I didn't realize this was an actual shared creative experience among all of us until I saw Megan's picture on Flickr the other night. The caption explains it all:
"So many different Christmas projects I should be working on by instead I cut out a new bag for myself."
C'mon, amirite? You could go all year without making one blasted thing that is actually for yourself, but when December 4th rolls around and your Christmas to-make list is like 32.5 items long, you HAVE to start a new project that has nothing to do with any of it. AMIRITE? Ok, maybe Megan and I are the only two crazy ones and the rest of you have learned to take your meds and get the ADD under control. You are probably chugging thru your list like the responsible handmade lovers that you are. Me, here's my official December sewing tantrum-
I cannot for the life of me stop making these Japanese + & x blocks. Why? Oh you know, just for a scrap-busting quilt that will be a very slow-going and I might finish in 6 months to a year. It's completely unreasonable, but I'm addicted. I even have 3 more than this done now.
My fave so far is definitely this bottom left one with all the Tula Pink. I'm not even sure what led me astray to starting this project... but it's really fun. I've been thinking of a quilt to make using just scraps for a while now in the back of my mind. At first I thought this design was just a little too scrappy for my tasted, but I'm over that. It looks kind of like my scrap draw threw itself up into this pattern and I love it that way. Almost eye-searingly scrappy, but I don't care. I think it's so addicting because of the freedom. Each block has 7 fabrics, and so you plan each one independently. No forethought as to how the whole quilt will work together, it just works out in the end because it's so mismatched that it matches. Also, with each block I'm nostalgically thinking back on what that fabric became in a former life in my sewing room, which is also really fun.
I'm stopping these right now. No more of these blocks this month! Maybe... So what's your DST of choice this year? (Yeah, that's right, I'm already giving it initial status. Consider phrase coined, you are free to use it freely for free.)
Those blocks are awesome!
ReplyDeleteYES. I keep slipping into working on a friend's baby quilt (my first!) with a January deadline instead of finishing my Christmas list. I have also stopped myself several times from starting on a totally unnecessary tote bag for myself.
ReplyDeleteI think it's sort of like when you go Christmas shopping and end up buying presents for yourself.
p.s. I'm a long time lurker and I always mean to comment...
I'm glad it's not just me! Alan's convinced I'm just crazy and incapable of completing a single task. I am working on a spring quilt, about to start a Christmas one (for me not as a gift), and am thisclose to starting a little black dress just for me. Which would need a matching purse of course. Did I mention the decorating projects for my office that involve scrapbook paper?
ReplyDeleteYour blocks are super fun and who doesn't love scrappy!
my tantrum... is an anti tantrum... i have yet to start my list of to makes. stupid i know but the list itself is daunting. they will probably get gift cards instead, ha! take that handmade christmas!
ReplyDeleteI love this! I've got a big list of Christmas "ideas" for people that I seem to change every five minutes (I'll make them scarves... No make-up bags...no aprons!) We'll see what actually ends up under the tree this year.
ReplyDeleteThere's an actual term for that -- Planned Procrastination. My FIL is like this ALL. THE. TIME. Like, if he is supposed to cut the grass, he is in the office sharpening pencils, etc. But seriously, I'm with you. I complain about not having time to sew but then I spend an hour trolling blogs, getting tons of ideas for things I don't have time to make.....vicious cycle.
ReplyDeleteYour blocks are GORGEOUS, as always. I love seeing what's up your sleeve :)
This is totally me! I am in the middle of a huge list, crossing off another project when I just have to turn some fabric into something not on the list...then a whole day dedicated to a certain set of things on the list becomes a day to make myself a plush TARDIS! I'm glad it's not just me! The blocks are super cool. I started sewing together scraps yesterday in the middle of 75 stockings...thinking I would try my hand at quilting! ha! a new genre...during Christmas?! how do I think these things? :)
ReplyDeleteI've been dying to make some of these blocks, and seeing yours makes me want them even more! Enabler.
ReplyDeleteSo, my DST this year is a striped shawl that I started last week. I'm like, halfway done with it. Even though my to-make list before the end of the year is still 12 items strong. Argh.
I just had my "day off" yesterday making something totally not on the list. Not actually "for me" but I really enjoyed the making. Now, those X blocks are calling my name! I love how you're making each block a picture in itself.
ReplyDeleteI'm actually doing pretty well this year on the knitting front. But (guilty confession) I have been knitting a sweater for myself when I really need to get the little one's Christmas pj's done.
ReplyDeleteLove those quilt blocks though!
I love that term! But even now I've hardly started my list of to sew!!
ReplyDeleteHaha! I am almost done with my bag and was going to blog about this same conversation!
ReplyDeleteI'm totally copying Amanda Angert's comment above. That.is.my.LIFE!(in other words, not just at Christmas time...)
ReplyDeleteha! DST (so far) here has meant knit scarves, voile scarves, resin pendants, and a few other random and unnecessary items. we should start a support group. or reschedule christmas. something.
ReplyDeleteLOL! I decided that my house needed Christmassy throw pillows. And a quilt. Obviously. So I've been cheerfully cutting scrappy sashing, sewing along, and willfully ignoring the gift quilt on my dining room table, waiting for me to come and finish the binding. And only intermittently working on my grandmother's pillow cover. It'll all get done, though, even if I don't sleep between now and the 25th!
ReplyDeleteI love it! And yes... I think I've actually started 3 or 4 of those "not what I should be working on right now" projects. :) Oh well! I love this time of year!
ReplyDeletei love love these blocks, you can just look at them all day!.
ReplyDeleteMy Christmas sewing procrastination is the same as yours! So much so I'm running a japanese x and + block swap on flickr LOL I love how each block is like a mini quilt in itself, so no big over view plan to follow and I (hopefully) will get to see the bottom of my scrap bin by February...altho the rate I'm going possibly not!
ReplyDeleteI *really* want to make myself a pincushion caddy, as seen on Stitched in Color. But I have 5 projects already going, 4 of them being for Christmas and 3 still waiting to start, so I'm making myself be good and get those done first. Well, at least 2 of them. (wink) I don't have this much discipline when it comes to the chocolate ice cream in my freezer, so it's nice to know I have it *somewhere*.... :)
ReplyDeleteI've been meaning to comment on this since you posted it - YES, the DST is hard to deny! I even started that little tree quilt from the purl bee (SOOO CUTE) but it's way too much work for a non-quilter like me right now. Then the PR&P thing came, so now I HAVE to try to focus on Christmas sewing so I have time to work on THAT! December kind of sucks sometimes. :P
ReplyDeleteHahahahaha! I haven't even touched my machine since deciding to make several ambitious Christmas presents. I'm about ready to cut my losses and come up with a back-up plan for presents before this ruins my favorite hobby (sewing) for good!
ReplyDeleteFollowed your link on Inder's blog - I totally agree, even though this year I have been remarkably productive in Christmas crafting. Maybe it was because it kind of developed rather than me making a huge list? I dunno, but I do love those quilt blocks, and I also love eye-searingly scrappy. Block on.
ReplyDeleteI love those blocks & have been on the sidelines drooling over the quilt along since day one. Just may have to do them for my Scrap Attack.
ReplyDeleteMy philosophy is that you should be working on whatever you darn well wanna work on!
My obsessive block continues to be Mod Mosaic. It was like "one more, just one more and then I'll go to bed"....I made them for my bee this quarter and 30+ of them earlier in the year. I finally put them together and am lovin' my quilt. Talk about overstimulating the eyes with fabric bits - and don't get me started on the mess during their creation, it's like new year's poppers went off in my sewing room.