And so it begins...

Hey everyone!! Have you started your Christmas sewing yet?? I will be in my sewing room aLOT this holiday!! Do you like my wreath? We had to cut some lower branches from our tree and you know how I HATE to waste! :) I just grabbed some floral wire and started wrapping. I know it is not a perfect circle...oh well!! I've never made a "living" wreath before..not bad, I think!

So, this is a little alcove upstairs that looks over our living room. I've always wanted to put lights here, but unfortunately there are no outlets. So this year, I decided to make my own!

These were done almost completely on my embroidery machine. I just cut some extra felt for the backing and sewed them on a ribbon. I really love the silver metallic thread!!

Not as dramatic as real lights, but I think they came out really cute! :)

I also did a set for Ms. Priss' teacher. Don't worry, this is the last "kiss up" I'll be doing at least until the end of the year! HA!

For hers, I wanted to try a different way of making the lights. I did the lettering with my embroidery machine, but then I cut the bulb shapes and did a small zigzag stitch to sew them to the felt backing. It is almost the same effect. I know the pictures are hard to tell the difference between the two sets, but the HOURS spent sitting at my embroidery machine was lessened!! I had some silver metallic fabric in my stash that I used at the top of the bulb to give it the same shiny-ness as the ones using the silver metallic thread! Either way...I LOVE these!! But I think the time spent "babysitting" my embroidery machine while it stitches out the entire bulb is totally UNnecessary!! :) Besides...I will be giving that machine more of a work out as the Christmas sewing continues!!!

Did a couple more yo-yo headbands! One for Ms. Priss...

And one for her friend...LOTS of birthdays this month...which will add to my already MILE long list of things to do!! ;)

And of course it wouldn't be a completely HECTIC month without my sister calling and saying, "Hey, I've got my husband's family Christmas this weekend...ya got anything laying around that you can make for me?"

Sure sis...always have stuff "laying around"!!

Love how this stitched out...so cute!!

This is a size 3t, so you don't need much "laying around" to make a twirly skirt! I think I have mastered the art of ruffles thanks to all of the Minky pants I've been doing!! So WHY can't I get gathering down?? Isn't it the same thing? Just wondering...

This is for the little brother...

I used some old jeans for this bib!! The "shiny" is the vinyl overlay, one of these days I'll buy some of that iron-on laminate...anyone use that before?

Then of course she needed "a little something" for the adults. Isn't she lucky I always have a stash of hand towels "laying around"?

These were REALLY BIG hand towels. I cut them in half to make matching sets. The finished towels were something like 14" x 17"...see, REALLY BIG hand towels.

Well, that is it for now!! I will be posting things sporadically between now and Christmas, but I don't want to give away any presents I'm working on, so those will have to wait until after Christmas!! :) But don't worry, I have LOTS of sewing to do. I have two birthday parties this weekend..and the Middle Child has RED, then GREEN day this week...and next week she needs a tutu for her Sugar Plum Fairy role in her Pre-K Christmas program!! AND I am seriously considering participating in Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway Day this Monday!!! Am I crazy?? Who else is participating?? I need some ideas for the giveaway, so someone make a suggestion! :) Have a good week!! Until later...