Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Christmas promises


I am not buying a single pre-made, straight-from-a-big-box-store decoration for my home for Christmas.
There, I said it, so it MUST be true.  Right?

I did buy things…
An angel to hang over my nativity (Ten Thousand Villages, an amazing Fair-Trade store)
A tree stand (bought at the local Ace Hardware)

And I have a few things…
Christmas balls purchased on sale last year after Christmas
White lights
Crystal from an old chandelier
Ornaments from our family Christmas tree that I’ve cherished since I was a kid
A nativity, made in Peru, from my mama

As for making things?
Already started on paper ornaments.  These are so much fun, and will make great bows for Christmas gifts!
An idea is floating around in my head for a tree skirt.  Thrift Store here I come…

It’s the holidays, y’all. 
What are you making?

Monday, November 21, 2011

Christmas is a month away? WHAT?!


Gwen and the calendar (Can you believe it’s the middle of November??) got me thinking Christmas... And I AM making gifts.  There isn’t, in my humble opinion, a substitution for handmade things or carefully chosen things… and if I give gifts, I give these kinds of things.
Yes.  I have started.  I have necklaces and earrings for many of the ladies in my life.  The boys will get baked goods.  My baby brother is getting recipes and the supplies to make them and shirts that’ll fit his gangly arms… which I won’t be making.  Blankets galore for little ones and expecting parents.  Mom reads the blog so I don’t know that I’ll talk about her gift… I’m excited about it though. 
I am making one gift that's pretty huge... A quilt.  Pinterest knows about it.  The recipient knows about it and has agreed not to read about it... and chose the palate with 3 lovely fabrics, pictured, and added to it with shirts and other reclaimed fabric.  
I’ll be digging into the collection and looking at vintage fabrics- not all flat folds of fabric but upcycling too- to mix in.

Now YOU get to hold me accountable for it too.  Here's to finishing by Christmas, right?

“But Sarah…” you might be thinking, “You don’t quilt.”

It’s a true statement, friends.  But… I dunno.  Something tells me that although this quilt is my first solo attempt, it will not be the last one, and will be a good way to sew more than I have been.  You can probably guess there hasn’t been much sewing happening… and you know, my mood relates to it.  I was soooo crabby yesterday it wasn’t funny, and while there were many factors, I think one of ‘em is a lacking in flexing my creative muscles. 
So I will flex them in the coming weeks... I've already started.  Some straight lines.  Lots of alterations are on the docket, and more are no longer on the docket... It's kinda nice.
I am well aware that a large part of me really wants to create too, though… and I will.  The quilt is a part of that, and so are some really great dresses and skirts.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Whipstitch Fabrics


Online, Whipstitch Fabrics is home of Sewing Buddies and many other great forums.  And some amazing classes and tutorials.  And a creative and ever-changing blog.  A great Etsy store. 
But, as I am an Atlantan of sorts, I finally made it to the brick-and-mortar store, friends!  And boy, am I glad I did, even though it’s waaaay after I mean to.  It’s so great.  I can’t wait to have an excuse to go back, and boy, do they give you plenty of excuses…
Great quilting fabrics and good clean lines… 
Pretty baskets of half-yard cuts and fat quarters. 
Great spools of antique ribbon that will be a great pair of headbands…
Open space they share with everyone when they aren't teaching their awesome classes.
And the light... Oh, the natural light.  

I didn't take pictures of the store, just the great stuff I got from it... A definite foul on my part.  But it won't be the last time I'm there.  More eventually!