The Bucket List

How many of you have a bucket list?  You know that list of things you want to do before you kick the bucket. If you have a list, that’s great. Start doing some of the things on your list.  If you don’t have a list, what is it you want to do in your life before you die?

You hear of many people who go sky diving or bungee jumping.  But what if that is not your style, what do you want to do?  Do you want to travel?  See the Grand Canyon? The Eiffel Tower?  Do you want to learn something new?  Not all of your bucket list needs to be WILD adventures; some can be MILD adventures like learning to bake bread.

I didn’t call my list a bucket list.  It was known more as a “Some day I’d like to” list.  And not everything on my list is an adventure or even expensive.  I want to learn to bake bread.  I’d really like to finish all the quilts I have started (and maybe some quilts I am thinking of starting).  I would love to read all the books I presently own. And yeah, I would love to travel.

Maybe as a New Year’s Resolution, you could start planning your bucket list. Think of the things you would like to do in your life.  One might be going to New York City for New Year’s Eve.   What is it you would like to learn?  A new language, a new art style, a new craft?  What is it you want to do?

As I mentioned before, where would you like to travel?  It doesn’t have to be to another country.  Have you seen everything to see in your city?  Have you participated in some local event you have always been interested in?  The college where I work does the Nutcracker Ballet every December.  I love that ballet but in the 28 years I have worked there, I had only gone once until this year.  I had so much fun I think now it will be an annual event.

If you can’t think of anything for your list, ask family and friends what you might have mentioned to them about wanting to do.  You might not remember but they will.  Or think back to what you liked to do as a child.  Did you sing into a hairbrush?  How about taking singing lessons or join a choir?  Did you wear out box after box of crayons but never took art lessons?  Take some art lessons.  Your local college might offer continuing education classes or a craft store might have a class or two.  Do you like the symphony; buy a ticket.

Your bucket list doesn’t have to be a permanent list.  You can change the items as you go through life.  You can add or subtract things as your interests change.   But do make a list.  It is a great way to make sure your life is enjoyable and has meaning. And if you are like me, you will be able to make a great loaf of bread.

© 2016 Cheryl Fillion

Holiday Wishes

This is one of the most wonderful times of the year. There are the various holidays that sneak up  at year’s end.  There is the changing of the seasons from autumn to winter which for some means snow and hot chocolate and for others might mean sunshine and lemonade.

So for what ever the end of the year means to you, I hope you are with family and friends, exchanging gifts and cards, involved in sledding or swimming and are having a wonderfully creative time.

Remember to involve all your senses in your holiday activities.  Not just listening to the laughter of your family or the carols heard on the radio, but also tasting new things with new recipes or new restaurants, smelling all the wonderful fragrances from the pine tree to the gingerbread men in the oven to the sights of holiday lights or country sunrises.  And don’t forget to touch, not just the gifts that someone has given you but the someone themselves.  Enjoy those hugs and kisses.

I hope all of you have a great holiday whatever and wherever you are celebrating it and you gather up all kinds of memories and ideas to last you a year of creating.

Happy Holidays (whatever holiday you celebrate).

Cheryl

©2016  Cheryl Fillion 

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Looking for a gift for someone?  Having a hard time finding the right thing?  How about giving them an activity instead?  What if you introduced them to a new craft or art form?

Giving crafts as gifts is the best way to create a lifelong memory.  My little spool knitting doll was given to me as a gift when I was a child.  I enjoyed it then and still do.  The first crewel embroidery I ever did was an embroidery kit.  The instructions, the yarn, the needle, printed fabric were all included in the kit.

Kits where everything is included (even any tools like needles) is the best way to start someone on a new creative adventure.  My love of needle felting came with a kit that included step by step picture instructions, the roving and the needle.  I don’t think I would have tried it if I had to find all the supplies separately.  Now I have gone crazy for needle felting.

If a kit isn’t available, why not sign them up for a class.  Many fabric and craft stores provide classes as well as libraries, community centers or non-profit organizations (YMCA, for example).  If there is something you can teach your gift recipient, buy them all the supplies they need to start lessons with you. This way they have their own tools and supplies.

Or give a gift card to a craft or hobby store, so they can choose their own craft.  And to add to your fun, go with them when they spend their gift.  It is another way you can share the experience.

Remember to start off small.  If they want to learn to quilt, start out with a pillow or small wall hanging.  You don’t want to buy all the supplies for a big quilt, only to find out that quilting wasn’t as enjoyable to your gift recipient and they get bored with it.

Not only is giving something crafty a great gift, it can lead to a lifetime of enjoyment. As the saying goes, it is a gift that will keep on giving. 

