Mr. T and I recently attended a Living Christmas Tree production at one of the churches in our town.  Here is what the front of the sanctuary looked like before the program began.

                                                  Here is what it looked like when it began.

There are 40 singers in the middle tree.  Yes, I counted them:)  The Christmas carols were just beautiful, and it was just what we needed to get in the spirit of Christmas.

We also got to attend the Rockettes Radio City Christmas Spectacular while we were in Florida recently.  The last scene is The Living Nativity with live camels, sheep and donkeys and beautiful costumes.  The Living Nativity upholds a tradition begun by St. Francis of Assisi in 1223, and has been a revered part of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular since 1933.  It was just fabulous, and I wish I could share pictures with you, but photography wasn't allowed.  But I can share the wonderful poem that they read that was written by Dr. James Allen Francis in 1926.  I definitely had a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye when it was read.

ONE SOLITARY LIFE

He was born in an obscure village
The child of a peasant woman
He grew up in another obscure village
Where he worked in a carpenter shop
Until he was thirty

Then for three years

He was an itinerant preacher

He never had a family

or owned a home

He never set foot inside a big city

He never traveled two hundred miles from

the place He was born

He never wrote a book

or held an office

He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness

While He was still a young man

the tide of popular opinion

turned against Him

His friends deserted Him

He was turned over to His enemies

and went through the mockery of a trial

He was nailed to a cross between two thieves

While He was dying

His executioners gambled for the only piece

of property He had--His coat

When He was dead

He was taken down and laid

in a borrowed grave

Two thousand years have come and gone, and today

He is the central figure for much of the

human race

All the armies that ever marched

and all the navies that ever sailed

and all parliaments that ever sat

and all the kings that ever reigned,

put together

have not affected the life of man

upon this earth as powerfully as this

"One Solitary Life"

May each one of you have a very Blessed Christmas!

Encourage One Another♥♥

Customer Showcase

If you're like me, and you're needing a last minute gift to make for someone special for Christmas, check out Marie's tutorial for a pleated zipper pouch.  She has wonderful instructions and pictures to guide you through the assembly of this pouch.

Like this fabric?  It's Vintage in Beach and Dot in Milk Red from the Whimsy collection by Joanna Figueroa, Fig Tree & Co. for Moda.  It just so happens that you can find it in my shop:) 

You also might like to check out Marie's Etsy shop .  She has a 10% coupon code discount sale going on til December 31st.

Have a wonderful weekend and encourage one another!

Little Menagerie--So Cute!

I just received the whole collection of Little Menagerie by Melanie Hurlston from Melly & Me in the shop.  I have to say I fell in love with this fabric and with Melly's booth while I was at Fall Market in Houston. 

As Melly puts it, "This collection was inspired by childhood memories, my love of bright and contrasting color, and my desire to create things that evoke a simple, carefree and fun mood in a too busy world. I have combined images of some of my favorite softie designs along with clean and bright co-ordinates that make me think of simpler days and the joy of childhood. This collection would be perfect for use in any sewing medium for the young and young at heart; from my softies, bags, quilts and clothing. Or think about a complete re-decoration a child's bedroom."

Little Menagerie brings to life the lovable Softies which are the adorable little characters created by Melly's patterns.

You can even download 2 free quilt patterns from Windham using fabrics from Little Menagerie.

There are some wonderful coordinating fabrics that go with these darling prints.  So, if you're like me, and can't resist, head on over to my shop, and I'll be happy to set up a custom listing for you.

Encourage one another,

Lynette

So sorry that I missed wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Actually, this is how Mr. T and I celebrated our Thanksgiving Day.  

We spent most of the week before Thanksgiving in Florida visiting Mr. T's mom.   Our plane trip was uneventful until we were ready to arrive at our destination in Memphis. It was raining cats and dogs and the wind was really whippin' around.  Now, I have flown quite a bit, but I never had a ride quite like this one.  We had a little warning from the pilot when he told us that the plane ahead of us had quite a bad time, and he was going to circle around to try to miss some of the storm.  I don't think that worked!  I then started praying as I left nail marks in Mr. T's arm.  When the plane landed, there was a simultaneous applause from all the passengers.  So, this Thanksgiving, I was especially thankful to God for landing that plane!

