Is It Over Yet?

Yes, I think it is.

Just finished cleaning up after my brunch for 18 (well, 17 really, as one was just a baby and didn't eat anything). That was the last entertainment commitment for 2009. Hoo-RAH!

Christmas dinner for 18 was lovely. The hubs handled 99% of the cooking for that one And thank God for that. I fried the shrimp and cleaned up. (Mostly after 3 a.m., after which I had to sit down and work out the logistics for the next soiree).

It's been a whirlwind 3 days. Off tomorrow and then back to work Tuesday (telecommute). I should be able to work in some quilting. I need to get the SIL's quilt on the pinning table and quilted. The goal is to have it in the mail early next week.

And yes, I did finish Anna's knitting tote (surely you didn't lose faith now, did you?)

 5 different fabrics, 9 outside pockets, most of them pleated. A bit of a challenge, but I pulled it off.

Oh, and it's darn big.

In case you're wondering how I fared for Christmas, I got a Piece O' Cake applique quilt kit and a Gees' Bend quilt kit from the hubs. As well as some books and an Elly Sinkiewicz DVD. (also jewelry, slippers, makeup, Cap'n Jack Sparrow toy and a new badly-needed watch--he's much too good to me)

My daughter gave me Cheryl Ann's design wall--that was pretty funny, her and I attempting to set that up in the family room Christammas morning. 6'x6' is a lot larger in real life than it is in your head. My daughter's boyfriend gave me a way-too-generous gift certificate to Needles and Pins in Frederick, so I've got a lot of damage to do there, which I think I may embark on tomorrow. I'm thinking of outfitting myself with everything needed to pull off a Dear Jane....heck with these Thangles BOMs....let's take on a project with some serious substance!

Well, I'm headed up to pin the SIL's quilt. The hubs bought me one of those little awl-like safety pin closing/opening tools. This should prove to be amusing (and elicit much cursing). I've not exactly won any prizes for my stellar coordination skills....

My first tote bag

So this is what I've been working on. It's my first tote bag. Six Kaffe Fassett FQs plus a yard and a half. The pattern is by Indygo Junction. I added an additional side closure to give it this more streamlined look.

But if you want to load it up, you can leave them unsnapped and carry it opened.

Two inside pockets give you a place to drop your cellphone and your credit cards (so you have easy access while walking the vendor aisles at the quilt show).

Love the fabric, love the design, hate the handles. They're rope-like cording stuffed inside fabric tubes. I'm not sure they're the strongest as they seem to be shrinking a bit and leaving me with empty fabric at the bottom of each handle where it attaches to the bag. Not sure that's going to be very strong. I may have to suck it up and take the bag apart and substitute in some webbing wrapped in fabric unless I can figure out how to stabilize these. You can stitch through the cord, but it's pretty soft and it will pull away from the thread.

Okay, well, just wanted to check in. This is day 3 of my 4-day weekend, and I haven't even begun half the stuff I said I was taking vacation days off to get done around the house. I'm trying to have everything super-cleaned/repaired/organized so I can enjoy next week's 3-day weekend with no household obligations other than hosting a crab-feast for the family on Labor Day. I want a solid day of crafting and a solid day of sewing....Christmas is coming!