12 Ways of Christmas: Influence Day 11

"Influence
Symbol: Mary
Scripture/Quote: “I hope that my dear sisters throughout the world—grandmothers, mothers, aunts and friends—never underestimate the power of their influence for good” Dieter F. Uchtdorf
“Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days . . . will happen . . . to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different—in happy ways—from the women of the world.” President Spencer W. Kimball, 1979
Ideas: Women have the great blessing of being nurturers whether to their own children or the children of others. Women can be role models for good, and can have a powerful influence on those they interact with."

Two UFO blocks (UnFinished Object, in quilting terms)I made years and years ago, one very abstract, one with printed Nativity fabric center.

12 Ways of Christmas: Rescue Day 8

"Rescue
Symbol: Angel
Scripture: Jesus Christ, the Deliverer of mankind; he rescues all from the bondage of death and the repentant from the penalties of sin. (Guide to the Scriptures)
Ideas: At some time in your life, has someone rescued you? Been your angel? Have you been blessed to be a part of some one else’s rescue? (Visiting teacher? Missionary? Friend?)"

I made this one. There is some Christmas cherub fabric near the bottom of the tree...

Too many stories...but know that I am thankful!

12 Ways of Christmas: "Speak" Day 7

"Speak
Symbol: Gift
Scripture: I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people (Psamls 85:8)
Ideas: Gift of the gospel. What this gift means to you personally. Sharing the “good news” with our family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc. “Joy to the World” DVD give-away." (I have one of these dvds to give away--first one that asks in comments gets it--free, just let me know!)

This heart block (from a FGQG Christmas exchange) looks like it could turn into lips easily, with some judicious black thread/quilting.

Please look here if you have a few minutes to see some beautiful Bible videos. Our Christmas gift to you.

12 Ways of Christmas: "Instill" Day 6

"Instill Symbol: Wreath
Definition: To Instill: to cause to enter drop by drop; to impart gradually. (Meriam-Webster Dictionary)
Ideas: Line upon line; precept on precept. Teaching our children; instilling in them a love for and a testimony of Christ. How is this accomplished? The wreath, as a circle and as an evergreen, symbolizes a deep and unending testimony of our Savior; symbolizes eternity, and the hope we have for our posterity to have the Savior in their lives. By teaching our families and children we have hope that the great promises of the gospel will be carried to our posterity."

Wreath block part of a Cotton Club small quilt group exchange. We each made 10 blocks and traded with each other, to have a variety of greens & reds. But that was years ago, and I haven't put them together into a top yet. Maybe they will go into this 12 Ways quilt/tree skirt with the other symbols?

Spoon exchange (along with mug rugs) with Wild Threads, wreath spoon was spectacular!

Mug Rug I made (from labels, part of Superman t-shirt, orange ric-rac)

Mug Rug made by another WT. Big enough for your cup and a bagel or cookie, like a mini-place mat.

12 Ways of Christmas: "Realize" Day 5

"Realize Symbol: Candle
Scripture: And now behold, I speak unto their seed, and also to the Gentiles who have care for the house of Israel, that realize and know from whence their blessings come. (Mormon 5:10)
Ideas: Let your light so shine. We are blessed beyond measure to have the restored gospel in our lives. How can we seek to bless the lives of others? How do you/can you “pay it forward?”

Sharing a birth DAY with a family member can be tricky. My mother-by-marriage loves German chocolate cake, so I try and make her one every year. I doubled the recipe (yes, I use recipes, inspite of my concept cooking practices), Palmer cousin style, and used the extra frosting inside graham crackers surrounding the cake. Suzu's cake is white vanilla cupcakes with peppermint blue cream cheese icing and rainbow sprinkles. They sang to each other: "Happy Birthday to US!"

I don't have a candle quilt block--but here is an exchange attic window block. Candles in the window are one of my favorite Christmas decoration. That is stretching the imagery a little, I know. There are a couple of candles printed on red fabric almost cut off on far right side. If I can find/make a candle button, I could sew that on any part of a 12 Ways of Christmas quilt/tree skirt...thinking/brainstorming.

