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Monday, December 2, 2013

Holiday Sewing

I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving!  I really enjoyed being home with my family for the long weekend.  Now that I'm home, my lights are on my house, and my Christmas trees are decorated, it's time to get some serious holiday cheer.  It'll be here before we know it!

I feel like I've been a little out of touch for awhile with Thanksgiving last week and traveling.  I have been able to read and keep up with lots of posts, but I haven't had time to comment as much as I would like.  I have been doing some sewing though.  I've managed to get some more of my Christmas gifts finished up!

I've finally finished that huge stack of Christmas coasters- all 52 of them.  They're just waiting to be all tied up into sets of four.


I have to be honest here.  I'm pretty sick of looking at coasters.  I actually thought of a couple of other people that really should be on the list to get a set, but I just can't bring myself to make 8 more.

I've also managed to make two pillows- my first two ever!  The first one is made from an orphan Purse Strings block left over from my table runner.  It's 14 inches, and is destined for my family Christmas swap game (along with the table runner).


I made the second pillow by improv piecing some Christmas scraps.  It measures 18 inches, and I hope my friend loves it!  Of course, I still have to get the pillow form for it, but you get the idea.


So here's the thing- I had the best of intentions when I was thinking of what to make as Christmas gifts. I had planned to make another pillow (or two), but I'm not so sure I'm going to do it.  I absolutely LOVE Christmas, but I'm really ready to look at some different fabric.  And with the rest of my hectic holiday schedule, I just don't know that it's going to happen.

More than that, I'm ready to make another quilt.  Since finishing Around the Block, I've been focusing on getting my gifts done.  Although I love being able to get things done so quickly, I've missed working on an actual quilt.

Has that ever happened to you?  Have you ever had the best of intentions with gift-making, and then just lost steam?  I hope I'm not the only one!


22 comments:

  1. You're not alone when it comes to loosing steam! That happens to me all the time lol Thankfully it hasn't happened yet this holiday season, I might be able to get everything I need finished before Christmas with the pace I'm working at now!

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  2. You are definitely not alone! I had a list as long as my arm of things I wanted to make for Christmas and guess what? I managed to finish 1 quilt... And it's for me! :-). I still have some time I guess and I did order some Insulated batting to make hotpads. Love your pillows by the way.

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  3. I have gone through those times in spurts and then I go around others blogs and get inspired all over again! LOL

    Have you ever been gifted sewn items as a teacher? If so what was your favorite thing you have received through the years?

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  4. I can't tell you how many times I've thought about making gifts for friends and family, then quickly discarded that idea. Love your pillows!! and that's quite a stack of coasters ~ I can see why you don't feel the love for any more! :)

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  5. Wow, look at all those coasters! I'm making woolly hats for Christmas and am getting sick of the sight of them, but am not making anywhere near as many as you've made coasters - what an achievement! I also love your Christmas scraps cushion, it's very festive :-)

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  6. Everything looks so festive. You can do it. You don't have to sew everything in one fell swoop. Sew here and there, and you get it all done. Maybe beginners and enders? Kill 2 birds with one seam!!

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  7. I have also been working on smaller projects and I''m ready to start a quilt. love that cheery pillow

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  8. Your Christmas projects look great and I know they'll be loved :)
    You've been running at top speed for a little while now, so I bet if you take a little break you'll get your sewing mojo back.
    And hey- don't you love pillows for that (almost) instant sewing gratification?

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  9. I haven't been able to quilt much for a couple of years and finally found out why. For the last two years, I've been toying with having cataract surgery. In May, I finally decided to bite the bullet and do it. After doing to the opthamologist to what I thought was going to be an appointment to schedule that surgery, I left with an appointment to see the only person in the state who measures eye muscles. I've had two MRIs - one of the brain and one of the eye orbits. I've seen a pediatric opthamologist and then the only neuro opthamologist in the state. The double vision wasn't due to cataracts after all. I don't even have cataracts. I am extremely far sighted and so to see up close, my muscles have to work overtime. I thought the solution was going to be to put a prism in one of my lens. That didn't work and the neuro opthamologist said he can't make glasses thick enough for me. So, I had eye surgery on both my eyes - the muscles. I'm still having double vision and may for a total of six weeks after the surgery as a normal course of things - if everything goes according to plan. So, hopefully early January, I'll have a new Rx for new glasses and I'll be able to thread a needle again and I'll at least be able to sew on a machine again. Now that I think back again, I've had a lot of miscuts (and I was a math major). I just couldn't see the lines on the ruler well even though I check, double checked and triple checked. I've been trying to hand piece (not EPP) a Grandmother's Flower Garden and had to quit because I can't see to thread the needle or to stitch at all. Can you imagine trying to thread a needle with double vision? It's impossible.

