Closing In...

Even with a slower, more intentional, approach to Christmas (without the hosting and toasting) this year, the days still rush by at the same pace and all of a sudden it's "go" time. There are cookies to be baked and traditions to be upheld. The sugar cookies and almond cookies are on our  Mr. G's "must have" list, as they have been every year.

The sewing room has temporarily been converted into package-wrapping central. 

That Christmas Ornament table runner has been bound and rolled for gift-giving. 

Hannes has found the coziest, warmest spot in the house (near the fireplace) for a quick nap.

Speaking of Hannes, I baked a pan of brownies from this mix that was a gift. The tea towel is adorable. (And the brownies were very, very good too!)

I did take a quick trip to the new Pineapple Fabric Outlet nearby. I found a great deal on backing fabrics, purchased these four pieces by the pound (which averaged out at about $3.38 per yard). I also treated myself to a new 12.5" square ruler. My original one, which I've had for a very long time has chipped corners and measurement lines that are now, at best, minimally visible; it was high time.

While there I saw the Creative Grids mask template for sale which reminded me of the one that I had purchased back in April but still hadn't taken out of the packaging. 😲 I made up two in short order after coming back home. I think that I'm a Small/Medium- the small seemed too small and the medium too large. I know, I'm like Goldilocks-- I need it to be "just right"! This is something that I'll tweak and figure out later, after Christmas.

And so, here we are; Christmas Eve's Eve. Chex Mix is yet another tradition that must be observed around here. I made up a double batch this year. We'll share some and munch on the rest. Yes, Christmas is closing in fast; we're down to the wire. The shopping is done and it's time to sit back and enjoy what we've planned and prepared, however Christmas looks for you and your family this year. What Christmas traditions are you upholding this year, even if your gatherings look different?

This isn't my quilt, I found this on the Internet and would love to replicate it,
I am drawn to the simplicity and the scrappiness. Isn't it sweet?

I have some other ideas for January quilts too, and, along with all of you, will be happy to bid adieu to 2020. I hope and pray that these last few days of this unexpectedly eventful year see you all remaining safe and healthy. 

Life is Good!

 

Cut It Out!

I have my work cut out for me, literally. I've done research on the history of that phrase and have found the most prevalent explanation as one that comes from the sixteenth century: "This phrase is supposedly a metaphorical allusion to the preparation of fabric to be worked on: once the shapes have been cut out, the tailor still has a lot of sewing to do, by hand in the past, before the cloth becomes a garment." This is certainly appropriate for today's post. I wrote most recently about going through the full-to-overflowing scrap basket to collect the batiks in there that were serviceable enough, size-wise, for making more masks. The requests for more have been steady. Today, Wednesday, has been deemed as mask-making day. I rescued enough fabric from the scraps to make thirteen! In the meantime, the rest of the scraps needed to be dealt with. Slowly, working my way through the heap, I pressed them and diligently cut them up into usable sizes. 

These scraps, leftover from various and assorted projects, were eventually transformed into this:

... and these squares, triangles and rectangles were all used to feed these...

...the bins that reside beneath my cutting table, Bonnie Hunter's Scrap User's System which has worked for me for many years! These, in turn, will be used to make more scrap quilts, and SEW it goes! 

After days spent cutting, the trash can looked like this. Yes, there are scraps too small to save! 😉

Meanwhile, out on the porch, Mr. Goodneedle had his work cut out for him too. He began re-slinging the dining chairs that have literally fallen apart after years of being out in the weather. The before and after, above, is night and day. We are both very pleased with the new, lighter (and sturdier!) look.