This is the easiest,calmest holiday season ever,for me.
Back when the gift threads started showing up,I thought about what to make.Or what to make that anyone needed/wanted.Couldn't come up with a single thing.

The Grsons are teens...enuff said. DDs & Grdaughter have quilts & quilty things...no room for more.
My Sis doesn't like handmade anything & we don't exchange gifts with DH's family.

Sooooo......after much thought (maybe 30 secs)....I am not making/sewing gifts this yr. No worry about will they like it? can I get it all done?,but the best of all is NO DEADLINES!!!!!!I can sew when I want or not sew if I don't want.

Ahhhh...talk about nice! :lol:I'm enjoying seeing the gifts you all are making & choosing a few to make, someday....maybe.Will do some baking & candy making to share with friends & neighbors.
Have a feeling this is gonna happen next yr & the yr after.Can you tell I'm enjoying the season?

OOOOoooohh, does this mean that you can do that unheard-of-in-most-quilting-groups thing and actually sew for yourself???? How wonderful!!! I've gotten 4 done with one to go but at least the top is started.

Well... if you have no one that would love to have your "crafty" work... I am available and would love to get a handmade xmas present... lol lol.. :lol: :lol: :thumbup: :cry: ;)

Exactly & you said it better....

I know what you mean. We give our sons money to buy their gift but then I get them back to wrap and they can't have them until Christmas. They get what they want. I usually find a couple surprises for them too..ages...21 and 25! DH...cooking stuff...no sewing there! Me..I ask for Gift cards and usually buy something from two of the QS in my area. Estranged from DH family and don't do anyting with my brother's family any more. They live out of state so no pressure to clean, cook, wrap, shop, etc. Easy holidays.

That's wonderful!!! Unfortunately the holidays can be really stressful which is a shame!
Maybe you'll have time to sew for yourself??? :D

I'm not sewing anything for family members, they have enough
"blankets". SIL she thinks quilts have no specialness, so I don't make any for her, niece and nephew got a quilt when they were
born. I gave BIL a quilt when he married her(she only shows the
back of it). :x
Instead I'm making charity baby quilts and having a
ball doing it. Yay no pressure! :-D The kids who receive my quilts appreciate them,nobody complains that they don't match their color scheme. So far I've finished 1 and the 2nd one will be finished today and ready to give away tomorrow. :-D

WEll, I'm feeling ur share of the panic!! I decided this year to make embroideried bath towels for the GKs.Each to their interst.. I've got 2 done..... planned to run the other 2 under the embroiderymachine and be done.. I spent all day yesterday looking for that dang emberoidery card! I knwo I just had it for a sock monkey sample I did for a quilt comign up in Dec... so I KNOW it has to be somewhere... * I have evil eye, Zipster , the cat/supervisor* I've looking in ALL his hinging place. I can't find it ... more on the search today..... sigh...
I'm so stressed... and now I opened my big mouth for gathering address for soldier overseas.... and of course they want those NOW..... and pies to make for Thanksgiving.. * I"M STRESSED!!!!*

Just curious. Why only the back of it?

Stress is gone....Aha................ Enjoy sewing for yourself........................Merry Christmas to you,Pat!!!

I just have a twin and a queen size to quilt before Christmas....along with decorating (will be minimal this yr) and online classes (giving them minimal time too)! I should be ok with it, not too much stress. I try to make things throughout the year for Christmas.

How nice not to stress over Christmas sewing projects!!! Enjoy!!!

I'm making three tied double fleece quilts and that's all the fabric type gifts I'm giving this year. I can finish them in one day.

I sew and give during the year as I want so don't really worry about Christmas. This year, however, I'm packing to move (have to be out Dec 13) that that completed all expectations from everyone.

Enjoy your stress free holiday :D:D:D

I'm with you on this... :) :) :)

Hey,yourself LOL I'll have enough stress to do me once the out of state company arrives, along with in state family......for Thgiving ....10 days total.It will prob be Jan before I come up for air.....just glide on thru the holidays.Hmmmm? Merry Christmas to you.

