Week in Review 2025 – 10/24

Count Down

The count downs on numerous art, holidays and adventures are approaching lower and lower numbers. I’m trying not to panic. It can be hard to dig down deep and focus on one item and one step at a time. I have to remind myself I’ve been here before. Also, whether I do all I set out to do or not, nothing is life threatening if I don’t succeed.

National Holidays

There are two national holidays coming up in November. We live in the US, so Thanksgiving is looming. This year it is on the late side, November 27th. There are two aspects in particular about Thanksgiving that require planning and tend to be mercurial in staying firm. The first is who is coming and the second is what is on the menu. They are even intertwined. The more people the more dishes I plan.

My table runner for Thanksgiving

If you are wondering what the other national holiday is, it’s the SEDOSO (Senior Executive Director of Studio Operations) birthday. He turns 74 years old on November 20th. The national holiday is only in his head, of course. You would think he never had sweet treats throughout the year the way he plans for dessert for said birthday. This count down often starts months earlier. He is talking about a different dessert for each day of the month. Fortunately, the SEDOSO does the lion’s share of the cooking for both national holidays.

Cohasset Open Studios

It’s crunch time for Cohasset Open Studios, which takes place on November 1st and 2nd. The count on that one is 8 days. Yikes! One of the artworks hanging in my studio is Bat Sh*t Crazy. I felt compelled to make this piece shortly after Putin invaded Ukraine.

Bat Sh*t Crazy measures 36″ x 46″

Every morning I skim the ArtDaily Newsletter. They do a great job of highlighting exhibits and art trends around the globe. I was struck by the leading photo of Pattern of the Night by Zoya Frolova. This is her work about the war in Ukraine. It is one of the artworks on display at the Mriya Gallery. Erie how similar our pieces are.

Pattern of the Night by Zoya Frolova

Bernina 990 Progress

I spent much of last weekend and Monday making the remaining 66 pairs of free standing lace earrings I have planned for Cohasset Open Studios. Time for a happy dance. All 66 pairs are done. Yesterday, I washed away the glue based stabilizer they are sewn on. Here they are drying on a towel. Today, I’ll iron them flat. Then it will be the SEDOSO’s turn to add the hangers.

Just a few of the 66 pairs of free standing lace earrings drying on a towel.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge

I started sewing down the binding on my 2024 RSC quilt this week. I find my sewing hand cramps if I sew for more than an hour. So, I am taking my time. Still I managed to get two sides sewn. I have one more week to go before the open studio. At least the earrings are in the home stretch.

The 2024 Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilt is trimmed and ready for binding.

Question of the Week

What personal national holidays, as opposed to official national holidays, do you add to your calendar? How do you celebrate them?

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By Gwyned Trefethen

I am an artist who uses fabric, thread and miscellany to create designs gifted to me by my imagination.

26 comments

  1. Happy up-coming birthday to the SEDOSO. If he’s talking a dessert-a-day for his 74th, just think what he’ll do for his 75th! Here in Canada, my Thanksgiving (2nd Sunday/Monday in October) is usually quiet now that I’m on my own. I get together with my kids for Xmas. Other holidays? May 24 (or the closest Monday to that date) is Victoria Day (Queen Victoria’s b’day), considered Canada’s official start to Summer — just as Labour Day (same as in the US) marks the last. I celebrated Hallowe’en long ago when the kids were at home, and Easter (the bunny part, not just the church part) too. Much quieter now.

    1. Let’s just say those desserts are more talk than actually made and consumed. Lots of apples and chocolate feature. I’ll sure your good wishes with the SEDOSO. Sounds like you have quite a few wonderful opportunities for family gatherings.

  2. Happy birthday to your SEDOSO! And don’t even talk to me about countdowns. I have a countdown app widget on my phone and every time I pick it up it sparks a little panic attack. 17 days until the moving truck comes and I will be out of town for six of those days! And no, my machines and fabric etc etc etc are NOT yet packed up. I hope I can remember how to get my B 990 back into the Bernina carton for safe transport…

    1. Oh my. Not sure I could cope with a count down app. I am already too fixated on projects, deadlines and commitments. My sparks could burn the house down. I am fortunate to have SEDOSO for moving days. He tackles things like the B 990. We store the box, its innards and assembly instructions. Did the same for the sewing cabinet. It’s easier to pack up a kitchen in advance of a move than the studio. You can always go out to eat. 🙂

  3. Novembre is the month for two birthdays in my family: my mum novembre 24th and my older sister, november 27th. This year is special, as both my mum and dad are turning 80 years old. This is our family personal national holidays 😉 Your earrings are looking good, what a lovely choice between all these color combo! It looks like you are going to be ready right on time for the show. Thank you for sharing and linking up!

    1. Do your mother and sister celebrate together? My granddaughter and I share a birthday. She was born on my birthday 59 years ago. Of course, she has a separate birthday party with friends.

      Hopefully, anyone interested in earrings should find some color combination that works. At least that was my goal.

  4. It is so exciting to see your Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilt getting so close to being done. The binding phase is such a nice time to admire a quilt and enjoy the process.

