Merry Christmas questions for you!

 

 questions from Sunday Stealing

What’s your favorite thing about the holidays?

A: they are pretty... people laugh more and have hope. They think of others as they think of gifts to buy them. The traditions bring back fun memories of childhood. Sparkling ornaments like dozens of earrings on a tree. Lights twinkling in dark yards, I wish would stay up through the winter. Greenery brought into the house, smells of cookies and pine and funny movies. 

Do you send out Christmas cards and if so how many do you send?

A: I always did til this year...I love to get cards and give them. I think about the person as I write a note inside, and it's the only time some of us keep in contact. 

Be honest: holiday newsletters. Love ‘em or hate ‘em?

A: depends on the newsletters. When they brag I don't enjoy them much. When they take me through the highlights of the year, I like them immensely. Like getting a long letter. 

I was a nanny in Edmonton, Alberta... the family sends a newsletter every year and now those girls are grown with children of their own, and their parents are busy still and it's a good thing to catch up after all this time!

Be honest: photo cards. Love ‘em or hate ‘em?

I love getting pet photo cards, they are adorable and inventive

How soon do you start shopping?

A: whenever I see something I think someone might like, all year, I get it and squirrel it away for holidays. Otherwise the big push to think of something for DH starts on Thanksgiving... he's a hard one to buy for as he purchases what he wants all the time. 

Finding a perfect gift is stressful but how I love shopping at the holidays... not this year of course, but in all others. The displays and music and people, getting a mall snack, watching the line for Santa... all fun to me.

Real or fake tree?

A: I love a real tree but all of us began to have horrible allergy symptoms after getting one. Now we have a beautiful TALL tree that lives in the Family room all year. Not turned on but like a ficus. 

When do you put up your tree?

A:I decorate it starting on Thanksgiving. Then add to it til I begin to sadly take down the ornaments.

When do you take down your tree?

A: at some point in January, the tree begins to look tired... around the 8th or 12th or so... and I take down ornaments (after all how sad is it to look up on a roof and see a Santa lit up in January?) but leave the lights on til end of the month

Describe your typical tree (size, decorations, type)

A: as large as the room will allow. We had a tall skinny white one in our tiny cottage in MD. We have a big full green natural one here in the two story family room. I love ornaments, and beaded garland, lights! (mainly white) that randomly twinkle. This tree came with lights that don't twinkle, but when those give out, the twinkly ones will go on. I have ornament spinners that gently twirl the ballerinas (now hidden in some basement box after our move) and lots of glass icicles that reflect light. 

I had the metallic tree with the three colored light shining on it, as a child and fondly remember being in charge of pulling each branch out of it's paper, and putting it in the stalk. 

Our old white skinny tree now has flamingo lights on it. 

 

I got a pink one at Michaels one year, and had to replace those pink lights last year, it holds poodle ornaments and sits in the front window on top of the treadle machine.

What do you top your tree with?

I like a star. Somewhere I have a star made of stars of every color

Do you put Christmas lights outside your house?

A: I have always done them, and love them, sometimes leaving white ones up to summer, then in summer enjoying the twinkling ones since there are no fireflies in this area. 

This year, we didn't do much, a tree out on back patio twinkles, and one set of snowflakes on the front railing. 

(To be very honest here on my blog, I feel beat up by the year, by the virus and by worry about the divisions among us)  Don't agree? lucky you, no need to comment then. 

Is there a wreath hanging on your door?

A: I love them and had a lighted one in MD but not here. I have a wreath over the mantle

Do you hang up stockings?

A: we have stockings, again hidden in boxes in the basement. I made one for my poodle this year and might get new ones for us made too.

I still love the knitted one my aunt made me when I was born... a scene with tree and santa made in wool!

stocking gifts are my favorite... lots of little special candies and toys and jewelry

Your favorite Christmas Movie(s)

A: I like seeing Sound of Music and the first Harry Potter each year, an love White Christmas about the inn in Vermont . I love the song "snow" sung on the train, and it's romance.

 

Be honest: A Christmas movie you hate

A: Anything scrooge (Christmas Carol).... and there are a million of them

Favorite Christmas Song(s)

A:  Silver Bells, Little Drummer boy, God rest ye merry Gentlemen, King Wencelas, Merry Christmas Darling (usually Karen Carpenter) this version by glee...

 

Be honest: If I hear this/these Christmas songs again I will throw up

A: grandma got run over by a reindeer

Give or Receive?

A: both!

Eggnog or Mulled Cider?

A:both!! 

Ham or Turkey?

A: turkey... (intolerance for pork causes that)  

 

Read answers by other bloggers HERE

Stay safe as you celebrate the season. Wear a mask in public to protect everyone at least during the season of love, you will visit with others again later. Be patient and notice all you still have including your life 

 

the gift

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjqiU5FgsYc,

we all like a present, right?
A surprise that shows another person knows who you are and puts action into feeling by giving you something you'd like.

Say thank you! Be grateful for that connection, right?
What about the spontaneous gift brought home from work or travels? Your mate was thinking about you while away and shows it.

