Tis the Season

For Decorations 

Blessed First Sunday in Advent

First Candle Lit

It is Coming

Advent is at the Door

So down go the Fall decorations, and out come the Christmas boxes. 

Away with thee....

And out of the attic with these...and some dozens more boxes.

So It Was

Feast and Praise

Blessings on your respective days, too. 

Blessed Thanksgiving Day

Ready for Feastivities (sic!)

Mutant Stove

 My very crooked life drawing for November

I tried to give myself less time with this one, and scribbled this out in about 30 minutes, instead of the usual 1-2 hours I take on these. I also didn't try to map out the main ratios and shapes first, which was probably a mistake as well. It's okay though, and was less disappointing when it wasn't pretty, because it didn't take as long. And I feel like I learned a smidge of something, though I can't really pick it out, if that makes sense?

yes, the picture is taken straight on, and the drawing really is that skewed XD

 

PLUS, I don't know if I wasn't able to concentrate like usual due to using a different brand of pen than my usual, which was a little gummier ink with a different grip? All these variables...haha!

Birthday Gift

It has been tradition for umpteen years that my inlaws give me an old art book of sumptuous size and innards for my birthday. This year likewise. 

This book is about a set of medieval tapestries on the Scenes of Revelation. It was made for the king of Anjou. In the French Revolution much damage was done to church fittings. This tapestry set suffered much. Some were cut up and many were used for mundane uses like insulation in stables and wrapping fruit trees. Later they were recovered and restored as much as possible. This book shows the preserved glories. 

And I always do a sketch based on something in the book for my thank you card. This was on insufficient paper, that said “suitable for watercolor,” but wasn’t at all (which I could see but didn’t heed). 

Starting Advent Wreaths

Getting Ready

After church today my you g Ladies started assembling wreaths for next week. Advent will be here so very soon. 

First Frost

Last Night

We had our first freeze. It was pretty this morning. And the summer plants and squashes and fruit were all tucked inside. With our very mild autumn, we still have roses and annuals blooming, but another frost is coming tonight, so they won’t last long. 

Advent Banner

 My advent banner project went very well. I completed it in just a few days with minimal difficulties. My new sewing machine makes creating fabric projects trouble-free which is so refreshing!

I adapted a design I found on the internet that incorporates the symbolism of the advent candles.

For the candle flames I used this metallic thread, notorious for causing stitching snarls and snags. With a brand new (burr-free) needle in the right size, my snags were far fewer than I have suffered in the past.

I started out making flames with a darning type of stitch but decided it wasn't bold enough. I dug some gold metallic fabric out of my trunk and appliqued flames with the gold thread.

For appliqueing the lettering I found a wonderful tutorial on YouTube  for a method that was easy and precise. After printing the letters from my computer in the size and font I wanted, I made a "sandwich" of layers using the letter fabric that had been prepared with an iron-on fusible adhesive. This made positioning the letters so easy. They were perfectly spaced and lined up.

I then stitched through all the layers, sewing right through the paper on the letter outlines onto the banner. After finishing all the sewing I tore the paper away from the fabric.

This left the sewn outline of the letters.

With a small, sharp scissors I trimmed away all the extra fabric around the letters. After that was done I used a hot iron to press the letters and fuse the adhesive onto the banner. To finish, I used a zig zag stitch on the edges of the letters to secure the raw edges.

Ready for Advent in plenty of time!

More in Zürich

Christmas Decorations, then Tea Time

The trendy decor in one store. You could add Cervelas, garlic, and toast, too. 

Soooo... that is it for this. I am not allowed to add any more photos. I have no idea why. 

More China Garden

Painted Pavilions

The gate house, where we left the Garden to continue our adventures. 

.... more pictures to follow......

Early Birthday Celebration

In Zurich

Some of my young people spent the day with me in Zürich in an early birthday celebration. We visited the China Gardens (free this year because of Corona, we were told), looked at Christmas decorations, and went to a fine traditional British afternoon tea at a fine hotel. All in all a lovely way to celebrate on a lovely day. 

Along Lake Zurich 

A wall in a park.

.... yo be continued......