Ties that Bind

"Wombat loved Christmas. He loved the carols and the candles, the presents and the pudding, but most of all he loved the Nativity Play."

Wombat Divine by Mem Fox (probably the sweetest Christmas story, EVER, by the best children's author, EVER, if you want my opinion)

I am a bit like wombat in many ways and I REALLY love Christmas and always have. One of the things that I love the best are the traditions which pepper the way my family celebrates this time of year.

This is a tradition from Nanny Button's side of the family. I've told you about Nanny Button and her family before....Nin (my maternal Grandma) was the consumate crafter. She had seven girls, one of whom is Nanny Button (my Mum) who is crafty to her core and always finding ways to help me in my little projects. There is a good bit of craftiness running through the veins of the rest of those sisters and also through the squillions of cousins they've gone on to produce.

A number of years back, the family decided that present giving for the mob was requiring a small loan or petty thievery which was not really in keeping with the season. The collective wisdom was that Santa would bring a small gift to any of the wee folk who still went to primary school. The rest of the families would exchange cards and a decoration. Thus, a family legacy was born!

The craftiness takes on a life of it's own in the lead up to Christmas. I think Nanny Button may be the most secretive of all, going to great lengths to keep her decoration a mystery until the party date. People do all kinds of things. Sometimes they are simple - card and glitter in a tree shape with family names printed on it. Sometimes they are exquisite and elaborate - like the beaded angels, sometimes it is Christmas baking. Always they are precious and uniquely beautiful. I love, love, love this part of Christmas and I love, love, love my Christmas tree and it's treasures.

Due to a not entirely explained delay receiving shirts from our supplier, there is a bit of a lull in the Cute as Buttons market restocking department. In the space, my mind turned to the decoration we are going to give this year and I have been having a lovely time playing with some ideas today. My efforts over the last few years have been less handmade and more mass produced. This year I am going to redeem myself! Using pinking shears, I cut two of the birds I designed for Cute as Buttons a while ago, and added the wing heart from Sharon's bird. I running stitched the wing to each side of the body and then running stitched the two bodies together, leaving an opening to stuff the bird and adding a ric rac loop for hanging. I then stitched a button on each side for an eye. I was pretty pleased with the results so I didn't stop there.

I made a heart:

Then our 2008 Christmas tree:

Next a star:

Finishing with this year's Christmas tree.

I can't wait to give them to the clan and you never know, they might even pop up around the place if you think you'd like some for your tree.

Extended Absenteeism

Hello Blog Friends. Just wanted to pop in to explain where I've been for the past month. You know that usually I like playing with these buttons:

Lately most of my time has been taken up with buttons that look like this:

Mr Button hasn't been travelling too well but the end is in sight and we are hanging on with our fingers, toes and teeth to get across the finish line.

The other reason for my blogging absence is a piece of advice my Darling Nin gave me many years ago, "If you haven't anything nice to say, don't say anything at all!" With that in mind I've held my peace, played the Pollyanna game and collected my blogging thoughts. Looking forward to sharing some of them with you during the week.

Have Hook, Can Crotchet

This post has the potential to be a bit long and rambling so apologies in advance to those readers who have short attention spans!

Exhibit A

I've been playing around with a new centrepiece for our Dining Room table. That would be Exhibit A. It is full of things that make me smile: the candle holder was a gift from a favourite pupil as were the poppies; the dish is a souvenir from MoMA and a magical Christmas in New York with a friend who has since passed away. They are all on a d'oyley which was stitched by my Mum and edged by my Nin. It was part of Mum's Glory Box and is one of a set of 3. Mum gave it to me when I moved out of home. I keep walking past it and straightening and touching cause it has given me great joy.

Exhibit B. Image: Rachael Zelensky

Now, please examine Exhibit B which is the inspiration for Exhibit A. I was having a peek at la maison sur la colline which is a soothing, tasteful place to visit and I was very taken with Rachael's post. She helpfully let me know where to buy the chocolate d'oyleys and also the jug which you will note is present in Exhibits A and B. Thanks Rach, very happy with the shopping and the new centrepiece. Could you work on something to gussy up the bathroom next, please?

Exhibit C

Now, may I draw your attention to Exhibit C which is a table runner that I inherited from my Nin. Embroidery is something I've always loved to do and when the Aunties were tidying up Nin's crafting, they put this aside for me to finish and keep. I finished it not so long ago and it is now ready to be edged and this is the point of this post. I can crotchet a chunky woolen blanket without too many dramas but the fine Perle Cotton sort of work that is needed for this treasure is completely beyond my skill level. So, kind bloggy folk. If this is your forte and you are happy to take on a new project, please let me know. I'd really like to try Exhibit A on a completed Exhibit C. I await your reply with bated breath and the theme from Law & Order running through my head!

Thought for Thursday

Wish in one hand, spit in the other and see which one gets full first!

My Nin

So today's thought is not of the genteel, greeting card variety but, it is something I often remind myself and although I am not sure where my Nin heard it, I'd like to give her the credit. The first time I heard it I was completely shocked because I didn't think grandmas were supposed to say things like that! My Nin was my Mum's mum and aside from my Mum, I know no other woman who could come close to being as remarkable as her. She raised 7 outstanding women and wholeheartedly loved squillions of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was 4ft and a bit, and a hard core crafter who always valued and gave handmade gifts. She passed away on Easter Saturday many years ago. Each of her daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren opened a handmade gift, lovingly made by her, that Easter morning.

Nin couldn't abide self pity and if ever she heard someone wishing for straight hair instead of the curls they were born with or for a husband who picked up his jocks, she'd trot out that saying and sort you out quick smart. She was wise on so many levels and of course, now I realise just how wise she really was:

• She would scoot through the housework in the mornings so she could start her craft and watch her shows.
• My Gar (Grandad) always took care of the washing which freed Nin up a bit more to work at her craft
• She believed a cup of tea should always be accompanied with something to eat - preferably after being dunked in the tea
• She was tiny but had an enormous bust on which she could balance a cup of tea and leave her hands free for knitting
• She always wore her good knickers when she went out because you never know when you might fall over and you wouldn't want to be embarrassed
• She never said a bad word about anyone...she'd just stop discussing the person altogether
• She always told us she loved us and left us with a kiss and cuddle
• When you were with her you felt like you were her favourite person in the world
• Family came first
• She didn't wish her life away - she lived it with love and laughter and beauty

I'd really like to be like my Nin when I grow up!

Thought for Thursday (I know - it's Friday!)

Chains do not hold us together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads which sew people together through the years.

Simone Signoret

One of the things I love about school holidays is the opportunity to catch up with old friends and family members. As children, a train trip to the city and lunch in a cafe was part of every school holiday. It was a chance to catch up with my Nin and a myriad of cousins and aunts. My Mum comes from a family of seven girls so people watching one of these assembled gatherings probably thought we belonged to some sort of polygamous sect! I am eternally grateful to my Mum, Nin and aunts for making this outing a priority in their lives. At times, it would have been a big financial and physical effort but oh, the beautiful, beautiful rewards we have reaped as a result of their efforts.

As my darling buttons now take up these threads and I help them find their place in my big and beautiful family, I am glad I have this legacy to share with them. Although we don't gather as frequently as we did, we still gather and I love watching my cousins' adult children play with my babies. There are so many wise and wonderful human beings in this collection of people and we are blessed to be sewn together with them. Thanks, Nin - the most talented seamstress of all!