We, then, headed home but first had our Thanksgiving dinner with our Cracker Barrel family.  We had turkey and dressing with all the fixin's and I didn't even have to wash dishes.  Mr. T and I were stuffed and ready to take a nap (you know turkey will do that to you).  Not a good thing to eat when you still have another hour to drive before arriving home.  It did give me some time to reflect on all the things I am thankful for.  Of course, I was especially thankful for the safe arrival on solid ground, so that I could continue to enjoy being with my wonderful husband of over 38 years, 2 terrific children, and 6 simply perfect grandchildren.  No, life isn't always perfect, but I am truly blessed beyond anything I can imagine.
 
I am also thankful for my fabric business and all the wonderful customers that I have had the privilege to serve the past couple of years.  I thank so many of you for your kind words and encouragement.

And, since I want some of you, who are wearing your Snuggies trying to keep warm, to enjoy a little warmth from our week in Florida, I thought I'd share some of our pictures.  Try thinking 80+ degree temps as you're looking at them.

It was so peaceful to walk the beach in the mornings when the tide had gone back out.

You don't see these graceful palm trees in Arkansas!

The following pictures show the Gulf tide rolling in and some of the sea life along the shore.

We walked the pier.

We also found some wildlife in the pond near my mother-in-law's house.  We tried to make friends and I wanted to get a little closer, but Alli looked a little hungry and I didn't feel like being his lunch!

Then this little guy didn't seem to mind Alli at all.  We saw him everyday sunning himself by the pond.

And, lastly, we would go back to the beach and see the most beautiful sunsets!

I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  That you are now recovering from Black Friday, and that you have a restful weekend!

The Best is Yet to Come

Please forgive me, some how the previous post got posted before I was ready to post!  You know, after a year, I still don't get this blogging, nor am I very technical.  Anyway, I thought you might get a kick out of seeing that Quilt Market is not just sitting and looking at sample after sample of fabric all day. 

So I hope you enjoy the You Tube video from our friends at Michael Miller:)

MichaelMillerFabrics FallQuiltMarket2010

Fall Quilt Market 2010 in Houston

Mr. T and I got back from the Fall International Quilt Market this week.  The weather was absolutely beautiful!  Not like the rainy weather we got last year.  The Market seemed a little more subdued this year...maybe because of the economy.  Got the same vibe from some of the other shop owners.  Needless to say, we still had a great time and ordered some wonderful fabrics that will be in the shop in the upcoming months.

I just wanted to share some of the things I saw at Market.  Hope you enjoy!

George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston



I'm prepared with my walkin' shoes this time.



Yep! Me and Mr. T waited for 2 1/2 hrs. to get into Sample Spree!





Still waiting.




On your mark...Get set...



The rush to the Moda table.  This looks more civil than it was!



Ty Pennington introducing his Impressions line for Westminster Fibers.



Anna Maria Horner - Innocent Crush



Anna Maria's Cute Shoes!



More cute shoes!

Amy Butler - Soul Blossoms





Love this decoupaged table in Amy Butler's Booth!



Pillow & Maxfield - Gypsy Bandana



 


Kaffe Fassett



Tina Givens



Tina's Golden Goose from her kitchen.



Melanie Hurlston (Melly & Me) - Little Menagerie for Windham.



I love Melanie's new line! So cute!



Joanna Figueroa (Fig Tree) - Buttercup





Sandy Klopp (American Jane) - Le Petit Poulet





Check out this bicycle!



Australian Pattern Designers - Don't Look Now



Eleanor Peace Bailey - Doll Designer (Also, Heather Bailey's Mother-in-Law)

Be sure and stop by my shop  and see the latest fabrics that have been added.  I'll even leave the light on:)