Tuesday, November 18, 2014

BUSY, BUSY BUSY LADY....

It's close to 4 o'clock on Tuesday afternoon and I am officially downright beat, lol.  I have been pushing myself everyday because I SOO want to get everything done before Thanksgiving, but I am going to go ahead and throw in the towel, and realize that it's OK.  In the grand scheme of things it is really not even the tiniest bit important.  I just have kind of always been that way.  I set myself (somewhat ridiculous!) goals and then work like a mad woman to reach those goals, as if it actually matters, lol.   It doesn't.  But I suppose if I wanted to take the time to analyze why I do it, I might find out something interesting about myself, but honestly at this point I just don't have the energy. Melody and Mike are coming for Thanksgiving and will be arriving on either Tues. or Wed. (depending on Mike's schedule) of next week, and I need to have MOST things done so that I can sit for at least 5 days and do NOTHING but enjoy them.  We wanted to have our house all decorated for Christmas when they arrive for a few reasons.  The first being they are not coming for Christmas this year and I want to see both boys with Christmas things.  Especially Sam.  He is just at that perfect age to find everything about it all magical and exciting, and he will be nothing but fun.  In addition to this reason, if we wait until the week-end AFTER Thanksgiving (it comes late this year) then it will already be the 6th of December, and only two and half weeks until Christmas comes which makes it feel like it isn't even worth while to set it all up, lol.  I realize this makes me sound old, (I am 60 now!) but it is just soo much work.  And every time I think I am going to scale back on our decorating, I realize I am just not ready to do that yet.  I am sure it is coming, but not yet.  Sooo considering hubby and I move slowly and do not like to be rushed, we have been working on it the last two week-ends in a row.  At this point, we are completely decorated outside (we have cut WAY WAY back on this compared to when we lived at our old house!) though we will not light it up until after Thanksgiving. And the whole inside of the house is decorated too except for our tree, which is scheduled to go up this Saturday.  I have finished all the Christmas PJ's and pillowcases/sheets for the grandkids, and most of the ornaments as well.  It was my original goal to give each family 3 or maybe 4 of the quilted ornaments, but that was before I made any, lol.  Now as it stands they will all be lucky to get one!  haha  Oh my goodness!!!  Soo much time goes into the making of one.  I finished my first couple last Friday and I have to tell you what I did....I have NEVER been much of a crafter,  And this is what these definitely are.  Not a single stitch is involved.  They are made with folded fabric squares, MILLIONS of pins, ribbon and embellishments (if you want them) and Styrofoam balls. You can use a hot glue gun as well to glue on the final piece of fabric, which I wasn't going to do as hot glue and I have NEVER gotten along.  Well, I should have followed my first instinct!  As I was finishing up on Friday (I was sooo tired, mistake number 1) I decided to glue down my final piece, and the next thing I knew I burned my index finger (on my right hand of course!) soooo badly it immediately peeled the skin right off of it.  Oh my goodness it hurt!!!  I quickly ran it under water, and realized I would be nursing this wound for a while.  It is finally not hurting today, but trust me it has been nothing but a nuisance in my way ever since.   Right in the middle of all my ornament making I decided to make myself a quilted Christmas tree as well.  It is close to the same procedure, with just a little bit of difference in the folding of the fabric.  I was thinking if it didn't take too long I "might" make one for all of my kids too, but that is officially out, lol.  It took me almost 2 and half hours to make one!  Each one of the ornaments takes a little over an hour as well.  So there is only so many I am going to have the time to do.  Let me say this about all of this.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE them!  Not only the way they look, but the creating of them as well.  It is long and tedious, but every so therapeutic or something as well.  I am enjoying choosing the fabrics to put together, the differences in the ribbons and embellishments, and the way my mind wonders around to thinking who might get each one etc.  I am hoping to give one to each of my sisters, my good girlfriend, my nail ladies, and also my niece (the hairdresser!).  Not to mention, I'd like to have several myself. (grin)  I want to give them at least to my kids by Thanksgiving so that they can get them on their trees this year etc.  But I think my original goal of making around 20 or so may be cut literally in half, lol.  I have six of them done.  I still have not even started my tree skirt (one thing I decided doesn't have to be done before Thanksgiving) and I still want to embroider a design using the scripture of Luke 2:ll.  I intend to frame it and display it as well.  This is on my list for tomorrow!  I am THRILLED and I mean THRILLED with the way my Christmas quilts look on my walls btw. Way better then I had hoped for.  Which considering the time and money that went into them, it's a good thing I do I am sure.  So I have taken a few pictures.  Both of the ornaments, and the quilted tree, and  of the quilts on the wall.  I am tempted not to even post them as honestly the pictures are just not very good, and don't come even close to doing ANY of them justice.  Whoever thought up how to do those quilted projects was a genius!  How I love being able to just "goggle" what I want to do and there it is for me to use.  Anyway, let me show you....

