This, That and a Few Sleeping Over...

We had a busy end to last week with a few guests in the house to liven up our otherwise boring routine day-to-day schedule. An after-dinner concert is certainly out of the ordinary around here, but it really classes up the place!

We had dinner one night at Cracker Barrel, these two love, love, love some Chicken and Dumplings!

Also spending some time with us right now is a our grand-dog, Buddy. Lynnleigh and Gregory enjoyed spending time and playing with him, too. The youngest grandchildren have returned back home but Buddy remains here for a few more days; as you can see, he's made himself right at home. 

A friend and I were able to squeeze in another Chrismon class at Rufty's on Saturday. Only one more month remaining of classes there before they close their bricks and mortar store. This is the Kingdom Ball. It's a hard one to photograph because of its 3-D nature, it will be beautiful on the tree. We've already registered for the final classes that are being held next month at the store, we're trying to learn all that we can while there are still classes with teachers!

These are the Chrismons that we've made this year, so far; clockwise from left: The Crown of the Apostles, The Kingdom Ball, The Cup of Salvation, Christ in the Manger and a 3-D Cross. After the physical shop closes there will still be kits and materials available but it will be online. 

 

This is one of my oldest UFOs. I discovered it in my recent closet reorganization! I know that I finished the teeny primitive embroideries (I can't remember the pattern names or designer but I do recall that these were a set of long "cards" that I purchased at a quilt shop in New England, the shop also specialized in wool applique and embroidery primitives) in the late 1990’s. It was a great shop but, sadly, closed a long time ago.  I remember that I set this one together in 1999. It's time to get it quilted! (You notice that I didn't say that this is my oldest UFO; no, it's only one of my oldest! Sigh.)

This itty-bitty calendar style table topper, or wall quilt, measures 23" X 27". 

And, in the meantime, the laundry room tear-down, and re-do, continues. Did I open this post by saying that things around here are boring and/or routine? Nah, there's nothing farther from the truth. There's always something... and it's all good. 

Life is Good!

Chrismon Crunch

I went to a Chrismon workshop on Friday and came away especially excited after learning how to make this chalice. "The Cup of Salvation" from Psalm 116:13: "I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord". There were some new techniques to comprehend and it was a bit of a struggle to get to the point where I felt comfortable leaving, I still had a few loose ends (literally- wires sticking out!) to wrap up after I returned back home before it was considered finished. It's not perfect, but it represents me, the flawed and sinful person that I am. It hasn't been quite a year since I began this Chrismon journey, the learning curve has been a steep one, but it's such a worthwhile and rewarding pastime. A friend (also a Chrismon maker) mentioned to me yesterday that this is one of those things, that when you're immersed in measuring the wire, counting the beads, wrapping and creating the shapes you can't think (or worry) about anything else at the moment; this is an intense process that demands 100% focus for a few (or more!) hours; but, when you're done, you're done! 

The physical shop (←click on the hyperlink to read all about the store and its history) where the classes are held will be closing at the end of June, although online sales  of beads, wire, kits and books will continue. There's a time crunch on now to become sponge-like and soak up everything that I can from only two(!) more monthly in-person class offerings. It's "go" time!

Life is Good!

Shown above: the Cup of Salvation and the Crown of the Apostles. 

Moving into Advent

It's been almost a month since I posted anything here. I've received a few inquiries regarding my health and an email asking if I was experiencing a fun vacation somewhere. Nope; I can't claim either as an excuse for my absence from this blog, I'm healthy and present, simply busy- it's all good! In fact, I've thought about posting for weeks; but, by the time I got around to sitting down to do that, the moment has passed and whatever I had intended to post about already seemed like old news. So, here I am, catching up (as this news is old) by launching into Advent and the realization of a Chrismon tree in the sanctuary of our new (to us) church! Having a Chrismon tree became a dream shortly after we moved into our very own church building back in April of this year. Beginning in May, several members, plus myself, traveled to Rufty's in Salisbury, NC to learn all that we could about making Chrismons. I was bitten by the Chrismon-making bug and, along with a like-minded friend, made several more return trips for classes and supplies. I couldn't seem to stop, I was committed to obsessed by the process. If I couldn't figure one out I would work it and rework it until I was satisfied (even reasonably so) with the result. There are "levels" of proficiency attached to each kit; and yet, I forged ahead fearlessly. It would have benefitted my peace of mind to pay more attention to the levels; but, hey, the brain wants what the eyes see!  As our total number of completed Chrismons grew collectively, we crossed our fingers and hoped that we'd have enough to somewhat cover the branches of a small tree. As sort of a last-minute "push" to make more, a multi-generational workshop was held here, around the dining room table, in November; the group made simple Latin Crosses. 

