Easy Street Mystery

Have you guys heard about Bonnie Hunter's latest mystery quilt, Easy Street?  You can see the latest linky post here.  Bonnie originally suggested a grey and white as neutrals, deep purples, teals and lime greens as colors for the quilt and many quilters are following that suggestion.  But there are several others who are creating their own color schemes.  I have to admit, while I like the  original color pallet I'm not in love with it, so I would probably choose a different combination of colors.  I was thinking chocolate brown and cream as the neutrals, and rich red, pink and tan as the colors.  Or maybe red, green and blue.  Or pink, green and blue. Or yellow, orange and red.  

My semester is almost over (both teaching and taking classes) and I am anxious to get creative in my sewing room.  Dr J has completed his section of our Christmas gifts, but I still need to do my part, and there are two Christmas quilts I was hoping to get to, and his quilted gift.  I can't wait to get in there!

Advent

I've never given advent much thought.  We don't have kids in our household and the days leading up to Christmas is a very busy time about here. As a result, we are rather boring by putting mini candybar bites in our calendar's pockets and forgetting about it.

(The advent calendar my MIL made for us.)

But last year I made an advent calendar for my sister and her family (who do have small children).  She posted a question on Facebook that asked what ideas others had for putting in the pockets.  One woman suggested a small lego project to build little by little each day which I thought was amazingly clever!  However, the more I thought about  it, the more I worried about lost pieces and/or choking hazards.  

So, my question to you, dear readers, is what non-food items would you suggest putting in the pockets (about 2"x2")?

(The advent calendar I made for my sister's family)

Just a teaser...

Christmas project in-progress.

Secret Projects and New Arrivals

It has suddenly become that time of year when I cannot talk blatantly about the projects I'm working on.  I finished a birthday gift for one of my sisters (I can post pictures next week after she receives it) and am now beginning to work on Christmas gifts.  It took me a while to figure out what projects to make this year, but I think I've got it.

I did place a small order with Fat Quarter Shop.  I had received a coupon for 20% off my next order and I had already started looking at patterns.   

My booty (plus kitty):

First up is this selection of Farm Fresh - a new line of baby fabrics.  I liked this one because it was gender neutral.  I have a few plans for the fabric.

The other fabric I bought was this Desired Things collection. 

For this pattern:

The original used a blue for the border, but with our bedroom walls a different kind of blue, I thought I'd go with a more neutral color for the border.  I'm looking forward to making this in the spring!

 Finally, I bought these patterns:

 They are mostly quilt patterns, but there's a bag pattern in there too.  I also signed up for the Miss Rosie's Quilt Company pattern club.  I love these patterns and keep buying individual ones, but this way they will automatically ship me the new patterns as they arrive for retail. 

This is the first time that I have bought pre-cut collections beyond charm packs - pretty exciting for me!  Have you bought pre-cuts before?  What did you think of them?  Were they more or less helpful?

This Year's Holiday Projects

See?  I really was busy doing things for the last few months!

The Stockings

Advent Quilt

Some were pleased, some were not.  

I have been thinking a lot about what Christmas means to me and what it should mean.  It's made me rethink how we currently celebrate the holiday and what probable changes I'd like to make for Christmas 2011.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Hard Work is Paying Off...

Hello everyone!

 Oh my, the weeks are flying by faster than I can keep track!  I'm very happy to report that I am making fantastic progress on my handmade Christmas projects.  I have three complete, two that need minor finishing touches, one that needs to be quilted and a couple details, one I've cut out (but not assembled), and 4 that I have not begun yet. 

Even with the Thanksgiving holiday (over which I won't have access to my machines), I expect to have everything in the mail to their respective locations by December 10th.  

Yep.  Feeling pretty good about this.

What are you working on?

So many secrets this time of year...

This time of year is particularly difficult for blog posts.  But luckily, I have lots of "help" in the sewing room!  This snuggle bug doesn't understand why I'm not constantly petting him instead of working with that silly fabric!  I can't even take pictures without him getting in the way.   I do love him, though!

 

What a poser. ;o)

 

Virtually everything I'm working on can't really be revealed at this point because they're all Christmas presents!  So, I'll be a little creative in order to post SOMEthing.

