Getting ready to celebrate

I’m getting ready to party! 

Santa by Jane Eborall

December is always a busy time for me. I’ll be practicing daily again. I’ll be writing cards and notes. I’ll be creating and buying gifts and then wrapping them. This year I promised myself that everything that comes into the door will be used. I’m not going to stow it away “to use later” but used it now. Kinda “later is now” is my new attitude. And I do Attitude in December!

The picture is one of the gifts I’ve created. Not sure who will be receiving this one. I may just make several! For the pattern, visit Jane.

I hope your celebrations this month are full of joy and wonderment at the gifts you have been given!

Christmas Break inspirations and projects

The crazy part of Christmas is over. Consumers are no longer jostling at the stores. The right gift is no longer occupying people’s thoughts. The feasts are all laid out and washed up. Now it’s the part of Christmas that allows me to feel connected with my heritage and people throughout the ages. Any parent can relate to the story of birth and the first few days of a child’s life. Any creative person can relate to how traditions came to be. I hope you have been able to pause and enjoy a brief break.

We have been taking advantage of the time off from work to do some badly needed painting and sorting of boxes. The studio looks more like a storage room in the dim reaches of a theater. There’s instruments, stacks of boxes and furniture, paint cans and oh yes, a loom or two. Not much practicing or tatting lately. I did find more inspiration on a walk: 

 One of my walking buddies has picked and cooked mushrooms for years. She no longer pickles them or fixes soups daily, but she will tell you which mushrooms she likes to use for these dishes. I’m not as creative in the kitchen, so it’s alright I’m learning the Russian names for all these.

It’s almost time to get back to creating with fiber. I think I’ll practice again today. With Epiphany around the corner, I’ve dusted off Wie Schon Leuchtet again. I need to finish the angel. Oh, and I’ve only got a few more squares to complete in my Weave-It study series. Several of these yarn creations remind me of quilt blocks. Mmmmmmm

Oh, and Jane’s TIAS is coming. Now, that’s a gift we all enjoy!
Merry Christmas!

Happy celebrations!

Yesterday was a good day. The celebrations for July 4^th were safe, community oriented, filled with friends and family. I didn’t tat; too busy with community events like parades. I didn’t weave; too busy enjoying family. I didn’t play the organ; too busy listening to the organ in the Theater downtown.

Thank you, Tom Delay, for showing off this example of early 20^th century technology. It sounded wonderful. This picture doesn't show the console, but you can see the 2 pipe chambers flanking the stage. Sometimes I wish you could see the pipes, but the screens are so ornate and beautiful. 

The house was pleasantly packed and your music brought smiles to faces and hands clapped vigorously! I hope to get a chance at that keyboard soon.

Enough of this keyboard. Time to create!