It was a very successful day!

One thing that we knew we wanted to do was make Resurrection Butterfly Chrismons in loving memory of those church members who've entered the Church Triumphant over the years. 

On the first Sunday of Advent the long-imagined Chrismon tree appeared in the sanctuary at Grace Lutheran Church, dedicated in loving memory to those who rest eternally with our Lord and Savior. Each one is memorialized with their own Resurrection Butterfly, placed in the branches in their name.

Thanks be to God!

 The final Chrismon that I made this year is the one pictured up at the top, on the left, it's the "Advent Cross in Circle"; completed shortly before the tree was erected in the sanctuary at the end of last month. It may be the final one this year, but it's not my last by any stretch of the imagination; there's still so many beautiful Christian symbols to discover and create! I eagerly look forward to what's up for next year.

Life is Good!

Inspiration

Inspiration can come from many different sources and directions, we simply need to keep our eyes, ears and hearts open to receive. I signed up for yet another Chrismon workshop last month. This one, a three-dimensional angel, can stand alone (literally) or join other figures in a nativity set. This was a much more advanced class than those I'd taken previously but I went for it anyway, thinking "how hard can it be, there's an instructor on site if I get stuck." A friend and I set out on the scheduled day and drove on down the road to Rufty's. There were numerous classes being taught that day, the classes coincided with an ongoing multiple-day Open House event.  As we worked, stories were told around the table and we learned about each other through the common interest: how long we'd been making Chrismons, where we were from, and the like; there were two ladies in our class from out of state, they'd come especially for the Open House festivities. One lady told us that she'd only begun Chrismon making the year before, that she'd already made 150 and that she was self-taught from watching YouTube videos. Well, as if that wasn't inspiring in itself -- she was 91 years old! Yes; let that sink in for a minute! Wow. She traveled from Georgia, with her daughter,  just for the class (she was taking another class the next day too) and staying in a local hotel. She had photographs of the fully adorned Chrismon tree that she'd made for her church and was starting on more for a second tree. 91! Committed to learning a new skill during a pandemic while she was house-bound. Self-taught from YouTube videos. 150 Chrismons in a year.  Yes, I came away inspired and awe-struck at her commitment and determination. As a Chrismon-making newbie I thought that my fourteen were an accomplishment, think again! Thinking gets me in trouble all the time. Remember that earlier thought that I had "how hard can it be?"... well, as I was diligently working, finishing up my beaded angel (above), an over-stressed and weakened wire snapped; her head fell off on my palm, she’d suddenly become decapitated! I was completely distraught (thankfully, being in public prevented a total freak-out moment)! But, our fearless instructor calmly took my piece in hand, reassured me, backed out some of the beads, spliced in a new connecting wire and deftly reconnected her head. My blood pressure s-l-o-w-l-y dropped back to normal. And there it was, even more inspiration, this time in the quiet hope and kind consolation given by a stranger; loving assurance freely given to someone working well above their skill level. Grace. I'll remember this day for a very long time; I have a precious, repaired, angel to remind me of lessons learned way beyond those involving beads and wire. Praise God!

 What's inspired you lately? 

Life is Good!

Golden Hours

Things around here have seemed quiet and much slower-paced since the conclusion of Quilt Camp last week. On Saturday I went down the road with a friend for another Chrismon class, this one was a 3D cross with pearls. It was fun! The cross framework was constructed first with the oblong gold beads; the pearls are popped in at the end, they're free floating inside. Isn't it pretty? Of course, I couldn't leave the store there without stocking up on supplies to make more. My plan is to devote a few afternoons each week to Chrismon-making this summer. 

It's been a while since I've done any machine embroidery. This was stitched with a new (to me) metallic thread. I've always avoided metallics in the past as my experience with them hadn't been the best. Quiltkeemosabe told me about this particular brand 🠟

for embroidery last year; it stitched up beautifully, no shredding or breakage at all, it is absolutely stunning against the black linen background!  This embroidery was created for a black clergy stole.

