Meg was gracious enough to open her home to us for the party. Everyone was dressed up and in a party mood! Unfortunately, not everyone could make it--the missing included Mozelle, Lola, Dollie, Essie, and Joyce.
Diane B served as mistress of ceremonies, and got our attention by blowing sharply on a whistle! On the table behind Diane B are sacks holding the prizes for games that she and Sheila organized. Every Sassie at the party brought 2 kitchen utensils and 2 fat quarters, which were bagged by Diane B and became the game prizes.
But before we got to the games, Diane B and Sheila put on a Hee Haw-themed skit for our entertainment. Diane was "making cornbread" while gossiping about her pastor and her friends with Sheila, who never quite got around to "knittin' and crochetin''" for the 7 grandkids and the 3 expected grandkids.
Diane B provided us with the Hillbilly Ten Commandments:
2. Honor yer Ma and Pa.
3. No tellin' tales or gossipin'
4. Git yer hide to Sunday meetin'
5. Ain't notin' come before the Lord.
6. No foolin' with another feller's gal.
7. No killin', sept for critters.
8. Quit yer foul mouthin'
9. No swipin' yer kin folks stuff.
10. Don't be hankerin' fer it neither.
GAMES
One of the games we played involved choosing one sheet of paper from among 3 different colored stacks--green, pink, or yellow. After each Sassie made her choice, Diane B got everyone with the green paper to tear it into a particular shape using only their hands, and doing it behind their backs. Here are the green contestants--Sharon, Susan and Diane Purcell hard at work.
Can you tell from this picture that the contestants were asked to make TREES from their green paper?
Diane B awarded Sharon the prize for the best tree of the three. Susan won a consolation prize for the least-tree-like shape.
The next contestants were the Sassies who chose pink--Linda, Cyndi, Meg, Debbie and Marcia. Some Sassies (Meg) were faster than others!
Easy to tell they were supposed to make hearts out of the pink paper. Linda won first place, and Marcia and Debbie were voted off the ship, but we couldn't decide on second place between Meg and Cyndi.
So, there was a runoff--this time each was asked to make a smaller heart from the first heart she had made.
And the winner of the heart contest was Meg!
Finally, the yellow paper contestants got their turn--Sylvia, Estela, Sheila, and Mary Ann.
We played another game that involved taking as much or as little toilet paper as you wanted. Then, you were to make a bow out of it (again, with hands behind your back). The winner of that game was Linda, who had ripped off only 2 squares of toilet paper. Her bow was small, but perfectly executed--she twisted the two squares, tied a knot in the center of it, then spread the ends out to make what looked like a bow tie! Sorry, I didn't get pictures of any of the bows.
LUNCH IS SERVED
It wouldn't be a Sassies's gathering without food! Fresh out of the oven was a delicious rice and chicken entree made by Diane B. The entree was accompanied by hot cheese bread, salad, green beans, coleslaw brought by other Sassies. Note the tall container of an orange-pineapple-Sierra Mist punch that was prepared by Sheila. Everyone who brought food is encouraged to bring their recipe to the January meeting so that we can compile a mini cookbook of the holiday foods.
Desserts were large, rich, and plentiful!
Carrot Cake made by Diane B.
Peppermint and white chocolate cake.
APRON EXCHANGE
Earlier in the year Diane B asked each Sassy wanting to participate in the Christmas gift exchange to write her name, her two favorite colors, and an item that she especially liked. The names were then put into a container and we took turns drawing them out. Later we were told that each Sassy participating in the exchange was to make an apron for the person whose name was drawn, using the colors favored by that person and to use the item listed as a guide for a theme for the apron. Here's how the exchange went:
Diane B. drew Cyndi's name in the exchange.
Here's Cyndi wearing the apron that Diane B. made for her--a "tailgatin'" apron using Razorback red and black.
Cyndi drew Sheila's name.
Sheila wearing the flouncy frilly apron made for her by Cyndi. Sheila also received a second vintage apron from Cyndi.
Sheila drew Mary Ann's name.
Mary Ann showing one side of the reversible apron made by Mary Ann. Sheila used blocks made by her mom Eva before she passed away. The apron had another of Eva's blocks on the back and also on the reverse side. Sheila made a label for the apron that read "apron by Sheila, blocks by Eva." We were all touched by Sheila's honoring her mother that way. It brings Eva closer to us all.
Mary Ann drew Meg's name.
