Sunday, December 11, 2022

Sew & Tell ~ Christmas Prep Delay

I should be able to show the progress I made this week... and I have made some, though not what I had hoped for.  I sandwiched and (lightly) pinned (thanks to the fusible batting that is my go to) the dresden quilt.  I have done stitch in the ditch to secure the center of the quilt and am ready to tackle the outlining of the plates.  

I really need to get this done and to my customer so that they can ship it off so that it is received before Christmas.  As I feel extra energized, I will be at the machine

After deciding that I needed to cancel the Pieces from the Past quilt parade on Wednesday, because of a horrible cough that I had developed over the previous few days, I worried about just when I would get there to the store to pick up that fabric I purchased on a blow-out sale...  The cough is a lingering symptom of the recent chest cold Dave and I shared.  After we both improved, he got worse and I followed suit the next day.  *sigh*  Thankfully, I had a special delivery of the backing fabric!

In our effort to finally get over it we plopped ourselves down in chairs (because laying down in bed only made things worse)... we are slowly improving.  I mean s.l.o.w.l.y.!  There has been so much hot tea with honey, decongestant and expectorant as well as lots and lots of vitamins.  We have finally had two nights of better rest... less coughing from both of us and less snoring and "twitchy" sleep from Dave.


But, before we declared ourselves sick couch chair potatoes, I finished two special Christmas ornaments... the First Christmas ornament for Hanna that was missed last year... The second one was because Tyshan, while decorating their tree a few years ago asked Heather where his First Christmas ornament was.  Heather happened to locate one that didn't have a date, name or picture on it and declared it his.

This young teen is adopted by our SIL and, as Dave often states, "came with the marriage", but we love him as our own and I think that giving him a personal ornament with the year he was born will be something super special and appreciated.


We haven't even begun getting Christmas decorations out... Our annual Christmas letter has been delayed (partly because we have been ill, partly because one daughter (who procrastinates EVERY year - shhh... don't tell her that I always set an earlier date of needing the letters than when I really want it...).  We like to get it in the mail by the 10th of December each year...  Our letter is unique in that each one of us writes a section of the letter telling of the details of the events and happenings that stood out in our minds.  So... without her contribution it would be incomplete.  

We still have time to get it to the printer Monday morning and it should be out in the mail by the end of the week.  We discovered a couple years ago that it was the same cost to have someone else print it as it was to do it at home.  It saves me the time and headache of having to sit at the computer desk and monitor the feeding of the paper.  I especially need this time in the studio this year.

Last week Andree shared a project of Mindful Stitching with natural elements...


And Vicki showed off a pair of her fabulous scrappy placemats...


Now it is your turn.  But before you share a link, tell me...

Do you send out Christmas cards or letters?

It is one of our favorite things about the season... hearing the updates from loved one across the country.

Piece on earth,

Melva

Linking with:

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
Monday Musings at Songbird Designs
This & That at Days Filled with Joy
To Do Tuesday at Texas Quilt Gal

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15 comments:

  1. I hope you are better soon. I do still send cards and a Christmas letter. I have tried fusible batting but it never fuses. What is your secret?

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    1. I have had a few questions about the fusible batting so I will write up a blog story about it in the future.

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  2. Such lovely Dresdens! I do hope you’re feeling better soon! I wonder if Perles would help your cough? You’re so wise to rest. The Medicine Ball recipe has really helped my husband and I when we were sick. Your ornaments are so pretty – and very special as well. I’m hoping to get Christmas letters out this week! Take good care!

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  3. I hope you and your dear hubby start feeling better real soon. Having a hard time getting rid of a bad cough is frustrating in itself. Your dresden is looking great. I hope you are able to spend some time working on them this week . Have a wonderful day.

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  4. So sorry it is taking so long for you guys to get all better. Sending good wishes your way to get better and get your Dresden done! Thanks for the feature too!

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  5. You have been hit with too much "stuff" lately! I'm glad you are both getting better and hope it improves from slowly to fast. Have you ever tried Zicam? I haven't had a cold for a long time, but that used to help shorten the duration of mine.
    What a sweet thing to do for Tyshan, bless his heart!
    We haven't sent out Christmas cards (or letters) for years.

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  6. I am so sorry you and Dave have been sick. What sweet ornaments! I’m sure they will be much loved.

    Michelle
    https://mybijoulifeonline.com

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  7. Your Dresden is so pretty! I hope you and Dave are both 100% soon! I also like hot peppermint tea when I'm feeling poorly! We used to send out Christmas cards, but haven't in a long time.

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  8. We usually send out cards and occasionally a letter but I'd decided to skip this year...until last week when I changed my mind! LOL. I haven't even gotten the cards I ordered yet, nor have I written the letter BUT Christmas isn't just a day, it's a whole Octave so I figure I have plenty of time! :o)

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  9. I hope you are better soon! I send out cards (and so does my husband). I just started today and will do a few each day until they are all done. I labeled and addressed them today, so it is easy to pick up where I left off and do a few at a time!

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  10. Hi Melva! I am so sorry that you and Dave have been so sick. SO much is going around at both work and at home. We're just crawling out of that sick hole, and I'm crossing my fingers for no reoccurrences, please. Oh, those ornaments are so special and will be definitely appreciated so much. Good luck with your family newsletter and especially getting that quilt finished. {{Hugs}} a bunch. Here's to feeling well all week!! ~smile~ Roseanne

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  11. Almost all of mine are out. I send the Christmas letter and this it was titled," Only Happy News". This past year has been very difficult and holidays are not the time to spread grief or worry. I am decorated, baked and waiting for my jam to set. I do cookies for neighbors too. We don't socialize too much but I like to let them know we are here!! Have a great week and so glad to hear you are feeling better. We fought off a nasty head cold and we almost bought stock in kleenex!

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  12. Thank you for sharing your sweet post with To Do Tuesday! :)

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  13. So sorry you have been sick Melva. I hope you are well to enjoy Christmas Day. We have recently decided that sending out Christmas cards is quite a chore for us as we get older, so we are doing it every other year! We have an "off" year this year, and will send cards out next year. We find that doing it this way helps us enjoy the process in the "on" years, and enjoy the time off the other years. I'm sure we confuse our friends this way, but it works for us. Thanks for linking with Design Wall Mondays, Hugs, Judy

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