The Sewing Patterns

Countdown to Christmas Day 20 is about the sewing patterns. My business love 💗

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186787244448

Last month, I listed 55 patterns in a specialty sewing pattern listing session. Here are all of the Christmas-themed ones. Buckle up for the 20 unique and delightful designs. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186785768786

Father Christmas - 1987

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186785733731

Father Christmas - 1989

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186785735788

Santa 1991

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186785825994

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186787223509

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186787228352

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186785747033

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186785716979

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186785697154

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186785694383

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186785671638

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186785667193

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186785823170

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186785664411

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186785660765

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186785656638

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186785589075

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186785586313

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186787210385

What I am listening to - Anne Murray Christmas Wishes (1981)

Christmas Quilts and Patchwork

Countdown to Christmas Day 19 showcases the quilt By the Chimney With Care by Karen Turnbull from California. Yowza! 

Link to Quilt Inspiration's post on this artist 12-days-of-christmas-quilts-by-chimney

Have a Haut-E Holiday 

Unique quilt that looks like gift boxes from the 1980 Treasury of Christmas Crafts.

Cute ribbon patchwork Christmas stockings also from that publication. 

I had squirreled away this quilt kit in my Christmas section. The partial kit is missing its pattern but there is fabric and the instruction video. 

What I am listening to - The Best of Christmas Guitar (2002) Noted all tracks originally recorded prior to 1972. 

Weird and Wacky Wednesday

Countdown to Christmas Day 18 is Weird and Wacky Wednesday. Leading off with my Christmas Candle Recreation from 2019 christmas-candle-re-creation 

Not so weird or wacky but a Tami college update - My drawing and composition class is scheduled to begin on January 18th. I am thrilled I made it in, seems I am landing high enough in priority registration. It is fully online and partially synchronous which means scheduled meeting times on Monday and Wednesday mornings. 

My newest things to discover is Threads. Endless scrolling of random posts. When I post on Instagram, it posts on Threads. I have trouble sometimes understanding certain sites like X (Twitter). I get TikTok but refuse to get involved with that site and the pending shutdown.

Horse butt hanger. 

Creepmas Trees

Deep Fried Marshmallows

Ingredients:

- 1 bag large marshmallows

- 1 cup pancake mix

- 1/2 cup water

- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs

- Oil for frying (vegetable or canola oil)

- Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)

- Chocolate sauce for dipping (optional)

_____Directions:_____

1. Heat the oil in a deep fryer or large pot to 375°F (190°C).

2. In a medium bowl, combine the pancake mix, water, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth to form a batter.

3. Place the graham cracker crumbs in a shallow bowl.

4. Dip each marshmallow into the batter, ensuring it is fully coated.

5. Roll the coated marshmallow in the graham cracker crumbs to coat evenly.

6. Carefully place the marshmallow into the hot oil and fry for about 30-60 seconds, or until golden brown.

7. Use a slotted spoon to remove the marshmallow from the oil and place it on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.

8. Repeat with the remaining marshmallows.

9. Dust with powdered sugar and serve with chocolate sauce for dipping if desired. Enjoy your crispy deep fried marshmallows!

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 20 minutes | Total Time: 30 minutes

*    *    * Recipe from Gourmet Gleam

What I am listening to: Bob & Tom Mistletoe (2003)

Wooden Sled Project and the Ornament Valance

Day 17 in this Countdown to Christmas highlights a wooden sled project. Image from 2015 Country Sampler's Christmas magazine. 

Seeing how my last project tipped into the fail category, I didn't attempt the wooden sled project. I will keep an eye out for a sled to repurpose. 

Another example of a repurposed sled from 2005 Crafts and Things magazine. 

This was the first year that I decorated with an ornament valance. 

Below is the first image - a work in progress.  

What I am listening to - James Galway's Christmas Carol (1986)

Triangle Tree Project 2.0

Countdown to Christmas Day 16 is Triangle Tree Project continued.

I retrieved my discarded pieces of painted wood from our scrap pile. We had trouble cutting the wood with the chain saw and an electric-powered one so I used a hand saw. This was very labor intensive cutting the pieces with that Tami-powered hand saw. 

Admittedly, the above layout was as far as I got on Project 2.0. I kept asking the Mr. where the wood glue was hiding. Triangle Tree will have to join Candy Cane Lane in 2025. 

The goal was to achieve this look with painted wood. This version is from 2015 Country Sampler Christmas magazine. 

On another subject, usually I have a Popular Posts gadget up and running. Since I have started the countdown NONE of the posts had been from this month. Truly perplexing - popular posts from years ago. The Popular Posts gadget is down for now. 

A 1987 Christmas Carol J. Buckley Moss cross stitch pattern. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186779425810

What I am listening to - Christmas with Lawrence Welk (1993)

Simply Delightful Thrifted Ball Gown Day

Countdown to Christmas Day 15 is Simply Delightful Thrifted Ball Gown Day. I bought the dress and felt crown at thrift for $1.99. The mink stole and glitter shoes were also thrifted. 

I started this Day from last year's Countdown to Christmas simply-delightful-thrifted-ball-gown-day  I don't pass up the secondhand ball gowns that are my size. They get their moment in the sun at least once. 

This goddess is from the 1972 Book of Sewing. 

Even though this Lew Magram New York gold dress was too small for me, most likely too small for my daughter, it barely fit Sally Stand-In. While not a gown, it is a most impressive cocktail dress. Sally is also sporting my "Bam Bam" pearl necklace (yes, they are real pearls). Sally deserved her day in the sun too!

I am also on the lookout for a Mother of the Bride dress for my daughter's wedding in September. I may model the different dresses and take a poll.  

Quick seller update: In the books category, cookbooks and sewing manuals have been selling. 

What I am listening to - Susan Boyle Home for Christmas (2013)