1:38

More Hairstyles

 Today I practiced more hairstyles on my two nieces who are visiting for Christmas! They were very patient with me, and let me stick pins all over their little heads. :) Here are some pictures of what I did.

 This is such a cute hairstyle for little girls. I french braided all around her head so it looks like she has a braided crown on. :) Little princess! She has naturally curly hair, so I pinned up the curls and voila!

 This hair style was mainly so I could practice for wedding updos. First I sectioned off some hair from the bottom, and did 5 upside down french braids.Then I put all her hair in a high ponytail. Next, I divided her ponytail in 5 sections, and rolled each one to make sort of a big, elegant bun. Lastly, I curled the little wisps of hair around her face. How lovely!This is how it turned out.

Hairstyles for the Wedding!

I have been commissioned to do hair for my friend Jessica's wedding! She is getting married in about two weeks! As I love doing hair, naturally I am excited about this undertaking. But, I also feel a bit of pressure. After all, it's a wedding! Everyone wants to look beautiful!

The Bride is having her hair done by a friend who is a professional hair stylist. I am going to be doing some of the bridesmaids' hair. It's interesting when you start working with different people's hair. My sisters and I all have long, straight hair, so I am very accustomed to working with that kind. One of the bridesmaids has shoulder length, fine, layered hair, and another has rather unruly, curly hair. :) So, this will be a little bit different for me. I think I have pretty much figured out what I'm doing with the former, but have yet to determine what to do with the latter. :) Everything I tried, in the practice session,seemed to fall out. Her hair has a mind of it's own. :)

 I think I am going to do sort of a messy, curly, bun updo on the lass with the shoulder length, layered hair. The curls will add volume, and elegance, and the messy bun should work well with the layers.

Something like this, except a bit higher up, and with a part. She doesn't want it brushed back off her face. 

 

I still don't know what to do with the curly hair. :) If anyone has any inspiration for me, feel free to comment!

I have also been thinking about how I'm going to do my own hair for the wedding. I like these hairstyles! What do you think?

Inspired by the newest version of Emma, done by Masterpiece theatre. Not my favorite version, but I like her hair. :)

All these styles came from the amazing Rapunzel's Resource! Anyone with long hair, who likes to do lovely styles, should definitely check her site out!

I'm Famous!! :)

Well, not quite, but I have been interviewed by my dear friend Rachel, for the Feminine Fashion week she is doing on her blog. For those of you who haven't not checked it out, you should do so, at once. :) 

http://lassofalltrades.blogspot.com/2011/12/day-one-of-feminine-fashion-week.html

Christmas Cards: To send or not to send?

 For the past couple of years, we have not sent out Christmas cards due to the expense of stamps. I always thought it was rather grinchy of us, but what could I do! :) But this year, I decided that we should send out cards. So, my sisters and I had cards made, and are sending some to our friends. We did try to keep the list from getting too long. We're not sending them to all those people you never see, but who are somehow still in your address book. :)

 So what do you think? Are you or your family sending out Christmas cards? I am just curious about it. I know that stamps are rather expensive these days. Sending Christmas cards seems to be something of an old family tradition though. I'm cool with getting an e-card, but there's just something about getting an good old fashioned piece of mail. :)

Maybe Christmas Mean A Little Bit More!

Grinch: They're finding out now that no Christmas is coming.
They're just waking up, I know just what they'll do.
Their mouths will hang open a minute or two,
Then the Whos down in Whoville will all cry, "Boo Hoo!"
That's a noise, (the Grinch said,) that I simply must hear!

Narrator: So he paused, And the Grinch put a hand to his ear.
And he did hear a sound rising over the snow.
It started in low.
Then it started to grow...
But the sound wasn't sad!
Why, this sound sounded glad!

[Whos singing]

Narrator: Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small,
Was singing! Without any presents at all!
He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!
And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling:

Grinch: How could it be so?
It came without ribbons! It came without tags!
It came without packages, boxes, or bags!

Narrator: And he puzzled and puzzed, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store.
Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more.

