This day could have ended up in the "total waste" column, except that we undecorated the house today. I love putting the tree up early in the month so that we have it for a while before it's time to take it down again. Then, when the holiday is over, I want it out of the house in the worst way. Our living room is small, and I'm grateful when it's no longer taking up the whole room. So, we sat around most of the day postponing what we both knew was the inevitable. In the end, we took it down fast. Did you ever notice how much faster it is to undecorate than it is to decorate? All of Christmas is put away for another year. Nice knowing you, Mr. Tree. It's been real. It's been fun.
Once the tree was down, I felt I had permission to spend the rest of the day sewing. The rest of the day, sadly, did not encompass much time. Nevertheless, I have my block finished for the Block Swap Adventure. I'm a little worried that my partner hasn't responded to my email, but I figure she's out of town for the holidays. I'm going to send this off anyway. My partner requested one of three different blocks, and her preference was for civil war type fabrics. I'm a little light on the civil war fabrics, but I thought these would do. I chose the block called "Wagon Tracks."
Then I made the first of about a zillion (actually only 366) "little house" blocks for the "Building Houses from Scraps" challenge. You can find out more about this challenge by clicking the button in my right side bar. My blocks are going to be paper-pieced. They are 3 1/2-inches square unfinished (3 inches finished), and they'll be surrounded by a one-inch (finished) sashing and cornerstones.
It seems a little daunting to think about how many of these I'll need to make, but this one went together fairly well. I had a little trouble with the strip across the top where the chimneys are because the paper wanted to come apart from the fabric before I was ready for it. I ended up pinning it together, but I'm not sure how accurate the strip ended up. It doesn't matter, really, but for the next one, I'll figure out a way to keep that from happening.
I like this project because I'll be able to use my tiniest scraps. The quilt that comes from it will be very cute, and I figure if I get worn out before I've finished all of them, I'll just make a smaller quilt.
So that was my day. I'm hoping to get started on a doll quilt tomorrow. I've committed to making doll quilts for a friend's granddaughters, and I'm ready to start on the first one. How did your day go?
Once the tree was down, I felt I had permission to spend the rest of the day sewing. The rest of the day, sadly, did not encompass much time. Nevertheless, I have my block finished for the Block Swap Adventure. I'm a little worried that my partner hasn't responded to my email, but I figure she's out of town for the holidays. I'm going to send this off anyway. My partner requested one of three different blocks, and her preference was for civil war type fabrics. I'm a little light on the civil war fabrics, but I thought these would do. I chose the block called "Wagon Tracks."
Then I made the first of about a zillion (actually only 366) "little house" blocks for the "Building Houses from Scraps" challenge. You can find out more about this challenge by clicking the button in my right side bar. My blocks are going to be paper-pieced. They are 3 1/2-inches square unfinished (3 inches finished), and they'll be surrounded by a one-inch (finished) sashing and cornerstones.
It seems a little daunting to think about how many of these I'll need to make, but this one went together fairly well. I had a little trouble with the strip across the top where the chimneys are because the paper wanted to come apart from the fabric before I was ready for it. I ended up pinning it together, but I'm not sure how accurate the strip ended up. It doesn't matter, really, but for the next one, I'll figure out a way to keep that from happening.
I like this project because I'll be able to use my tiniest scraps. The quilt that comes from it will be very cute, and I figure if I get worn out before I've finished all of them, I'll just make a smaller quilt.
So that was my day. I'm hoping to get started on a doll quilt tomorrow. I've committed to making doll quilts for a friend's granddaughters, and I'm ready to start on the first one. How did your day go?
7 comments:
I totally understand the need to take the tree down early, I usually have mine down a few days after Christmas too.
Lovely block!
Love your blocks.. I feel the same way...usually have the day after Christmas off, and always seems to be the first thing I do too..gotta put it all away :) Cheers to a Happy New Year!
I'm ready to put things away too. I don't have a tree, but the other things - wallhangings, mantel decor, etc... - just need to go. I like your little house and put the button up on my blog with link to origin. Goes well with my 'mini' ideal for 2012.
I love to decorate right after Thanksgiving or the first couple days of December so I can enjoy it all month. I've been known to start undecorating on Christmas day after dinner. We have a very small house so we need all the space we can get. I'm a bit slower this year and need to get everything put away today. Growing up we kept the tree up until after New Year's but I don't see the point.
Love the mini house. They will be great scrap busters!
I've been known to let the tree stay up through the first week in January, but that's usually because I'm back at work.
Your little house is too cute. The house quilt will be fun and bright. Looking forward to seeing that one come together.
I'm just the opposite. We rarely get our tree up before the 15th of December...but then I leave it up through Epiphany, at least!! Looks like you got some nice stitching done, too!! :)
great blocks! gotta check out the little houses, too. I have a huge basket full of little scraps.
I've been full of family for 5 days,, today it's all about me. Sewing machine, here I come!
Beth in Dallas
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