Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Down to the Wire

IMG_3935

It is all done except for a bit of wrapping and a lot of cooking.  I love it when I can just sit back and enjoy my tree, listen to schmaltzy Christmas music and peruse my cookbooks for new holiday recipes.

It has been pretty quiet this week in Blogland; you all must be as busy as I am!  Just don't go and get sick.  That happened to me one Christmas when I was a newlywed.  I had big plans to make my parents, my grand parents and my in-laws all bathrobes.  Quite a lot of bathrobes.  Out of velour and terry cloth.  Terry cloth that left little lint balls all over everything.  I got through making three zip front velour robes for the women, and then came down with the flu.  A really bad flu.  I had two terry cloth robes to make, plus a smoking jacket (for my dad who has never smoked–don't ask me why I thought that was something he would like). 

I was down for the count.  I could not raise my head from my pillow for about a week.  The week before Christmas.  Somehow, just as I thought I might be going to live, I dragged myself out of bed to the dining room table, which was Sewing Central.  I managed to complete two white terry robes with green contrasting lapels and a really dreadful velvet brocade smoking jacket for my dad.  Gosh, that was an awful looking thing.  At least the robes were functional.

What was I thinking?  This smoking jacket would have fit a dapper little Fred Astaire sized guy.  And my dad was more sporty and substantial.  Definitely not the velvet brocade smoking jacket type.  Especially when it was two sizes too small for him to fit into.  But I finished it and gave it to him.  Can't say he ever wore it, but it did live in his closet for a few years before Mom discreetly disposed of it.  She probably gave it to the gardener, who gave it to his trash pick up man, who gave it to ……That 30 year old smoking jacket is probably still making the rounds out there as a White Elephant gift.

28 responses to “Down to the Wire”

  1. We’re hoping to stay well this week. I think we *may* make it. Your smoking jacket story made me smile. Have a Merry Christmas.

  2. We’re hoping to stay well this week. I think we *may* make it. Your smoking jacket story made me smile. Have a Merry Christmas.

  5. Don’t you just love the last couple of days when get to enjoy the music, neighborhood lights, baking and cooking? Gifts are bought and wrapped and as ready as they’re gonna’ get. Then, it’s time to enjoy gift exchanges and meals with family and friends! It comes and goes so much quicker than the getting-ready part! Merry Christmas to you and your’s! Jan in Cody, WY

  6. Don’t you just love the last couple of days when get to enjoy the music, neighborhood lights, baking and cooking? Gifts are bought and wrapped and as ready as they’re gonna’ get. Then, it’s time to enjoy gift exchanges and meals with family and friends! It comes and goes so much quicker than the getting-ready part! Merry Christmas to you and your’s! Jan in Cody, WY

  7. Great story just sorry to say it was at your expense! Just as an aside… One of the things I’m looking forward to from “Sisters Choice” is the beautiful table you set. It’s always festive and gorgeous. 🙂

  8. Great story just sorry to say it was at your expense! Just as an aside… One of the things I’m looking forward to from “Sisters Choice” is the beautiful table you set. It’s always festive and gorgeous. 🙂

  9. Great story, You had me laughing out loud.
    There was a couple of years that I was sick for Christmas. Worst time ever to be sick.
    Take care and have a Wonderful Holiday! Brandie

  10. Great story, You had me laughing out loud.
    There was a couple of years that I was sick for Christmas. Worst time ever to be sick.
    Take care and have a Wonderful Holiday! Brandie

  11. Nicole,
    Good story for a laugh….perhaps your dad’s gift fit the line….”It’s the thought that counts.” December is an awful month to come down really sick. So much to see and do. Enjoy your week and have a very Merry Christmas with your family.
    Beverly

  12. Nicole,
    Good story for a laugh….perhaps your dad’s gift fit the line….”It’s the thought that counts.” December is an awful month to come down really sick. So much to see and do. Enjoy your week and have a very Merry Christmas with your family.
    Beverly

  13. Hi Nicole…this reminds me of our first married year, living in Boston, and I made my Mother and Motherinlaw velour/”satin” lined robes for Christmas in the colors of the dresses they wore at our wedding…how quaint is that? I know my Mom wore hers but … PS,Your Dad’s smoking jacket is probably fetching a handsome sum on e-bay this season. Merry Christmas, Linda

  14. Hi Nicole…this reminds me of our first married year, living in Boston, and I made my Mother and Motherinlaw velour/”satin” lined robes for Christmas in the colors of the dresses they wore at our wedding…how quaint is that? I know my Mom wore hers but … PS,Your Dad’s smoking jacket is probably fetching a handsome sum on e-bay this season. Merry Christmas, Linda

  15. Hi Nicole loved your story. I have been reading your blog for quite a while now and although I am often guilty of skimming through blogs and just looking at the pictures I always read yours as you are a great writer who always has a funny or interesting story to tell.Merry Christmas. Tracey

  16. Hi Nicole loved your story. I have been reading your blog for quite a while now and although I am often guilty of skimming through blogs and just looking at the pictures I always read yours as you are a great writer who always has a funny or interesting story to tell.Merry Christmas. Tracey

  17. Nicole, you have got to write a book, between your way with words and life experiences, you entertain me everyday! It’s like a short story of the day!