PS:  there is also nothing wrong with a brand new box of crayons for crafters of all ages.

©2016 – Cheryl Fillion

The Legend Of A Christmas Spider

Did you know that in the Ukraine it is not unusual for a family to do a thorough cleaning of their house for the Christ child's visit?  But if you come across a spider web, do not destroy it. 

There is a legend that many years ago a woman was cleaning her house for Christmas and banished even the spiders away.  After everyone was in bed, the spiders came back to see the decorated tree and as they wandered along the branches, they spun a web. 

When the Christ child came to this house, he saw the web and loved it, for he loved even the lowest creature.  He knew the woman of the house wouldn’t like it and so upon touching the web it turned to silver and gold.  So in the Ukraine, you are likely to see a spider among the decorations of a tree.

I enjoy that legend so much I make fabric yoyo spiders for my tree.  They are quick and easy ornaments to make.

                  

You need a little fabric; the amount depends on how big you want the finished yoyo to be.  Remember from my yoyo tutorial, the fabric you cut must be 2 time +1/2” bigger than the finished yoyo.   So cut your fabric to the size you need and sew it up. Once it is sewn, you now have the body of the spider.   The yoyo hole will be the front of the spider (it makes it look a bit like a mouth).

                         

Turn the yoyo to the flat side; this is where you will glue the legs.  You can use pipe cleaners or yarn to be the leg.  Make them however long you want them to be. I cut them in one length and sew them across the back to each end is sticking out the side of the yoyo. You will need 4 pieces so the spider will have 8 legs.

Turn the yoyo around so the hole is facing up and glue two tiny beads, buttons or googly eyes above the hole for the eyes.  

Add a string loop at the top and you now have a Christmas yoyo spider.

© 2016   Cheryl Fillion

An Ornament Tradition

As a teenager, my family would spend Christmas Day with friends.  My mom, Jan and her friend Judy had grown up together, meeting across the fence of their houses when they were three.  Judy’s younger sister Geri soon joined the two girl friends.  So after they had grown, all three of our families would spend the day together.

On the Christmas when I was about 14,  I wanted to make a little gift for each of the ladies there (which included Judy and Geri’s mother and Geri’s mother-in-law).  In one of the women’s magazines at the time there was instructions for a little paper doily angel.  Her dress was made with a big paper doily folded into a cone.  Her sleeves and hat were cones made of smaller doilies.  Her head was a Styrofoam ball with braided embroidery floss hair and sequin star eyes.  She wasn’t fancy but she was cute and everyone liked the angel they received.

The next year I made another ornament for the group and  there started a tradition I have kept up each year.  Those who receive my yearly ornaments have expanded to other family members and friends.  What started with 5 ladies now has expanded to a group of 30 family, friends and work colleagues.

Through the years the ornaments have reflected what ever craft or technique I was involved in that year.  There are ceramic ornaments, needle point, braided, spool knitted, woven, quilt techniques (pieced, appliqué, cathedral window, etc).  You can follow the history of my craftiness through my Christmas ornaments.

With the amount of ornaments I make, I try to find something easy and cheap but unusual and something that can be done quick.  I probably could start making the ornaments earlier in the year but who really wants to think of Christmas in July.  Not me.

Those who have received my ornaments for a number of years tell me that they have a special box for the ornaments or hang them together in a group on their tree.  I have seen grown adults clap their hands and say “goody” when I hand them a Christmas card – the usual delivery method of my ornaments.

It is a lot of work but it is one of my personal Christmas traditions that I enjoy.  I have only missed one year of making the ornaments.  It was the year my mother died and my heart really wasn’t in it. But after that year passed, I vowed I would never miss another year.  It didn’t feel like Christmas without my ornament.

This year’s ornament is one I came up with while writing the blog on spool knitting threads and added a little from the blog on Kid’s Crafts at the Farmers market.  After receiving a donation of crochet thread and having some cones of 2-ply yarn (that no matter how much I used never seems to diminish.  I think it reproduces at night) and playing with the sequins from the weather forecasters, I made a little wreath shaped ornament with a sequin circle sewn to the bottom.    It’s been fun spool knitting with three threads.  It makes me want to combine more colors or styles of thread together.

I hope you all start an ornament tradition.  Maybe get the children or grandchildren involved and make wonderful Christmas memories together at the same time. You don’t have to make the amount of ornaments I do but it does make the holiday special for yourself and others.  At least it has for me.  Happy Ornamenting!

My 2016 Ornament

© 2016 – Cheryl Fillion