Preparing for Christmas

I can't believe I am so close to being done! I can't believe that today, alone, I finished 4 gifts! 4! AND, I still managed to have lots of playtime with my kids, prepare 3 full meals (including, yes COOKING a real dinner), wrap about 5 Christmas presents, and a finish a few loads of laundry!

OK, well, TWO of the items were practically done...Now, they are DONE, ready for blog pictures, and ready for wrapping. What a sigh of relief.

My Christmas cards are late this year. Unfortunately, we had to delay the portrait session due to stomach flus a few weeks ago, which means my order of cards is still yet to arrive. I think the actual snail mailing of my cards will turn out to be Happy New Year cards. So, without further ado...

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS.

May your holidays be filled with good cheer and many blessings.

Handmade holiday

I wish I could share some things I have been working on....I can't until after Christmas. :)

I hope all you out there are ready for Christmas!

Thanksgiving Challah Bread

So, yes, Thanksgiving was a few weeks ago. I am finally getting caught up on pictures.

I made this challah bread for our special family feast. The item in the middle? A Teepee Corinne made in her class that same week! It was not planned at all, but the two fit together perfectly.

Never having braided Challah bread before, I took it on and had awesome success, thanks to the Internet and Maya who's tutorial was absolutely perfect! If you ever want to take this on, check out her link. Success on the first try, even with two little ones pulling on my legs most of the time.

Toothfairy Pillow

Toothfairy Pillow, originally uploaded by KathyMade.

The toothfairy pillow #1 is done. I am very happy with the way it turned out. Corinne loves it, too. It means so much more to me since she helped me make it.

She loves the Alexander Henry circle fabric the best. I love the Amy Butler Coriander in combination with all the other colors.

Of course, we have a few years until it's really used as a tooth fairy pillow. For now, it's a great memory.

Special craft time

Nap time, bedtime, those are the times I can get any crafting done.

Nap time might be dwindling with my oldest...that will be a sad day.

This weekend she "couldn't fall asleep" after many tries. So....I had her join me. I was making a toothfairy pillow for my niece, who is about to start losing teeth.

Like it? I was inspired by Stephanie, and Katie. Ever since I saw these, I had an overwhelming desire to try some patchwork. I also knew I wanted to make a tootfairy pillow to hold lost teeth and toothfairy treasures. Why not combine the ideas? See that squre in the middle? It's a pocket!

My helper loved the idea of it. She wanted one for herself, even though she doesn't really understand what it means to loose baby teeth since she is NOT a baby.

After showing her how to hold her hands and guide the fabric, and after letting her push the pedal while I guided the fabric, and after her picking out the next strip of fabric...how in the world can I give this item as a gift? Looks like I am now making 2 toothfairy pillows.

Good times in bloom

Life.

Puppet Show Time.

Row, Row, Row your boat time.

Alpaca open house time.

SHE walked up to them all, no problems. HE clung to me and only pet them while holding onto me.

Bloom time.

Family time.

My quilt is done!

MY QUILT IS DONE!

I have finally finished my quilt. I have actually been done for about two weeks, but was awaiting the right lighting to get the picture. I am really happy with the way it turned out. I stitched in the ditch for all the rows. I did some free motion quilting on the white part. I was trying to go for an all over meander in that area. It's definitely not perfect (hence, no pictures of the back), but I think it came out well for a first "real" quilt.

I learned how important a good quilting area is around the machine. I also don't have an extension table on my machine and I think I'll be putting that on my Chrismas list this year so I can improve. I think quilts of all sizes can make great gifts, given some time and pratice. Who wouldn't want to warm up in something that was handmade in love?

This is going to be a great gift to give. But, it does have special meaning to me, and I have become slightly attached to it. So have some others in the family.