Tell me about a time when you found .a perfect gift for someone, or when you received a wonderful gift.

I think some of the best gifts I've been given are small. Oh I like the big gestures too like the 10 year anniversary ring, but when we lived in Baltimore dh would bring home silly pens with glitter, or lanyards of rainbow colors from trade shows, or come in with a surprise bouquet of flowers on Friday nights.
When we courted, dh lived far away and I'd come home to a bouquet of lisianthus, purple ones, by the door. I discovered them while visiting him in MA so he sent some to remind me of our time together.

now I might wake up to find dh has put a special app on the computer or finished the taxes, or when I can't stand on nerve pinched toes he makes dinner. What a gift.

When I am cantankerous because of anxiety he quietly stays by my side.
When I am stressed Milo comes and stands by my chair, leaning against me.
Such a gift.
Tell me about a special gift you've given or received or both, you know I like to listen!

ps. saw this on the writer's almanac today
"It's the birthday of the man who invented the game Scrabble. Alfred M. Butts was born in Poughkeepsie, New York (1899). He was an architect, but during the Depression he was out of a job and decided he'd invent an adult game. He classified games into three groups — chance, skill, and a combination of both — and decided that the last was the most promising. He said the hardest part of developing the game was assigning point values for letters. He went methodically through the dictionary and several popular newspapers and counted by hand the frequency of letter usage. He had trouble selling the game to major board game companies, but a friend of his decided to produce it on an assembly line, and it became a great success. He enjoyed playing Scrabble with his wife, who was a good opponent. He said, "Nina knows more words and spells better than I, but my architectural training helps me to plan better."

home

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoRkntoHkIE&list=PLhXQhpqBNAYsiwGQ6e4rxgbQ0gGVfKZ2u&index=14

one of my very favorite songs.... and concepts. Home. What does home mean to you?

Home did not mean safety growing up. It did not mean belonging or joy, but I saw it could mean those things when I watched TV. I saw it in friend's homes and families. I read it in books.

When I moved out, I became responsible for all financial responsibilities and decisions about my future. I was able to say that's how it's done in THIS house!
 I began to build traditions. I collected things that made me happy and brought light into my life.

Having a pretty home to me was not decorating the whole place like a designer would, it was showing collections, it was pretty pillows and artwork, it was cheerful curtains and kitsch and comfort.

I feel like other people,  like on Pinterest,  have all matching items. I want a sense of space, and to see things that remind me of people I like. We recently put some pretty curtains on a bedroom window that is bright through the blinds. The curtains are a pretty shade of pink with black floral patterns, very subtle but they make the room feel small now! One little change made the whole room feel different.

I have been reluctant to hang artwork, even quilts in this house. I like the calm wall color that goes thruout the house. But. I have lots of pretty pictures too, and some pretty quilts. I hung our V-day quilt on the stairway wall and love it.
I may be sliding into decorating a bit.

How do you decorate your home? Formally  with planned colors or with eclectic mixes of sentiment like I do? How does it effect you?  Does your home look like you?

what is home to you?

be brave

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUQsqBqxoR4&list=PLhXQhpqBNAYsiwGQ6e4rxgbQ0gGVfKZ2u&index=7

Tell me about a time when you were brave and stood up for what was right?

I remember back in my college days, I had just decided I needed to change majors. I had gone through the first two years of Pre-Med (lots of chemistry, physics, calculus) and was not content. I had that niggling feeling that I was in the wrong place.
I could do the work, I wanted to do it, but if all felt so wrong.

I was out and about one day, and saw someone taking advantage of some kids... I went over and spoke up for them to the adult, and it worked out for them. I thought... this feels right.

I began taking tests to see what careers I might fit into and social worker came up.
I spent the next two years in a very different learning environment, and spent the majority of my career working on behalf of kids.

 I made a lot less money than I would have as a doctor!

tell me your stories...

What does he want?

What does he want? What? He stares at me often now. He wants something and believe me, I'd love to give it to him. The staring is driving me bonkers. He has eaten, he has water, he's been out, he's played with toys dumping out his toy basket. He has a cute quilted bed.

Does he have ennui? Is it Spring fever? Does his head hurt as much as mine does from the pollen? If so I wish I could relieve both of us!


I have heard people say they wish they knew what their pets were thinking.("this is an amusing little cookie, not as good as the bunny poop but better than kibble)(this place is a dump)(open the door, let me in, let me out, let me in, let me out...)

 I usually know or think I do. My husband will ask me, "what does he want?" Poodle turns to look at me, send his desires telepathically and I interpret. After I finish speaking he turns back to DH to carry these out. This process has worked for us for years. Today, with just the two of us here, I don't know what he wants.

 Wait, maybe I do.       He wants... something.     Something undefinable.
So do I.
We both will settle for a walk. In the pollen-laden air.  
I have a splitting headache and am missing deadlines right and left. I should be sewing. Just to give you another clue as to the state of my challenge, this was what I made yesterday:

I made this free-form willy-nilly using  my beloved scraps.

Just working in these colors is awesome.

