Merry Christmas!

Tears are falling, hearts are breaking; How we need to hear from God

You've been promised, we've been waiting; Welcome Holy Child.

Welcome Hold Child.

Hope that you don't mind our manger; How I wish we would have known

But long awaited Holy Stranger, make Yourself at home.

Please make Yourself at home.

Bring Your peace into our violence; Bid our hungry souls be filled

World now breaking Heaven's silence; Welcome to our world.

Welcome to our world.

Fragile finger sent to heal us; Tender brow prepared for thorn

Tiny heart whose blood will save us; Unto us is born.

Unto us is born.

So wrap our injured flesh around You; Breathe our air and walk our sod

Rob our sin and make us holy; Perfect Son of God.

Perfect Son of God.

Welcome to our world.

Merry Christmas to you all! May you and yours be blessed with great peace and joy, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

xoxo,

Kristie, Apphia, Achaia, Abigail, & Abiah

December.

Well. Christmas is two days away, and that means December is almost over. Where has it gone? The month has gone by in a blur — has it been that way for anyone else??

This past Wednesday was the Christmas cantata at our Church. It was a wonderful time for everyone! Everything went off without a hitch (including Abiah and Achaia singing a small duet, and Abiah singing a solo), and we decided that just the practicing was a blast! After the program we all settled down to a yummy chili supper and gift giving around a big cedar Christmas tree.

Yesterday evening we all bundled up again and went out to two retirement homes in the area to do our program again. We were so thankful we were able to do that. We'd been praying the weather would hold! To end the evening we met up at Dairy Queen for blizzards and dipped cones (after all, ice cream is a year-round treat). We stayed so long laughing and talking that we were finally forced to leave when they were sweeping the floor to close up at 10pm.

Abs made eight batches of cinnamon rolls to supply our neighbors, our friends at the Seneca post office, and UPS man (we repay him for those awesome cheese balls his wife makes us for Christmas….). Tomorrow will mean (hopefully) a quick run to the post office for last minute arriving gifts and delivering rolls. Today we hope to get more presents wrapped.

Today while we sat around the fire with Mom reading to us we looked out the window and saw falling snow. We weren't expecting that! Maybe we will wind up with a white Christmas after all!

Merry Christmas!!

xoxox KAAAA

Celebrating Jennifer!!!

We are DELIGHTED to get to join in Jenny's 12 Days Celebrating Jennifer Paganelli!!!

If you haven't been able to tell, Jennifer is one of our very favorite designers EVER. Her work represents so much beauty, love, vibrancy, and the joys of life.

When we look back through pictures of the things we've made it's amazing how many feature Jennifer's fabrics. They always seem right for the occasion. And their versatility! Amazing.

But, we think that what draws us most to Jennifer's designs (fabric! patterns! books! stationary! anything she does!) is Jennifer herself. Ever since we began chatting with her through emails and comments, we were struck with how very genuine she is. Jennifer has such a heart for helping other people. Anytime we've needed help and asked for it (and even when we didn't even ask!), Jennifer has always been there with a helping hand and encouraging words.

When three of us had the joyous pleasure of finally meeting her last year, we weren't disappointed…. she's exactly the same in person. And then once again, we knew why her fabrics represented all the beauty and goods things in life. Because that's Jennifer herself.

We love you Jennifer!

xoxo Kristie, Apphia, Achaia, Abigail, & Abiah

By the way, Jenny's 12 Days Celebrating Jennifer isn't over yet! And, be sure to go back and read all the good ones from earlier!!

December 09 Sew Pretty Dresses
December 10 Sweeter Than Cupcakes
December 11 Sweet Baby Jamie
December 12 Hickity Pickity Handmade Dress Haven
December 13 Tabbo Designs 100 Billion Stars
December 14 Heavenlelgh Blessings Boutique
December 15 Scientific Seamstress
December 16 Sweet Baby Jamie
December 17 Hold It Right There
December 18 Sew Fun By Monique
December 19 Small Town Girls Clothier Marie Madeline Studio
December 20 Granny B's Clothesline Lilac Lane by Melissa Stramel

snow.stitch.snow.stitch.snow.stitch.snow

Brr! It's cold outside. We received our first snow of the year Thursday, more Friday, and more yesterday. So, you might say we're snowed in. Abiah and I went out Saturday for a little fresh (chilly) air, and I did get talked into sledding (which dressed for I was not) on a plastic trash can lid shaped thingy. Now I have proof of it — big bruises on my shins. Ahh.

So, while being stuck inside we've watched quite a few movies and listened to loads of music, especially Christmas-y ones, decorated our tree, and I've been stitching, stitching, stitching by the fire.

Keep Warm! xoxo Achaia

Expensive Inspiration: French Knot Sweater

Mine.

Theirs.

I admired J.Crew's beautiful French Knot Sweater as soon as I saw it in the catalog a few months ago. Really, you all probably know me pretty well by now, right? How in the world can I resist anything with handwork attached to it? Of course, the price tag stopped me from scrambling to scoop it up. But then I got an idea. I'm always up for something that I have to do with a needle and thread so why not try making my own version? I decided to give it a whirl.

J.Crew's sweater is merino wool, so I wanted to try and find a merino wool one for myself. I went on eBay and in about 10 minutes found a brand new with tags Banana Republic one (for a fraction of the price, naturally). Score!

I decided against doing the sleeves as well (even though the J.Crew one has their sleeves done), as they would just be too tight to work with. Overall, I'm extremely happy and satisfied with my version. I even used two different colors of pearl cotton to get 'the look'.

I got the opportunity to wear it while we were down in Texas a few weeks ago. It's amazing for me to look at these pictures today… there I am perfectly comfortable in my outfit, and today it's snowing outside. Just a few weeks can change everything! Maybe tomorrow we'll go roll around in the snow.

xoxoxoxo Achaia