Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! 

Up here in the north, we are acutely aware of our travels around the sun. This is the very hard cold dark part of the year. In fact, I spent most of my day in darkness. How is that possible? Well, it is easy when the sun rises at 9:30AM and sets at 4:00PM. Winter days are super short and often gloomy grey. If we are lucky, we might get a brief moment of sunshine. And as if doubly cursed, the angle of the sun this time of year is directly (intentionally???) aimed at the eyeballs. To look, is to look into the sun. And the snow! We are currently in a cycle of snow, melt, wind, ice, snow, melt, wind, ice—you get the idea. Here is our kid car buried under the last blizzard. 

This two-month period of fleeting light is painful. Every year, I doubt the sun’s return. It is just that dark, and maybe even a bit darker than that.

Still, it slowly happens. The light returns, and then we blast our way into spring where the light keeps coming and coming until the darkness is but a groggy dream.

I have written about Winter Solstice on my blog. You can read those stories here and here.

What to do in the meantime? I have a few suggestions

THANKYOU25
I am participating in Cyber Monday. As a special thank you to all of my students, I am offering a 25% discount on all virtual workshops. You can sign up here. This discount is good from the time this newsletter goes out until 12 Midnight Alaska time on Monday. You can use the discount on ANY workshop I am currently offering. Just type in the code THANKYOU25 to participate.

I highly recommend using your discount code to join me next weekend for Game of Improv. Here are the details on this workshop.

GAME OF IMPROV
Weekend Intensive Virtual Workshop
Saturday & Sunday 8AM—12NOON Alaska Time (ADST) (12Noon-4PM Eastern Time)
December 2 & 3, 2023

Improv piecing is a method of creating that involves work, chance, technique, exploration, and tenacity. We are going to explore all of these things within the perimeters of a game. Roll the dice, spin the wheel, pick your category. This workshop is a full exploration of letting go of expectations and embracing the unknown.

INSTAGRAM LIVE

Some of you may already know this, but if you don’t, it is BIG NEWS. I am touring with Amazigh Cultural Tours and we are going to Morocco for a textile adventure! To learn more about this super cool and educational travel opportunity, I have invited Rita Lazauskas, Director of Amazign Cultural Tours, to join me for an Instagram LIVE event. We are meeting on Tuesday, December 12 at 2PM Alaska Time which is 6PM East Coast Time. Just go to my Instagram @mariashellquilts and click on the LIVE button.

AMAZIGN CULTURAL TOURS LIVE Instagram Event
@mariashellquilts 
Tuesday, December 12, 2023
2PM Alaska Standard Time/6PM East Coast Time

HOLIDAY GIFTS

In years past, when stitching was my favorite hobby and not my work-work. I used to go into full on factory mode stitching holiday gifts. I would give myself ridiculous deadlines for making multitudes of presents. I loved it. Life is no longer like that for me, but if it is for you, I would like to make a few suggestions.

My favorite easy gift is what I call a Fleece Flannel Blanket. If someone wants a quilt, give them this! It takes a few hours to make and will get used daily especially if you live in a northern climate. Here are the details on how to create one of these super cuddly comforters. 

My other tried and true gift is the Artful Oven Mitt. These are great stash busters! You can purchase a PDF of the pattern here. And if you are so inclined to dive deep into the world of Artful Oven Mitt making, I encourage you to check out these blog posts about my many adventures stitching this truly functional tiny works of art. 

Artful Oven Mitts 

Its in the Mail 

Its all About the Mitts 

Artful Oven Mitts Again 

Well, that is it for now. Thank you very much for reading this newsletter. I am grateful for each and every one of you. 

Peace and Gratitude.

Maria