The inner lining fabric is a rich black background with embellished crosses; actually, Lynnleigh spotted this beautiful piece during a recent shopping trip and I thought it would be perfect for lining this stole. 

Quickly, I texted a photo of it to our pastor for his approval before purchase, 

he thought it looked great too; a plan came together on the spot. 

Yesterday afternoon was dedicated to more Chrismon making, my latest obsession. 

For me, this is blessed time, set apart; hallowed hours spent in quiet reflection and connection.

I already know that one day I'll look back on this point in my life and be so glad;

my heart will remember and these Chrismons will live on as a testament. 

Life is Good!

Continuing On...

I am still plugging away on the Chrismon path, I've hit a few potholes and endured some detours along the way but I'm persevering, holding steady and not veering off. After returning to the supply store a few weeks back to purchase some more kits to try, I've been dedicating whatever free time that I can carve out in the afternoons to work on these. The written directions take some getting used to. The Star Cross (far right, above) gave me fits, my first attempt was pitiful!  I took it completely apart, got new wire, and tried it again yesterday. This is how it is supposed to look. Hooray! A friend and I are going back to Rufty's,  "Chrismon Central", in a couple of weeks to take another (intermediate level this time! Yikes!!) class. She's been much more prolific in her efforts than I have, see below: 

She's become a Chrismon-making machine! Aren't they all beautiful, each and every one?

The two of us got to together the other afternoon at church just to see how many we're going to need to fill one of the trees that we'll use for this purpose during Advent. We carefully laid our completed Chrismons on a tree, just where it stood in the storage room, as an audition of sorts. Not bad. We're still going to need many more, but this gives us an idea; we've got time. Hopefully we'll be recruiting eager "makers" this fall within our own church family; and we have years and years to build our collection. In the meantime, I'll be continuing on... one bead at a time, learning all that I can along the way.

To God be the Glory!

Life is Good!

A Stellar Day!

Yesterday I did something that I have wanted to do for DECADES- I grabbed a few like minded friends and we set off for an adventure down the road; to learn Chrismon making! The results of three hours of tedious work are shown here. This is the "New Gold Star" (the five pointed star announces the birth of Christ), a prophecy from the Old Testament told that "there shall come a star  out of Jacob, a scepter shall rise out of Israel"  -Numbers 24:17

⭐

Now that we have a church building of our own, and will have a Chrismon tree to decorate, my mind is already racing forward to Chrismons and how to make them, so off we went. I went with much unbridled zeal for this task and was completely and totally overwhelmed once I entered the space where the class was to be held. The sheer number of Chrismons displayed, along with the varying degrees of difficulty for construction, boggled my mind. Even my over-the-top level of enthusiasm for was no match for the skill required to twist and pull the beading wires into a recognizable shape while reading a pattern that may have even confused me more!  There was time to browse and shop after the class concluded but my brain was too tired at that point to concentrate. I couldn't imagine what I might want to do next and knew that I needed time to rest and think. If you know me, you understand that I don't easily admit defeat; it's going to take much more than a misshapen, less than perfect star to discourage me from sticking with this, I'll keep at it for as long as it takes to build confidence and get it right. It really was truly satisfying to hold that New Gold Star, wonky or not, in my hand and imagine it shining brightly on a Chrismon tree in our sanctuary.

This snapshot reveals a stressed look that was 100% authentic!

Since I've been home I've developed a plan. I've dedicated a box with compartments to a someday bead collection, started a notebook and drawn up a shopping list and a plan of attack. This experience clearly reminds me of the very first time that I ever shopped at Mary Jo's Cloth Store in the late 80's. I went with a neighbor and was so overwhelmed being in a fabric store the size of a large discount department store that I couldn't decide what to buy and came home empty-handed!

Mary Jo's, back in the day.

Suffice it to say that I never came away from this fabric lover's mecca without anything ever again, the next time, and every. single. time. after that, too many to count (think: semi-annual pilgrimages), I always returned home fully stocked and knew what I needed ahead of time before I ventured out. I always had an attack plan! Sadly, after Mary Jo passed away in 2017, the doors closed for good; two years later.