  18. Nicole, you have got to write a book, between your way with words and life experiences, you entertain me everyday! It’s like a short story of the day!

  19. OMG this post should be called memories…the first Christmas we were married, 35 years ago, I decided that everyone was going to get a terry/veloury robe…both moms, both dads and my brother. We lived in a tiny little apartment…the only place I could sew was the tiny dining table. I think I was cleaning robe fuzz out of that apartment for a year. Oh Nicole thank you for bringing back that memory, I’d forgotten all about that. That was a very fun Christmas!

  20. OMG this post should be called memories…the first Christmas we were married, 35 years ago, I decided that everyone was going to get a terry/veloury robe…both moms, both dads and my brother. We lived in a tiny little apartment…the only place I could sew was the tiny dining table. I think I was cleaning robe fuzz out of that apartment for a year. Oh Nicole thank you for bringing back that memory, I’d forgotten all about that. That was a very fun Christmas!

  23. Your velvet brocade smoking jacket story reminded me of a Father’s Day gift I made for my Dad when I was in high school. At that time, I was “into” sewing many of my clothes… pants, blouses, even blazers, though i had yet to perfect the art of tailoring. My sister and I decided we would make Father’s Day gifts for my Dad. My Dad, who has since passed away, was a putterer… loved to putter in the garage and he could do anything! My sister was going to make him a silk tie and I was going to make him a leisure suit jacket, chocolate brown with off white topstitching. This was back in the 70’s. Little did I know, that men’s shirts buttoned opposite than women’s, so I made it the way in which I was familiar. It actually turned out pretty well, with the exception of that mistake. My Dad never wore it, except when he was puttering around the house. We laughed about it for years and it still brings a smile to my face as I recall it.
    I made him a bathrobe at one point too, navy velour with a big old white “R” on it for Ron ( like LaVerne and Shirley). He had that robe until he died… even when it was worn and I bought a new one to replace it. It is nice to rethink those memories when I miss him so much, particularly at this time of the year.
    Hope your holidays are lovely! Stay healthy and don’t skimp on your rest or handwashing (I’m a nurse, can you tell?)

  24. Your velvet brocade smoking jacket story reminded me of a Father’s Day gift I made for my Dad when I was in high school. At that time, I was “into” sewing many of my clothes… pants, blouses, even blazers, though i had yet to perfect the art of tailoring. My sister and I decided we would make Father’s Day gifts for my Dad. My Dad, who has since passed away, was a putterer… loved to putter in the garage and he could do anything! My sister was going to make him a silk tie and I was going to make him a leisure suit jacket, chocolate brown with off white topstitching. This was back in the 70’s. Little did I know, that men’s shirts buttoned opposite than women’s, so I made it the way in which I was familiar. It actually turned out pretty well, with the exception of that mistake. My Dad never wore it, except when he was puttering around the house. We laughed about it for years and it still brings a smile to my face as I recall it.
    I made him a bathrobe at one point too, navy velour with a big old white “R” on it for Ron ( like LaVerne and Shirley). He had that robe until he died… even when it was worn and I bought a new one to replace it. It is nice to rethink those memories when I miss him so much, particularly at this time of the year.
    Hope your holidays are lovely! Stay healthy and don’t skimp on your rest or handwashing (I’m a nurse, can you tell?)

  27. I received the FatQuartshop’s 2008 Designer Mystery Quilt package as a Christmas gift. Great gift except that the giver is not a quilter and didn’t realize it was not complete. I was unable to purchase the finishing kit or even the pattern since it was last year’s kit. Does anyone have just the pattern they would be willing to share or trade????? Merry Christmas all

  28. I received the FatQuartshop’s 2008 Designer Mystery Quilt package as a Christmas gift. Great gift except that the giver is not a quilter and didn’t realize it was not complete. I was unable to purchase the finishing kit or even the pattern since it was last year’s kit. Does anyone have just the pattern they would be willing to share or trade????? Merry Christmas all