Cleaning up and clearing out

Every year right after Christmas and before the New Year, I find myself cleaning and purging not only my home, but myself of junk I no longer need. This of course leads me to things I need to do in the coming year and things I'd like to do for myself.

This year, instead of New Year's resolutions, I'm going to have New Year's accomplishments. I've starting my list.

A sashing we will go

I pulled out the Courthouse Square quilt blocks and cut the sashing this morning. I decided of all the colors in the block that I liked the navy blue the best. It's the least represented color and so it's not overwhelming.


















I plan to do 3 across x 5 down. That will make a nice sized lap quilt and use all of the blocks.

Sadly, the muslin in the blocks was cut on the bias and so it's very easy to stretch a block out of shape. I've become very familiar with my seam ripper today.

I hope everyone is having a lovely day and wish you all peace and love in the new year.

Handmade breakdown

The rosy glow of Christmas is nearly over at my house. Wrapping paper is picked up and I think I've found all of the bows that the cat got off with.

I took the handmade pledge this year and made a bunch of our gifts. I have to say, it sure beats fighting the crowds and is a lot more fun. I plan to do even more next year.

This year's handmade gifts included:
14 aprons
3 dolls
6 scarves
1 baby blanket
20 Morsbags
needle book
4 pairs of sleep pants

That's what...49 gifts...all handmade. Out of those 49, only one recipient was an ungrateful brat and one of my nephews was mad that I didn't make him an apron too.

Now, the bad news is that I didn't get pictures of most of this stuff. I'd think about it and then get distracted by something shiny and completely forget. I'll have to see if everyone will send me pictures of them using their handmade gifts.

My only regret is not starting a lot earlier. I need to start thinking about it in February or March at the latest and get a plan together and then get busy making gifts.

Merry Christmas!

I just want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.

My blessings are many this year and I am so glad that I can count each of you as one of my blessings. Thank you for your friendship.

Joy

A day spent doing

Finished this apron. Cat print on one side, 'Meow' on the other. This one's on Etsy.















A primitive, needle-felted sheep. I'm trying to make a pull-toy. Isn't he ugly? I love him. He looks well-worn. I used black, brown, natural, and a bit of white roving.

I'd better get back to making little britches.

Did you hear that?

It was a huge sigh of relief. Finals are over and life can begin again.

I'm not going to have much time to pull off a fabulous Christmas, but I'm going to do my best. Better late than never certainly applies this year.

I've got gifts to make, a house to clean and decorate, and sleep to catch up on. I'll bet I don't get much sleep though.

I'm off to visit my bloggy friends and see what kind of trouble they've been up to.

Thrift quilt blocks - $1.75

I found these quilt blocks at the thrift store.

Courthouse Square: There are 15 of this one. At one time it was sewn into a top (you can see the seams), but for some reason taken apart. The blocks measure 15" x 15". $1.00













Double Monkey Wrench: There are 29 solid light background and 30 floral background with brown center. These blocks measure 13" x 13". 75 cents.