Buried

Under fabric, and sewing my way out.

I've been buried under piles of fabrics, and desperately trying to convert them into finished projects. I may be the only person in the world doing this - but I'm working on my Christmas gifts. Between Christmas and birthdays, I sew anywhere from 40 to 60 gifts each year. If I started in November, or even September, I would never finish. For Christmas 2011, I started in December of 2010 and I was still down to the wire with some quilts. This year, I didn't start till January. But I think I'm time-managing better, since I'm not just sewing for myself anymore.

In the lulls between orders, I've been cranking out Christmas gifts. I usually make a grand list right after Christmas for the following year. It's got Valentine's Day gifts (for Scott and April), a year's worth of birthday gifts, anniversary gifts for Scott, and Christmas gifts. Valentine's always comes first because it's usually the most fun. This year, I made Scott an anchor out of wine corks! I made April a journal cover and a hand-sewn, stuffed owl. Then it's on to the birthdays - and oh, do we have a lot of birthdays. I usually try to do small things for birthdays - purses, tote bags - but I end up making quilts for my mom and my sister. When the birthday gifts are done (which they are nearly, except for Heather's quilt), it's on to Mother's and Father's days gifts. I like to go for small and sentimental, or at the very least, practical. Then we have a quick detour for an anniversary gift for Scott before it's onto Christmas!

I love Christmas. I love Christmas fabric. I especially love that Christmas fabric comes out long before Christmas!!

I have a method to my madness when it comes to Christmas gifts. I break my list up in two ways. The first way is divided by family. The second is divided by gift. I give a lot of the same gifts each year. Mostly because people love them, but it's also easier to make 12 of one thing than it is to make 6 different things.  It streamlines the process, and I end up finishing multiple gifts at once instead of just one.

So this week, I finished up my first two quilt orders. I feel accomplished. I really enjoy bringing people's ideas to life. While I'm waiting on the materials for my next five quilt orders to come together, I've been working on my Christmas gifts. Namely several very, very challenging purses that are kicking my butt. They have some intricate details in them and a craftily installed zipper. They're taking far longer than I anticipated, but I'm glad I started now and not in November.

This is probably one scenario where making more at once is a bad idea.