12 Ways of Christmas: "Submit" Day 4

"Submit Symbol: Shepherds
Humble: to make meek and teachable. Humility includes recognizing our dependence upon God and desiring to submit to his will. (Guide to the Scriptures)
Ideas: Quote from CS Lewis: “Lose your life and you will save it. Submit to death, death of your ambitions and favorite wishes: submit with every fiber of your being, and you will find eternal life. Keep back nothing. Nothing that you have not
given away will ever be really yours. Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead. Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Christ and you will find Him, and, with Him, everything else.”

Shepherd in center square, old Noah's Ark fabric I bought years ago, made this block 10 years or so...old UFO.

I saw this tree pin idea on the clever Purl Bee blog, and thought they would make good teacher gifts, a little tree lapel pin, simple felt shapes. Roxie learned how to make them quickly. She is a good example of being humble, eager to learn, submissive as a child, in a sweet, not intimidated way.

That's her in the Christmas Street parade today, waving to the crowds!

My three children left at home! Do you recognize Suzu? She is not photobombing this photo, she is giving her siblings hugs! Yeah for high school student service clubs that include dressing up for the parades!

12 Ways of Christmas "Inspire" Day 3

"Inspire
Symbol: Snowflake
Scripture: . . .wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God. (Moroni 7:13)
Ideas: Realize your divine potential as a daughter of our Father in Heaven who is the Creator. As his daughters we are all unique (like the snowflake) and possess a divine inheritance to be able to create. Focus on how we can contribute to and add beauty to the earth and to the lives around us; focus on the obvious and sometimes not so obvious talents we all possess." - 12 Ways of Christmas idea from Sugardoodle (with other great ideas)& Jennifer B for symbol & amazing questions.

This was my presentation (click here for another idea), after reading the full scripture reference: Enticeth is usually used when talking about flattering, tricking, falling into sin, beguiled with enticing words; the devil enticeth; but so does the Holy Ghost: King Benjamin tells us we should "yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit (Mosiah 3:19).

How can you realize your divine potential as a daughter of our Father in Heaven who is the GRAND Creator? He is my favorite decorator, designer, and artist. As His daughters we are all unique like each individual snowflake, and we possess a divine inheritance to be able to create. To make, organize, sew, cook, costume, shop frugally, fudge, scrap-design, rotate, smile, sing, cheer-up, orchestrate, garden, write, coordinate outfits, visit, babysit, coif hair, paint, exercise, encourage others to exercise, color in the lines, listen…

How can we contribute to and add beauty to the earth and to the lives around us? By inviting others, enticing them, INSPIRING others to do good, love God, and to serve Him.

(At this point I put a basket on my head. I had to search for one that fit with handle long enough to go under my chin. Object lessons! I repeated this in seminary class the next morning for my students, and they opened their eyes a little wider, but didn't laugh like the ladies did the night before!)
There is no hiding under a basket. Be bold. Open your mouth. Write that poem, family history or science fiction story. Share your voice, whatever instrument you've been given. Your talents are meant to be spent, used up in building His kingdom! We are under covenant to do so!

My most recent embarrassing experience walking into a grocery store, wearing a skirt…getting half-way through the store before a lady tapped me on the shoulder and told me my skirt was tucked into my waist band in back. Awkward! I was ready to crawl out of the store, but she lifted her chin up, nodded to me, patted under her chin showing me how to lift my head high, and said, "You go girl." It is a talent to help someone in need, someone experiencing a wardrobe malfunction.

President Hinckley reminded us: “Live up to the great and magnificent inheritance which the Lord God, your Father in Heaven, has provided for you. Rise above the dust of the world. Know that you are daughters of God, children with a divine birthright. Walk in the sun with your heads high, knowing that you are loved and honored, that you are a part of his kingdom, and that there is for you a great work to be done which cannot be left to others” (“Live Up to Your Inheritance,” Ensign, Nov. 1983, 84).

Use your talents to do good, show your love for God, & serve Him by serving others. Entice, influence, inspire!

All snowflake blocks made by the Cotton Club mini-quilt group, now defunct. I gave them the theme from Isaiah 1:18, and they made these for me.

Will they work in this 12 Ways quilt? Wait and see with me!

12 Ways of Christmas "Remember" Day 2

This block is from FGQG Christmas block exchange. Good, traditional star block.

