Can you feel your anxiety rising?
Are you starting to worry? Will there be enough time? Will everything get done? Will my children have a memorable and happy Christmas? Will my extended family have a chance to connect and enjoy the warmth and love of the season?
Ugh.I torture myself.
I enjoy making gifts for Christmas, but sometimes I put a lot of pressure on myself to accomplish this, and it takes the joy out of it.
Today while I do my hand stitching, I am going to think about how I want the next month of my life to work out. I want to make more conscious choices about what I spend my energy creating, who do I want to give gifts to, and what are the most important things about celebrating the season for me.
And what will I be hand stitching while I ponder these things today?BINDING!
Hah Deb... I finished the machine quilting on my UFO of the month (my version of Orca Bay) late last night! Deb had challenged me to finish this machine quilting and motivated me to work hard to finish it and I did! Now I get to put my feet up and enjoy each binding stitch - my favorite!
I just love this fabric called "Grace" by 3 Sisters and will enjoy looking at it while I stitch the day away today.
What are you hand stitching?
Link up your blogpost below and share your project with us.
Finishing off the binding on the quilt is just so relaxing. I think in part because you know you are almost done with one more project.
ReplyDeleteOne month to Christmas Eve? I'd say no way, but I know better. I really do think that the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas gets stuck in some type of space/time continuum, and time really does speed up during those days!
Great job Kathy! I am very proud of you for completing the challenge. Enjoy every stitch on your binding today.
ReplyDeleteI decided years ago to give handmade things for birthdays instead of Christmas.... less stress around the holidays. We saw our first Christmas lights lit up last night on a house... it just seems too early!
Looks like you made it in time to start Bonnie's new mystery. Congratulations! I hope to be stitching down binding next week!
ReplyDeleteGood for you for meeting the challenge...I knew you could do it!
ReplyDeleteWe have changed our Christmas habits over the past few years and don't buy a lot of gifts. No rushing around in stores etc. We do usually host a Christmas Eve dinner for close friends and then we have a quiet family celebration on Christmas Day. I like it much better that way!
Such beautiful fabric. Congratulations on getting it through the quilting phase. Binding time is the perfect opportunity to sit and think quietly.
ReplyDeleteI am finishing up binding too...but I don't like it...it seems tedious but then again, there is little room for me to make any mistakes so that is the pleasant part of it. Sewing without Stress :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful version of Orca Bay - congrats for reaching binding stage.
ReplyDeleteOne month . . . and by then we will also have passed the winter equinox and there will be a few more moments of daylight each and every day!
Making gifts for friends and family gives me great pleasure. Shopping does not! We had 50cm of snow overnight so there will be lots of shovelling today.... Can't wait to see your finished quilt!
ReplyDeleteStitching down binding is always a great thing ... time with needle and thread and seeing the completion of another quilt. Win-win!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy stitching down bindings. It's so meditative.
ReplyDeleteFYI, The Linky Tool is having a hard time with images hosted on Flickr (which all of mine are). So you'll just have to click over to see why I'm up to.
I really enjoy stitching down bindings. It's so meditative.
ReplyDeleteFYI, The Linky Tool is having a hard time with images hosted on Flickr (which all of mine are). So you'll just have to click over to see why I'm up to.
That is gorgeous fabric. I love sewing binding because it means the quilt is almost done.
ReplyDeleteYou described my feelings about Christmas exactly. I'm really stressing this year because it's a shorter season between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I need to just make a plan and calm down.
So close to being finished! Very exciting for you!
ReplyDeleteGreat backing fabric! I would love to have several yards of it!
ReplyDeleteThis is a real beauty Kathy... gorgeous fabric. Congrats on meeting the challenge! I enjoy sewing the binding on quilts. It's so relaxing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder of Christmas Eve being one month away! I'm trying hard not to sweat it!
You had to say that, did you? : )
ReplyDeleteI am trying to keep gift making to a minimum this year. So far I am feeling calm--we'll see how it goes when we get to crunch time. Will I have taken on a bunch of gifts to make?
Good luck with your efforts!!