With that experience as a guide, I knew exactly what to do after I returned home yesterday; develop a plan!

😉

 I'm definitely going back.

I'm in big trouble. 

Prayers and Chicken Salad...

I flipped on the light over the kitchen sink in the predawn darkness and poured myself a cup of coffee. Retrieving the chicken from the refrigerator that I had cooked before I went to bed, I began chopping it up for salad. There was a funeral today and I was asked to bring a platter of sandwiches for the reception after the service. As I prepared sandwiches I prayed for his family and thought about our beloved Pastor T. He moved here in 1993, after he was retired, and became our Volunteer Pastor of Visitation. He was always cheerful and spry; and oh, how he loved to visit... he loved people, and they loved him! When my father-in-law died almost nine years ago he was the first one to the house to be with Mom, he was the face of Christ to her in those hours. He visited me after my surgery in May, 2005; he stood at the window of the hospital room and pointed out all the landmarks and gave me an impromptu history/geography lesson that morning. He died in the early morning hours of December 23, in his sleep. I learned today that it's precisely what he'd hoped for, what a blessing for him! I cut the crusts from the bread and layered the little sandwiches onto a platter. I prayed for peace and comfort for his immediate and extended family. I prayed too for my dear friend who instructed me in the fine art of finger-sandwich preparation for funeral receptions. She doesn't get out much anymore, the food-preparing torch has been passed from her generation, now, to mine. She told me, one day, which bread to buy and how it needed to be frozen so that the bread could be de-crusted and cut just so without falling apart. I did it exactly as she had taught me. (This isn't my platter pictured; it came from Google images.) I gathered up all the bread trimmings, cubed them, and tossed them with a little butter and seasoned salt and baked them in a slow oven; et voila, croutons! (She never told me to do that, I thought it up on my own, but I believe she'd think it's a clever idea.) The funeral was one of the most beautiful I have ever attended, the Chrismon trees were still in the chancel and poinsettias lined the steps. The aisle candles were lit as well as the Advent wreath and Christ candle. What a glorious time of year to be called Home, thanks be to God! I came back to our house today filled with mixed emotions, both sad (for the earthly loss) and happy (for Heaven's gain) at the same time. What a day, one that began (and most likely will conclude!) with prayers and chicken salad (I had a LOT left over...).

Life is Good!

Little Bites, One At A Time...

Here stands my Chrismon Tree, it's coming down today along with all of the other Christmas decorations to be packed away for yet another year. Along with the lace angels, beeswax candles and folded paper stars the tree contains some beautiful cross-stitch Chrismons, made by my daughter approximately ten years ago; precious few of those are actually made up into the Chrismons they were meant to be. Unfortunately, most of her perfect cross-stitch is still languishing on the even-weave canvas awaiting assembly (by me!). Every year it's the same story, I put up the tree and vow to finish the ornaments so lovingly hand stitched for this purpose. The hectic pace of the season always takes precedence and they simply don't get done. This year is different. I am taking the New Year's challenge the same way I would approach a large meal; little bites, one at a time. I have divided tasks that seem large over the course of the year and made assignments each month. January: Chrismons! I have altered the "notes" area on each month's calendar page to read "goals" and marked Chrismons there where I can see it every day. That, and this public declaration, should spur me on to a successful finish and twenty more Chrismons next year. I have packed all of the necessary materials to take with me on quilt retreat this coming weekend where I'll nibble away on them, one bite at a time. Wish me luck!

Life is Good!

Sweet Treats And Other Surprises

My daughter and I constructed dozens and dozens of these "nugget boxes" the weekend before last. These boxes, pictured, are made from folded cardstock and are designed to hold three Hershey's nuggets, they're sleeved to match the outside of the box itself. They can be made in other sizes too, to hold any number of surprises. The instructions are found here. Aren't they the cutest little things ever? I found a cute little surprise myself, sitting under my Chrismon tree when I finished decorating it on Saturday, apparently canine embellishments such as this one aren't limited to quilt tops! Wishing you sweet and wonderful surprises of the season...

Life is Good!

And Suddenly...

" ... a large army of angels appeared with the angel..." -Luke 2:13








Oh, yes... it's getting crowded here at
The Strawberry Patch , what with all the halos and wings and everything!

Life is Good!