Pat I am right there with you. I have already made everything I am going to make for anyone. I posted on a another thread that I refuse to keep making things I don't even get a response from those that recieved a gift from me. That includes store bought or home made. Why should I stress out trying to please these ungratefuls.
I am lovin it. Hmmm maybe I should send them all thank-you notes...lol ooh my horns are showing.

Several months ago I made the same decision....no Christmas gift sewing for me either. It has been a little hard to keep that promise to myself and a few guilty moments have come up, but I am sewing only for myself --- what I want to sew and when I want to sew. In the future if anyone asks me to make a quilt for them --- I will offer to teach them how to make one for themselves! Don't get me wrong ---- most of my family is "quilt gift worthy" ---- but sewing gifts and special requests boxes me in. I want to learn and explore new techniques and fabrics and I need freedom to grow!

The backing fabric is Mardi Gras fabric and her decor theme is Mardi Gras. I knew I made a big mistake using that fabric.

Here's the front of the quilt.

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/...45965719fgaxFs

Well I for one love the front of your quilt and that's such a shame that she doesn't see that , but rest asured it is a very
Beautiful Quilt and it's her bad not yours hun..
Hugs for you Pickles
:thumbup:

Have a few General gifty items madeup for just in cases, or if it's something I like and can see other person using, sooo much less stressed this year compared to some!! That way I can play and create with out deadlines looming, other than cooking for the big days !!

I understand that she thinks the Mardi Gras fabric is special since she apparently loves it. For someone who is so intent on her theme, a simpler pattern using Mardi Gras would probably make her delirious with joy. IOW, you are wasting your time on intricate designs when what she wants is the theme fabric itself. :)

Maybe when she's older she'll appreciate the front better. :) Cheer up and enjoy your time this Christmas.

I have a problem giving very time consuming gifts to people who have never done whatever it is I'm giving. They simply can't appreciate the work that went into the project. For that reason, I'd rather give a quilt to a quilter, a cross-stitched project to a cross stitcher, a knitted project to a knitter, etc.

Justflyin & Pickles,
Thank you for your kind comments. :-D
I've finally learned that its not my quilt any more. Some people don't appreciate the time it takes to do our craft,
they just see it as another blanket. I believe that the cheap & poorly made quilts they sell in the stores have something to do with that.
:cry:

Count your blessings. At least it's being used. I've seen posts about ppl using gift quilts as dog beds, truck mats...etc etc.I agree ....it's no longer ours when given away,but I think it's just that ppl who don't quilt have no idea the sweat,work & fabric that went into it.BTW......maybe your SIL thinks her fav side is the main side? She might turn it over someday, but if not...it's a pretty quilt. You did good.

St. Anthony, St Anthony
Please come around
Something is lost
And must be found.


quote=bluteddi]WEll, I'm feeling ur share of the panic!! I decided this year to make embroideried bath towels for the GKs.Each to their interst.. I've got 2 done..... planned to run the other 2 under the embroiderymachine and be done.. I spent all day yesterday looking for that dang emberoidery card! I knwo I just had it for a sock monkey sample I did for a quilt comign up in Dec... so I KNOW it has to be somewhere... * I have evil eye, Zipster , the cat/supervisor* I've looking in ALL his hinging place. I can't find it ... more on the search today..... sigh...
I'm so stressed... and now I opened my big mouth for gathering address for soldier overseas.... and of course they want those NOW..... and pies to make for Thanksgiving.. * I"M STRESSED!!!!*[/quote]

I don't stress over gifts. right after the first of the year, I start collecting things for Christmas gifts, so when I sew something to go with them, I usually get them done early. My problem is, I got things done too early so I have been at a loss for something to do. thankfully now it's time to do the baking and candy making so that's next.

That's too bad. You did a really nice job on that quilt :thumbup: Hopefully one day I will be that good. No way would I not show the front. It's beautiful.