Thursday, November 13, 2008

42 days until Christmas....

....and 17 days until December 1st! And I am finally done with Violas Advent calendar bag. Instead of hanging all 24 presents on a regular Advent calendar, we give the children the presents one at a time every day in December. That way they don't get too impatient, and I don't have to have 48 little presents ready by December 1st. LOL! Viola will be getting her presents in this bag -I am ashamed to say, that Ask may have to wait until next year to get his very own homemade bag :(
The little house is made from "Welcome to the North Pole" by Piece O'Cake Designs.
I tell myself that he is so young still that he won't mind -please just agree with me! LOL!
I lined the bag with a Michael Miller Christmas-print. I bought this fabric last year, or the year before, and I love it! The only reason I haven't used it is, that I couldn't bring myself to cut into it. I am happy that I didn't, because I really like it in this project.

I have made some progress on my hexagons... I unpicked the brown, didn't like that after all... Charles wants me to make a quilt. Are you kidding me?! That would take me forever! But so far I am happy sewing these, and I like how scrappy it is :)
I really shouldn't sew anything that isn't a Christmas-present, I have so many to finish, and only 42 days left!
I finished the blocks for my sisters quilt, I am still undecided as far as sashing goes....white or linen? What do you think?
I'm leaning towards white, probably because that is what I have in my stash!

I also should tell you, that Dana at Old Red Barn is having a give-away... She is giving away 3 (!!!) quilts to 3 winners.... Go visit her, but don't win the green quilt, I want to win that one. Me and 800 other bloggers.... LOL!

21 comments:

A Thrifty Mrs said...

Oh Tine, where had the year gone? 42 days. Eeeep!

Marie said...

I would probably wait until the next year to make Ask a bag too, but I understand your guilt! :0 Viola's bag looks just fabulous and I love the Michael Miller print on the inside.

I think white sashing would look great on that quilt and your hexagons are so pretty to look at!
One day I'll quilt, but it still intimidates me...have a wonderful day Tine!

Messy Karen said...

boo to that xmas clock. but it does make us clearly define what we are able to finish. i love everything about Viola's bag but especially those little beads on the roof. such cute details.

Unknown said...

Beautiful finish on Viola's bag! What a terrific idea. Don't worry Ask will understand and be thrilled when next year comes! Your hexagons are beautiful, I love it. Who know maybe it will grow into a quilt and Charles will be happy. As far as the sashing, I think white would be okay, but what about adding cornerstones at each intersection in a different color? Maybe the colors of the blocks.

jacquie said...

i love the idea of an advent bag...every day my boys would ask, can we open the next box on the advent calendar? those hexes are so great. what is that going to be? as for the quilt sashing, white would be fine, but i think the linen might make it special. what do i know?
i'm sure what you choose will be great.

trash said...

I agree! I agree! (hmmmm...what was I saying yes to?)

Unknown said...

linen linen linen. And if you do choose white, I'll take it personally!!! (only kidding!)

Viola's bag is fab, Ask can wait another year...tell him he needs to get to a certain age before he's allowed one (I'm sure it's an Elfin rule)

Tonya said...

Oh my, so much goodness in this post, Tine! The Advent bag is adorable, and I am LOVING the inside fabric. It makes me happy just to look at it!

And your hexagons!!!! Oh my gosh, I just LOVE them!!!! The scrappiness is beautiful. I agree, a quilt seems like an enormous project. I am thinking a wall hanging. They make beautiful art, don't you think?

As for the sashing, I am conflicted. I adore linen, but white would be beautiful and really set off the white flying geese in the blocks. Hmmm, what about white linen?! LOL

I hear you about the Christmas gift sewing. I have had to force myself to put aside my quilt and start getting gifts ready. I am enjoying the change of pace, though : )

Emily said...

Love your triangle quilt. I agree that white would work beautifully, but the linen might push it up to Fabulous! I'd have to see them both to really decide.

The hexagons are awesome! Love the randomness.

Dandelion Quilts said...

Oh I like the hexagons and I really like the polka dots/flying geese. Your sister will love it.

Betsy said...

I love all your projects. I too agree with white sashing though the linen gives it a vintage look

A Spoonful Of Sugar said...

Love Viola's bag - Piece O Cake designs are always so colourful and fun!! Love the idea of giving them a surprise each day during December. Your sisters quilt looks fabulous - you have made awesome progress. White sashing would look so fresh.

Suzanne said...

Love all your projects. The fabric you used is so cute and beautiful. I can understand you not wanting to cut it.

Lisa said...

Tine, I love all your projects! are the geese white as well? hard to tell... they look cream. How about sashing in the same fabric then?

Eileen said...

Guess I'm not the only one sewing non-Christmas presents and shouldn't be! We better start!

Maybe you could make a bag out of the flowers.. they are so pretty.

I'd use what was in my stash if it looks ok. :-)

Dana said...

LOVE Viola's bag!! And your hexagons. And your sisters quilt. You have been busy!

Anonymous said...

Love that bag! So very cute and the inside fabric is just perfection! Very vintage-y.

The hexagons are great too. So much color packed into them!

Unknown said...

ooh I love the hexagons ... I simply adore paper piecing.

ladydi said...

Viola's bag is so beautiful! You could make a really simple one for Ask - a pillow case style bag of just one piece of fabric in Christmas colors. That way he will have a bag, and he won't know it only took ten minutes to make, he'll just know he has his own bag.

I LOVED you hexagons surrounded by brown. It made such a good accent. lol - aren't we funny, everybody with their own opinions, happy to share.

mathea said...

I really like the idea of white sashing with different polka dot cornerstones, but I'm sure linen would be nice too. Now, wasn't that helpful? LOL
That Christmas print must have been waiting for Viola's bag - it's just perfect for it!

Anonymous said...

I love your bag- that is so ideal for Christmas. I am starting to panic here as Christmas is only 40 days to go now.

Your squares of flying geese are so pretty and do look a lot better than the zig zags.

Are you handsewing the hexagons over papers? Love the way the colours graduate from reds through the rainbow down to purple.