An Exchange, a Little Christmas Gift-a-Way and we're at #12......

Gentle Friends I loved that I hope you enjoyed the "Specials" post from Saturday.  I couldn't just not leave off TV Christmas offerings.

I mentioned last week about the Exchange I did with Shirlee over At "The Easily Influenced Stitcher" - well she got my box of cheer and here's the ornament I sent along to her......

... I stitched a chart form the 2005 JCS from BBD - it had a real old fashioned feel about it so I used some velvet/lace ribbon I have had for just such a special Christmas piece - I used Gloriana Silks and stitched it on a piece of opalescent linen, that reminded me of glistening snow.  It was a a really fun exchange.

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In conjunction with my Saturday Posting I wanted to hold a little Christmas Gift-a-Way - and since I am doing Christmas Films what better than to give away some of those films that I am Posting about......

.... I picked up 4 Films that are great favorites of mine for the Gift-a-Way - to enter the Gift-a-way is super easy - just leave a comment on this Post Only with the title of the DVD that you want and that's about it - there will be 4 Winners, one for each title - make sure in your comment that you leave a way for me to contact you.  This Gift-a-Way is open to anyone anywhere - just remember that these are region 1 DVD's - if you have a multi-Region Player that will not be a problem, but I thought I should mention that little fact.  I'll run the Gift-a-Way through the week and close it on Friday, 12/13, then over the weekend I'll have the Who Hounds pick 4 names and announce the winners on Monday December 16th. I'll mail the packages out Priority so you have a good chance of getting your winning DVD by Christmas!!

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Today's film #12, I've sort of tied to Saturdays post and "The Homecoming" - 

"It's a Wonderful Life" - 1946 - starring James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell and Beulah Bondi.  This film actually has two ties to "The Walton's."  The first is more obvious tie with Ellen Corby.  She plays Esther Walton, the grandmother on the Walton's in both "The Homecoming" and the series.  In "IaWL" she has an uncredited bit part as Mrs. Davis (look for her the next time you watch the film).  The other tie is with Beulah Bondi, she plays Martha Corinne twice during the Walton's series - a great character actress if there ever was one!!  

The film is a perennial classic that gets played to death on TV, but I find myself watching it  3 or 4 times through out the year, it is one of my all time favorite films!  You can read all about the film HERE.  Here are a couple of interesting tid-bits about the film  - that it comes from the 1939 story "The Greatest Gift" by Philip Van Doren Stren - and - in a 1973 interview Jimmy Stewart named this film as his favorite film of all that he had done.  Originally when released it had mixed reviews but as with so many films has grown in popularity and prominence with time and exposure.

I found the movie on YouTube - give it a look if you've never seen it before.......

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That's about it for today sports fans, thanks again for stopping by, do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar

An Exchange and a Secret Santa Arrive, I make a new start ....and We're at #13......

Gentle Friends today I'll wrap up the week with some real Christmas cheer......  let's start off with an Exchange that I did with Shirlee over at "The Easily Influenced Stitcher" - a while back we emailed about doing an exchange and set the date for St Nicolas Day, today December 6th, as the send date, well as everyone knows both Shirlee and myself are early senders so I got my Exchange yesterday and she'll get hers either today or tomorrow ( I tracked it to see just how close to the Devils Playground it had gotten...).  I got mine home last night and out tumbled a super Christmas Exchange..... here's a snap...

... Shirlee knows me so well, she included some super DVD's and some delicious Christmas tea... but the focus of the exchange is the ornament, it is simply gorgeous!!!

... so perfect for the season and so wonderfully finished!!!  Thank you so much dear Shirlee!!

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I also took part in the Secret Santa Exchange over on the 123 Stitch Board, and Belinda my partner sent me a chart I had on my wish list AND the floss to stitch it with......

I pulled extra floss from my stash just in case I it is needed.  I love Beth's colouring for this piece, the faded reds, greens and golds are so lovely this band sample will be a wonderful addition to the sampler wall..... here's my teeny tiny start....

I would have started it two days ago but the linen (36ct Sand) was way to light and cold, I thought, so I tea-stained it and warmed it up a bit, now I really like the linen and the stitching looks great on this shade of brown.

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For the 13th Christmas film I thought I would talk "Dickens" - and do "A Christmas Carol" mention.  There a dozens of versions of ACC out there, lots of film, TV, and radio, even in print, the story is so universal it can change place and time and still the message is the same.  I love this story, always have and always will.  I have in my Film collection numerous versions; some great, some good, some bad and some really bad - but my all time favorite is .......

"Scrooge" - 1951 - original title, renamed for the American market "A Christmas Carol" - starring Alastair Sim, Mervyn Johns, Hermione Baddeley and Jack Warner.  The story stays pretty true to the book, but what I think makes this a wonderful version is Sim's interpretation of Scrooge, spot on through the entire film!!  Other versions of ACC I'd like to mention would have to include.... "Scrooged" - 1988 - a modern version with Bill Murray in top form, "Scrooge" - 1970 - with Albert Finney heading up this musical version, it was my Mom's favorite Christmas film and I have always enjoyed it immenselly, "A Christmas Carol" - 2009 - a 3d animated version from the Disney Studio, starring Jim Carrey, "The Muppet Christmas Carol" - 1992 - starring Michael Caine - it's the Muppets and just darling!!, There are other versions..... 1984's ACC starring George C Scott, 1999's ACC starring Patrick Stewart, and 2004's ACC starring Kelsey Grammer.... I could go on and on.... each highlighted ACC should take you to a Wikipedia link to read more about the individual films.  There are many, many versions out there to watch and enjoy, try and catch one this season!!!!

That's about it for today sports fans, thanks for your continuing kindnesses, have a super weekend!!

Take care,

edgar