The Blu Print

Friday, October 7, 2016

Countdown to Christmas 2016 Week 4

It's that time of the year again!
Time for the 5th annual countdown to Christmas
Here are some of the great gift ideas for 2016 from our favorite designers and collectors. get the InLinkz code

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

I’m Dreaming of a …

White Christmas, with every Christmas card I write…

We all know the song, and if you remember from the Silent Night, Holy Night post, this is the number one all time single record sold. It was recorded by Bing Crosby, and I hesitated to include it in our little history of the carols posts since it was a more modern tune.

We – you and me – helped make this an all-time best seller.

Jewish Irving Berlin was thinking of an old-fashioned Christmas setting when he put pen to paper to knock out this little ditty. He wrote it in 1942, and there are two different versions of how and where he penned it. (Berlin also wrote God Bless America, in case anyone is interested.)

One version says that he wrote it in 1940 while enjoying a warm day in the La Quinta Hotel in La Quinta, CA. That hotel was a particularly popular get away at the time. The other version of this creation story has him writing it in the Arizona Biltmore, which happened to be a favorite retreat for Frank Capra.

Apparently, Berlin stayed up all night long writing this song, and when he saw his secretary the next morning, he said, "Grab your pen and take down this song. I just wrote the best song I've ever written — heck, I just wrote the best song that anybody's ever written!"

Bing tried it out on his radio show, The Kraft Music Hall, on Christmas Day, 1941. From there, he recorded the song with the Ken Darby Singers and the John Scott Trotter Orchestra. He made the comment to Berlin that he felt that the song would become a commercial success, which was both of their intents, but that he felt it was nothing special.

The song was used in the movie Holiday Inn, but was overshadowed by the theme song for that movie, which was Be Careful, It’s My Heart. In all actuality, the song did not chart well and did not start out well.

Here is where it turned around. The words “just like the ones I used to know” and “where the tree tops glisten” spoke to our World War II overseas listeners, and they began to request the song on the Armed Forces Network. They were filled with melancholy and longing for home, and this song, complete with Bing’s whistling, made them yearn for family and the familiar. It hit the charts and stayed there. Bing even was a crossover hit onto the African American charts.

From there, it was given an Academy Award for composition, it was written into the musical White Christmas and Bing declared that anyone could have sung it and made it a hit.

This song was associated with Bing Crosby for the rest of his life, and this is the version that we hear the most when we hear Christmas carols during the holidays.

However, this song has been covered over 500 times and holds the record for the most covers of one song. Bing’s version is listed as the number 2 most influential song of the century by NPR, only falling second to Over the Rainbow by Judy Garland.

In 1975, the Armed Forces Radio used the song as a pre-arranged single that let the United States soldiers know that they would soon be evacuating Saigon.

Berlin had an opening verse that has only made it into a couple recordings, which include Karen Carpenter’s version, Bette Midler’s version and a Crash Test Dummies’ version. Here are the original words:

The sun is shining, the grass is green,
The orange and palm trees sway.
There's never been such a day
in Beverly Hills, L.A.
But it's December the twenty-fourth,—
And I am longing to be up North—

Here are the ones we know:

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones we used to know
Where the treetops glisten and kiddies listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

Where the treetops glisten and children listen
To hear those sleigh bells in the snow

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

While we all know Bing’s version, let’s listen to another rendition to this classic carol.

There were SO many versions to choose from, New Kids on the Block, Bob Marley, The Partridge Family, Lady Gaga, Perry Como, Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennet and so many others, but this is the one that made me smile. I hope that it makes you smile too.

Now that you are singing Christmas carols, let’s go shopping!

These talented artists are available for special requests or orders, so don’t hesitate to contact them if you have any questions about these pieces.

Here are some more showcases for you to enjoy:

Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Silent Night, Holy Night
We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Hurry because handmade sells out fast, and when they are gone, they are gone! Buy now.

Enjoy!

Julie

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Monday, October 3, 2016

Hurricane Matthew

Volume 13 Issue 10, October 2016

What's New in October?

