Today I wanted to share some more photos of my Bernina trip and show some of the teachers you might know and also some of the fun we were treated to. My goodness they know how to celebrate Christmas in a wonderful way in Europe!
A Nativity scene I wanted but couldn't afford. Good grief, what is that in the background (?) and where was this photo taken? I do not remember seeing a donkey other than with Schmootley...perhaps he was there and I did not remember. If you don't know who Schmootly is, read on please.
The above is "Swiss Santa" Samichlaus and he is a happy fellow- he is delivering Berninas to good girls.
Below is Schmootly (spelled wrong but you can pronounce it from how I spelled it)
He is the Dec. 6th guy who takes naughty children back into the woods with him. He asks children if they have been good or naughty. What would you say? A nice Swiss man there told me when he was a little boy that Schmootly took one arm and his Grandmother took the other and they played like they were fighting over him. He said it scared him to death. Then he said Schmootly is really a nice icon of Christmas too. Hmmmm, I guess I like just having Santa and of coarse the real Christmas story. The neat thing is that you see Schmootly's walking with donkies all over Switzerland before and around Dec. 6th. What fun! For good children who leave their shoes out side their door that night they find candy and a little prize of some kind.
When I was at Brenda's in San Antonio, her daughter (age16) left her shoe out and found a beautiful necklace sent to her by her Father who is in Islamabad serving for the military. His family is German so they celebrate this fun little date every year.
Pretty fun to see.
Below is Schmootly without his donkey and switch that he carries-he looks like he is having trouble seeing........haha
Suzanne Staud is one of my favorite designers and here is hee Christmas card this year.
Below are the Grand Poobahs of quilting who were in Europe together a year ago this time. I had a thing about taking colorful photos so I asked them to stand here for a photo....kind of like "the little people ME (not size), with the Important people. So here is the green group-who do you recognize? Please comment.
Below is Schmootly without his donkey and switch that he carries-he looks like he is having trouble seeing........haha
Suzanne Staud is one of my favorite designers and here is hee Christmas card this year.
Below are the Grand Poobahs of quilting who were in Europe together a year ago this time. I had a thing about taking colorful photos so I asked them to stand here for a photo....kind of like "the little people ME (not size), with the Important people. So here is the green group-who do you recognize? Please comment.
Above is the red group. The thing we have in common is we all love and us Bernina sewing machines.
And Eleanor Peace Bailey posing for a nice photo with Bobbie Aug. Eleanor had just lost her husband and at dinner she got up and recited the most beautiful poem I have ever heard about growing her own garden of color and people not understanding but God gave her the gift....I am probably ruining it here. I needed kleenex by the time she was done.
And Eleanor Peace Bailey posing for a nice photo with Bobbie Aug. Eleanor had just lost her husband and at dinner she got up and recited the most beautiful poem I have ever heard about growing her own garden of color and people not understanding but God gave her the gift....I am probably ruining it here. I needed kleenex by the time she was done.
It was fun walking behind her in Europe and watching people look at her. :-)
If you do now know Eleanor, she is a doll maker who is a lifesize doll herself (I am not kidding)
Are you creating and not listening to other people's critisisms ?- I wouldn't be doing what I am doing if I had listened. I hang out with positive, fun people now and we all see the world as a happy place filled with other nice people. We just wanna be happy.
WONDERFUL JANE below.
Speaking of happy people, this is colorful Jane Sassaman who is wonderful inside and out. She is always inspiring, kind and fun.
Laura Jenkins-Thompson holding a great dessert menu-she is a teacher from South Carolina-isn't she beautiful? And she smells wonderful too!
Speaking of happy people, this is colorful Jane Sassaman who is wonderful inside and out. She is always inspiring, kind and fun.
Laura Jenkins-Thompson holding a great dessert menu-she is a teacher from South Carolina-isn't she beautiful? And she smells wonderful too!
!This is my cohorts for most of the trip. Carolyn Lowe my roomate who works for Debbie Mumm took this photo of breakfast. Sheila Reuen from TN is in front and next to Jane Sassaman, and then me in the corner and Laura Jenkins-Thompson on the right. What fun to share Europe with wonderful people and all because we love Bernina!
