Sewing for Christmas

Yes, you read that correctly. I am sewing for Christmas. The thing is, these are not gifts for me to give to my loved ones. Nope. I am sewing these to auction off. This is the third or fourth year that I have participated in this auction. The funds raised go to help parents give their children some Christmas presents that they would not otherwise be able to afford. There is always so much participation and it is great fun. Everything must be handmade and there are so many talented contributors.

So yesterday afternoon and today, this is what I made;
from BHG Quilts and More Fall 2008, the Pick-a-Pocket Tote. I made the matching checkbook cover using the directions found at Amandajean's site.


This little Halloween purse was made using Amy Butler's In Town Bags pattern. I spent some time making sure the little kids would be centered but then...argh! As you can see I should have put that print at the bottom and the dots at the top. I had no clue until it was time to cinch up the drawstring. Yeah, I know. It was the first time I used beads too. I need some pointers on that procedure. If you have any tips please share. The ribbon that says 'Happy Halloween' is just fine in real life, the flash makes it look smudged.


Another bag using that Amy Butler pattern. Again I have to admit I have no vision. I was just happy to make a candy corn colored purse. It made me smile. I planned to enter it into the Candy Corn Contest held here. When I cinched it up. OH.MY. Now it REALLY looked like candy corn!!! Someone else, you know someone that had already made one of these purses (yeah, that would be ME) should have figured what the shape was going to be. I think all the head shaking and eye rolling has done some serious brain damage.


I also submitted this Metro Blue checkbook cover that I made and posted awhile back.

I feel like I could make a few more things but of course I waited until the last minute and I won't be home tomorrow. Where am I going you ask??? Well to the BIG, held at the fairgrounds, Quilt Show!! I love this quilt show and I can't wait. I have my camera ready to go. I am going to make a list of yardages needed for some of the patterns I have on hand and carry a little spiral notebook. This year a friend is going with me. I hope she 'gets' it. I hope she isn't ready to leave thirty minutes after we arrive. I hope she doesn't have to walk home. I hope she is still my friend on Sunday.

Fortunately for you I did NOT take a picture of my sewing room. It is insanely messy (and I am not talkin' 'Nanette' messy ;) ).

Prayers - for my daughter. She has a dorm retreat this weekend. I pray she can relax, have FUN, make some connections. Prayers for the big decision she needs to make. Also prayers for our house buying situation. It has not all been approved yet and it is really causing a lot of tension in this house. Praise - That we are in the situation to buy a house at all, that we have a roof over our head and food to eat and that we have good health. My son has an opportunity to help on a film shoot tomorrow and he is excited.