Meg wearing the apron made by Mary Ann.
Meg drew Diane B's name.
Diane B. wearing the apron made by Meg in pink and black, decorated with paper-pieced teacups, teapot, and a jar of tea.
Sylvia drew Susan's name.
Susan wearing the apron made by Sylvia. The apron had a gardening-related item in each of the pockets! Susan didn't realize it at first, and several of the items fell out as Susan unwrapped the gift. Here Susan is wearing the apron after she finally got all the goodies out of the pockets.
Susan drew Sharon's name.
Sharon is shown wearing the apron made by Susan. The apron has a large appliqued chicken on the front.
Sharon drew Linda's name.
Linda drew Mozelle's name. Since Mozelle was not present, Linda showed us the two aprons she made for Mozelle.
Mozelle drew Estela's name. Susan presented Mozelle's gift to Estela in Mozelle's absence
Estela wearing the "Wine Diva" apron made by Mozelle in collaboration with Susan, who machine embroidered the phrase "wine diva" and a picture of a glass of wine and grapes on the front. Note the coordinating band of "wine" colors along the bottom.
Estela drew Debbie's name.
Debbie is wearing the apron made by Estela. Debbie had stated that blue and yellow were her favorite colors and that she liked butterflies. The apron has several butterflies in different shapes and sizes embroidered on the front.
Debbie drew Diane P's name.
Diane P is holding up the apron made by Debbie.
Marcia shown wearing the apron made by Diane P. Can't see the apron very well because Marcia is sitting down and she's surrounded by lots of goodies!
Marcia drew Essie's name, but Essie was not at the party. Neither was Joyce, so Joyce and Essie did their own exchange at home. Since either Essie or Joyce drew Sylvia's name, the apron that Marcia made for Essie went to Sylvia. It's made with a vintage embroidered table runner sewn onto the front. Very dainty and feminine!
Show and Tell
We've all been too busy to quilt, except for Marcia, who managed to bring a couple of items for Show and Tell. The first is a picture of a sampler type quilt made using Christmas theme fabric.Can you find the Snail Trail pattern that was her mom's favorite? The second picture is a stuffed toy. Some lucky grandchild will get a lot of cuddle time with this!
December Birthday
We had only one birthday this month. Diane B celebrated her 29th (again?). Here she is opening a birthday card while a basket of fat quarters sits on her lap waiting to be felt and loved.
Multitalented Susan, who is a papercrafter as well as a quilter, made cards for everyone, and each card was different. Below are cards received by Meg, Estela, and Cyndi. The one received by Estela has many folds at different levels; the sentiment really pops out!
Susan also made every Sassy a fabric container on which to set car keys, jewelry, etc. when traveling. The container consists of a flat piece of quilted fabric to which strips of velcro are sewn at the corners. When pinched together, the velcro strips stick to each other, making the corners of the fabric box. When you're ready to leave the hotel, grab your keys and jewelry, unzip the velcro and the flat piece fits easily into any suitcase, no matter how jammed with clothes! Thank you, Susan! I've been traveling to Texas so often because of doctor visits, that I know I'll be making good use of this little gift.
The other gifts I should point out are from Marcia and are shown next to and under the green fabric container. The paper quilt pattern is one of her mom's quilt patterns in its original version, including the original templates. Behind that sheet is a more modern version of the pattern, using modern techniques for making the blocks. Marcia said that each month of 2013 she will share another of her mom's patterns with us for our use. The second gift from Marcia is the little clay pot with a silk poinsettia in it. The yellow card included tells the legend of the poinsettia,which grows in Mexico and symbolizes the beauty and love of Christmas.
January Meeting
The Sassies will meet on January 10, 2013. PLEASE NOTE THAT WE WILL BE MEETING AT MEG'S HOME FROM NOW ON! Mozelle is recovering from blood clots in her lungs, and needs to take a break from hosting our group in the coming year. She is cutting back on a lot of activities so that she can devote her time and energy to recovering her health. We wish her a speedy recovery. I'm sure she will appreciate cards and phone calls; call ahead if you want to visit because she needs her rest.
Marcia is hostess for January, and has handed out the instruction for a fabric exchange. If you want to participate, take a yard of pretty fabric and cut it into 8" squares (one yard cuts into 20 squares with a little left over). Bring the squares to the January meeting; you may also bring more if you like. You will go home with as many squares as you bring.
