Slow Stitching - No. 011 - Kawandi and Respect Traditions

Here's my piece for week 11 - prompt Kawandi and Respect Traditions. This challenge is hosted by Kathyn at K3N Cloth Tales.
Kawandi means quilt in Siddi people of India. Traditionally, the edges are all folded over then stitched to a base foundation and an extra layer of fabric is added in the middle after the outside pieces are stitched. Grains of rice are added to the quilt to wish the recipient full bellies.  The kawandi is considered naked with out the puhlas (flowers) in each corner.

I chose a blue cotton base fabric and stitche my first pieces all the way around the edge folding the base layer and my top scraps as I went. I chose to leave raw edges on the inner pieces of the piece as it was too difficult to turn over edges on such small pieces of fabric. I confess that I forgot my puhlas so they were added at the end. I am so grateful to Kathryn for sharing and presenting videos so well prepared and educational.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

As we wait in the dark through the long night things can feel lonely, sad and discouraging.

We must remember that dawn does come.

Christmas can only be found.  

Christmas can not be bought.

Fill your heart with the hope an light that is coming.

I put up the tree this week as I was going to be hosting some teas for Christmas visits.

This is my wall tree that I made last year.  I still love it!

This year I decided to put some narrow green garland around the edge which nicely defines it.

I placed a couple of TV tables below it to allow me to hide the cord and put any other seasonal decorations I wanted.  Nice lacy tablecloth and one of my several Nativity sets as the main one is packed.  

I did not put all the ornaments I have on this year as I was up against a deadline.

It provides beautiful light to the living room.

Thank goodness the temperature warmed up a little this week and having friends over was possible.

I pulled out the red table cloth and the plaid Christmas place mats. 

A bit of healthy veggies and brie cheese with whole grain crackers were prepared.

Some clementines as there were not Mandarin oranges when I was shopping.  Supply chain issues.  I was grateful to get most of the food I was looking forward to.

I used my white Ikea dishes and mugs on the first tea and my White Regency for the second tea. 

A bit porcelain teapot of tea and a couple of hours of catching up and visiting with friends.

The Christmas Candle I received from my sister when she was in Germany.  It comes out every year. I have added a flameless candle to it in recent years.

I spent a day with my aunt making our traditional tourtieres (meat pies).  

We made a few small ones and a big one.  She is the one who makes the pastry so she decided that she was not making another batch so we just froze the meat in containers to eat in the next months.

The frozen filling may become pies or just eaten with pea and carrots which is my traditional way of eating tourtiere.

This tea with my friend featured just a few snacks.  Chocolate almonds, Ferrero Rocher and some cranberry and almond cookies.

Still a bit big pot of herbal tea and clementines.

I so enjoyed having a few people over this year for Christmas.

I set up one of several of my fireplace DVDs and just had the crackling fire for sound.  

It makes the whole living room feel very warm and cozy and festive.

The fireplace DVDs allow me the option of just fire, fire and crackle, or fire, crackle and music.  Some feature traditional Christmas carols and hymns.

I have one that features Christmas songs by Boney M. and another with nature sounds that I use after the Christmas season.

It works well for me.

I was given this book by a friend who enjoyed and thought that I would enjoy it too.

Miracles from Heaven by Christy Wilson Beam is a true story of the miraculous healing.  Christy and Kevin Beam traveled a journey of faith by putting one foot in front of the other. Their daughter Anna was diagnosed with an incurable, life threatening disorder.  The family endured through years with Anna suffering pain, invasive testing and treatments. Travelling many hours for specialized care, managing the care of their other children, the cost of treatments were part of their lives during this time.

When Anna suffered an accident that nearly took her life they thought it would makes Anna's life even worse.  In the days that followed her rescue she shared her stunning experience of heaven.

Anna was well following this experience. God is good!

Vintage Snowman

I started with the Vintage Snowman die cut from K&Company Cardstock & Acetate set.  I chose a green card which worked with the bow in the gift he is holding.  I searched my stash for a off white vellum which happened to have stripes.  I attached it to the card front with 4 tiny red brads in all four corners.  I adhered the snowman die cut to the vellum layer.  I used vellum adhesive by Tombow to adhered the acetate greetings placed below the gift.  I added an acetate snowflake in the top right hand corner held in place with a tiny red brad.

These die cut sets really facilitate the making of cards because all the elements coordinate nicely.

Submitting to the challenge at Holly Jolly - Traditional Colors.

R2G Christmas Card Stack Kit - Christmas Plaid

I started with the traditional Christmas Plaid card stock. I chose red and green card stock which coordinated.  I cut a white layer at 5.25" x 4" which was added to the card front. I cut plaid layer to 5" x 3.75".  I wrapped a white seam binding ribbon around and knotted it to the front. I created the circle greeting with the Merry Christmas going all the way around and I added vintage Christmas card images in the centre. They were color printed then cut with a 2" SB Nestabilities smooth circle die. I glued the circle greeting onto a Stampin Up Deco Label die-cut in the same card stock as the card. It is adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape. As you can see it can be mounted to make a landscape (wide) or portrait (tall) card.

So with the same supplies and just a change of color and orientation creates 2 different looks. Great versatility!