Clare says:

Clare's mommy says:  "What would you like for lunch, Clare?"
"Nothing," says Clare, then before I can say it, "But Grannie and Mommy say, 'you hafta have someping."

Clare's mommy says: "Who makes the rules around here?"
Clare says: "Cinderella."

She also said she'd like to have a lady bug apron. So I made her one.  Wouldn't you?

If you'd like the apron pattern, visit www.solomonspuzzle.com and use the "contact us" button to request one. Pattern is free until Feb 29.

New Quilt

Switch Up

I'm so touched that all of you are following my blog.  I'd like to switch addresses and post on the solomonspuzzle.com/blog only now.  It will be the same ol' me and the same sort of ideas and writing, but at a different web address. Would you mind signing up to follow that blog?  There's a brand new "subscribe" button on the bottom left hand side of any page. You may also ask to have blog posts emailed to you.  Thanks so much and thanks for reading!

-Loris

Book Lover’s Block of the Month Club

Posted on January 7, 2012 by Loris Nebbia

This year Cottonseed Glory, the wonderful quilt shop in Annapolis that was the inspiration for quilting inSolomon’s Puzzle, is hosting a special book club to celebrate the love of reading and quilting.  As Pat Steiner, Cottonseed Glory’s owner says, “After all, it’s not often that a wonderful novel is centered around Annapolis and a quilt shop!”

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Book Lover's Block of the Month Club is copyrighted

For my readers: Merry Christmas

Here's a short story with glimpses past and future of the Solomon's Puzzle characters.

A Christmas Story… “The Perfect Christmas”

May you be kindly understood this Christmas

Still holding the child’s chart, Joe MacBride walked with the woman and her daughter to the front desk. The little girl reached for him, “Up pwee, Doctor,” she said, her fingers spread wide, her feverish eyes trying to smile. Joe scooped her up in his arms. “I have a bit of Christmas candy up here for you,” he whispered, “if your mommy says it’s okay.”

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Stockings

The tradition of hanging stockings has been important to me since I was little.  We had no fireplace, so we hung our stockings from the staircase railing.  We opened them before breakfast and found simple treats in them. My favorite treat was a bottle of Coca Cola which my parents bought only at Christmas.  I have some memories of us then getting dressed, going to church, before having breakfast and seeing the rest of the presents under the tree.  This may not have happened every year as I have film of us opening presents in our jammies and robes... who knows?  But for some reason, the stockings have a special, break-of-dawn thrill to me. So of course, the sewing of stockings had to be included at the end of Solomon's Puzzle.

These I made for my family.  I used a variety of patterns but want to note "A Critter's Christmas" by Brandwine Designs for the inspiration of the animals.  Now to stuff them!

The Nativity Story

I had a wonderful day recently.  Jack was here and we used the marionettes and stage that I made with my husband Karl, daughters Andrea and Valerie.
I got the idea from an illustration by Tasha Tudor and for some reason thought our family needed this.
It was a summer-long project. But this year, it was ready and waiting in the living room when Jack and I got home.

First we scrounged around for all the stuffed animals we could find. These were to be the audience.  Then the play began.

We did rehearse, just remembering from years' past.
Jack played was versatile, taking different parts.

When the shepherds came, he told me that they had woken the baby up.
"Did he cry?" I asked?
"Yes...."Jack squinted at me. "NO! 'No crying he makes!'" He had learned "Away in a Manger" that morning at his wonderful pre-school.

So we sang it together and showed the rapt audience all the puppets close up.

I was one happy Grannie.

Andrea and other friends are using these puppets at New Hope Chapel today during our Community Christmas Gathering.  Come to see us!