Tuesday, January 3, 2012

May the Force Be With You

We got this cool calendar from our State Farm insurance agent. Each month it has our name in a really cool setting. Expect to see one at the beginning of each month.

So it is 2012. About mid December, I stepped away from the computer, other than what was necessary to do my job as a medical transcriber. No reading blogs, no writing posts. Now I'm finding it a bit hard to get back into the groove. So I'll just kind of ease into it.

I have enjoyed seeing "year in review" posts. You won't see one here. One of the things I dislike most about myself is that I'm great at starting new projects, but not so great with follow-through. There are a lot of "starts" I could show you from 2011. My goal for 2012 is to become better with the follow-through. Maybe at the end of this year I will have enough for my own "year in review" post.

What I did accomplish in December was some sewing for my grandchildren. Other than the three of them, we didn't exchange gifts with anyone else in the family. It was low-key and relaxing. My parents went to see my brother in Texas, leaving on Christmas morning. Early Christmas morning, like we picked them up at 5 a.m. to take them to the airport. So the rest of us had Christmas dinner at our favorite restaurant, which is always open on Christmas day. While we were waiting to be seated, these two kept me company, and finally consented to have their picture taken by the huge outdoor Christmas tree.
When we got home, they opened their presents. Levi, 3 1/2, is totally entranced obsessed by all things Star Wars. He has never seen more than 10 minutes of one movie, yet he knows all the characters by name. We got him a set of Star Wars Legos, and I made a tote to put them in. At the beginning of December I was thrilled to get some scraps of Mechanical Genius from Mo Bedell, before it was even available for purchase. She had just posted a tutorial for a great tote bag and this was the obviously perfect gift for this little Star Wars guy:
 
 

 (I used a fat quarter that I scored from ebay for the back pocket)
We added a Legos book, some t-shirts, a pillowcase, and some jammies. Do you think we overdid it?
 
 
I had always wanted to make a Topsy Turvy doll for Charlotte, the kind of doll that you flip upside and she turns into an entirely different doll. Wee Wonderfuls by Hillary Lang had a really cute pattern. It also made me realize that I am not a doll maker.


Charlotte loves purple, so that's what I chose for each outfit, and gave her dark hair and brown eyes.

This is the "dressed up" version. The scalloped fabric has little music notes on it, perfect because Charlotte just started taking piano lessons from my mother in fall. The dressed up version has coiled braids and a ribbon in her hair.
The "dressed down" version has braids. I even found a selvage with Charlotte's name on it.
This doll was much more time-consuming than I had anticipated. There was SO much hand sewing, and the hair took forever. But I think she will be well loved. And that's all that matters to me.
So what's ahead for 2012? The Name Game will have a lot of interesting bloggers making an appearance, maybe a quilt-along, some tutorials, LOTS of really random stuff. And some quilt finishes. May the force be with me...and you. Happy 2012.

22 comments:

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Riel Nason said... #

All the best for 2012! We love Star Wars here too. That visual dictionary book is great.

Carla said... #

Aren't little boys the "best" with their obsessions....continues into adulthood!! My grandsons are VERY into Batman....I'm working up to making them "POW" quilts for their birthdays! The doll is adorable, but I'm totally with you on the "not my thing" deal! Happy 2012, Cindy!!

Mary said... #

Happy New Year and welcome back! It's been a long time since my girls played with legos but they spent many hours building houses and rooms for their Disney characters! The doll is so sweet...what a treasure.

Needled Mom said... #

I think you nailed it with the great gifts. That bag is soooo PERFECT and I think the topsy turvy doll is awfully cute. She will enjoy it.

Terriaw said... #

Welcome back, Cindy! I have missed you so much! But I understand, sometimes a break from the blog world is necessary. Hope you are feeling refreshed and psyched for the new year.

Love your gifts for the grandkids, especially cuz you made a bag! and a doll! Very awesome and adorable!

