Tomorrow is CyberMonday!

Thanksgiving 2016 is now in the memory file. Preparations for the joyous Christmas celebration are underway!

~ Decorating ~

~ Shopping ~

~ Wrapping gifts ~

~ Baking ~

~ Giving ~

What an exciting time of the year!

Tomorrow is CyberMonday!

I don’t usually “plug” my shop on this blog, but I do hope you stop by my online shop, Lanetta’s Creations, where you’ll find unique, one-of-a-kind items Handmade in Texas!

On CyberMonday, use coupon code CYBERMONDAY

and receive 20% off!!!

I just loved creating this Red Cape (and accessories come with!) that fits 18” dolls like the American Girl, Springfield, Our Generation, Gotz, and the vintage Chatty Cathy!

Oh, and rather than calling it a “bib” – I have created “Wearable Napkins” for adults! This is just one that’s available in Dallas Cowboy print:

Cowboys are doing fabulous this season! We may even get to the Super Bowl! Wouldn’t that be amazing!

Don’t forget, classy aprons make wonderful gifts! And, tomorrow’s savings is a good time to think ahead for Valentine’s Day! I just love Snoopy…  

Although I love everything I create, the most special item I produce is the Action Quilt, also known as Fidget Quilt.

Time and time again I hear heartwarming stories of how these little lap quilts covered with doodads, bibs and bobs provide activities to help those with Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia, or Traumatic Brain Injury keep once busy hands occupied! As Martha would say, “It’s a good thing.”

So….

Don’t forget me ~ and other small handmade businesses ~ tomorrow!

I/We need your support!

Thank you in advance!

New Thanksgiving Experience

I read so many heartwarming stories and well-wishes on Facebook over the Thanksgiving holiday. It’s been wonderful to read through them all. Although several of us had a totally different from “traditional” experience, I’m grateful an abundance of gratitude resonated across my online community.

In my home, some traditions stayed the same…

Someone always takes a pinch from the rising yeast rolls!

Anyhoo…

I’m part of the Facebook group, Quilt of Valor, and over the past few days, a member shared what her family did over Thanksgiving. She said it’s a new family tradition - a "Thanksgiving Collaboration" - started this year. I thought it was such an amazing project that I wanted to share with you!

Three generations contributed to the endeavor. They made the quilt blocks, then they assembled the top, sewed it together, created the border, and then she loaded it in her longarm quilting machine! One of her last entries stated the quilt was DONE (meaning QUILTED) before “time to get the dinner on the table.”

Thank you, Lori K. (Washington), for letting me share your pictures!

“We” – Momma & me, with my husband "supervising" – worked on the border for one of the three quilts Gail and I assembled from the blocks created by Lori and Dona (sent from California). It's one quilt from the "Just One Block" Community QOV project. We had a grand time while creating a new Thanksgiving experience.

Next year, I will have a longarm quilting machine and Momma will see a quilt TOTALLY finished while she’s here visiting over Thanksgiving!

Have you wondered?

Steps toward making one QOV:

1. Purchase fabric for top, backing, and batting
2. Pre-wash/dry/press fabric
3. Cut out
4. Sew pieces together making blocks
5. Assemble blocks, attach border
6. Load into quilting machine
7. Quilt
8. Bind
9.  Label
10. Wash/dry finished quilt
11. Create presentation case to hold the quilt (a pillowcase)
12.  Have quilt blessed during church service
13. *Present Veteran with quilt

One week worth of work, that’s it, to do #1-12.

At least 52 quilts per year!!! And, that’s only if I made the quilt top myself! If others make them and send them me to quilt, I could do so many more in one week/month/year! How wonderful would that be!?!?!

*Number 13 may be a few weeks, or a specific future time with multiple finished quilts when many Veterans receive quilts at once, like during an American Legion special event, or to answer a call-out. For example, my Region 4 coordinator needs 50 quilts before February 1-2, 2014, for presentation to Naval Reservists Returning, RWW Honor Banquet in Austin.

Without having a quilting machine, the minimum time to create a quilt from start to finish is 30 days. That’s only 12 per year, if I’m lucky!

This is why I started the funding campaign to help finance the long arm quilting machine…will you donate a dollar?

Thank you!

Thanksgiving Day - 2012

The Lord fills my heart with all the wonderful blessings around me.

Thank you, family and friends, and all those I hope to meet someday, I am blessed you are in my life.

I pray each and everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving Day!

English Peas & Thanksgiving

Where has this year gone? It’s difficult to wrap my head around the fact that this time next week it will be Thanksgiving. My goodness! I need to get my recipes together and a grocery shopping list prepared!

Throughout all the years, I’ve missed sharing only one Thanksgiving Dinner with my parents. I remember that year as if it was yesterday. Although I then lived in Shreveport, work took me to Hot Springs, Arkansas for six weeks training – landing Thanksgiving near the end of the sprint. I just couldn’t make it down to Dallas.

It was an odd feeling that day, eating alone at a restaurant. Since Daddy became a diabetic, I’ve learned more about nutrition and the balance of foods in the diet. Because of the lack of side dishes offered, it was the Thanksgiving I learned to eat English Peas.

2011 Thanksgiving

That Thanksgiving many years ago instilled in me the importance of celebrating the holiday with family, specifically with my parents. When I can spend any day with them, is a celebration within itself. My heart/mind knows I don’t have many left.

For me, Thanksgiving is an extra special time (Christmas is as well, but I’m trying to stay focused here, on point).

Last year, I told Momma I really wanted to prepare “next year’s Thanksgiving” meal for everyone. I rarely entertain anymore. I can’t remember the last time Bud & I had guests over (that’s another story and I’m not going off topic).  

She forgot…

I reminded her.

I’m looking forward to grocery shopping this Sunday afternoon, then Monday when I start baking pies!

Maybe I ought to add English Peas to the menu…

 How will you celebrate Thanksgiving?