This is something I am marking for some reason.

 

These are some fabrics I really like.

 

This is also marked for some reason...

 

I wonder what's going on here.

Not to worry.  I am taking lots of photos of the process and will post after the holidays the final products.   Needless to say, I've met some challenges.  But I am enjoying myself.  That's all that matters... right?

It's That Time of Year!

This weekend I got the tubs of Christmas fabric out to assess where I am, what fabrics I have, prep the last few fat quarters (wash, trim, iron and fold), and start planning some of my Christmas projects.

I have plans for these, although, probably not together.

This next set may or may not get made into a stocking.  It's a difficult individual and I'm not positive they would like/want the red.  They didn't want anything "whimsical" and I think they might consider the floral on the red a type of whimsy.

I like this set, but think this recipient might deserve a bit more funk.

Request for advice...

I have a bit of a dilemma for which I could really use your advice.  But first, let me provide some background information.

I challenged my siblings to a homemade Christmas this year.  Each of us has some pretty awesome talents and this would be an easy way for us to continue to play with our hobbies while providing quality gifts to all.  For years we've drawn names (with 6 siblings and now three of us are married... that's a lot of people to have to buy for), but none of us is rolling in the dough, shall we say.  Which, even though we draw names, has become more of a hardship than a pleasantry.  The difficult part is that some of us are perfectly content spending money on manufactured items.  The other aspect that I haven't been able to understand is why we don't do it by family.  Why not do away with the name drawing altogether?  But that's not the dilemma...

Anyway, I have decided that no matter what the others do, Mr. BB and I are making our gifts.  The problem comes when I consider my sister-in-law (SIL).  This young lady and soon-to-be-mother is not exactly appreciative of handcrafted gifts.  My brother (we'll call him... B1 for first brother) has asked for items for the baby who will be born at the end of October.  However, SIL has not indicated that as her desire and has already had two (yes, I said two) baby showers.  I made a lovely sweater set and blanket for the first baby shower (and one of my sisters made a blanket as well).  

Last Christmas, I had made my youngest sister, her family, and my parents quilted Christmas stockings.  Naturally, it took a lot of time and thought.  My other siblings were instantly envious and gave their orders to me immediately.  B1 and SIL were married the previous summer and when I asked if they'd like personalized stockings as well, the offer was declined.  "But if you'd like to make a set to keep at your parents for when we celebrate there, go ahead."  No thank you, that's not how this works.  

Given the unappreciative nature of said future-parent, I'm hesitant to even make this poor child the  first Christmas gift of a quilted Christmas stocking!  I am truly afraid that it would either be destroyed before the child could grow up or that it would be "lost."  I'm considering asking my parents to keep it at their place until the child is an adult and can make up it's own mind.  (That's dilemma number one - What should I do about that?)

Furthermore, I have been given her name in the Christmas drawing.  I go round and round with what I should do.  Should I go ahead and make her something that I know she won't like - or at the very least appreciate?  Should I collect some local products to promote my new state (as you know we moved and now live several states from B1 and SIL)?  Should I just say "to hell with it" and buy her a gift card that she can use anywhere?  Is there another option?


*Sigh* Please help.  What would you do?


PS (added Sept. 22, 2010): It's been noted that this post feels angry.  I'm stuck, not angry.  I don't want to treat her differently, but she's been difficult for me to become acquainted.  To be honest, I'm leaning towards a gift card that way my feelings won't be hurt regardless.

Back to Business...

This weekend, I was (finally) able to spend some time in my quilting room.  As you can see, there are still quite a few boxes everywhere, but I am making progress.  Mr. BB has some jeans that he has either worn through or *ahem* outgrown.  His mom made a quilt our of denim a very long time ago and I think I'm going to do the same.  Mr. BB gave me a pair of his jeans to add to my collection yesterday, so I made quick work of them.

This is all that couldn't be used for the squared.  Not bad, eh?  Talk about recycled materials!  These scraps will be used in repairs and/or as rags in the wood-working shop.

 I spent several nights this week ironing a bunch of washed fat quarters.  I don't have any concrete plans for these, but they certainly put me in the mood to make some Christmas projects!!