Holiday Projects?

I started about three weeks ago. I need to make samples for my classes. This year (unless I come up with something new?) we will be choosing from -

quilted Christmas cards and gift tags Bottle/gift bags (3 designs) place mats/napkins and table runners beaded Christmas tree hangings tree wall quilts that hold cards in the borders

3D decorations filled with lavender etc beaded scissor fobs mini stockings (hold one chocolate) to hang on the tree or use at placesettings

As always I will ask everyone towards the end of the month "Who wants to do Christmas projects?" and everyone will say "NO, we want to get on with our quilts" . . . . . . until about the end of November. Then there will be a mad panic to make six gifts in three weeks! It happens every year despite my threats to leave them floundering LOL

With the current craze for Frayed Edges you could always sew two layers together and leave the raw edges to fray. Instant double sided napkins.

Fraying works best on the bias but you can do this with HST/QSTs and have pretty napkins with virtually no waste of fabric. We did this last year for Christmas table settings and some of the effect were lovely.

Kathy, I like how you think! You are a woman after my own heart.

Sunny

Kathy Applebaum wrote:

I made them using the pillowcase method.

18" squares, RS together, sew around the edges, turn, stitch big "X" and all around edges, so it's a double-layer napkin. I made them for the kids, so one side is a nice light blue linen and the other side is a psychedelic four-patch.

-- Anita --

RS?

Right Sides??

One year I bought a sheet to make a circular tablecloth. I used a matching sheet for kitchen curtains and napkins, just folded them under. Looked real good, and I might do that again in a few more weeks. Don't want to get started on Christmas things too soon! Barbara in SC

WAIT A MINUTE!!!! You aren't the one that always gives me a scare with the Christmas countdown, so I think this must be part of a conspiracy!!!

Having said that, I went shopping at the "day after Christmas" sales last year. Everyone is bought for, and everyone is wrapped (except for the children because I was afraid they would grow out of the clothing that I bought them). I have some small projects that I plan on working on, but they won't even get started until after school starts (next month!!)....bigger priority is getting DD toilet trained so there won't be any issues at preschool, although they said that pull-ups were ok...still a little nervous about sending her to school for 3 hours and having her not use the toilet.....anyway.......

Larisa

In the same boat Larisa! They told me potty-trained wasn't a requirement, but I don't know if I'm comfortable with the idea either. So far, no real headway. Are you using the "Potty Trained in One Day" book by Fox that you told me about? I tried, it failed miserably! Back to the traditional daily grind!

Dannielle

It's called "Folded Star" and there are directions in Fons & Porter's book "Quilter's Complete Guide".

Julia > Written instructions please!

can't find it - probably still packed from the move. It worked wonderfully with DS, so I was hoping to use it with DD. Mother even bought her a doll that (kind of) wets/uses the potty...nothing doing with that thing! Oh well, we are working on it and rewarding her with praise every time she actually uses the potty. Now, however, she asks for the pullups . I have an email fro the director of the preschool, so I will write and double check the facts with her.

Larisa

Hi, it was 14 years ago, but I managed to get my then nearly 3-year-old trained by telling hiim that on on his 3 b'day I wouldn't change his diapers any more. I moved all the wipes and diapers down to the bottom shelf, told him he's have to wipe up and deal even with poopy diapers. I was ready to carry through with this. He could potty and just chose not to. Hid in the closet to poop. So I started telling him over and over that it would be his job come his birthday. He came in the day or so before his b'day and asked if I was serious about the diapers. I told him "yes" and he said "ok, guess I gotta go potty now." That was the end of it. There were a couple of accidents ....not more than two or three. It may be that someday he'll need serious therapy to deal with the whole thing, but I got to stop buying pull-ups and we got to start going places without having to worry about a big kid with poop and wet pants. Good luck to you. Those little guys are the greatest. Hug them for me. :) Hugs to Moms too, Sunny