I LIKE THIS ONE BUT IT IS ONE OF THE FIRST ONES I DID AND I SEE A SPOT NOW THAT I NEED TO UNPIN AND FIX....SIGH.  THIS GOT EASIER THE MORE I DID..

THIS ONE IS THE SECOND ONE I DID AND HAS MICKEY MOUSE ON THE OTHER SIDE.  I WISH I HAD WAITED TO TRY THIS AS I THINK I COULD DO A BETTER JOB NOW BUT OH WELL...

THIRD ONE WHICH I LOVE, BUT I SEE A SPECK OFF HOT GLUE NOW THAT I AM LOOKING AT THIS THAT I NEED TO PICK OFF.  NOT TO MENTION THE FACT, THIS IS THE ONE I WAS FINISHING WHEN I BURNT MY FINGER, LOL



SIDE OF ONE OF THEM...LOVE THIS.

THERE'S MICKEY!
ONE OF THE FIRST...AGAIN, NEED TO FIX IT AS YOU CAN SEE SOME STYROFOAM PEEKING THROUGH.  (maybe I shouldn't have blown these up and posted them as all my mistakes are glaring at me now, lol!)

HANDS DOWN MY FAVORITE SO FAR...IT HAS TWO JINGLE BELLS ON IT AS WELL

SIDE OF IT

THE LAST ONE I DID...LIKE IT A LOT TOO!
AND MY TREE!!

ANOTHER VIEW

KIND OF BLURRY AND YOU CAN'T SEE THE QUILTING, BUT YOU GET THE IDEA.  CAN'T TELL YOU HOW I LOVE THIS.  I WOULD LOVE TO JUST LEAVE IT UP YEAR ROUND

THE FAIRY QUILT.  LOVING THIS TOO

FAVORITE GRANDKID CHRISTMAS PICTURES OVER THE YEARS DISPLAYED HERE. STILL NEED TO FILL MY GLASS TREES WITH CANDY FOR THE GRANDKIDS!

YOU CAN KIND OF SEE MY NEW VILLAGE DISPLAY...ANOTHER TIME I WILL SHOW YOU BETTER!

AND THE CUTEST REINDEER YOU'LL EVER SEE.  SAM CONTINUES TO PRETEND HE'S RUDOLPH EVERY DAY.  HE TOLD MAMA TODAY HE NEEDED A RED NOSE SO HE COULD FLY.  SHE OBLIGED, LOL
I had to go to the dentist yesterday in the middle of everything too, but hopefully now that should be it for a while there.  I am going to be gone all day on Thursday (hanging out with Cody and Jeff and getting them haircuts and seeing a movie!) and so that just leaves me tomorrow and Friday to finish up.  Sat is full, Sun is full, and my cleaning woman is coming on Monday and Tues I am getting my hair done.  So whatever gets done, gets done, and whatever doesn't will have to wait.  Hope you are all enjoying your days, and are finding the blessings that surround us all!  Debbie




8 comments:

  1. Well, don't know what mistakes you are talking about. The ornaments are just beautiful to me and I would love to have a tree full of them. You are your own worse enemy my friend, slow down and don't work so hard. :o)) Enjoy your family next week as I know how special this time will be.

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  2. Your days and my days, sound very alike right now. I can't really even find the time to blog!
    How did your machine wind up working out after you got it? Did you recover any of the downloaded designs?
    Enjoy the kids!!! Fun times. Busy times. And I AM ready to scale back on the decorating. I wouldn't even do any if Noah didn't live here!
    Well, I take that back. I would do some. Just not a lot!
    xo Kris

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  3. I love your patchwork ornaments...they are so pretty! (Although I am sorry that you burned your finger while making them. Ouch! Occupational injury?)

    You work circles around me, friend!

    Enjoy your time with family...soak it in!

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  4. The ornaments are beautiful as is the tree! That's definitely a lot of folding. May your finger heal so you can get more things accomplished. You'll be glad of the rest on Thursday with the grands and movie watching. Take care now and pace yourself!

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  5. I think the ornaments are BEAUTIFUL!!! They look flawless to me!!
    I think you and I are kindred spirits! You sound just like me.......
    I am going now to make sure I am a follower!!

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  6. I love that tree! I would love to make a tree like that. I love the ornaments too. They are very cute. Sam is a very cute reindeer. I am so impressed with how much you have got done.
    I hope you get a bit of time to rest.

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  7. Debbie,

    Love the ornaments, tree and quilts. I really love your other decorations too. So pretty. Little Rudolph is adorable!

    Hope you have a lot of fun next week with your family.

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  8. I'm NOT a crafter, although I love those ornaments. But I love even more your quilts! I can't decide which one I like best ... not that it matters as I love them both!! But not quite as much as I love that little reindeer of yours! ;-)

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I am so glad that you would take the time to comment on my thoughts and feelings, it is such a blessing to me!