Thursday, December 13, 2012

Gift Giving…

I love gift giving…nothing warms my heart faster than giving a gift that I have made and having the recipient REALLY appreciate it!  And nothing tickles me more than going into that person’s home and seeing all the past gifts that I have made on displayed! 

So why do I always leave making these gifts to the very last minute and then run out of time to make ALL the gifts that I would like to? 

I was thinking of Seattle Judy…LAST February, she was busy stitching these wonderful Journals for all of her friends back home for THIS Christmas…The rest of us were busy making quilts for ourselves!

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Yup…no flies on Judy…and her friends will really appreciate them, I’m sure!  I mean WHO wouldn’t…just look at them!!  All EIGHT of them were a work of woolie goodness!  DONE!  And TEN months early!  (I know you are going to ask…so here’s the name of the pattern!:)

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This year I made four of these snowmen pillows (I SHOULD have made more! …WAY more!)…(it’s safe to show as they have all been received and unwrapped…)

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I wrapped the other three before I remembered to take a picture!  You’d think I’d remember these things!

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And I also made three of these…here again I SHOULD have made WAY more…but didn’t!

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I spent two DAYS going around to the various shops looking for three little star candle holders to include with the gift…but couldn’t find them!  So as soon as the mats were given…I stumbled onto two in a thrift shop!  Never thought to look there!  It DOES look perfect with this star candle mat, doesn’t it?

So next year, I am going to pull a Seattle Judy…pick a project and bang off ten or twenty of them…then they will be ready and waiting to gift for that big day!  Yup…that’s what I’m going to do all right…I think that’s what Darlene and Cheryl had in mind when they started this ~

Yup…Christmas Through the Year!  Now these ladies are two smart cookies!  You can bet that they aren’t scrambling around making those last minute gifts!!  Yup…next year I’m going to join in…next year is going to be different!  :o)))

Have a Thrilling THURSDAY (yes, this is the REAL Thursday!) and Happy Quilting!~P

Posted by paulette at 7:27 AM

25 comments:

  1. TerryDecember 13, 2012 at 7:33 AM

    Those journals are wonderful! And I love your snowman pillows, especially the red one! :0)

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  2. DarleneDecember 13, 2012 at 7:43 AM

    Adorable journals - I remember when Seattle Judy was making them. I was, and still am, envious of her friends. LOL

    Oh, those snowmen are sweet chilling dudes. The red one is my favorite but I do love 'em all.

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  3. DarleneDecember 13, 2012 at 7:44 AM

    BTW, I am doing a little scrambling but not much. Finishing touches and I'll be done. :-) There's something to be said about Christmas Through the Year. :-)

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  4. DoloresDecember 13, 2012 at 7:52 AM

    I think of this every year and every year I am a last minute gift maker.
    Next year will be different!

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  5. WoolenSailsDecember 13, 2012 at 7:57 AM

    Those are beautiful journals and I think we all need to work each month at making things for next year, lol. I always hit the thrifts, great place to find things like that.

    Debbie

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  6. AnneDecember 13, 2012 at 8:20 AM

    Lucky recipients! I am determined to do the same thing next year. Was pretty stressed out a few weeks ago!

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  7. HeartsdesireDecember 13, 2012 at 8:26 AM

    Cute pillows, lucky recipients. Love the snowman candle mat as well. Seattle Judie's woolie journals are great, wonder what she'll be working on for next Christmas. Like everyone else, I always say in January, I'll lose weight and start my Christmas sewing early. Ha, never happens. Although I did get some cross-stitched Santas made and framed. Maybe 2013 will be different.

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  8. LesleyDecember 13, 2012 at 8:27 AM

    You hit the nail on the head! Next year I will be more organized just like your friend Judy with those gorgeous journals, and like you, with your wonderful pillows, or maybe I'll just not...giggle...

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  9. UnknownDecember 13, 2012 at 8:54 AM

    Great looking journals.

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  10. AngieDecember 13, 2012 at 9:37 AM

    Those pillows are just adorable, and I do so love those little journals, and your snowman topper is just too cute!! Seeing these makes me want to make some too. :) February you say??? Is that when we should start??? :)

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  11. audreyDecember 13, 2012 at 10:19 AM

    I just adore your snowman pillows! Super cute, esp. the red one.:)

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  12. marieDecember 13, 2012 at 10:26 AM

    I am still finishing up last minute touches. I'm with you, hope next year to try and make 3 items a month.

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  13. TheresaDecember 13, 2012 at 12:19 PM

    Those journals are absolutely gorgeous and I LOVE your snowman pillows. I've lined up a couple of projects for the new year so that I can dip my toe into the Woolly Waters.

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  14. AllieDecember 13, 2012 at 4:57 PM

    Gorgeous!!!! I do the same thing, you know, and every year I say it'll be different. The only one that was, was 2011 - with CTTY - [had to, I was the hostess, lol] but I didn't join in with Darlene and Cheryl this year. They're not going to do it next year, someone else is, though! Do join up with the new gal, it's such a relief at the end of the year to see everything you've made!

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  15. StitchinByTheLakeDecember 13, 2012 at 5:43 PM

    The journals are darling. But I love your snowman pillow! I need to make some of those. :) blessings, marlene

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  16. Lee Prairie DesignsDecember 13, 2012 at 6:23 PM

    Delightful work!!!

    :) Carolyn

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  17. SaraDecember 13, 2012 at 7:13 PM

    All your snow men creations are so dang sweet!! Love the last pic with the star candle holder. Merry Christmas!

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  18. JudyDecember 14, 2012 at 4:15 AM

    I love your snowman pillows! I too, have said I am starting to making gifts in January. No more of this last minute gift making!

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  19. Janna and MikeDecember 14, 2012 at 4:44 AM

    It would be wonderful to have gifts made before December wouldn't it! And next year (I say this every year) all customer quilts have to be finished by Thanksgiving!

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  20. MavisDecember 14, 2012 at 11:39 PM

    I'm with ya!! I am what is referred to as a "last minute Alice!" I'm going to start looking soon for next year's projects for gifts. Thanks for a great post.

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  21. antique quilterDecember 15, 2012 at 4:05 AM

    I am a huge snowman fan, love that snowman mat adorable!!!!
    cute pillows too, I agree I make little quilts thru the year and then chose a few as gifts and give them away.
    I sometimes just give the tops let the recipient quilt it and bind it, some times I quilt it and send the binding to let them bind it :)
    its the thought that counts right !!!!
    I will be watching this year and hopefully following your lead and make more gifts during the year
    Kathie

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  22. PatDecember 15, 2012 at 10:24 AM

    A lovely post. Would you share the designer of the snowman candle mat. He is so cute!!

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  23. Nancie Anne QuiltsDecember 17, 2012 at 8:45 AM

    I would also like to know where I can find the snowman candlemat pattern. I love the delicate stitchery.

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  24. tink's momDecember 20, 2012 at 9:49 AM

    Love your pillows. Can I use the idea or did you follow a pattern? The red one is definetly my favorite.
    The candle mat is a great idea also, again is there a pattern or did you just come up with the idea from the top of your creative head.
    I still have a couple of ideas to sew but I think I will need to devote this evening to Christmas cards.

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  25. Sandie @ crazy'boutquiltsDecember 20, 2012 at 9:52 AM

    I love snowmen! I have got to know about the candle mat pattern~ pretty please? And your pillows are wonderful! Merry Christmas!

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