Christmas Tree Skirt = New Cat Bed

Starting the Chirstmas Production Line...

I finally made a few quilted coasters.... so easy it isn't even funny!! They also look pretty cool as a finished product (I think the best sign of that is Adam telling me I should sell them on Etsy!!). I really, really like them and will be making a few for our house!

I grouped four of them together for a set, and now have a simple Christmas gift that I need to mass produce for all the random people I'd like to give small things to just because.

Of course I now officially feel like I'm back in Santa's Sweatshop!!!!!.....

PILLOWS!!!!

I love making pillows.... especially these fold over closure types!! It's easy and fun, and only takes about half an hour so I can easily feel like I accomplished something in no time!

I made these two hexagon pillows (12x12) using Laurie Wisbrun's recent line of chairs and couches. The hexagons themselves were pretty fun to make, and I love working with them. I think I'm going to use this set as Christmas presents, since I already have one of these on my couch:) The backing is a lighter shade of Kona grey (I think it's Ash), and of course the top is Kona Coal.

The beginning of a Christmas Tree Skirt

I'm working on a quilted Christmas Tree Skirt that has three tree blocks and four star blocks... so far I've finished two trees, and have the third one cut but not pieced. I haven't even started on the stars, other than to decide I want them red to coordinate Christmas style with the green tress.

You'll have to use your imagination (or flip around your computer...) to see these right side up. I uploaded them from my phone and haven't figured out the editing features on this blog site (if there even are any...).

Fall Decorating

I started my holiday decorating yesterday, and to kick it off right I made this fall table runner. The fabric is really cute.... little wolves and squirrels (because they naturally are friends...). The backing is a dark brown with tiny white polka dots, but I forgot to take a picture of that side so you'll just have to use your imagination.
Next up are the pillows. Not sure what to do for fall (I'm trying to stay away from an overwhelming Halloween theme so that I can leave everything up through Thanksgiving), but I do know what I'm doing for my Christmas pillows:)
Now I just need to also figure out my Christmas presents this year...........

Almost there....

I finished layering the UM quilt for my brother, and managed to sew the layers together (albeit poorly), so now all I have left on this one is the binding. I just need to figure out what fabric to use and then find the time/energy to bind it. I'm kinda over this one already!!

Layering:

Top side stitched:

Back side stitched:

Topside UM Quilt

The sun came out for the first time in months today, and I think it inspired a higher level productiveness in my apartment!! I finally finished the top layer of my brother's UM quilt, and I cut all the pieces for the back side. It should be pretty fast going to get the whole thing put together, I'm just way too energized to do something like that (or maybe its the three cokes and entire pot of coffee I just drank...).

Snow Day 2009

NYC received its Christmas present from nature last weekend in the form of a 1 foot accumulated snowfall, and I probably sat by the window watching at least the first 6 inches fall while screaming out updates every 5 minutes!!

Even though I've seen snow enough times to have experienced every level of it (watching it fall, tasting it, playing in the new piles of powder, building things from it, hurling it at other people, sliding around in and on it, etc) I still get 7 year old level of excited every single time!!!!! Honestly, its what makes winter worth it (well, that and scarves and ice skating and soup...). And while Adam was quickly over it all, I at least had Malcolm to act somewhat as amazed by the cold stuff falling from the sky as I was (at least as much as a cat can be amazed by snow).

I didn't get to build any snowmen (too powdery) nor did I get to go sledding (no hill) but I did get to jump around in it for a while:) And it makes me very excited that we're supposed to get more snow this week, on New Years nonetheless, and is part of the reason the 4 degree temperature outside today isn't as bad as it could be!!...

Santa's Sweet Shop = Sweat Shop!

So I decided to alternate between sewing and baking this weekend, as part of my attempt to finish my Christmas presents before Christmas. Turns out that's more of a prison work camp assignment than a fun thing to do, but in the end I accomplished what I set out to (or at least came close enough). I tried the cake in a jar project I've been wanting to attempt for a while, and honestly it was a lot harder than the directions let on. I managed to over fill almost every jar, and then managed to drop almost everything I touched on the floor.... it was not a very happy, easy work environment to say the least. But in the end I think things worked out okay. And I was able to bring in the tasty treats to work today, so check those gifts off the list.

Now to just finish my shopping, sewing, packing and cleaning in less than 24 hours.

Filling the jars:

Baked spillage:

Looking better with sugar on top:

The finished product is much prettier:

Holiday Macaroons:

My excellent "leftover's soup":

Time Well Spent

I'm falling behind in my Christmas present making schedule, but for good reason... I've been busy making Christmas decorations to help get me in the holiday spirit, which I'm positive will motivate me to burn through all the present making projects I have lined up!!

Last night I made two banners: one that says "Noel" and another that says "Joy". I had completely forgotten about the Christmas fabric I bought almost a year ago from Crate & Barrel, and upon rediscovering it I decided it needed to be put to use right away. And since I've been wanting some sort of banner type thing to drape over the couch and TV in the living room, that's exactly what I made.

I also got my first Christmas tree yesterday, and while its only about 2 feet tall, its made me immensely happy:) I started to put a few decorations on it (the only ones I had) and this weekend I plan on getting a string of lights and some new ornaments to complete the tree! And perhaps most surprising is that the cats don't like it! Malcolm tried to take a few bites but quickly found out how much that hurts (it's a very sharp tree... even I got a few painful pokes). And I draped some red holiday fabric around the bottom to cover up the planter (its a live tree, not a cut one, and I'm hoping I can keep it alive for many years of holiday happiness) so hopefully that will deter any dirt digging.

All in all I think my Christmas decorating is really coming together, for the first time ever, and I'm really excited about it:)!!!

PS. Please excuse the horrible iphone pictures I took this morning... the decorations really look much better than they're represented here!!!

Oh Christmas Tree...

After being completely let down by Target yesterday evening (a seemingly hard feat, but considering the Brooklyn Target was voted the country's worst it really shouldn't come as a surprise), I decided to take matters into my own hands and whip up some small trees to place around the apartment.

And while I did manage to get a few decorations from said worst-Target-ever, it still isn't enough for the desired effect inspired by How I Met Your Mother. Basically I want it to be like "Christmas slapped you in the face".... and not in a bad way, just in a totally overboard kind of way. I just desperately want to be in the holiday spirit this year, to a sickening degree!!!!

So I'm well on my way to that tiny NYC apartment winter wonderland, but still not close enough. I think I need a real tree too... and more lights:)!!!

A Father's Day tie that's quickly becomming a Christmas tie....

So I thought making a tie would be a fairly simple thing to do, but it turns out it requires a whole set of skills I don't possess... one being patience, the other being able to sew a "slip stitch". I've gotten as far as I can go and so now I just stare at it, hoping if I wish hard enough it will just sew itself. And considering that its already July and well past Father's Day, I've decided this should just be a Christmas present, which I will send along with the Father's Day card that's still sitting on my desk.


I will make no comment about the fact that this is a Florida Gator's tie, except to say that perhaps all the problems really stem from the Gators sucking so hard.
Go Canes!!



UPDATE:
This did not manage to be a Christmas tie either... maybe it will be a Father's Day 2010 tie!! I also like to think my NOT finishing this tie in 2009 helped the Gators NOT go to the National Championship again. Whatever it takes!!:)