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!