What’s Your Favorite Holiday Movie?

“It’s a Wonderful Life”

I love this time of year when you can watch all of your favorite old holiday movies. Some of my favorites are “White Christmas.” “Holiday Inn,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Christmas in Connecticut,” “Holiday Affair,” and “Best Years of Our Lives.” Some favorites from my childhood are ”The House Without A Christmas Tree,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” Occasionally a newer movie becomes a classic like “A Christmas Story,” “Christmas Vacation,” and “Elf.”

But now there are whole channels devoted to making Christmas movies, like the Hallmark Channel which has over 300 Christmas movies, with 30 - 40 new ones each year. Although most of these movies are likely not to become classics sometimes there is a good one. Today I watched a Hallmark Christmas movie that was actually pretty good. Maybe because it was based on the old classic movies from the 40’s. It was called “A Biltmore Christmas.”

But sometimes you just want to have a cup of cocoa and watch a “bad” movie. Last week I came across a movie called “The Fabric of Christmas” (sometimes titled “A Cozy Christmas Quilt”) about a quilter and a fireman. It was a very sappy movie and not very good, but it was fun watching a movie centered around quilting. They had the quilting terminology and process of making a quilt down pretty well. But I had to laugh when they were piecing a block and just put a completed block under the sewing machine needle and sewed over the top of it. No right-sides-together for these “quilters.” Also, when the quilting teacher taught a hunky fireman (who had never even used a sewing machine before) to make his first quilt, it was a bed-size feathered star pattern with lots of background needing to be heavily quilted. Oh, and he had to complete it in just a few weeks. It was an amusing watch, but I don’t think it will go on my list of favorite Holiday films. I don’t think this is a movie that I would want to watch over and over each year.

That’s the thing with a classic Christmas movie. After watching them every year, you can often even recite the lines and sing the songs along with the movie. Of course we all know the lyrics of “White Christmas”, but there is another tune in this movie where the two lead actresses, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen, sing the song “Sisters.” A week or so ago I went with a friend to see a local belly dancing group do a holiday show. They did various dances in groups, pairs and solo. About halfway through the show, two woman came on stage wearing blue belly dancing costumes and each had a fan. When the music started playing, after only a few notes, I laughed and leaned over to my friend and said “I think they are going to do the fan dance from White Christmas.” And sure enough they did the fan dance to the song “Sisters.” Definitely not something that I was expecting to see at this show. How amusing, since my friend knew all the words. Turns out she and her sisters used to sing this song together, into a hairbrush.

Well, I think it’s time to watch another holiday movie, if I expect to see all of my favorites before the season is over. What’s your favorite holiday movie?

Get-Away Nearly Sold Out

2025 Get-Away Weekend, April 24 - 27

We have only a couple of spaces left for the 2025 Get-Away weekend at The Mansion, which sits on a bluff overlooking beautiful Keuka Lake in New York’s Finger Lakes. .

If you were thinking about joining us and haven’t put down a deposit yet, don’t delay. Last year everyone loved the new venue and most signed up as soon as the 2025 dates were announced this summer.

The well-lit workspace where we spend our days quilting and crafting is in the newer venue space attached to the west side of The Mansion, an 1800’s estate with a deep history in the region. You can opt to stay in the antique furnished mansion with updated modern baths or stay in the newer lake house-styled inn to the east of The Mansion.

The retreat cost includes all meals, snacks, a wine tasting, a goodie bag, a pattern for the optional guided quilt project, a mini-class kit, and instruction. The classroom is equipped with individual work tables, cutting and ironing stations and a mobile quilt shop. All you need to bring is your supplies (including your sewing machine) to work on the guided project and/or your own project.

The three-day basic retreat runs from Friday, April 25, at 9 a.m. to Sunday, April 27, at 3 p.m. But you can opt to add the extra day and begin your retreat at 9 a.m. on Thursday, April 24.

Also, when you book you hotel room, you can opt to come the night before your retreat begins, as well as stay Sunday night after the classroom closes at 3 p.m. for the same low retreat price. The room prices are per room, not per person, so if you want to share your room with a friend, you can split the cost.

To sign up for the retreat, complete the registration on the sign-up brochure and mail it along with a deposit. You will find the sign-up brochure on the retreat page along with more detailed information about the 2025 Get-Away Weekend. Next, you need to call The Mansion and reserve the room and dates that you want, Be sure to ask for the Quilting with Margaret rate. Once the retreat is full, you can still contact me to be put on a wait list. There is often a last-minute cancellation, life happens. And if not, being on the wait list will assure you are the first to hear about the 2026 Get-Away along with those who attend in 2025.

Annual Get-Away Weekend

Thanks to everyone who attended the 2024 Annual Get-Away Weekend this past April. It was the largest retreat since 2016. It was also our first year at a new location at The Mansion overlooking beautiful Keuka Lake.

Everyone enjoyed the new location and wanted to return in 2025. So we will be returning to The Mansion (formerly Esperanza) in 2025. The dates will be Friday, April 25 - Sunday, April 27, with an optional add-on day Thursday, April 24.

If you our interested in joining us, go to the Get-Away Weekend tab under Classes & Events to see details and to download a signup brochure.

The retreat is already getting full, so don’t delay making a deposit if you want to join us.

BoxArtists “Art with Heart” Open Studios

Stop by 100 Boxart St., Saturday, February 10, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. for a building-wide open house event. At Quilting with Margaret, Studio 265, make a fabric postcard for your favorite Valentine. These postcards can be mailed just like a regular postcards through the US Postal Service. I also have a selection of pre-made fabric postcards for purchase.

If you missed our Holiday Open House, this is a chance to stop by 100 Boxart St. and see what all of the BoxArtists are up to. Walk the building and visit the new studios of artists from all mediums. We won’t be having another building-wide open house until May 2024.

At Studio 265, Quilting with Margaret, in addition to the make-it-take-it Valentines Postcards, you will find Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day fabric pins and fabric wine bags. Or check out a selection of themed patterns for runners and quilts to celebrate the holidays. If you would rather not make a runner and prefer to buy a ready-made Valentines Day runner, I have those too.

Also, look through an assortment of fun gifts for your Valentine, like a pinup oven mitt, potholder, eyeglass case, key tag, purse, runner or quilt.

And, the Big Winter Fabric Sale continues through Saturday, February 10. A selection of fabrics regularly priced $8 - $10/yard are on sale for a limited time at $6 - $7.50/yard (or 25% off). This includes approximately half the fabric in the studio. I need room for new fabrics arriving soon! Studio 265 will be open Wednesday - Saturday this week from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. each day.

Stop by and see me. Shop small and support your local artists.