Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Stitcher's Advent - December 25th

Merry Christmas!

From a Christmas Past:
One of Grandmommy's Homemade Christmas Cards
For a Christmas Future - Melissa Shirley Santa Skirt
and Kathy Schenkel Advent Series
Mag Friends - "Classic" Santa Princess and Me - Advent Series
For Christmas Present - a Present
Sew Much Fun Christmas Trees Finished as
referenced on Dec 11th.
Thank you for your blog visits and patronage this year.
There will be more to see in the New Year!

Monday, December 24, 2012

Stitcher's Advent - December 24th

The Stockings were hung...
Mag Friends Picture Frame -
you can add any picture you wish or
even a shop logo
well not quite.  This Alexa stocking has a looong way to go.  It is from a Amy's Cook-up class a few years back.  It will be a masterpiece when it is done.  

While there are disagreements between written record and legends on the origin of the Christmas Stocking the story my mom always told me was the one as wikipedia states.

History (wikipedia)
Very long ago, there lived a poor man and his three very beautiful daughters. He had no money to get his daughters married, and he was worried what would happen to them after his death.
Saint Nicholas was passing through when he heard the villagers talking about the girls. St. Nicholas wanted to help, but knew that the old man wouldn't accept charity. He decided to help in secret. He waited until it was night and crept through the chimney.
He had three bags of gold coins with him, one for each girl. As he was looking for a place to keep those three bags, he noticed stockings of the three girls that were hung over the mantelpiece for drying. He put one bag in each stocking and off he went. When the girls and their father woke up the next morning, they found the bags of gold coins and were of course, overjoyed. The girls were able to get married and live happily ever after.[1]
This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas. Sometimes the story is told with gold balls instead of bags of gold. That is why three gold balls, sometimes represented as oranges, are one of the symbols for St. Nicholas. And so, St. Nicholas is a gift-giver.[1]
A tradition that began in a European country originally, children simply used one of their everyday socks, but eventually special Christmas stockings were created for this purpose. The Christmas stocking custom is derived from the Germanic/Scandinavian figure Odin. According to Phyllis Siefker, children would place their boots, filled with carrotsstraw, orsugar, near the chimney for Odin's flying horse, Sleipnir, to eat. Odin would reward those children for their kindness by replacing Sleipnir's food with gifts or candy.[2] 
Christmas stockings are also a popular homemade craft. Many families create their own Christmas stockings with each family member's name applied to the stocking so that Santa will know which stocking belongs to which family member.

Other sources of interest

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Stitcher's Advent - December 23rd

Christmas is Love
Mag Friends - Red Heart
Mag Friends - Pink Heart
Mag Friends - Clear Heart 
Mag Friends - Patriotic Heart*
Hint: A new Mag Friends Heart will be available at the Long Beach TNNA Show.  

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Stitcher's Advent December - 22nd

Rockin around the Christmas Tree
Mag Friends - Guitar & Music Note

Friday, December 21, 2012

Stitcher's Advent - December 21st

Noah's Ark 2 by 2 -


Mag Friends - Animals

Needlepoint: Kathy Schenkel  - not started yet - soon. 


One of many Noah's Ark Christmas Decorations

Hint:  There are future magnets in this picture that will be available at the upcoming shows early next year.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Stitcher's Advent - December 20th

More Florida Christmas

Mag Friends Conch Shell
My maternal grandmother gave each of us in the family the same ornament known as "annual family ornament" for many years.  We have continued that tradition.  Some years there is more than one as more than one person participates.  For several years I made five of the same ornament representing each of us. This one was mine. 

Needlepoint: Julia's Needleworks
 Matching luggage tag and box too.

and in the stash...Bimini Pischke Pocket


Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Stitcher's Advent - December 18th

A Kitty Christmas - a Melissa Shirley piece from long ago.
I bought this from someone else's stash donation several years back.  It was a car project for me in my husband's car.  Needless to say it has been a WIP for 5+ years.  Almost done.  The final touch is to tie a real ribbon for a bow.  It will be ready for next year's Christmas.
                
                   Mag Friends - Black Cat                Fob Friends Black Cat

Life's Interpretation of Art

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Stitcher's Advent - December 16th

Christmas in South Florida or Southern California.

