New Pincushions...

I really had fun making these pincushions for my Saturday morning coffee group friends. (There were actually five, but I took this picture before the last one was finished.)

I used beautiful, glass containers that are reminiscent of mercury glass pieces. After the poufs were gathered, stuffed with a silk-blend fiberfill and glued to the tops of the candleholders, I set about creating the embellishments.

All of them are matching. I first sewed a blue crystal button onto the pouf. Then I cut a length of silk ribbon and ruched it around the button - gathering, sewing and securing as I went. My final touch was the little pewter thimble charm that hangs beneath the button and ruffles. Finished, they measure approximately 4.5" high by 3" across.

I signed the bottom of each piece and presented one to each of my quilting friends when we met for coffee last Saturday. We meet each week at the quilt shop (two of the members of the group own the shop), and Nora immediately loaded hers up with pins that we sitting next to her machine! I think that each one will see a lot of use, and will add a pretty touch to the sewing tables of my friends.

Oh, and a little good news: I have two extra pincushions that are available for sale! If you're interested in purchasing one for yourself or as a gift, just head over to the Boutique. (Click here to go directly to the listing.)

I had this list on my sidebar leading up to last weekend.

My Christmas Sewing "To Do List"...

• Set of placemats and napkins (DONE)
• 3 pairs of Grammies Jammies(DONE)
• a lap quilt (DONE)
• a stuffed animal (DONE)
• a couple of totes (DONE)
• two garment bags (ONE DONE. Don't like. Redo. Arrgh!)
• mug mats (DONE)
• 5 Pincushions (DONE)
• my Blissfull ATC swap card for Dec. (DONE)
• ...a small wall quilt and a few other items that I'll complete after the 15th and before the 20th. whew!

All the items marked (DONE) were completed by December 17th and were either shipped in plenty of time to arrive by Christmas or hand-delivered.

You can see that I still have to re-work complete the garment bags (for Handsome), as well as making that small wall quilt and the gifts for my friends in the Tuesday night Paneras group. Nothing like waiting 'til the last minute! I'll be working on those projects due tomorrow night today.

OK, Shell...Are we going to make a New Years' Resolution to have all of our gift projects finished by - oh, say - November 15th in 2012? That's my resolution and I'm saying it out loud now in front of you, God and all my blog friends!

I'm working to finish everything left on my list by Thursday. I want to roll into the weekend able to put my feet up and celebrate Christmas with decorations and a few special meals with friends.

A little reminder: Monday, December 26th is my next Memory Lane Monday. Perhaps you'd like to take a little time to reflect on Christmases past to share on your blogs that day. All you need to do is come back here during a lull in the after-Christmas excitement to link back to my MLM post. I'd love if you'd join the party.

I've sent the elves home to help Santa for the rest of this week. I assured them that I can finish up the last gifts on my own. Cross your fingers for me, ok?

Santa's Tired...

The elves are taking a break. The last of the immediate gifts are made and are shipping out today. I can't show any more full photos until after Christmas, but I took pictures of everything so I can share them later.

I still have a few things to make, but there isn't the urgency on these that there was for the others. (The gang at Paneras meets on Tuesday, so I can work on their gifts on Sunday or Monday, for example.) I think I'll just rest for a bit and regroup so I don't miss any of the things I planned to do.

Tag is going to be in an obedience demo with "Uncle Mike" today. I'm so proud of him and wish I could be there to see all the smiling faces as they, too, fall in love with my corgi! I'm hoping someone takes photos so I'll be able to add them to his "Boot Camp" scrapbook.

Off for Saturday morning coffee with the girls. Hope y'all have a grand day!

Grammies Girls...

I finished the Grammies Jammies for the girls yesterday. I did something a little different this year. Rather than sew the tops, I purchased the tops for all three of our grandchildren. I saw these soft and stylish sleep tops in the colors I needed, so I started with a finished top and added embellishments that would match the bottoms.

For Granddaughter #1 (with the dreamy hazel eyes), I purchased a long-sleeved Henley top that already had a little lace trim. I added a floral patch taken from the fabric I used to sew up the bottoms. I also have a second top that has short sleeves and I made that one "girly", too.

Granddaughter #2 (the little red-haired beauty) was easy. I added corgi appliques' to hers, cut from the same fabric I used for her bottoms. The tops are both short-sleeved, and I can see her wanting to wear hers day and night!

Grandson's jammies are nearly finished and I'll show those Saturday. I'll be sure to get pictures of all the items I've made before they get mailed out to their new homes. (I always do, don't I?)

I hope you have all your holiday shopping in order. It's getting time to enjoy the holidays, don't you think?

A Christmas Quilt In Progress...

These are the fabrics I chose for the Christmas lap quilt I'm making as a gift for...oops!...no way! I'm not telling! HA!

The center of the design is actually a Christmas panel with a nice, prim look. There are three messages on it. "All is Merry and Bright", "Let it snow!" and "Peace on Earth". I love the colors and they'll coordinate perfectly in the recipient's home.

I really like the black and white check I chose for this, too. It wasn't part of the line, but really looks great with it.

I finished the quilt top yesterday, and when I get back home this afternoon from running errands this morning, I'll assemble the top, batting and back and machine quilt it all together. I'm going to do a little detail quilting around the motifs in the center panel, and then play around on the border.

I'll use the red stars for the binding to finish it off. I'm hoping to check this project off my To Do List by tonight.

What do you think I should do next from my list? (I put the list on my left sidebar and will mark each item off as I finish it. I'm having trouble deciding what to do next.

Playing Chicken...

The elves and I are hard at work in the studio. We're cranking out Christmas gifts, so we thought we'd take a break to share a completed project.

I've finished a set of six two-sided napkins and six coordinating placemats. The napkins feature roosters on one side, and chicks on the other. They measure 18" square and are made from 100% cotton.

I didn't choose matching placemats so that they can be used separately with other napkins. They have a light fabric on one side, and I used the same fabric on the back that is on the binding for two completely different looks.

I have a list of projects that I'll need to finish to ship out by the 15th. This one is taken care of, but I still have other items on my list.

Let's see...

• 3 pairs of Grammies Jammies
• a lap quilt
• small wall quilt
• a stuffed animal
• a couple of totes
• two garment bags
• mug mats
• my Blissfull ATC swap card for Dec.
• ...and a few other items that I'll complete after the 15th and before the 20th. whew!

I may not show you full images of everything, but I promise to show you "peeks" as I finish each gift. Back in the studio today, with more photos tomorrow!