Finally, some cooler weather is on the way. It’s really a lot cooler than normal this time of the year, so I am enjoying some low 70s weather during the day and 50s at night. Time to get out the down comforter.
As the weather is changing, so are some of the things on my work bench. The flowers of summer are giving way to the holiday themed jewelry and beads. It has been a long time since I have done fun Christmas designs, so I am looking forward to doing more of them. Our Amazon shop is quite busy with our thimbles going out as Christmas gifts.
I have managed to find some time to put together two sets of leggings. One is a pink flamingo pattern, and the other is a candy cane pattern for holiday frolicking. Although, I have a long list of prospective patterns, I am sure that I will not get them done in time for the holidays.
In the meantime, we are trying to get dried out from some serious rain that has added a couple feet of water to our pond, and has flooded some of the low lying spots in the back yard. One of the craziest results of the extra water is the major influx of tiny baby tree frogs that came from the hundreds of tadpoles playing in the pond. They are now all busy “singing” all night long.
The holly and the frogs:
Bracelets: I have gone charm bracelet crazy and have introduced bangle bracelets to the mix because they are fun.
Keyrings: Since I started, I have had keyrings on my To Do list. Well, I got one done! There are many more that will go in my Amazon store.
Hotrod magnets: I am finishing up the hotrod magnets, and I have a couple dozen done, but not featured in the shop.
Tote Bags: These are all around prints, so that means that my patterns can completely cover the bag. My supplier is also doing t-shirts, but I have not designed for them yet.
Print Pieces: I am working on canvases and posters. I have been working on putting together the Scenes from a Car Show series into print.
This Christmas carol is not filled with mystery, scandal or even had that many hands in it, but it is a standard that has survived the times and has two different tunes associated with it. Penned in 1816 by James Montgomery, who was a noted Scottish poet, this song was first published on Christmas Eve in 1816. It was published in the Sheffield Iris, which was a weekly newspaper in Sheffield, England. It was never sung in any of the churches until 1825 after it was re-published in The Christian Psalmist. Officially, there was never any real music set to the poem, so it was sung using a number of popular tunes at the time. In the United States, the song is sung to Henry Smart’s Regent Square tune, and in the United Kingdom, it is sung to the tune of the French carol, Iris. Iris is the same tune as what we sing for Angels We Have Heard on High. This is one of those songs that has withstood time and tradition, and we sing it pretty much just as it was written. Some may switch out the refrain for Gloria in excelsis Deo, but most everyone still sings it as it was penned in 1816.
Angels, from the Realms of Glory
Angels, from the realms of glory, Wing your flight o'er all the earth; Ye who sang creation's story, Now proclaim Messiah's birth:
Come and worship, come and worship Worship Christ, the newborn King.
Shepherds, in the fields abiding, Watching o'er your flocks by night, God with man is now residing, Yonder shines the infant light:
Come and worship, come and worship Worship Christ, the newborn King.
Sages, leave your contemplations, Brighter visions beam afar; Seek the great Desire of nations, Ye have seen his natal star:
Come and worship, come and worship Worship Christ, the newborn King.
Sinners, wrung with true repentance, Doomed for guilt to endless pains, Justice now revokes the sentence, Mercy calls you—break your chains:
Come and worship, come and worship Worship Christ, the newborn King.
Though an infant now we view him, He shall fill his Father's throne, Gather all the nations to him; Every knee shall then bow down:
Come and worship, come and worship Worship Christ, the newborn King.
All creation, join in praising God the Father, Spirit, Son, Evermore your voices raising, To th'eternal Three in One:
Come and worship, come and worship Worship Christ, the newborn King. Let’s let the Church of God of Edmonton Youth Choir give us their rendition of this beautiful song. They are using the United States tune for their rendition. Annie Lennox does a beautiful United Kingdom version with alternative refrain. Now that we are halfway through our countdown, let’s get those gift lists filled out and start putting stocking stuffers on our “to buy” list. Here are some great ideas for those stockings:
Handsome Hanging Snowman Dish Towel With Hand Knit Topper and Ties
Linorstore Don’t see what you are looking for? Maybe you will find it in some of the following showcases or ask one of our talented artists to design something special for you. Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6
This Christmas carol has been around since the 1600s, but no one can actually pinpoint who did what to the song as it evolved along the way.
The earliest manuscript was found in a library and had King John IV of Portugal’s name of the early 1600s on it as the author. The song was originally written in Latin and titled Adeste Fideles.
Even More Johns
Along came John Reading in the second half of the 1600s and then John Francis Wade in the 1700s as authors of this song. Apparently, every time the song was set down, someone came along and added a few more verses to it until it went from four to eight. It was translated into numerous languages.
Then the English got a hold of it in 1841, and Catholic priest Frederick Oakeley penned more verses and translated the others into English. He also created the harmonies that we now sing with this song.
There is a manuscript in Lancashire from 1751, which is supposed to be the oldest known version of this song. It was performed at Stonyhurst by the Stonyhurst Choir in 2014.
Stolen Voices
The original lyrics that King John IV of Portugal penned may have been stolen from St. Bonaventure of the 13th century or stolen from the monks of the German, Portuguese, Spanish or Cistercian orders. The money is on the monks, no matter who else tinkered with the song.
King John IV got writing credit because he was known as a patron of the arts and music, and he was a sophisticated composer and writer. He founded music schools and had one of the largest musical libraries in the world. It was destroyed during the Lisbon earthquake in 1755.
Here are the original four Latin verses of this extremely popular song:
Adeste Fideles
Adeste fideles læti triumphantes, Venite, venite in Bethlehem. Natum videte Regem angelorum: Venite adoremus (3×) Dominum.
Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine Gestant puellæ viscera Deum verum, genitum non factum. Venite adoremus (3×) Dominum.
Cantet nunc io, chorus angelorum; Cantet nunc aula cælestium, Gloria, gloria in excelsis Deo, Venite adoremus (3×) Dominum.
Ergo qui natus die hodierna. Jesu, tibi sit gloria, Patris æterni Verbum caro factum. Venite adoremus (3×) Dominum.
No matter who penned it, who swiped the music or who gets credit for it, this popular song is sung by choirs everywhere and is a cherished Christmas carol.
Today’s arrangement is compliments of Sir David Willcocks who published it again in 1961.
O Come All Ye Faithful
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant! O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold him Born the King of Angels: O come, let us adore Him, (3×) Christ the Lord.
God of God, light of light, Lo, he abhors not the Virgin's womb; Very God, begotten, not created: O come, let us adore Him, (3×) Christ the Lord.
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of Heaven above! Glory to God, glory in the highest: O come, let us adore Him, (3×) Christ the Lord.
Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning; Jesus, to thee be glory given! Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing! O come, let us adore Him, (3×) Christ the Lord.
Because I want to present this song as a dignified Christmas carol, I am only going to give you the link to this YouTube video for you to explore on your own. It was worth watching because it was SO bizarre and made me laugh out loud long enough to disturb the dog. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=9&v=vmEfFlbqbbY
Click at your own discretion; it’s a scream!
Here is a much more reverent and dignified version from one of my all time favorite groups.
Now that Chicago Transit Authority has given you a sweet carol to hum as you shop, let’s add these goodies to the Christmas lists for friends and family.
Don’t see what you are looking for? Maybe you will find it in some of the following showcases or ask one of our talented artists to design something special for you.
from one of my all time favorite groups. 