And what happened then...? Well...in Who-ville they say
That the Grinch's small heart grew three sizes that day!
And then the true meaning of Christmas came through,
And the Grinch found the strength of ten Grinches… plus two."....

 

Fah who foraze! Dah who doraze!
Welcome Christmas, come this way!
Fah who foraze! Dah who doraze!
Welcome Christmas, Christmas Day!

Welcome, welcome! Fah who rahmus!
Welcome, welcome! Dah who dahmus!
Christmas Day is in our grasp!
So long as we have hands to clasp!

Fah who foraze! Dah who doraze!
Welcome Christmas! Bring your cheer!
Fah who foraze! Dah who doraze!
Welcome all who's far and near!

Fah who foraze! Dah who doraze!
Welcome Christmas, come this way!
Fah who foraze! Dah who doraze!
Welcome Christmas, Christmas Day!

Welcome, Christmas! Fah who rahmus!
Welcome, Christmas! Dah who dahmus!
Christmas Day will always be!
Just as long as we have we!

Fah who foraze! Dah who doraze!
Welcome Christmas! Bring your cheer!
Fah who foraze! Dah who doraze!
Welcome all who's far and near!
I love this part of the story! Truly Christmas does mean a little bit more! :) Anyone who hasn't watched, "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" yet this year, needs to pull it out and watch it again! Yes, I know it's a kid's movie, but hey, it's classic!! And it's awesome! :)

That's What Christmas Is All About

Charlie Brown finds himself depressed at Christmas time, searching for the true meaning of the holiday amidst the glitz and commercialism of the modern age. He finds his answer in the passage below:

"And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them! And they were sore afraid ... And the angel said unto them, "Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings o great joy, which shall be to all my people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ, the Lord."

"And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, and good will toward men."

"That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown." - Linus Van Pelt

I know that we all know this, but sometimes a little reminder is good. Don't get too caught up in the hustle and bustle of shopping, gifts, traffic, last minute planning, parties, and baking, that you forget to take the time to thank our Heavenly Father for sending His only Son to earth, to be born, and eventually die for our sins! After all, that really is what Christmas is all about!!! :)

On another note, I received my first Christmas gift friday! It was absolutely amazing. My dear friend Rachel, who I already mentioned, in an earlier post, as being an awesome handmade gift-giver, came through again! I would put a picture of it up, but she posted about it on her blog, so if you want to see it, check this link out: "Shake Me Up Judy!" The Purist's guide to Dickensian Cooking. Thanks for an amazing gift Rachie!

Handmade Christmas gifts, Bing Crosby, and Victorian Costumes!!

 I am so excited about the Christmas season! Christmas time is my favorite time of year! I love Thanksgiving, but there's just something about the feeling in the air at Christmas time. :) I love it when I can finally start listening to my Christmas music! Nothing says Christmas like Bing Crosby's smooth voice singing all those well known songs!  I pull out Holiday Inn, White Christmas, and Christmas in Connecticut, and get warm fuzzies all over. :) By the way, if you haven't seen these classic Christmas movies, take my advice and watch them this Christmas time!

  So, I desperately need to begin work on all the ideas I have for Christmas projects. We had so much flurry around here at Thanksgiving time, that I had no time for sewing. Unfortunately, I do this almost every year. I wait till the last minute to begin my gifts, and then stress myself out trying to finish them in time. :) Every year, after Christmas, I vow to do better next year, but do I? NO! Time always seems to slip away from me.

 I can't give away too much, since people I am making gifts for will possibly read this post, but I have several projects in mind for Christmas presents. I have given myself a challenge to be creative this year and spend as little money as possible, but still give fabulous gifts. I certainly don't want to give anyone a cheesy, handmade gift. We've all gotten them right? Some well meaning person, who you would never tell to the their face, gave you something that probably ended up in your closet the whole year, till you finally felt like you had kept it long enough to throw away. :) Well, I guess I am speaking from experience. Maybe none of you have done such a hideous thing. :) Anyway, I am under the firm belief that you can make a gift yourself that is inexpensive, and useful/lovely. :) I have gotten some of those too. Several of them made by my dear friend Rachel.

