Posted on Thursday, January 8, 2009 | By Lisa Swenson Ruble | 0 Comments

Quilting over the Holidays

 

It’s hard to believe the holidays are over, isn’t it? For my husband and me, this year the holidays meant about 2200 miles in the car as we traveled to visit our families. Normally, I start a quilted Christmas gift each year on about Dec. 15th or so, and then stay up much too late to finish it in between batches of cookies and present wrapping. Last year it was actually several projects: a table runner for my sister-in-law and stockings for my nephews and niece. 

My gift to myself this year: not doing that! Let me tell you, it made the holidays much more relaxing. However, with a baby of my own and another niece due in the next few months, I imagine next year I’ll be busy making stockings at the last minute again! Maybe getting them done earlier could be my New Year’s resolution. (That is, after I finish the baby’s nursery!)

Of course, I managed to sneak some quilting into the trip, even though it was more in the planning phase than actual sewing. I finished the quilt top for my niece on the way, sending it off to my friend and machine quilter, Cate Tallman-Evans. 

I finished designing (I think!) the crib quilt for my baby’s nursery, but the sketch isn’t great, so I’ll wait to show it until I have some blocks sewn. I also signed my mom up to make the crib bumpers and window treatments for the nursery. And finally, I talked quilts with my sister, who wants to make a flannel ragged-edge quilt for her boyfriend’s sister’s baby. Even though she’s still not very interested in going to a quilt shop and choosing fabric, I’m hoping that this will get her started in the right direction. After all, you can’t have too many quilter in a family! 

Here’s to 2009: another year ripe with potential for some great quilting projects!