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Sunday 13 December 2020

On the 13th day of December - Advent Calendar Blog Hop

Lucky 13!

Firstly – Seasons Greetings to you all, new and old friends.  Welcome to day 13 of the Christmas 2020 Advent Blog Hop so generously hosted by Jo at Serendipitous Stitching.


What a calamitous year we have had.  Here in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, we are now coming out of 7 months of Covid Lockdown.  As I do not have school-age children and remained gainfully employed during the whole time, the lockdown did not have a seemingly full-on impact to my daily life.  As the lockdown has lifted, I realise how little I really socialised, but now can enjoy those little things like going out to a restaurant or take part in Scouting activities at a hall. 

Christmas here in Melbourne is often celebrated with friends and family outside with cold drinks and salads, as it often quite warm and full of sunshine!  So much different than the northern hemisphere.

I’ll share with you a quick Christmas Stitch I have made this past week and one of my favourite Christmas Tablecloth squares. 


This is a Lizzie Kate tiny ornament from 2002.  Found it amongst my pile of Christmas patterns that had been piled on the shelf next to where I’ve been stitching all year.  I guess I’ll be looking through that pile a little bit more critically during 2021.


The 2010 Tablecloth square is one of my favourites, as it represents the year my Dad spent Christmas with me.  The Jill Oxton pattern of a Santa Head is so intense, it took rather a lot longer to complete than it should have, but it looks great.  There are 5 different whites and pale greys in that beard alone.  You can see all the other years celebrated on this tablecloth on this page, with the story behind them all
 

What is your favourite Christmas Book?    Goodness – I really could not think of anything past Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol. 


It was such a traditional story and I am fortunate to have been gifted my Aunt’s collection of Dickens novels.  Of course, like so many more people, I now tend to look at a filmed version, and you would have to know that The Muppets version is my favourite.

Thank you for inspiring me to delve into the box of memories, as my Aunt’s collection of Dickens had been packed away and I needed to sort them out for this picture.  They are both very old, the frontispiece of the green one shows the date as 1879. 

I have not read these for many years, but the illustrations of these books, well over 100 years old are wonderful. 
Although, having gone down the lazy way of watching movies – the best version HAS to be the Muppets by far.  Check out THIS review of the costumes by Abby Cox – she is so fun to watch…

Is the daughter stitching?
While I was delving into the box of treasures, I came across a small hand sized book of the poetry of Robert Burns, owned by my Grandfather, which he signed his name in 1918.  I found a verse which has inspired an idea for a sampler.  Something I’ll have to follow up in 2021.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit today and follow along with all the other bloggers on this 2020 Advent journey.

14 comments:

Elfie said...

I love your tablecloth, and your sweet little ornament. I enjoyed my visit to your blog. Merry Christmas!

Denise :) said...

If there's anything we need more of in 2020, it's definitely Peace, Joy & Love! Sweetly stitched ornament! I can see where the Santa head would be intense! I like the Muppet version of A Christmas Carol, too! :)

Sheryl said...

Great post, love your Lizzie Kate´s design and that box of treasures - wow, what a terrific collection of Dickens to envy with those marvellous illustrations.

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

Thanks for taking part in the Advent Calendar Blog Hop this year. I loved hearing about your traditions and especially that beautiful version of The Christmas Carol. My favourite book and my favourite version of the film too!

Off to read up about the tablecloth too!

Astrids dragon said...

A very cute ornament, and hopeful for 2021.
That's a lovely Santa, I love how you have been stitching something every year.
What great books you have, such treasures. And yes, to the Muppets version!

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Thank you for sharing how you celebrate Christmas. I can't imagine being warm and being able to sit outside, but I guess that means you can't imagine the snow and cold here in Ontario Canada. Lucky you to have those old books filled with such beautiful illustrations.

FlashinScissors said...

Hi Bronny!
Really enjoyed my visit here today! Love the Lizzie Kate stitchery!
Oh those books, what treasures! You are lucky to still have them!
Merry Christmas!
Hugs,
Barbara xx

Mary - Lecoeurceltique said...

The Lizzie Kate design is a nice quick stitch. I love all the stories associated with your tablecloth. It is definitely an heirloom.
How lovely to have all those old editions of Dickens books and a Robert Burns poetry book.

DJ said...

Such a cute ornament, and a unique way of finishing it, I'll have to file that away for future reference when I think about different ways of finishing. What a treasure your Aunt left you...imagine holding a book your Grandfather signed over 100 years ago. I love the writing of Charles Dickens, enjoy looking through those books, and have a Very Merry Christmas!

Clare-Aimetu said...

Thank you for sharing your Aunt's books, they are a treasure, Charles Dickins is a great classic writer. Your ornament is perfect for Christmas, especially this year, Merry Christmas

A Patchwork of Crafts said...

I see we agree on the best film version of your favourite book (mind I have seen some posts that suggest the version oft on TV and that I have is missing a song thought to be too sad, I will have to go looking for it) your project for 2021 sounds interesting.

jocondine said...

So happy to visit you with the Advent Calendar, nice stitched Santa for a great tablecloth. Lovely stories about book and film. xxx Joyeuses fêtes de Noël.

gracie said...

Wonderful Santa....

Christine said...

Great stitching and such beautiful old books