Christmas in January

Each year, the stuff I want to make for Christmas decorating and gifting is heavy on my mind; seldom on my worktable. (Which is a bed. But that's another post.) I thought I'd try a monthly 'theme'--thingy to encourage me to post regularly and get my wanna-bes done. So, I have chosen the last of the month to post what I've done/am doing/going to do for the next Christmas. So here's the first: tree skirts for the shop. I'm using a pattern I found in an older Fons and Porter. I love it because it's different-- not the usual circle. It goes together very quickly and even I can quilt it. It important to use a fabric that features a horizontal stripe to get the full effect. I embellished mine with some lace on the edge and through one line. I have started collecting appropriate fabrics to make some for the shop-- those will be in next months update as well as a new 'wanna-be'.

More UFO's down...

The smocks are caught up, and now the totes are too. I still haven't listed everything but I should get those in the shop today. (One sale yesterday, too--woohoo! :) ) Next will be more pincushions and some needlecases. This is my favorite tote but it's not in the shop. This one was promised to a good friend about, oh, last spring? Last year? I'm horrible. We discussed what she'd like (cookies or candy) and I went out and bought the fabric that night. Cut it out the next day. Finished it this past Monday. I have a lot of faults but the worst has to be procratination. But now the bag is on it's way to Kansas. And yes, that is the wicked witch lining those sandwich cookies! ;)

Noooo, Mama, nooooo-

Saw this thanks to the sharp eyes at Regretsy.com--- someone tore, cut, destroyed, an antique quilt to make this dress. Maybe it was in bad shape. Maybe it carried bad memories for the creator. But, man---- an antique quilt ruined for a dress that will probably be a fad thing for a few wearings and then be a cast off. Hurts my heart.

How to kill two hours...

In keeping with the clearing out the UFO's, I finally listed the pincushions that were already made in the shop. Seven listings, plus a little playing around, in two hours. Nice way to kill a Saturday.

Chipping away at the UFOs

I have finished several smocks that had been cut out for quite some time for the Etsy store and got them listed. Next are the tote bags-- cut and pinned and ready to sew for months now; they are taking up too much space. After that will be these poor creatures--- these rag dolls have been like this for at least ten years. Stuffed in a box and moved from spot to spot-- their time has come! I'm kind of enjoying clearing out the UFOs!

He's here!

I spent a blissful week with my darling new grandson, Kal-el Patrick, and his wonderful parents, had a lovely Christmas, a quick and fun trip to NYC to see family and "Shrek-The Musical" and came home to reclaim my house. Now to get back into the cave--of course, being a new year and all, the first thing I had to do was empty the closet and re-organize and re-arrange. It's done though and I plan to sew my heart out tomorrow. I'm going to finish everything I've started/cut out and get 'em listed in the Etsy shop first, I think. I don't make NY resolutions but, if I did, I guess it would be to sew some dresses from my vintage patterns. I've held off because I wanted to lose weight first but to heck with it. When and if I lose--that's what alterations are for! I want to wear these dresses!