Thursday, November 29, 2012

Really Random Thursday, 11/29/12

November almost over? How is that possible? Seems there is an "extra" week before Christmas this year--because Thanksgiving was early. So does that mean I have a lot more done already?

No.

It simply means that I have an extra week to procrastinate...

Today I'm traveling down to spend the weekend with my good friend, Elizabeth. In case anyone even remembers that I made all 111 Farmer's Wife blocks along with Carla (whose quilt top has been completed for a couple of months already...), I'm taking them along to start sewing them together!

My original plan was to drive. To Los Angeles. Which I have never done by myself before. Then someone said, "Hey, take Amtrak." Brilliant!  For a round trip ticket for only $75 (and the train terminal is only about 15 minutes from Elizabeth's house), there is no way I could drive my Honda Pilot down and back for that. Besides less money, here are the further benefits: less stress (yes, I mean you L.A. freeway system!) plus time to sit back and read a book (loaded a new one on the Kindle app on my iPad), or listen to music while I do some stitching (because I just bought this pattern).
I will travel in style with these little pouches, thanks to creative friends, which are just perfect for this trip:
I have all my embroidery supplies in the "Keep Calm" pouch, which has a clear plastic window. My sewing supplies are going in the Anna Maria Horner pouch--just the basics as I'm relying on Elizabeth letting me use some of her supplies, and my electronics (iPod with lots of Christmas music, chargers, etc.) in the cute yellow pouch with the ruffle.

What about you? Do you have your holiday sewing all completed? If so, don't even tell me because that means you are not a part of the procrastinator club, please share how you managed that...

Note: Don't forget that you have until December 8 to leave a comment to win a $20 gift certificate from Zipit.


25 comments:

05 08
Lucy | Charm About You said... #

oohhh have fun!! more sewing and less driving sounds perfect :)
Look forward to seeing those adorable stitchings!

The Luedtke Family said... #

I do have a few to a several scarves and head warmers all knit up and ready to wrap for selected people. Great teacher gifts, church donation gifts, etc.

I just went to my Hobby Lobby yesterday to pick up yarn for Simon's slippers. He showed me his destroyed granny square slippers again yesterday and asked for new ones. So, of course I am ADDING a new project as of 2 days ago.

I have not yet even purchased material for another project. Norah LOVES to put on shows while standing on small stools. So, I want to make a velvet curtain to hang in our opening by a very large stair down to the family. I thought felt puppets would be fun too, but that may wait.

Norah has nice shirts and sweaters. Buts prefers to only wear dresses. I want to make her an a-line jean skirt that will match every top and every legging she owns so that she actually wears the clothes in her wardrobe. Every jean skirt I see is way too short. I'm thinking of making it more complicated by adding pockets.

So, yes, I thought I was in great shape and have a bunch of stashed gifts. But, still have some items yet to do.

My mind yesterday wrestled the idea that the kids don't need something made by me every Christmas, but my mind lost. My heart won, and I will make slippers, a skirt, and a stage curtain. At night time, when they are asleep or sneaking moments here and there when they don't notice.

The lovely fusion blanket is definitely not even near gift ready!

Archie The Wonder Dog said... #

Have a lovely time!

Anna said... #

The Amtrak is comfortable, too. Nice big seats... not like a cramped little plane :) I do not have my holiday stuff taken care of at all! But I'm pretty sure my boyfriend bought me a shiny new sewing machine for my birthday so waiting for that is my current excuse for procrastination... ;) hope you have a good trip!

Carla said... #

Really looking forward to seeing your farmers wife quilt. I'm still stuck on block 28. Have a great time

Debbie said... #

I haven't even STARTED the Christmas gifts!! ;-/

Deborah said... #

Have fun! Say hi!

Mary on Lake Pulaski said... #

I can't wait to see how you put those lovely Farmer blocks together Cindy! Have fun.

Mrs Flying Blind... said... #

Have a great time - and no, nowhere near finished!!

Terry@ a quilting blog said... #

Have a fun trip...and, no, my Christmas sewing is not done yet...so you are not alone! ;o)

Alison V. said... #

That sounds like a fun trip! I finished the tree skirt that I made as a gift, but I am hand quilting a queen sized quilt for my boyfriend, and I don't know when that's going to get finished. The goal is Christmas, we'll see about that...

Pomegranate Quilts said... #

First of all, your Farmer's Wife block on top of the stack is making me drool. I think I need to make one. Or a whole bunch. It's stunning.
And as for my holiday sewing - HA HA! You are kidding right?! Haven't Started Yet.
Have a great and stitchy trip!

Needled Mom said... #

You will love the ease of Amtrak. Is it part bus transfer past Vandenberg still?

I can't wait to see the progress on your quilt when you get back. Safe journey!

Anne said... #

I love taking the train! I wonder if we live nearish each other...I'm in the south bay area of California, so I noticed the "driving down" part of heading to LA and thought we might be distant neighbors. :D

Katy Cameron said... #

Have a fun trip! I'm hoping to start making on Saturday (does that make you feel better? ;o) )

M-R Charbonneau said... #

I'm always a fan of more sewing time and less driving time! Have a great time. I can't wait to see those FW blocks all together.

Susan said... #

I am looking forward to seeing your FW quilt come together! That will be a great finish for 2012! My Christmas list seems to be getting longer the closer it gets!!! Enjoy the train trip!

Farm Quilter said... #

Have a blast on your trip - sounds like a perfect way to go!!! Not finished with gifts yet either...2 quilts need just a label, 3 quilts need binding and labels, 3 quilts need to be quilted, bound and labeled. Of course, when I have quilting of my own I want to get done, customers show up with their Christmas quilts that need quilting - just put a 103"x103" quilt in the mail to a customer, customer quilt on the frame and just picked up another customer quilt today!!! Oh well, it will be a Merry Christmas even if I don't get all my quilts finished!

Terriaw said... #

Sounds like a fun trip, especially by train! Fun to have such a pretty assortment of zipper pouches to carry your supplies in. I have a bag of bags like that. I haven't started any Christmas sewing or handmade gifts yet. Too much homework. I might have time to start them when the semester ends, which happens to be 4 days before Christmas!

Allison said... #

finished? You mean we should have started already? hehe
have fun on your trip!

Mama Pea said... #

Traveling on Amtrak is the way to go! I love traveling by train to Chicago. It's so relaxing. I hope you have an enjoyable ride and get lots of stitching done. Have a great time at your friend's house. I can't wait to see this quilt top put together!

Carla said... #

Yay! I can't wait to see your FW blocks put together. Have a wonderful time...the train ride sounds like part of the fun! I am a doll-clothes-sewing-machine right now and loving it!

Connie Kresin Campbell said... #

Sounds like a fun trip, the train is the way to go!

bets said... #

What a fun trip! And, yes I am done, but started last year after Xmas and even sewed 3 Xmas quilts for my grandchildren! Bought the Xmas material on sale so started right away! And..made table toppers for friends with matching potholders. But I have always done this ! Feels good to be finished and actually thinking of next Xmas! Enjoy your trip...would really enjoy a train ride!

Kristy fordhook1 said... #

I have 2 out of three iPad bags I'm making for gifts. First one took me about 5 hours, second about 2' next should be 1 hour....I'm so slow at learning new patterns! Your farmers quilt will be stunning I'm sure!