Christmas Spirit

Now that Christmas has passed, just barely, I am finally getting around to writing a bit here. I received some of the most beautiful ornaments in the holiday ornament swap, and then didn't get a tree... They will look great next year!

It actually took me a little extra time to get in the holiday spirit this year, but it was the gifts I made that finally got me there. I decided to do something I've always wanted to try, crazy quilting, in the form of a Christmas stocking for my mom and stepdad.

Not only was it simpler than I expected, it did not take very long, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

The idea originally started with replacing the stocking that Gary has used for a long time, which is store-bought, with something more personalized. I decided that I should go with his love for cats, and found out that his favorite color was green.

As you can see here, it wasn't too hard to find a few "cat" fabrics, and it was very easy to figure out that a variety of solid color fabrics was more important, because it would otherwise be MUCH too busy! As if it isn't already, right?

The most time consuming part of this was, of course, all the cross stitching -- Gary's name, and the little tidbit across the toe. (I'm not counting that in the time it took me to make this stocking, since I didn't really keep track.) Also, I probably have enough fabric left to make about ten more of these... Anyone interested in a cat-themed crazy quilted stocking?

For my mom, I had a little harder time. Although I ended up finding the fabrics to make up the "bird" theme that I was starting with, it ended up being more of a mishmash of different things she likes. I had a really hard time finding birds on fabric, although I discovered yesterday that was in part due to the ineptitude of the folks helping me at the fabric store! However, I found a cute little cardinal sitting on a sprig of holly to cross stitch, and you can see here that it goes very well with the musical instruments and tea service that I also incorporated.

Everyone I've shown these to so far has agreed that they turned out wonderfully, and two even suggested that I might want to turn it into a side crafting business. Opinions, anyone?

I wish you a joyous new year!