I have a prediction....you are probably sick of Christmas gifts, but I think you are only going to get sicker.  Really, I have some stuff to share.  So here I go - the beginning of the handmade gifts.  I made much less this year than I did last year.  For many reasons, I think this was better (time, energy, stress, appreciation of handmade, etc).  My six nephews received the highest quantity of handmade goods.   Here is part one - the t-shirts.  I am especially proud that all but one of these designs were drawn freehand by me.  Can you guess which one wasn't?

a turtle for Evan

a penguin for Finn

a whale for Miles

an elephant for Ian

a puppy for Kenan

and a giraffe for Declan.

Looking back on these, it is really evident to me which one isn't mine.  Maybe that is because I made them - who knows?

Back tomorrow with handmade, part two.

I got together with some of my craft swap buddies Wednesday night to do a yankee swap.  I have no idea why it is called a yankee swap, but basically we all agreed to make one big(ger than normal) item instead of the standard 5 people, make 4 things.  We drew numbers and the (un)lucky number 1 opened a gift.  Number 2 could steal the item number 1 opened or open another package.  And so on. And so on.  (Remember those shampoo commercials?).

I was very excited for this swap.  I have so many ideas that I want to try out, but most of them are not realistic when I am making 10 or so items on a budget.  Other than the fact that I started and finished my craft Wednesday (those gifts for the nephews had to go in the mail!), this was a perfect swap for me.

My most favorite thing I have made since my patchwork bag is this blanket.  Really.  Truly.  I had a hard time giving it up.  It came out exactly how I envisioned it in my mind.

I was completely inspired by this gorgeous blanket on the Purl Bee.  Of course, I put my own twist on it.  I bought the dark charcoal gray wool at my local fabric store (on sale!) and then made a patchwork binding out of fabric from the stash.  This bugger was hard to photograph - and it was about 6 p.m. and dark at the time - so I don't think its true beauty comes across.  But trust me, it is luxurious.

It measures about 60" square and the binding is 1 inch wide on each side.  And it was fast to make (about 4 hours including 1 1/2 hours of hand sewing)!  The hardest part was figuring out how to balance the patchwork pieces - I am a bit nutty about scale and color.  That's probably why I have never tackled a real quilt.  But I digress.  The second hardest part was the hand sewing of the binding.  I rushed this bit - you can see the slip stitch - if I could have taken my time, the stitches would have been more uniform and less visible, I am sure.  I don't think it matters.  It went to a great home.

In case you were wondering, I did buy enough wool to make two.  I had a feeling I might need one, too.

I finished all the gifts for the nephews and mailed them off yesterday.  Phew!  The only trouble I encountered was how to wrap some odd-sized, soft items without having to buy overly huge boxes.  This is what I came up with.

Muslin bags!  I cut large rectangles and sewed up two sides - actually, I used the serger so it didn't matter if everything wasn't lined up exactly so.  I popped the items in and closed them with a bow.  Had I thought of this sooner, I would have freezer paper stenciled or appliqued right onto those, you know, to dress them up a bit.  Oh well.  Maybe the kids can do that with their moms....just a thought.  Of course, you can use any fabric, but I had this on hand and it is inexpensive, so it fit the bill.  Also, it cost a lot less than a big gift bag and tissue would have.  Finally, they were easy to throw in a box and send just like that.

I know I promised a finished project - that'll be tomorrow.  Back to my Christmas cards.  Yes, that's me, always at the last minute.

For the record, these are the only presents I've wrapped.  But I made them both - that has to count for something, right?

...my ornaments will be mailed out today.

If I spoiled your surprise, I am sorry.  They are so cute - I just couldn't wait.

The pattern is from Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts.  I had something else in my mind until I saw Kristin's version and the vintage patchwork fabric sitting on top of the red corduroy in my studio.  I knew right then.  I was supposed to make these birds.  Enough said.

I feel a bout of photo posts coming on.  Thanks for the suggestion, Susan.

I made a list this morning of all the gifts I want to make.  Then I had a little freak out.  I have a lot to do.  Time, where did you go?  Seriously, how can you fly so fast?

I came to my senses and got to work.  I finished a few appliqued items and then cut out ornaments in front of last night's Project Runway on TiVo.

I'm freaking out about the ornaments, too.  They are pretty freaking cute, that's why.

I made this t-shirt for an 8 year-old's birthday last week.  I finished at the last minute (of course) and gave it to her with the blue water-soluble marks showing behind the embroidery.  Her mom is in my craft swap and she laughed when I told her not to worry, the blue marks would come out in the wash.  See, my friends know me.  And so does my family.  They accept me for who I am, faults and all.  For this, I am thankful.

That is just one of my many blessings.   I am lucky to have many.  And so here I sit, the day after Thanksgiving with my pants a bit tighter than they were yesterday, grateful for everything that enriches my life and even some of the things that don't.  Because without those unfortunate events and unkind people, I really would never have grown to be the person I am right now.  Life's lessons are something for which to be thankful.  At least, I think so.  And so is the constant personal growth that comes from them.  I am growing and I like it.  Which makes me think that I am a happy camper indeed.

My coffee buddies both have birthdays this week - Suzanne's was yesterday and Geron's is tomorrow.  Yesterday, I bought the coffees and brought the presents.

For Suzanne, a green and brown number

and a pink and brown one for Geron.

Daria, I caught your disease.  I have pillowitis.  In a big way.  In fact, I think I might just have an affair with my walking foot.

Birthday shout out to my brother Nolan!

I'll be back sometime after Thursday.  Happy Thanksgiving!