Simple Sunday Stitching

Charles Dickens life is very intriguing and of all his works A Christmas Carol, written by Dickens in 1843, is one of my most favorite. Through his short life, he created many characters, many of whom are most likely drawn from his own experience and the short stories and books reflect a great imagination and gift that he had with writing.

A Christmas Carol sparked the true meaning of Christmas in a time when the economy was down. The inspiration to Dickens for the book was encouragement to the public about Christmas spirit in a time when spirit was low due to economic conditions.

 Although written in 1843, he continued to read his short stories and writings to the public. Dickens was approached by Great Ormand Street Hospital in 1858 to ask for his help to keep the hospital financially stable in a economic downfall. He spoke at the first annual festival dinner at Freemason's Hall and gave a public reading of A Christmas Carol to help raise money for the  hospital to expand it's bed capacity. Through this event, the hospital was able to expand to an adjacent building, to increase bed capicity from 20-75.

As I read and reflect on Dickens life and works this morning, a very popular statement in A Christmas Carol, written in 1843, and read publically to help a hospital grow during hard times in 1858, I'm reminded that the verse is timeless.

I hope you enjoy adding this to your basket for a quick stitch, a giftie, a Christmas tag, a primitive pillow or pinkeep for encouragement of spirit all year long.

A Christmas Heart

designer~~Jennifer Dalenberg, Feathers in the Nest

copyright 2011

linen and threads of choice

This is a freebie on the blog for a short while. If you stitch this one up and would like to share, email me at jennifer.dalenberg@yahoo.com with a picture of your finish and I will be glad to show here on the blog!

Till later,

Jennifer