The beauty of European decorations- I wanted to bring them all home.........Scroll way down for more
Hope you are happy this time of year and baking, imagining, sewing, smiling or calling a friend who would love to hear from you.
Happy Day.
14 comments:
Oh Mary Lou, you are one lucky lady to have enjoyed such fun on your trip to Berninaland. Thanks for sharing your photos. Elinor is a very colorful amazing dollmaker. Miss her newsletter. Also, do you ever sleep? You get so much done and I'm always trying to catch up on my projects.
Joyce in OR
Dear Mary Lou,
I had so much fun looking at your trip to Switzerland!! Last night at the guild meeting they were calling for volunteers to be on the board. I have already been program chair twice, but seeing all of those familiar faces this morning reminded me of just how much I enjoyed each month, meeting Jane Sassaman, Yvonne Porcella, Cathie Hoover, Roberta Horton, Mary Mashuta and so many more that I can't think of in my foggy brain this morning. . . I am tempted to call and volunteer to do it again!
You were the first famous quilter I ever met in your workshop at Material Girls. I was and continue to be so inspired by your talent and impressed by sharing nature!
You are a blessing in my life and so many others!
It is such a treat to get to meet you! Thank you for leaving a comment on my blog the other day! Your blog is amazing and I am so inspired by all of the most joyful quilts I think I have seen! Oh, and you mentioned Suzanne Staud. I KNOW her! Yep! She lives in my town and I went to one of her garage sales last year and formally met her, although she knows people I know in town. Small world, huh? I am adding you to my list of friends if that is okie dokie with you. Have a fabulous Christmas!!!! xo Becky
wow!!! in coming over to grab handfuls of that candy!!! Yummy!!!
jesi
thanks for sharing.
I loved looking at your photos!! Thanks for sharing!
brittany
I loved seeing the photos of your trip...how exciting! Beautiful photos!
Happy Holidays, Andrea
My husband just came back from a business trip to Switzerland...those ornaments are gorgeous...I hope he brought one home for me! Very fun post. Susan
I love you in your lime green snowflake sweater. How wonderfully effective it is on you!
You have some lovely pictures of the Bernina people, thanks for sharing them. I recognized Alex Anderson in the red. I've taken classes from Jane Sassaman and elinor peace bailey and enjoyed their creativity and also from you, how special to see them all with you!
Enjoy your Christmas with family and friends.
Sandi in New Westminster B.C.
The only one I recognize in the green was Yvonne Porcella- that candy looks out of this world! And so do you! So nice to read your blog- it sounds just like you! (Imagine that :)) I will read on- thanks for all you do MaryLou!
Reena from SD
Oh how I love travel! This is my first visit to your blog and I hate a delightful, fun visit. I will definitely be back on a regular basis to keep track of what else you are up to! You seem like a fun gal!
What fun that must have been to spend time with all those lovely ladies and in europe no less!! The photos are great.
Hi Mary Lou - Love the photos and great commentary on the Swiss trip. Love the chocolate from Burgi - it IS the BEST chocolate in the world! (Especially the dark chocolate with roasted pumpkin seeds - mmmm!) And you got to meet one of my favorite people - the woman in purple behind the ladies in green - the ever-exuberant Sarah Caldwell :) What a fun trip! - Jo (joblogs@benrinausa.com / www.berninaUSAblog.com)
Hi Mary Lou - Love the photos of the Swiss trip, and your GREAT commentary. You're right - Burgi has the BEST chocolate in the world (especially their dark chocolate with roasted pumpkin seeds, mmmm....). Glad you got to meet one of my favorite people - the woman in purple behind the women in green - the talented, ever-exuberant Sarah Caldwell. Thanks for sharing! Jo (www.berninaUSAblog.com)
Mary Lou, I recognized faces but couldn't bring the names out of my brain...(senior moment?)...but there were also a few I didn't recognize. Knew you right off, of course.
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