{W.A. Mozart Composed this Heavenly Mass in C, K 167 at Age 17}

Sorry for being a bit late, but due to a bout of the flu, I only now manage to put something together.

We did go again to the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Jacksonville, Florida.
Last year in October we were there also: {St. Maria Goretti came from Italy to 54 US Cities - We got to see her too!}
So we looked at their schedule for Christmas and were in for a surprise...

A Solemn Midnight Mass with Members of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra...
So we did look up the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront and booked us 2 nights there at a great price deal.
Not having family in the U.S.A. and for both of us never having participated in the commercial gift giving, there was nothing that held us back.
Our cat-sitter was available and off we went!

The cover of the bulletin did not reveal the big surprise...

But here it was: Mozart's Mass in C, K 167 which got composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart at the age of 17.
To both of us, this was the most heavenly Mass we ever attended!

What a perfect Christmas this was for us; in its true meaning!
We did call Dad in The Netherlands, around 2:00 AM our time, he'd just gotten out of bed and sounded very happy and in high spirits, anticipating a special sung Mass by the Horster Mannenkoor in which he actively participated for half a century.

Next we went to bed too with a feeling of satisfaction.
The weather was also perfect, around 25°C.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and without the flu!

Related link:

W.A.Mozart - K. 167 Messa "Missa inhonorem SS.mae Trinitatis" - YouTube

{Happy with Husband Pieter's Grand Prize for Jingle In Your Pocket for Christmas}

Yay, Friday, December 16 was such a very special day for both of us.

After breakfast husband Pieter took a shower and was getting ready for posting my parcel, that I'd sold...

I heard his phone ring so I answered and walked over to my husband.

The lady calling started talking about the Jingle In Your Pocket drawing and that Pieter had won the Grand Prize.

WOW!

Not a good photo but this was in Saturday's local newspaper.

Yep, Pieter did win the Grand Prize of $ 1,000 and he is holding out the gift certificates of $ 100, $ 20, $ 15 and $ 10 each for promoting shopping at home.

That's what the entire event is all about, organized by the local Chamber of Commerce.

That was indeed a very lucky day for winning the $ 1,000 grand prize!

It sure did make me sing and dance better when we did perform for our Dublin Rotary Club where husband Pieter is a member too.

After a very tough year, we feel like this Grand Prize was a GIFT from HEAVEN!

The Dutch Government has not been treating us justly and only for POLITICAL REASONS...

It especially applies to ex patriates...

Since 2015, both of us can no longer have a fiscal partner; which results in a lot higher additional taxes over our Dutch pension. 

Two examples of a single breadwinner (top) versus two breadwinners (bottom).

The figure in red is the taxes that need to be paid and in the bottom part it is simultaneously for two; which is a LOT less than for one. 

So they no longer let us have a fiscal partner, meaning we both pay the HIGH WAY...

We hope that the March 15, 2017 elections will change that, mainly for the benefit of the Elderly and that they again learn how to take care of their own country! 

Political Decisions like that, have hurt law abiding and deserving citizens.

The EU Elites and Establishment in Brussels never feel that pain...

{New Quilted Graduating Ombré Silk Velvet Bottom}

As already mentioned in my previous post, see link below, today I show you what I finally created from yet another remnant of my French Graduating Ombré Silk Velvet.

Yes, this was my very special project!
A new bottom for my treasured French Ormolu Jewelry Box!

Again, from a remnant, used for my own sewing creation in Graduating Ombré Silk Velvet.
This photo is from December 9, 2004.
Yes, I also did make a matching Silk Hair Bow Barrette...

Using the same batting for quilting...

Sewing on the barrette clip...

Fastening it with the silk charmeuse band in the center.
Tricky to hold it all in place while threading your needle but it worked.

In Atlanta at Holly Lobby on November 18, we did find these perfect Czech Glass Beads in Metallic Gold! 
Also the matching DMC embroidery floss.

From left to right: French Graduating Ombré Silk Velvet, some stiff material (?).
Together with my dear Friend Ellie, I found it in my hometown while in The Netherlands.
To the right you see a remnant of batting for quilting.

DMC Embroidery Floss; Czech Beads, Pencil and Silk Charmeuse for lining the underside.

From the original example, I did measure and pencil draw these lines for quilting.

Putting the beads inside small Pillivuyt ramekins and threading my gold tipped sewing needle with 2 strands of embroidery floss.

This is how I did sew the beads on:
First the big bead, secondly the smal one and than going back with the needle through the big bead and into the fabric again.

First of course I had stitched the stiff filling, batting and silk velvet together!
Rounded corners, like the original and this is how it looks now from the underside after sewing those beads on. 

With Basting Thread, I did tack the Silk Charmeuse with its right side onto the Silk Velvet.

But what a HELL OF A JOB to reverse this!
Turned out that the stiff filling was way too stiff to handle.
It got all warped up!
But slowly and with perseverance...

Yes, the battle was almost over here...
Wearing still my shorts a couple of weeks ago!

Now I had to hand sew the opening that I left unstitched, between two rounded corners...
Using silk thread, from Britex Notions (link below).

Also the quilting I've done with this Japanese KINKAME silk thread.

Here it is; completely DONE!
Very hard for making half decent photos in the December light...

Also the Graduating Ombré Silk Velvet has its shine and different color nuances.

This photo is taken outside with daylight.
Now you clearly can see WHY I opted for this golden brown Ombré Silk Velvet Bottom.
It goes so perfect with the Ormolu. 
Also love the beveled glass panels!

In full daylight...
So happy for having this little, but very complex task accomplished.
Hope you like it too!

Thank you for your visit!

Related posts:
{My French Ormolu Jewelry Box got new Bottom} | previous post by me where you see also original
{My French Ormolu Jewelry Box & Silver Angels} | previous post by me
{My Sewing Creation in Graduating Ombré Silk Velvet} | previous post by me
{Did I loose my strength?... Like in Samson and Delilah?} | previous post about my braid on ombré
Britex Notions
Beading on Quilts Ideas Video Intro | How I got the beading idea...

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