Sunday, December 2, 2007

It's Starting to Look Like Christmas...

I can't believe it's been so long since I last posted! I guess it's because I was busy working on one last mystery gift. The one that's not like the others. It's done now, and gift wrapped. All we have to do is find a shipping box to accomodate it. And then take it to the post office, etc.

When I finished these gifts for far-flung family members I got down my box of Christmas UFO's. Turns out there's more yardage for backs of Christmas quilts than actual projects! (Of course I didn't think to photograph any of the contents of the box - duh.) I did find a few orphan blocks that I then tried to make into placemats for DD and family. Only succeeded in making one:


Not quite sure what, if anything, I will do with the remaining Christmas orphans. May have to wait until there are more to work with. There are a couple of block collections still in the box. One is from a swap I did with members of my church. The other group are blocks I think I won in a block lottery at my local guild. I knew I didn't have time to play with them so I didn't even look at them when I had the box down.

What I did find and leave out to play with were some abandoned crazy pieced ornaments. There was a tree, a completed stocking that had no means of being hung (I probably forgot to insert the ribbon when I was assembling the ornament, got disgusted with myself and put the whole project away at that point!), and another stocking with just the front pieced. I cut some additional batting and pieced a few more just for the heck of it:

These are still raw mind you. They will be backed with a solid piece of fabric - with a ribbon loop for hanging! - and be smaller when finished.

My dilemma today is what to make for our guild's annual gift exchange. Our Christmas party is held at the home of one of the members so it's a safer environment for me than the church where regular meetings are held. We can either make or buy something for the gift exchange but you know that amongst quilters a handmade gift is generally preferred! Unless it's an especially luscious bundle of fat quarters... Maybe I'll do my part for the local economy and visit the quilt shop tomorrow. I do have some options I'm considering that I could complete before the party next week. Guess I'm just feeling the need of a little retail therapy ;- )

3 comments:

  1. Very cute stockings!!
    TTFN, Carol

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  2. LOVE those stockings! As for the guild present, I would never stop anyone from engaging in retail therapy! What about a combo? Some lovley fat quarters and a little drawstring bag to put them in? I know where you can find a pretty easy tutorial (and if you ask the person who wrote it nicely -- I can even give you the dimensions for a smallish one without having to do the maths).

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  3. Hi Sue, how ya doing out there in the rainy Northwest? I'll 'chillin' here in WI..more ways than one...LOL
    Love the little stockings, what fun they are. Can't wait to see the finished product. I've got more christmas 'bounce' this year, than last, and I sure am enjoying it. Hope you recover from the thrift shop stint quickly...great find on those ties! Hugs, Finn

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