The Last Day

Here it is, the last day of 2012. I started out the year extremely content. I loved our little house on Market Street. I thought we had the perfect number of children. I had big sewing goals -- 12 quilts in '12! -- and big personal goals as well.

Ha. Hahahahahhahhahhahahaha.

Lesson learned: never be content.

I am ending 2012 in a new house. In a new city. In a new state. We are adding another child. I came nowhere near my sewing or my personal goals. I am ending 2012 much happier than I started. How is that possible? I don't know. But it is.

 A highlight of my year was going to Market. The best part? Meeting my virtual besties in real life. Those gals continue to cheer me on and inspire me from afar.

 The second best part of Market? Being a part of the book. (PS -- I made the quilt below 3 times this year. The pattern is in the book. I never took a picture of quilt #2. I am lame.)

Another highlight? Meeting The Butlers.

In small circles, I'm kind of a big deal. In big circles, I'm a total doofus. (Did you notice that David and Amy don't wear name tags? That's how awesome they are. They don't need them.) (Did you notice my crazy stalker face? Yeah, me too.)

So here's my simple goals for 2013:

1. Sew more. And finished some things -- namely my Halloween quilt. Oy.
2. Have a baby.
3. Be happy.

Here's hoping 2013 brings all of us the best year of our lives. 

Handmade Holidays

Here we are in the throws of another holiday season. Feeling merry? I hope so. I'm struggling a little, I'll be honest. I'm tired and a little stressed. Oh, and pregnant. Very pregnant. With raging hormones. Seriously, they rage. One minute I want to hug the world for happiness, the next I am in my closet in tears. The trigger? It could be anything. Once it was that I ran out of milk. Again. Today at the store I bought 3 gallons. Take that, hormones.

Raise of hands of those making a few holiday gifts. Come on, don't be shy. I love a well made and thought out handmade gift. And I love giving those gifts, too. This year I have some things up my sleeve that, if you were pregnant, would leave you weeping in the corner. For my girls' birthdays, I am making them doll houses. For Christmas, I am still narrowing things down. I think Patch will get a Mario pillow. I wish I had time for the whole quilt.

For those who need some ideas, Amanda put together an a-mah-zing e-zine, featuring her new line Flutter. Check it out here. My project is the ruffled apron. There's a link to the tutorial within the e-zine. Today she posted three more tutorials, found here.

By the end of the weekend I hope to have the stockings done and the house all decorated. That is if I'm not crying.

You Know What?

You know what's awesome about being a sewing blogger around Christmastime? You guessed it -- so much going on, can't show any of it. I have so many balls in the air. And today I finally managed to figure out what to make for a very difficult person on my list. Phew. In the St. Nick of time! Now if I could extend my day by about three hours, and also up my energy level, that would be great.

In addition to all the gifting, I am making a little something for me. I've had this cute Christmas quilt in the works for years. The top is now all assembled. I just need to quilt it. I'm so happy with it. So is Ginger, who has to step on my quilts as I lay them out. I have another one on the floor today. She ran all over it.

What are you working on? Anything fun?