It’s time to start thinking about the holidays, and in our fifth annual Countdown to Christmas, Blu and I are hosting a large selection of handmade and vintage items from a long list of friends that we support. I have taken to sending out biweekly newsletters to help you see some of the wonderful gift ideas that our friends have come up with. You can see the countdown on our blog: http://bmebluprint.blogspot.com/

In the meantime, on a serious note, Hurricane Matthew is destroying Haiti, Jamaica and soon the Bahamas. This storm is a minor threat to us at this point ( we are on the edge of the state), but it wasn’t minor the other day when we started to consider evacuation plans. If you get a chance to help with the recovery of these places (I am writing this as it is hitting, so I do NOT know the scope of the damage, but there WILL be damage), please make sure that your donations of money go to those who really will be helping the victims with the necessities.

While I have had time to do some new pieces, I just want everyone to do what they can to help those in the path of Hurricane Matthew because the next place it could land is in the Carolinas. Stay safe friends.

More Beads: I finished almost 50 lampwork technique focal beads in a variety of styles and shapes.

Thimbles: I created seven new thimbles featuring macaw parrots, cardinals, butterflies and more.

Watches: I finished five new watches.

You will find all of my beads, canes and finished jewelry on my website. www.bluemorningexpressions.com

Until next month,

Julie & Blu

Things to Look Forward To:

New Products:

Hotrod magnets: I am finishing up the hotrod magnets, and I have a couple dozen done, but not featured in the shop.

Bangle Bracelets: Have a few bangles done, but adding a lot more.

Print Pieces: I am working on a range of beach theme pieces that include pillows, towels, table clothes and more. In addition, I have a new line of water lily shots that I just took at a local botanical gardens.

Friday, September 30, 2016

Countdown to Christmas 2016 Week 3

Christmas Countdowns at WiddlyTinks.com

It's that time of the year again!
Time for the 5th annual countdown to Christmas
Here are some of the great gift ideas for 2016 from our favorite designers and collectors.

An InLinkz Link-up

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

This song was published in 1935 as a “West Country Traditional Song” from England. Originally, it was written as “I wish you a Merry Christmas”, but later changed to “We wish you” upon republishing the piece.

The publishing date and the actual creation date are much different. This tune is thought to originate in the 1800s, but there is no evidence of that, and it is missing from some of the more recognized collections of carols from the 1800s, as well as those from the 1600s. It is only mentioned in the 1992 book New Oxford Book of Carols as an English traditional without any source or date noted.

The phrase “a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year” was found in 1740 from a song the mummers sang when they went begging from home to home. Remember the mummer’s from when we traveled around the world at Christmas? http://bmebluprint.blogspot.com/2015/09/here-we-come-awassailing.html

This is from a mummer’s song of the 1700s

I wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy New Year,
A pantryful of good roast-beef,
And barrels full of beer

Of course, they wanted figgy pudding and a pint.

There are a number of versions of the song, but the most commonly sung one contains these lyrics:

We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas,
And a happy New Year

REFRAIN
Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year.

Now bring us some figgy pudding,
Now bring us some figgy pudding,
Now bring us some figgy pudding,
And bring some out here

REFRAIN

For we all like figgy pudding,
We all like figgy pudding,
For we all like figgy pudding,
So bring some out here

REFRAIN

And we won't go until we've got some
We won't go until we've got some
We won't go until we've got some
So bring some out here

For the record, although I love Enya’s rendition, the one that I really wanted to use is the Osmond’s rendition on the 1968 Andy Williams’ Christmas Show because, well, let’s just say I am that old and was amused and entertained by it (no, I was NOT an Osmond Brother’s fan.) However, the video quality is very poor, but for fun, I am including it and letting you make your own determination.

Now that you are starting to get the Christmas spirit, let’s go shopping!