 I have also been sighing over some pictures of Victorian Christmas dresses. I have always wanted to get a group together, dress in Victorian winter attire, and go Christmas Caroling. I have not gotten it together yet. Maybe one day! Wouldn't you just love to wear this dress to some Christmas party? I know I would! :)

Photo Shoot

Last week our good friend, Matthew, took a a bunch of pictures of my younger sisters and I. He did a great job! Here are a few of them for you to see.Thanks Matthew for making us look so great! :)

I'm Back!

I know it's been ages since I've posted on here, but I do have good reasons. I have been far too busy for sewing or blogging. :) I've been counseling, teaching classes, cooking food for lots of hungry boys, serving a luncheon, and having lots of fun in the meantime. :)

This is where I was! :)

And This!

And This!!

And This!!!

Cooking Buddies!

My Camper!

My Awesome Co-counselor and her sweet sister.

Fun friends!

Ok, so I know this has nothing to do with sewing, but I thought you might like to see what I've been up to for the past month of blogging silence. :) Now that I am back home, and things are returning to normal, I should be able to pick up my sewing again. I need to finish the Dirndl soon. I have several other projects in the works too. Stay tuned for more soon!

A Place Of My Own

 Ever since I started sewing, I have dreamed of having my own sewing room; a place where I could spread out, and let my creative genius flow. Somewhere I could call my own space; a sewing haven. There I could leave all my things, and know they would still be there next time I came to sew.

                                                                          

 I tend to be a messy seamstress. I don’t like to take the time to clean as I go. So I usually leave my scraps and various other items lying around till I’m finished my project. Then I clean everything up. I think this is because I am always in a hurry to finish what I’m working on. Rarely do I ever leisurely sew. There seems to always be a deadline.

 Most of the time, I would just sew at the kitchen table. Then, when meal times came around, I would have to clear off all my things. Then set it all back up again afterwards. What a pain! But it was better than nothing. I tried using my bedroom as a sewing room, but that did not work. I had pins, thread, and material scraps all over my bedroom floor.  My room is too small! There definitely isn’t enough space to spread out.

 Then my dad made a room over our garage, which he planned on using as a guest house. I asked him if I could use it to sew in when we didn’t have people staying there. He agreed, and I moved all my stuff in. It still doesn’t quite fulfill my dream to have a place of my own to sew in, but it’s a start. :)

                                                             

 I will keep dreaming, and hoping to have a sewing room all my own. Till then, I am thankful to have a place that I can leave my machine up so that it’s ready whenever I am. Maybe when I get my own house, I will be able to set a room aside; but then again, maybe not. We shall see! I will always persevere, and keep sewing, even if I have to use the kitchen table again. :) 

 Oh by the way, check out my new pages! I am slowly adding pictures of all my past sewing projects. :)

"Let's Start At The Very Beginning"

Here I am writing my first blog post. I must confess I find this whole blogging world rather daunting. However; I am going to give it a try. I worry that I won't have the time to keep it up, but here goes nothing.....

The Purpose of this blog is to write about my sewing projects, and hopefully give you other seamstresses out there an idea or two. I would also love to get ideas from any of you who love to sew! I plan on putting up pictures of my projects, and if you see something you like, let me know. I do sew for other people.

I love to sew! I started experimenting with it when I was a little girl. The first thing I ever sewed, with a machine, was a piece of paper. *smile* My mom had me practice sewing straight lines on it. My first project was a log cabin quilt. I liked making that quilt, but I soon discovered that my real passion was clothing!

I started making clothes for my little sister. Little girls' clothes are great for beginners. Then I began sewing for myself. I loved the accomplished feeling you experience when you are able to wear something you made with your own hands. Especially if you did everything right, and it looks good. :)

Then I made my first period costume, and I was hooked! It actually turned out terribly, but I still knew that I wanted to keep on making costumes. I have since gotten much better, thankfully, and have made a period costume from almost every era.

So there you have it, my first post. Did I do OK? Hopefully my next post will be about the sewing project I'm working on, and will have pictures. I have to figure out how to work this whole blog thing. :)