This post is brought to you by the letters A, H, K and M

Pillows.  Lots of pillows being cranked out over here.

It all started with the innocent question on Facebook to my cousin of what would my God-daughter like for Christmas?  She and Amelia are of the same age - Hope being 8 months older but her interests differ a lot from Punk.  Amelia loves to play with dolls and play pretend.  Hope loves to draw.  I've given art supplies a few times but I needed something different.  One thing on her list was an "H" pillow.  Oh.  I can so handle that!

Gears turning in my head, I came up with an idea.  An initial pillow but with some pizazz.  Gotta have some pizazz.  Hmmm.  Turn it.  Yeah.  That works.  Turn the block a bit so it looks wonky.  Okay.  Now we're cooking.  But it needs more.  It's not speaking too loudly yet for me.  It needs more WOW!  Ah.  FUR.  Faux fur in a fun color.  Ooooo yeahhhh.  That's it!

NOW the pillow is talking to me.  It tells me is works just fine for a little girl!

Hope

Here's where the "lots of pillows" comes in.  My other cousin is Hope's sister's Godmother.  And of course, on Katrina's wish list was a "K" pillow.  When I answered my cousin on FB that I could handle an "H" pillow, my other cousin asked me ever so sweetly "Since you're making one for Hope, can you make one for Katrina too?"  Of course.  Part of me wanted Hope to be "special" and have her own pillow but I had a feeling that on Christmas Eve when the gifts are exchanged between the extended families, I would have been asked anyway if I could make one for Katrina so why not.  I'm on a roll with them as it is.

I couldn't stop there.  I have my own little one who will certainly spot the pillows and ask for her own so I had to make an "A" for her.  THEN I remembered that another one of my cousin's got married in July and his step-daughter is of "fun pillow" stage so I had to make one for her too.  That's 4 pillows so far.

But I needed a guinea pig pillow.  My LQS had this aqua fur on their shelves that totally remind me of Sulley from Monsters Inc.  This guy:

So I bought some "Sulley Blue" fur and got to work and put my ideas in action.  Since I had color choices already assigned to those above, I made a pillow for my friend's daughter.  We exchange a little something for the girls every year.

As I was working on Amelia's pillow, who by the way, picked out her own fabrics for her letter and outer borders - so much for that surprise - it dawned on me that there is one more little girl in the bunch who would like a pillow I'm sure.  So I added another one to my list and quickly decided on her color scheme so that I could order the faux fur for hers.

Total of 6 pillows.  I love how they came out.  I can't wait to give them out at Christmas.  If you happen to be wondering... Amelia can't have hers until Christmas morning.  It's going under the tree.  :)

Maya

Kaleigh

Amelia

Abbey

Katrina

This isn't a "letter" pillow but it falls into the pillow and gift category.  Out on evil great Pinterest, I found a tutorial for some cute applique Christmas ornaments.  They were too cute.  My hairdresser needed a gift and she appreciates all the work that goes into handmade items so I made one for her.  I really like how it came out.  I ended up doing an envelope back so that she can remove the cover and wash it or store it easier.

D'OH!  Forgot to take a picture of the ornament pillow and I'm at work today.  Picture coming soon.   

For the Christmas Through the Year Grand Finale - I can say that I made more Christmas gifts.  I started out the year just fine with some small gifts but then I ran out of gift ideas and sewing steam.  I will be better prepared for next year. 

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Christmas Through the Year - February

I like working in multiples.  Especially if I'm making the same thing over and over.  I decided to make these 2 handed pot-holders.  Super quick!  I made 5 so far.  I actually have some of that yellow chicken fabric in my stash so I made one out of that.  My thought is to make coordinating aprons for the pot-holders and give them out to my aunts and a few others in my family (my Mom, my Babci...).  I think that will make for very nice Christmas gifts.

But I will confess.  They aren't 100% done. I have to close the turning holes but I just haven't had the time.  But I am calling these done for now.  :)

March I am taking a pass on the Christmas gifts.  I've decided to make Easter "baskets" for the little girls in my family and I need to get those done.  My time in March is limited.  My weekends are booked.  EVERY weekend and the last week in March, I need to travel to San Fran again for work.  However, I have started my March gifts but I was waiting for zippers.  Now that they have shown up, I'm ahead of the game for April sewing.  Swoon too has been ignored.  Sigh.  Not enough time!

Enjoy your day!
Jen :)

Christmas Through the Year - January

I made it just in time!  I hustled to get these little zippy wallets finished (there is still one waiting to be completed).  Tutorial is courtesy of Noodlehead here.  But I'm happy to have my first gifts done for Christmas Through the Year.  I've even started my February gifts!  Well, I made a sample.  Just to see how the pattern was going to work out.  Came out great.  Now I will continue and make a couple of more.

But sewing is coming to SCREECHING halt over here.  I am tearing my room apart.  Why you ask?  Wellllll, I'm getting a special delivery on Thursday!  Remember?  I'm holding a secret in?  It's not much of a secret because I cracked and announced it out on Facebook and told some of my bloggy friends who asked ever so sweetly to share my secret.  :)  If you want to know what my secret is, come back on Friday.  I will share it all with you. 

If you're interested in my giveaway, click here.  Winner will be announced on 1/29.

Enjoy your day!
Jen