"Remember
Symbol: Star
Scripture: Oh, remember these words, and keep my commandments. Remember, this is your gift. (D&C 8:5)
Ideas: Remembering times in our life that Christ has carried us through. Also, remembering and honoring those who have gone before. How do we keep the legacy of our ancestors alive in our families? What kinds of traditions help you to remember them and your family heritage especially at Christmastime? How do you/can you record and preserve your own history?"

I made this one...not paper-pieced!

12 Ways of Christmas Day 1

Log Cabin block.

"Shelter
Symbol: manger/stable
Scripture: For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. (Psalms 61:3)
Ideas: Think of ways Christ has been a shelter for you. How do you create a shelter for the ones you love? How do you make and keep your home as a shelter/haven from the world?" Quotes each day from RS President notes. Our RS president, Jennifer B., came up with the symbols but got the idea of 12 Ways of Christmas from Sugardoodle website.

Shelter a loved one from the cold & wind...snowmen on log cabin background.

These are all UFO blocks, lonely. Maybe by the end of Day 12 I will have them all fit into one quilt top?

12 Ways of Christmas start tomorrow...

Grand aspirations...but I did not finish a 12 Days/Ways of Christmas quilt for last night's meeting. I did gather my UFO quilt blocks that relate to the symbols...and did start the Mother & Child with wreaths quilt top (didn't stabilize stretchy tshirt first, so having wavy seam malfunctions).

During the next 12 days I will show you the blocks, and maybe a quilt top by the end. Good sewing goals can be motivating!

12 Ways of Christmas (I do not know if this is original from our Susquehanna Ward, or if the author is out there somewhere. I will research and give credit where due.)

Shelter-manger/stable
Remember-star
Inspire-snowflake
Submit-shepherds
Realize-candle
Instill-wreath
Speak-gift
Rescue-angel
Increase-wisemen
Serve-Joseph
Influence-Mary
Receive-Christ

If You Chance to Meet a Frown

Hanging out with John it is hard to stay grumpy long. He hops around, taking photos, cracking jokes, trying to get me to smile.

Maybe a stand-up comedian position will open downtown.

I was sad yesterday thinking about the hardness of starting the new year without a job for him. Mopey. Not for long.

Loud "action-packed, fast-paced adventure" movie from the library ("Mummy 3." Jet Li is not a convincing bad guy in my mind. He has a sensitive, nice-guy face, and I kept thinking of him in "Golden Monkey" and thought it was poor casting to put him in this evil nemesis role. Many rip-off stunts from Indiana Jones. But the play on the real terra-cotta army was cool. Is there a blog for film critiquing quilters?) and sewing on a long held Un-Finished Project helped me relax, unwind, de-stress. If people ever say, "You must be so patient!" when they learn I am a quilter I want to tell them that sewing makes you patient. You have to put in the time to get the results, and I have neglected my sewing room in the past months.

I'll have that show-and-tell ready later today.

Un-Finished Objects

Quilters talk about their UFO's often. I have a few...too many, probably. This is a small sampling--black and white blocks that my Lassies-Faire are helping me complete (two blocks on far left are first installment). The baskets are from the Wild Threads small group, part of the Flying Geese Quilt Guild I am in.

I've spent a week of training for a new job. Acronyms can be silly or fun or even worse than just saying what it is. The 2nd day I took some handwork to do on breaks (I am a fast reader). Usually I prefer machine piecing because of the efficient speed and the excitement of seeing a finished block quickly. But if you know you will have time to sit for awhile, hand-work is nice. HWIN

I have been concentrating on finishing some Obligation Blocks. Duty-Friendship Blocks. Finish And Then Do Own Work, Start Now While I Have Time, Must Arrange To Do Today, Need Something For My Hands To Do Or I Will Go Crazy With Boredom, Sit And Listen Sewing, Calming And Diverting-work:

OB, DFB, FATDOW, SNWIHT, MATDT, NSFMHTDOIWGCWB, SALS, CAD


Last night (while eating delicate Meyer-Lemon and Raspberry bars) with 2/3 of John's sisters and his parents we talked about texting, Twitter. Sara mentioned the irony of historically going from smoke signals and short, abbr. communication, to elaborate documents, full speech, telephone, faxing, email, and back to texting with abbr. short messages...John dislikes strongly the lack of content. No form, he says.

But he is a man of words. He loves pure communication.