So this is what happens

Every year in the Christmas season I wondered why didn't I start sooner on Christmas presents, next year will be different. I think we all thought with this blog to keep us going we'd have a closet full of presents already. I don't but I'm sure somebody out there does.
So what happened to my plans? I always find I can sew and craft like crazy right after Christmas and the month of January because I'm still in the Christmas spirit. We forget that after Christmas we have birthday presents, Valentine stuff, Easter or spring outfits and working on Christmas presents falls to the back burner or gets turned all the way off.
Each month I think I can make something to put on the blog and than the month has passed and it's whoops that didn't happen. I haven't even had time to get on Sewing Mama's lately. We have 6 months till Christmas and I will try to at least make something each month. (hopefully) !! What about you? How is your Christmas closet?

Late March Doings.

 

 

Thanks for looking!
Kristi

March Link List - Warmth in the Kitchen

Free Sewing Patterns for Kitchen Items
More Free Kitchen Patterns
Craft & Fabric Links: Kitchen Patterns
More free kitchen patterns (scroll down to kitchen to find the list)


I'm sorry I didn't break it down better, but there are plenty of wonderful free patterns here. If you have any to add, please feel free to reply with a comment and a link, and I'll add it asap!

Kristi

Rag quilt

This month was comfort and joy so I'm barely squeaking this post in before March. A couple years ago I took apart a blue jean quilt I made for my oldest daughter (but never finished) and made it into a rag quilt. A quilt I had for over ten weeks was finally done in a week. Anyway while trying to clean my sewing mess I came across about 8-10 leftover squares, so of course if I used them in a project they'd no longer be in my mess. Two weeks later I finished this blue jean rag quilt. Well it's all finished except for the cutting to rag it, but hey it's all sewed together. Now the question is: Do I give it away for Christmas or will it find it's way to the back of the couch?

February's Link List: Comfort and Joy

Pillow Cases
The Snuglet (Snuggie)
Blankets and Throws
Bedroom Projects (shams, duvets, etc.)
Gloves and Mittens
Pillows

Snowman ornaments

These snowman ornaments were made for my children out of an old quilt. I traced the snowman from an ornament I received in a swap and used the backing side of the quilt. I added their initials and than grunged the ornaments up.


I bought theses skeleton keys a couple years ago to make each daughter an ornament, a heart still needs to be added with a quote or a message and they'll be done.

I still have the stockings to finish and advent calender to start. This is the first year I've finished up some of my Christmas projects in January. Thanks Sewing Mamas for the push.

Christmas Tree Skirt finally done

I had a hard time deciding on a pattern I wanted to use for my Christmas tree skirt and after going back and forth--I went with a rag Christmas tree skirt. I took a pattern I had and made the piece twice as big,I used different material for each side. One side looks a little more classy and the raggedy side has a nice country feel to it.

Now I need to finish up my snowman ornaments and two Christmas stockings.

Scrappy Goodies

Just a few things that I made from the scraps and leftovers of my stockings and tree skirt. It's awesome when I can figure out what to do with all my scraps!

Stockings - CHECK!

As promised, I have finished my stockings which match the green variation of my previously finished tree skirt from my earlier "Finally Done" post. These are for my family and will be hung and filled next Christmas.

These stockings were based on Moda Bakeshop's His and Her Scrappy Christmas Stockings.

I embroidered them using my Brother LB6770PRW sewing/embroidery machine.

 and I used fabrics purchased from Joann's after Christmas sale (60-70% off) fabrics.

I love how they turned out!

Merry January!

Table runner. Napkins. Gift Bags. DONE!

I finished these on Saturday. The table runner is 65" x 16", exactly fitting between the placemats on my table when it's set for 8 or 10.

I'll spare you my quilting, it's not that great, fortunately, there will me lots of plates on top of it for Christmas dinner! However, I'm relatively pleased with the piecing I did. I did strips with sashing, so if my corner points weren't perfect, it wouldn't be obvious.

Last, some napkins for our table, a set of 4 cocktail size for the gift stash, and a couple little gift bags. I have no scraps left of the cream! I did save the leftovers of the burgandy/gold, as I think I may do a couple pot holders or something later this year.

Finally done!

I'm finally finished! Take a look!

 

 

2 tree skirts down, 4 stockings to go!

Merry January!

Table runners for a non-quilter!

The procrastinating is over, the fabric is here, and I see an hour or so of free time tomorrow.

This is the fabric, 2 cottons with a bit of gold for the runner, and the not-quite-matching-but-was-boxing-day-sale-priced-flannel for napkins.

By posting this, I hope someone might leave a comment with a really simple idea, and that I'll be accountable to actually finish this this weekend!

What are you crossing off your list this weekend?

