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Club Meetings, Craft Shows, and Speaking Engagements Close Out 2018

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This and That at the studio and on the road

I’ve been a little lax keeping you informed of my movements and activities for the past while and thought I’d just add some images to put you in the picture. Here’s what’s been going on…

Tie One On

We’ve been enjoying our Tie One On Apron Club meetings. Every month for a year we are making a new apron model. Now, this may seem a strange activity – but whoopee – are we having fun!

Christine VanDyk with her Bacon and Biscuits Apron.
Christine VanDyk with her Bacon and Biscuits Apron. At left, the Ruby Apron, our January project.

Craft Shows

I attended some craft shows. I visited some of the big ones like Toronto’s One of A Kind Show but I must admit, the Christkindl Market at the German Canadian Club in London, Ontario was more fun and absolutely charming.

Choir behind St. Nicholas and the Christ Kind
I actually spent more here than in Toronto. That’s the choir behind St. Nicholas and the Christ Kind.

But who is the Christkind? A little history

St. Nicholas was an early 4th-century bishop who was known for his secret gift giving. He is also the patron saint of children. He was the traditional Catholic version of the Christmas gift giver, that’s why he wears red robes. Christkind might not be familiar to you in your own traditions. Actually, Christkind who looks like an angel is said to be the Protestant version of the Christmas gift giver. You will find Christkind is the one leaving gifts under the tree in Germany, Austria and other parts of Europe. Who knew, right?

Christkindl Market craft show
Shopping the woodcrafts at the Christkindl Market

Decorations made from wood were the livelihood of the poor people of the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains) in Saxony, a once impoverished area of northern Germany. The area is now famous for this work and it is highly prized. My family still has an advent candleholder that’s been part of our Christmas Tradition every year. Mom and I burned the first candle on the ‘Kranz’ for Advent this past Sunday and enjoyed her Christmas cookies while listening to carols. Even her cat Schnuggie had a bit of cookie!

Making gifts for Christmas

But of course, not all gifts are purchased. I was pleased to help Lennie Kirkup with her gift sewing. Lennie made a beautiful angel wall hanging years ago – the pattern has long ago been retired. Her kids all wanted her to bequeath the wall hanging to them. A problem arose because Lennie has 3 kids. So she made 3 more!

Sewing a wall hanging
Here is Lennie in the ABQ Sewing Studio with our wall hanging manufacturing line. Nice work, Lennie!

Some of the aprons made in the Tie One On Club will become gifts as well.

Black apron on a mannequin
This black apron is going to my sister-in-law, or perhaps to a niece. I’m not sure as yet.
Susan McLean created this variation on the pattern and it’s super cute… I think it’s a keeper!

Last speaking engagement for 2018

Shopping at ABQ pop-up shop

My last speaking engagement of the year was at the Region of York Quilters Guild in Newmarket, Ontario. I think this is the largest group I have visited to date. They have 200 talented members. We had lots of room to set up our pop-up shop and very much enjoyed our time with the guild.

Last Wednesday was my birthday (and also St. Nicholas Day), as well as Sewing Café Day. And luckily, instead of my baking this month, Deb from Sarnia, who is a regular at the Sewing Cafe brought in her baking – cherry loaf and gumdrop loaf.  Yum!

But no slacking allowed. We also did a lot of fun sewing!


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