Merry Christmas from Sewtopia

Hello dear friends. I wanted to take this time to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah. I am finishing up a few last minute gifts, I know, really! Yes I am. Things have been buzzing along in Destiny-ville and I am totally pleased with the outcome of each project. I cannot over state the quality of the stitch in the Baby Lock machines. I have owned Pfaff's, Vikings, Berninas, Singers, and a couple Japanese imports in the 1960's and 1970's that were good machines. But the Baby Locks are far superior. I have been able to buzz through my projects with ease. I am so grateful.  

While filing away some of the Christmas embroidery discs I found two that I forgot about. Big projects, major work. Need to work at least one of them into the plan for next year. Of course, it looks like a herd of squirrels has taken up residence in the studio. I have an entire day ahead of me next week to get everything ship-shape and ready for the new year.

On that note, blessing to you and yours during this Holy time. Keep your friends and family close while enjoying the festivities of the season. See you next week. I have two days of cooking the Christmas Eve feast and then Christmas Day dinner. Yes, I am the family cook and entertainer.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!

My Friends at the Ladies of the Cloth: Temari Balls

Always working on something to expand skills, the Ladies of the Cloth have been creating Japanese Temari Balls. These little pieces of art are absolutely stunning. Jenny started the project with her beginning ball and everyone admired them. Soon, several other ladies started their own and the rest, so they say, is history!

I was not able to join in this time they are far more skilled than I. These are just a few examples, in progress. I will keep you updated as their completion approaches. Beautiful.

If You Were There, You Already Know......

There are times when I post little reminders...like... mending Monday, drink your water, check your boobs, you know what I mean. If you sew you already know about running with scissors. I want to add, ahem, watch where you snip!

Saying Goodbye

The Calla Lily is a stunning flower. Beautiful, almost magical, fragile in its life. Such was the life of my friend who left this world yesterday. Many years of illness gave her a strength seldom seen in the world today. We worked together for many years, I learned much from her strength and insight. Her sense of humor was well known. She raised a lovely family. Her husband just passed a few weeks ago, they will share life together again. God be with you dear Joan. 

The Sewist is Making Soup

Nothing like a cold breeze and a little snow to make me make some nice hot soup! When the Mr. came in from plowing our 360 foot main drive way and two 40 foot driveways I knew he would be very cold. On hand there were the standards, onion and potatoes, and it all came together. Over on Kitchen Chronicles I added my often tweaked and tested Potato Soup. Get the recipe here.

Sewists Christmas Decorations-Some Last Minute Ideas

From Quilting Digest advertisement.

photo from Quilting Digest advertisement

Are you looking for a little decoration for your sewing room/studio? I used to decorate that room with a passion, now there are no free spaces for Christmas Decor. I am lucky if I remember to turn the calendar to December. Right now it says October. See what I mean? For those who collect wooden spools these are cute little ideas with little effort and expense. I have divested the few wooden spools I did have. Hopefully, you find these ideas useful. 

Returning Home

Snow. The first one of the season that is more than dust. About 3 inches now, still coming down. The Farmers Almanac tells us this is the first of many, many snows this season as well as very cold weather for the entire Winter. I'm hoping it is a joke. Probably not.

Resiliency of the human body and spirit. A subject I have visited hundreds of times over my professional career. I witnessed it again, in a family member this week. A young woman with a long and complicated medical history has survived another hurtle, another disaster, another earth shattering event....or two. The human spirit, as strong as it can be, fighting through pain and loss of consciousness, of systemic collapse. And there she is, she is back. Less herself but back.

 I needed this snow today. It makes everything look clean and neat. It cushions the sounds of street noise while it allows the echos of footsteps to sound against brick walls. The view from my front porch is one of my favorites at this time of year. Shades of white, shades of gray, filtered and dappled light.

• Returning to the place of most of my profession life is interesting. Not nostalgic. Interesting. How many years I walked those halls. How many souls I met...coming and going. How I still carry many of them in my head and in my heart.
•  Talking with old friends and co-workers, the few that remain. Seeing how all of us have grown and aged. How our families have changed. Children have grown, parents infirm, spouses come and gone.  And how some have stayed too long revealing discouragement and frustration. How this happens in health care. The stress can eat you alive, and does.
• Hugs from those who know of my painful loss. Sincere, some of them little more than nodding acquaintances.  This place was also my home.  These people were like family members. 
• Young men who came to my unit as fledgling interne's, now with their own practice and remembering that I was a rather strong force in their education. Seeing my husband smirk as they recount stories. Your past follows you, you know. When you least expect it.
•  And finally returning to this home that I have known for so long, in the snow,  knowing that the challenges will not change, I will.