Nautical Cupcake Toppers in Navy Blue and Red

AdorebyNat

Washcloth Facecloth or Dishcloth Crocheted

ennadoolf

Lipstick Red Handmade Lampwork Beads

Covergirlbeads

Red Flame Box Elder Exotic Wood Large Earrings

ExoticWoodJewelryAnd

Firetruck Christmas Ornament

Kevs Krafts

Enhanced Candy Apple Red Autumn Leaves from Sugar Maple

Butterfly in the Attic

Hand Knit Evening Poppy Shawl

Crafting Memories 1

Red Sun Gold Earrings

Pretty Gonzo

Red Bend Jasper Cream Riverstone Czech Beige Crystal Gemstone Necklace

Kats All That

Jo's Bevel 6" Handmade Stained Glass Quilt Square in Red

2 Glass Thumbs

Handmade Necklace and Earrings

Blue Morning Expressions

Ruby Red Slipper Socks

Nancys Knots and Lace

Red Holiday Dangle Earrings

SolanaKaiDesigns

Gold, Green, and Red Glass Acrylic Beaded Holiday Christmas Bracelet

Dianes Dangles

Dog Lovers Tri-fold Wallet, Fabric Clutch

Sew Amazin

Guitar Necklace Red, Pink or Yellow Enamel Charm With Sterling Silver Chain

The Singing Beader

Red Skull Halloween Earrings

Shadow Dog Designs

Burgundy Red & Green Basket - Geometric Pattern

RSS Designs in Fiber

These talented artists are available for special requests or orders, so don’t hesitate to contact them if you have any questions about these pieces.

Here are some more showcases for you to enjoy:

Week 1
Week 2
Silent Night, Holy Night

Hurry because handmade sells out fast, and when they are gone, they are gone! Buy now.

Enjoy!

Julie

Friday, September 23, 2016

Countdown to Christmas 2016 Week 2

Christmas Countdowns at WiddlyTinks.com

It's that time of the year again!
Time for the 5th annual countdown to Christmas!
Here are some of the great gift ideas for 2016 from our favorite designers and collectors.

An InLinkz Link-up

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Silent Night, Holy Night

Last year, we sang our way to the final countdown to Christmas, and this year, we are going to pick up where we left off with many more of the more traditional songs that can be heard sung around the world during the Christmas season. We are going to start with one that I wanted to include last year, but put aside for this year because I had too many great songs to choose from.

In 1818, the marriage of the lyrics of Joseph Mohr and the composition of Franz Xaver Gruber gave us the timeless Christmas song, Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht, that remains one of the beloved Christmas carols to this day. In fact, the Bing Crosby version of this song is the third best selling single record of all time. Bing has the number one hit with White Christmas and Elton John holds number two with Candle in the Wind for my trivia buff friends.

Father Mohr had written the lyrics to this carol in 1816 before he became a priest in Austria. As Christmas approached in 1818, he asked Mr. Gruber, who was a schoolmaster and organist, if he would be willing to compose a melody along with a guitar accompaniment for the Christmas Eve mass at St. Nicholas parish in Oberndorf. The two men performed the first rendition of Silent Night, Holy Night that evening.

The original manuscript has been lost, but there is one copy in Mohr’s handwriting. The story of the composition between these two men has been retold in a television special, a film and a documentary. The First Silent Night documentary was released in 2014 if you are interested in hearing the whole story.

During World War I, there was an official Christmas truce declared along the Western Front in what was known as No Man’s Land. As the holiday approached, soldiers crossed trenches and exchanged gifts with one another. During this time, the men swapped prisoners, held joint burial ceremonies and offered food to one another. They even engaged in a few games of football.

The one carol they all knew was Silent Night, Holy Night, so they all sung it together. The truce did not last any longer than Christmas, and the commanding officers forbid them from fraternizing in the future.

Thanks to the Internet, here is a copy of the original composition in Mohr’s hand.

There may be no snow on the ground and the Christmas lights may still be in storage, but we can still wish for cooler weather and enjoy these lovely wares to whet our appetite of great things to come over this holiday season.

Without further ado, here are some of the great gift ideas from our friends.