  5. The Bat S*** quilt is very creative, and interesting. Such detail on the buildings! Great job! Happy birthday to the senior executive!! Good thing he likes to cook. My adult children and their spouses have taken over the hosting of both Thanksgiving and Christmas now, which is just fine with me. We have a hard time some years choosing a date that works around their work schedules.

    1. I have EQ 8 to thank for the buildings. I used several of their blocks. Of course, I then had to do the math to resize and align them. I also wanted to include a church on the hill. The buildings are a very loosely interpretive vision of a lovely section of Kiev prior to bombing. Hence the yellow buildings with blue colors, to represent the national colors or Ukraine.

      I had hoped that our children would take over the holidays. Our daughter, who is an excellent cook, did so twice. She is 45 years old. By her age we had hosted at least one holiday a year, if not two, for 25 years. Lucky you to have children to do the holidays for you. Yes, scheduling is tough. Not everyone has Thanksgiving and/or Christmas off or the dates surrounding them if traveling is involved.

  6. A dessert a day for a month would take some planning! (Although many should last more than one day!) I’ll admit that I am already thinking about Thanksgiving, but not yet planning. Your earring collection is amazing – I hope they are very popular items in your studio. An hour a day on that binding should do it – you’re almost there! A personal holiday for me is any day that holds no other obligations besides sewing and reading. Amazingly, they are few and far between!

    1. Well, Diann, this is a yearly threat/promise/plan. He has yet to execute. At least not with the labor intensive baking required. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if he ate a dessert or two daily throughout the year. At events where there are desserts laid out for all to help themselves, he will happily pick up 4 or 5 items. You would think he would be obese, have diabetes or even cardiac issues. No, he is a good weight for his height, has low blood pressure and low cholesterol. Let’s just say I am envious.

      An hour a day is the perfect way to conquer the binding. I do tend to get distracted though.

      You and I are in accord when it comes to holidays. Any day I can spend sewing is a good day. I do listen to audio books 365 days a year. 🙂 Those uninterrupted sewing days are hard to achieve, though.

  7. Happy Birthday to SEDOSO! The personal holidays that I like to celebrate are all the family birthdays, including my own, as well as Hubby and my anniversary. Lately most are quiet affairs as our children have moved far away, but dinner out and a special dessert are always included. We do travel to our children’s homes to celebrate each of the grandchildren’s birthdays. I love your earrings.

    1. I have passed your birthday wishes along to SEDOSO. Seems family birthdays are popular holidays. Our children don’t live nearby either, so like you a meal out is usually a two-some.

  8. Bat S*** is amazing and yes, I see the similarities between you Frolova. . .eerie is right! As for celebrations. . .we have landing day. . .this date varies and it can happen several times in a year. It is when London daughter arrives here or one or both of us arrive there! I hope SEDOSO has the best birthday every!

    1. So, I wasn’t hallucinating then. When I designed Bat Sh*t Crazy using red for the sky just made sense. It expressed anger and rage. I wasn’t thinking of flames. I expected that was Frolova’s rationale for her sky.

      Now that is precisely the type of national holiday I was thinking of. Love the idea of honoring landing day.

      I will pass your salutations on to SEDOSO. Thank you.

  9. I agree with SEDOSO, a different dessert each day seems doable. I used to celebrate my birthday every weekend in January. A different trip or outing to spend time with friends and family. Hubster doesn’t seem to agree with this practice. LOL Best wishes for all your prep plans and may you find peace in the planning.

    1. Chris, I’ll let SEDOSO know you gave him a thumbs up. Our son and one of our grandsons have January birthdays. It is difficult to rely after weeks of holiday celebrations, especially because they are on the early end of the month. I love your idea of a special outing a visit each weekend of the month. Thank you for the encouragement.

  10. Wow, all those earrings are adorable, Gwyned! 66 pairs!!! Great job! I hope they sell well. Your RSC 2024 is coming together so nicely! Happy birthday to your DH!!! I’m curious to hear all of the treats he gets, with so much anticipation!!! In our house, we celebrate Bridge Day–the day we moved from Japan back to the US–April 19th.

    1. One thing I have avoided doing over the years is making “product” to sell during my open studios. I do make 8″ x 8″ wrapped around a canvas frame quilts. These are more affordable than my large work. I might sell one or two during the open studios. So, with the excuse of learning the B 990 and getting the FSL earrings pattern and substrate included in my purchase, I decided to give earrings a try. They certainly are different from anything sold in the other studios. Nothing ventured… I can always attempt to sell them on Etsy or give them away as gifts.

      As for the SEDOSO’s November treats, he talks a good game, but rarely follows through. 90% of the fun for him is the anticipation.

      Love the idea of Bridge Day being a celebration. My mother used to celebrate Adoption Day. The day I arrived at their home – July 6th vs. my actual birthday of May 8th. Not a big celebration. She would simply announce, “Happy Adoption Day.”

  11. Hi Gwyned, you’ve been so busy. Best of luck on the Open Studio! Thanks for linking up to FM Mavericks!

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