The History Quilter: #BDSI

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Work-In-Progress Wednesday: Handmade Christmas 2011 Wrap Up

Being very busy last week with the crush before Christmas caused me to use #BDSI (Boxing Day Sew In) on Twitter this past Monday, December 26th to finish up the Orange & Black quilt for my nephew for his Christmas present. It was not a late gift as my side of the family did not get together until Monday afternoon to accommodate everybody's holiday schedules.

As I finished the quilting, prepared the binding and then machine sewed the binding on, I tweeted along with my fellow #BDSI companions keeping me company. At one point I became super annoyed at my machine because I was getting the birds nest effect on the back and cried out for help....Jaye from Artquiltmaker came to my rescue by telling me to rewind my bobbin thread very SLOWLY. That did the trick and at approximately 5pm Monday afternoon I took a photo of this:

Orange & Black quilt for N.

Orange & Black

Little Man quilt pattern by Camille Roskelley from Simplify:Quilts for the Modern Home

Fabrics: Various Kona Solids and two baseball patterns from local fabric store.

Started: November 2011

Finished: December 26, 2011

Given to nephew for Christmas 2011

Here's the front:

Orange & Black quilt front - 40"x 50"

And the back:

Orange & Black back

I have four nieces of various ages so I decided this year for Christmas to give them a little handmade item with a favorite gift card of their choice nestled inside. For my teenage nieces I tried a new tutorial for Lined Drawstring Bags from Jeni of InColorOrder. Great tute - go check it out. Both bags came together very easily and were well received by both girls. Success!

Lined Drawstring Bags

For my younger nieces I made zip pouches and they loved them. My SIL told me that the bag I made below for B. looks very similar to the new backpack that my niece had yet to open for Christmas. The pouch would be a perfect accessory to the backpack which made me happy.

Love this girl...such a sweet kid.

So the Christmas rush of handmade is now over and now I can relax and wait for projects to appear. I did receive a text yesterday from a good friend (Sarah) who asked me to make her a Kindle Fire cover and I replied a definitive YES. Looking forward to researching tutorials and fabrics for her.

Hope you are all well,

Susan

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Buon Natale and a #BDSI Announcement

Buon Natale to you all!

It's early and my house is still quiet and cold (my fingers are frozen!) so I thought I would share with you all some Christmas memories of mine.

Our Christmas Tree - 2011

As an early riser I enjoy the quiet moments alone before the house arises for the day and just like I did as a child, I wake even earlier on Christmas morning. I still remember how I would lie in bed Christmas Eve and imagine Santa & his Reindeer landing on the roof of my house and sliding down the fireplace - my room was so close to the fireplace that I was sure I heard him. Sometimes I would even sneak into my brothers’ room and wake him to tell him about hearing Santa – my excitement impossible to keep to myself.

Now with children of my own I love watching how much they enjoy the Christmas holiday. On Christmas morning they have a deal that whomever wakes up first must wake the other... something that my brother and I did. I love hearing their voices as they wake and whisper to each other as they walk into the family room to see what Santa has left them. Just as my brother and I were allowed to “open” our stockings without our parents around, my boys are too. I listen to them pull out the treasures and goodies that are inside and discuss and share what they have received. Although I’m always awake for this moment, I never go out and watch as I so enjoy just listening to them share their Christmas morning together. It's one of my favorite moments of Christmas as a parent.

On to #BDSI...what is #BDSI you ask? It's the Twitter name for the Boxing Day Sew In that is being hosted by Sandy from Quilting...for the Rest of Us, tomorrow, Monday, December 26th otherwise known as Boxing Day. Please visit Sandy's post Boxing Day Sew I--Join the Fun! to get all the details. Instead of shopping on the day after Christmas, stay home, preferably in your pajamas and sew! I'll be finishing up the Orange & Black quilt for my nephew that I will be giving him at approximately 3pm that day. If you are a Twitter follower (I'm HQSuz) please join me and my fellow podcasters on Twitter tomorrow and follow #BDSI for various giveaways being offered by my fellow quilting podcasters.

I hear stirring in the house. Time for me to finish up and enjoy the sounds of Christmas morning.

Hope you all are having a wonderful Christmas holiday.

Susan