Tree Skirts and Table Runners Love

One of our own Sewing Mamas, Isabel, recently shared a few quilting projects on the Sewing Mamas Discussion Boards, and we felt it was just too lovely not to share it here on the YOC blog. Take a gander at her gorgeous work:

Tree Skirt

Table Runners

Way to go getting so much done this month already, Isabel!

Merry January everyone!

Working like an elf...a slow elf

So far I've got my two tree skirts sandwiched and most of the way quilted. I'm not enjoying stitch-in-the-ditch at all, but that's beside the point. X-Box was my constant companion all day yesterday, and it looks like she's going to stick it out and grace me with her presence today too. I don't think I'll finish these today, but I wanted to update you with my progress. Can't wait to see yours!

Owl ornament

Here is my first effort at a Christmas ornament. This is one of the owl ornaments  from the links listed below. I've learned a few things with this simple project, including what satin stitching is, and what yo-yos are. (The whites of the eyes) My daughter enjoyed picking the fabrics out for this one and another I'm currently making.

Getting Organized for Christmas!

I don't know about you, but I'm a list maker. I found this website a few years ago and enjoyed it immensely. It's full of ideas and organizational techniques to help you flow though the holiday season stress free! Forms are available for printing and putting in a ring binder to keep your Christmas on track with ease. I hope you find it as helpful as I have!

http://christmas.organizedhome.com/simplify-your-holidays

Kip

Link list update....

Oh Dear! I updated the link list this morning. I'm not so great at this blogger technical stuff so..... if anyone can rename the links to look like the rest of it, I'd be grateful. Also, maybe send me a message on how to do it so I don't do this again.

I hope the links have been helpful to inspire creation !

Welcome Winter!

I know that Old Man Winter had been around for a while now, but I just finished this little snowman door hanger this morning. I adore snowmen ! You can find the pattern here:

Kip :)

http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/projects-ideas/bags-pillows/snowman-door-hanger_1.html

Another gift bag

Just another gift bag. =) I have "helpers" who like to pick the fabrics! I am working on an owl ornament, but am having issues with the eyes. I tried to make "yo-yos" but ignored the tute author who suggested that the thread being strong (quilting) thread. I painstakingly sewed all the way around the first yo-yo, pulled snug and.....SNAP! Sighs. Anyone else have completed projects to share?

Augh! Busy week!

An update on my progress.......

Life has suddenly become more busy, lots of things thrown my way, so I'm being forced to hold off on my YOC sewing. I do have the tops of the tree skirts finished, and I've started reading the pattern for the stockings, but that's about it.

(Notice those are not yarn balls, fat quarters or any other crafty item flying at me. Those,my friend, are responsibilities.)

Do you get to work on your Christmas crafts this week? Share, share!

Merry Tuesday!

Back to the regular grind.......

We got back to our regular schedule of school for the boys. It's nice for me because I always have more uninterrupted time in the sewing room. Today I was catching up with the housework with the three little pigs back to school so I didn't get any sewing done today.
I hope you were productive today ! Can't wait to see more Christmas sewing pictures!

Cloth Gift Bag

Kristi has encouraged me to post my first YOC accomplishment. Here it is: An all-purpose reusable gift bag. I am trying to use materials from my stash to reduce my collection a bit. I used flannel for the bag and I braided yarn (6 strands) for the tie.

Welcome, welcome to all our new blog authors!

And thank you for volunteering to make this blog a wonderful resource for our own Sewing Mamas, and seamstresses all over the internet!

A few things to know that might help you settle in:

• If you would like your "Blog Elves" name to be changed to reflect your Blogger nickname, please let me or Kip know that. Many of us mamas don't use the same nickname on Blogger as we do on Sewing Mamas, so the names on the Blog Elves list may not be the same as the name that shows up when you post on our YOC blog. Also, if you'd like to just use your regular name, that's fine too! Just let us know your preferences and we'll get it worked out! This is YOUR blog too!
• Please make sure that you join and upload your items to our Flickr pool, located here. Once you have uploaded your photos to the pool, they will show on the front page, and pretty soon, we'll have a lovely group of finished Christmas items that our readers can admire--and they will! So let's show em what we've got, and what we can do, k?
  
• Please feel free to blog your Sew and Show stuff. In just the same way that you Sew and Show your finished items on the Sewing Mamas forums, you can do the same here! Most of you have your own blogs, so you don't need me to tell you how to post to this blog, but if you need help, just ask! And btw, it's fine to have more than one post per day, the more the merrier!

I think that's it! If you have any questions, or are a member of the Sewing Mama forums and would like to join in the fun here on YOC, please feel free to message me or Kip here or on the Sewing Mamas forums site.

I'm out! Happy New Year!