Mag Friends Palm Tree
Fob Friends Palm Tree
                                                             
                                  Under the Rainbow                      Princess & Me

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Stitcher's Advent - December 15th

Prayers and blessings to those that have passed on and their families in a tragedy or at this time of year.  May they find strength and guidance in the spirt of Christmas. 
                                                            

Christmas Cookies for the kids in all of us.
Mag Friends Gingerbread man
Canvas by Little Shop
Stitch Marker by CK Whimsies
A favorite family holiday tradition is making sugar cookies.  I have made some the last few days for a party and cookie exchange.  More in the freezer to make with some children to pass on the tradition.
  


Friday, December 14, 2012

Stitcher's Advent - December 14th

A Doggy Christmas
Mag Friends - Small Clear and Black Dog

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Stitcher's Advent - December 12th

12-12-12!

Sounds like an excuse for party! Celebrate with some champagne!
Mag Friends - Champagne - Pink and White

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Stitcher's Advent - December 11th

Another Christmas Tree!? - 
Few of us have just one tree anymore.  What with Ornament Trees, Theme Trees, Craft Trees...

Fob Friends Christmas Tree & Lights

Mag Friends Limited Edition Christmas Tree -
A few more were found while doing some inventory
reposted under Monster & Limited Edition Page
Needlepoint: Stitch of the Week - Christmas Tree from
Absolutely Needlepoint in Miami

The intent is to use the 12 Days of Christmas Charms as Ornaments.  Possibly even adding the Christmas Lights and Candy Cane charms.

The Christmas Tree Counter came from
CK Whimsies



         
Fob Friends Christmas Tree & Lights     Mag Friends Limited Ed.
                                                                        Christmas Tree

The original inspiration for this magnet came from this Sew Much Fun canvas.
It is at the finisher's and forgot
to take a picture before submitting.










Monday, December 10, 2012

Stitcher's Advent - December 10th

Presents!
A Collection of Designs - Pretty Packages Series from Chandail

Mag Friends Present


Gift giving is a time honored tradition at this time of year.  Long before the Hanukkah and Christmas presents we think of today.

The web - wikipedia and other googled sites:
The Encyclopedia Americana explained: "Most of the customs now associated with Christmas were not originally Christmas customs but rather were pre-Christian and non-Christian customs taken up by the Christian church. Saturnalia, a Roman feast celebrated in mid-December, provided the model for many of the merry-making customs of Christmas. From this celebration, for example, were derived the elaborate feasting, the giving of gifts, and the burning of candles."

Regarding the custom of gift giving, the journal History Today noted: "The giving of presents at the midwinter feast almost certainly began as a magical more than as merely a social custom. Saturnalia presents included wax dolls, given to children. A charming custom, no doubt, by times of record, but with a macabre past: even contemporaries thought this probably a vestige of human sacrifice, of children, to aid the sowing."
The New York Times of December 24, 1991, featured an article on the origins of Christmas customs, including gift giving. Simon Schama, professor of history at Harvard University, wrote: "Christmas itself was superimposed over the ancient festivals that celebrated the winter solstice . . . In the third century, when sun cults like the Mithraic religion of Persia found their way to Rome, days in December were given over to celebrate the rebirth of Sol Invictus: the invincible sun. . . .

The only tradition of gift giving associated with the festival is the exchange of gelt. Since Hanukkah falls on the same time as Christmas, the Jews expanded the gelt-giving tradition to gift giving tradition. With time, the gift giving tradition on Hanukkah became very popular. Gifts serve both for the traditional aspect and the fun part. The gift-giving tradition is no longer restricted to children. Adults too participate in it whole-heartedly. This tradition brings people close to each other an enables them to spend precious moments with each other. 

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Stitcher's Advent - December 9th


Hark! The Hearld Angel's Sing
Kathy Schenkel Advent Angel
and Mag Friends Angel

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Stitcher's Advent - December 8th

Today is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception -

                                       
                            Mag Friends - Cross       

The inspiration for this magnet came from a Whimsey & Grace canvas that I made into a Rosary holder as confirmation gift.

Tonight is also the first night of Hanukkah - Chanukah.
Mag Friends - Star of David

Friday, December 7, 2012

Stitcher's Advent - December 7th

In Honor of Pearl Harbor -

Accoutrement Designs Patriotic Collection
       
Mag Friends - Patriotic Star & Heart             Liberty Bell
Fob Friends - Patriotic Star & Liberty Bell

 Patriotic Santa's for the season.
                                           
                
                            Ornament                                       Kelly Clark
A staple project.
Solider Kissing Pillow