Sally said... #

I love the topsy turvy doll! I just borrowed that book from the library not all that long ago and one of the dolls I took not of what the topsy turvy doll. I'd like to make that for my niece, but I'm not a big fan of hand sewing, either. Maybe if I start now, I would have it ready by next Christmas :-)

M-R Charbonneau said... #

May the force be with you too, Cindy! Happy New Year! My sons would love that Star Wars Lego bag - great job!

Grandma G said... #

Great job on the gifts! The Star Wars is sooo 'boy', and that doll is just super cool! Way to go on all the hand sewing, even if you didn't like it... it wouldn't be my thing, either. :) I imagine both gifts are dearly loved.

Letterpress said... #

After I posted about trying to find a balance between commenting and writing and quilts/creating, a couple of others chimed in agreed that it was a hard balance to keep.

Maybe we all feel like stepping away is good for us once in a while. I like how Rose (of Schnibbles fame) posts so irregularly, but it's always fun to read when she does. Of course, she has that enormous talent and prodigious output, which helps make her posts interesting. I don't know how she does it all.

Anyway, sounds like lovely Christmas. Nice to see your words again in my reader.

Elizabeth E.

Poppyprint said... #

Welcome back! Happy new year. I haven't been able to find my blog mojo again either. LOVED your sweet sewn gifts. I can see how that doll must have taken ages - she is really beautiful!

CitricSugar said... #

You are such a fun grandma!

And yes, I had a lovely holiday. I owe you an email. :-) Happy New Year!

felicity said... #

Happy New Year! I'm easing into things, too. My reader is already overflowing. But I *am* sewing some stuff for me/friends and having fun. I love the idea of a restaurant meal on Christmas!

Mrs Flying Blind... said... #

Perfect makes - my son and girls would be so jealous!
You need to join Rhonda/Quilter In The Gap's 'Finish Along" !! xxx

Lucy | Charm About You said... #

Fantastic! Such perfect gifts :)

Katy Cameron said... #

Fab makes, love the Star Wars collection lol

As for finishes, you need to pop over and see Rhonda at Quilter In The Gap, she's having a finish along where you can win prizes for knocking off some of those UFOs :oD

wishes, true and kind said... #

Your gifts to your grandchildren were so wonderful and thoughtful. I especially love that you used my sewing circle friend Mo's fabric and bag to make the perfect gift for your grandson! Mo is as sweet as she is talented!

Rene' said... #

Happy New Year Cindy! By the way, there is no such thing as too much Star Wars!!! ;-) We are completely obsessed here as well. Love the doll for your granddaughter.

Little Spouse in the Old House said... #

Happy New Years to both of you! Loved your sewing for your kiddos! Blessings-Janice

Doris said... #

I feel so bad I haven't even had time (taken the time) to email you back! It's coming I promise!

Your are such a rad grandma, and can I just say, our State Farm agent sends us super crappy calenders every year. Jealous a little.

Archie The Wonder Dog said... #

I've also been AWOL in bloggy land and I'm struggling to catch up! I hope 2012 is a marvellous year for you and yours!

FlourishingPalms said... #

Your Star Wars tote is just great, as is that cute topsy-turvy doll. I can appreciate how much work it was to make. It shows! Hmm, we have State Farm Insurance and OUR agent didn't do anything as nice - in fact, nothing - for us. Your calendar looks great... not that I'm jealous or anything.

Amanda Jean said... #

happy new year to you, Cindy! great to have you back to blogging.

love all the star wars goodies! ALL my boys love star wars. the topsy turvy doll is WONDERFUL!! i bet abby would love that....but i wouldn't love making it. you did a great job!

i really hope you can become more of a finisher in 2012. it's so rewarding to finish, even though it can be so so difficult! (not to make you feel guilty or anything, i'm just rooting for you!!!!)

as if my comment wasn't long enough....the year we moved to Michigan we ate out (at a chinese resturant, no less!) for Christmas. it was so weird and so memorable. I always think fondly upon that day.