    Anyhow, you're quilts and especially your Christmas projects are phenomenal. I can only imagine how ready you are for fabrics other than Christmas fabric. I was only going to mention that as much as folks like getting Christmasy things for Christmas, if you still want to and can squeeze in some time, you might consider making some non-Christmasy themed items for friends. They can use them other times of the year, too. Some of them might be used all year round. I love your blog and the blogs are fun to try to read and see others' creations while I'm not able to create.

    I had only been divorced for 7 months (I still loved him and it was a very, very difficult decision to make) and my ex-husband was found dead in his apartment the day I had my second MRI and the same day my daughter had a D&C to terminate an unsustainable pregnancy. It's been difficult not to have my crafting to turn to during this recovery time. It's even difficult to try to read. So, I want you to know blogs like yours are appreciated. Susan

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  10. I learned my lesson last Christmas when I was in overwhelmed and in tears... this year I only have a few small gifts on my sewing list! But, I'm starting a list of ideas for Christmas 2014 so I can sew throughout the year. I do not like deadlines in my fun hobby!

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  11. Well, my problem is that the things I want to make for myself get tossed to the wind. =( I have had fabric waiting two years for a new tree skirt. I have been busy sewing for other things, so didn't get around to making it again this year. I still hope to one day get it finished.

    Your sewing looks lovely and I'm sure your gifts will be thoroughly enjoyed! Enjoy the Christmas season!

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  12. I have four gifts I want to make and I don't know if it's lack of steam or lack of desire, but I'm just not getting to them. I've been telling myself that next year I'm starting in January to get gifts done for Christmas!! Love your pillow!

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  13. Well you are still quite amazing getting so much done during Thanksgiving even though you had been traveling. That is a lot of coasters. I would probably be like you I need to see something else for awhile. Your pillow came out great! Will look quite festive for the holidays! After making the snowman mini quilt I thought I was done with the holiday stuff. Then I get cranked up again. I saw the cutest Christmas pillow this morning. So maybe something will cross your path that will get you going again after you finish that quilt you want to make. :)!

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    Replies
    1. Oh Lordy I really need to read my messages before publishing especially since a teacher will be looking at it. LOL

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  14. You are definitely not the only one. I don't like to be under time crunch when making gifts. Well done with finishing those coasters and the pillows. That's a lot of sewing for Christmas gifts. They look amazing and they will be loved. Hope you don't feel the pressure any more enjoy the holiday season :)

    -Soma

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  15. Really like your improv Christmas cushion! I'm making Christmas presents on and off, I'm very worried the important ones are not going to get finished if I don't get a move on! I'm like that, I need pressure to get things done!

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  16. The pile of coasters Looks so great!

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  17. You have my admiration!! 52 Christmas coasters would be too much for me

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  18. I really love that pillow! You've done a stunning job. And wow - that is some marathon of sewing coasters!

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  19. That is a very serious stack of coaster!!!
    I am trying not to set myself too many projects for Christmas this year! Last year I was sewing pouches until late Christmas Eve!!

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  20. you are most definitely NOT alone and you got way further than I did. I am pretty sure I could never make that many coasters! That is awesome!


    Stopping by from Lee's hop
    http://domesticdeficitdisorder.blogspot.com/2013/12/wip-wednesday-dec-4th.html

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  21. Congrats on the coaster finish! Mannnnn!!! And the cushions are fab! Thanks for linking up with the Cushion for Christmas blog hop! x

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Thanks so much for your comment and for visiting! I read and appreciate every single comment, and I reply to each one as soon as I can. If you don't hear back from me, you might be a no-reply blogger. :)

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