A Handmade Christmas: Bits and Pieces

I don’t know about you, but I am desperately trying to finish up handmade gifts this week.  I gave myself the deadline that they have to be done by the time the kids are out of school–because then, I have told myself that kid-time is just more important than sewing.

(Do you think I will second-guess that thought when the fighting begins two days in Christmas break?….Ummm…probably.)

So, long-story-short, my house is a mess…..but I have been working through the list.  I have two quilt tops at the quilter’s, and have 5 or 6 other pieces that are works-in-progress.

For most of my handmade gifts, I am in a scrap-busting mood.  The quilt tops were pieced from leftovers from this project, the scrappy trees from green fabrics I found in the bin, and the teacher’s gifts are also turning out to be scrap-busters too.  All of which is great for the budget (the only thing I’ve bought so far is batting) and also for the scrap bin.

The scrappy tree above is one of the works-in-progress.  It is going to be a pillow….and finishing it (and the second one) are on the to-do list today.  The inspiration came from THIS lovely photo on flickr and her blog is just as lovely as her flickr photos.  (I got lost in her sewing goodness for a good 20 mins….it’s totally worth it to check out.)

For the tree I used 1 inch, 1 1/2 inch, 2 inch and 2 1/2 inch strips green pieces, which I wonky-sewed to leftover white Kona cotton that were the same heights.  I then added a couple more 2 1/2 inch strips at the top and bottom and added the free-handed star.  I am now on to trimming it up square, adding a bit of quilting to it and then sewing on the pillow backing.

And…..now, I have rambled long enough…….I need to get sewing!!!
~Elizabeth