Then I tried being a bit more, orderly and made this

And I dragged out many fabrics to be unfurled, placed under the components already made on the design wall.     The process.
 Place, pin, stand back, reject, refold, unfold another, place, pin, stand back, reject...

 A friend of mine once said, "I thought you artists just knew what to do"


Bwahaahaaaaa

LeeAnna
(Feel free to tell me what Cole wants)
you might enjoy other posts on poodle-puppy ponderings here

Is it Spring yet?

Is it Spring yet?? I spied this little fellow in the garden today. That bit of color amidst the brown yard was so, well, hopeful. The bits of purple and golden center are brilliant! I left the old oak leaves there just for the effect, ahem, not because I gave up raking last Fall. Then I saw this pretty little thing!

 Oh, it must be Spring if the daffodils are singing!  I like cold weather, I carry around this layer of fat just for such moments, but the season has stretched on long enough now. The first real hint of Spring came when my pastel needs appeared a couple days ago.

Can an Easter quilt be far behind??
Do you respond to the seasons?  Does your color palette change when the seasons change? I find myself wanting to use the colors around me in nature. What about you??
Want a tutorial on the inset circles? look here!      For part two click here! 
LeeAnna

Remembering

"Remember"     6" X 6"

This wee quilt was made to send to my friend Nancy who lost both her parents this year. Her loss effected me not only because her mother was an inspiration to me, but because her loss connects us.

Her mother taught me by example how to age gracefully, with beauty and humor, with strong beliefs and a world interest, and she always made me feel like she really saw who I was. That was a gift.




Nancy is a long time friend, who lives down South still. We worked and played together until I married and moved North. Distance is only a small problem though as each time we get a card, or see each other it's as if no time has passed. That is another gift.
Her loss reminded me of the precious woman who used to watch me as a child. She always made me feel important, smart, loved and safe. She was generous, and pious, and unassumingly humble in the best way. I miss her every day, but carry the fact that I was loved by her in my heart. She made a lasting contribution to my growth as a person and who I am today is due in large part to her. I called her Tatee, and no one knew where that came from.
I do. She used to say, "ta-ta" for thank you when she handed me anything. She became my thank you person. And that was a gift.

A quilt is so much better than a card, isn't it?
LeeAnna

Roadblocks to Creativity 2 (Raining with a chance of poodles)

RAINY WITH A CHANCE OF POODLES

First of all, if you can read this, thank an electrical engineer. Our internet system went down this morning, and despite being late for work and looking at impending storms all day, DH fixed it. Oh he says he knows nothing about computers, but he always saves the day. Thankful, that's me.

So let's talk about roadblocks again. It's Monday, as if that isn't a roadblock enough.

I have a long list of possible roadblocks and abandoned the one originally chosen for today to discuss weather. Yep, sometimes weather actually gets in the way of creativity. I heard someone last week say she'd start a new quilt but the weather was so wonderful, she had to be outside instead. Lots of people have a hard time staying in the studio when gardening is a possibility. Some are more productive when it's cold and snowy. Once again, you have to know your preferences,  know what turns your mojo on or off.

We hate rainy days around here. The "check poodle" light comes on and he hides in the hallway or becomes comatose.I have a similar reaction but fight against it.

I have always been depressed when the sky is cloudy and gray.  My emotions are down those days and creativity can suffer. ( people with Seasonal Affective Disorder  know what I mean)
I cope by lighting up the world! Then I turn up the sound, comedies or old musicals for me.
 I turn on all the house lights. The studio is loaded with  daylight  ( full-spectrum)  bulbs so that when I flip the switch it's daylight in there. As my eyes age, I could use even  more.
.

 If I can get to the studio and  turn on the lights, my mood will lighten too,  which allows me to focus on making something. NOTE:  These are the days for  mindless sewing, since I'm creative but not on full-power.

  Those are the days I will pull out the scraps and sew, either pull out paper piecing patterns and make components to combine later or sew free form curves.

 I love what I call medicinal sewing, and teach a workshop called "from tiny scraps come great quilts", which you could check out CLICK HERE








The important questions to ask yourself  are:
> does weather effect your emotions or not  IF SO
> does weather effect your emotions (creative mojo) in a positive or a negative way?
If it's positive, and for instance you love rain, then as much as possible go with it. Plan to spend the day making art when rain is predicted.  If it's not positive...
> how will you overcome emotions to get back to your energetic creative mood?
Again, my solutions may help you or you may need different solutions, say chocolate and caffeine, rock n roll, paint by numbers, whatever.

However you cope with weather, keep making something through the low moods. It's easier to change direction than start from nothing. Even if you aren't creating something original today, make something that brightens your mood, and the muse will return. She always does eventually....
LeeAnna 

puttin' on the ritz

I have long loved a cow. I put cows on my art. Cows and flamingos.
Odd the things that attract a person. Cows, flamingos, poodles and palm trees.
 That would be an art challenge, to combine these!
I took tap dancing lessons for about 3 years, back in the day when jumping up and down didn't start an avalanche. I also love old musicals from the 40's. Lot's to love. What odd things do you love? How do they find a way into your day?
 In case this doesn't load, try this link tap dancing cows
LeeAnna