Merry Christmas!

Christmas is 6 sleeps away! (phrasing c/o my niece).  So much for continual communication in the last two months.  This time of year is always, always, always busy for us.  And of top of birthdays, anniversary, holidays, parties, I have made a lot of Christmas presents, one birthday present and two Christmas stockings...and I am still not done.  The To-Do list includes:  buy two presents, finish one ginormous present (by Saturday at lunch), make three other presents, and make fudge and package the fudge for everyone.  Why do I do this to myself?  Strangely enough I am not entirely stressed out about all of this.  Work has been so hard and emotionally trying that making things seems to be my one outlet (running would be too if I was running...that 2 month recap is not going to be that great). 

To share a little of our Christmas with you all...I present our new stockings.  These are the first stockings that Hubby and I have ever had in 14 years of marriage.  I think they are pretty good for my first stocking attempt.

Hubby's stocking is made out of wool that I found at a thrift store.  I quilted the cuff for a little detail.  It is hard to tell in this photo, but I quilted the cuff in orange thread.

I attempted a chevron pattern on my stocking.  The points did not line up so well...but again...first stockings (I have to give myself little little pep talks every once and a while).  It is unique and somecolor coordinates somewhat with Hubby's.

I used the free McCall's pattern that I found on Megan Nielson's blog to make the stockings.  I cut my stockings a bit bigger (to fill it with more stuff of course).  Not really, I like a fuller stocking.

I can't wait to fill Hubby's this Saturday night!  And of course I can't wait to see mine filled this Sunday!

Merry Christmas!

~Leslie

What Are You Giving For Christmas?

This year I wrote a list of everyone to whom I want to give presents (mainly family).  I made a spread sheet...because I am a nerd...to track what I am spending on supplies and gifts.  Most everyone will be receiving a handmade gift with the exception of the nephews who will receive store bought goods.  Hubby is even getting in on the helping me out with Christmas because I have noooo idea what to buy or make for men.

Every year I have a budget for each person...it is not much...$10-$15 per person on a store bought or handmade gift.  Yep, you read that right.  This year I had to tighten the strings a lot.  Basically, I have raided my stash of supplies to make gifts, and I purchased the supplies I don't have stashed in my closet.

I decided to do all of this before I watched the Advent Conspiracy 2011 video.  I am not patting myself on the back at all.  I like that I am already doing half of what the video suggests, but now I would like to do the other half of what the video is suggesting...help people obtain clean drinking water.  For the past 7 years I have been working towards being in a position to help people with the basic need of clean drinking water.  This has been in the form of schooling, testing, gaining experience and more testing.  I did not need to do all of this to help, but I want my future work to benefit those who need everyday practical help, instead of just working to pay my bills.  Honestly, I don't know how this will play out, but I am going to actively seek the answers.

For now, all of us can help.  Please join me in giving to a water organization of your choice...whether it is a large donation or even a couple of bucks.  If we all put in a couple of bucks, significant changes can be made.

~Leslie

Things I Like For Christmas

I am FINALLY done with exams.  Now I get to play the waiting game...10 to 12 weeks until the results are sent.  Thankfully November and December tend to be extremely busy months, so it should go by quickly.

One of my best Christmas memories is the Christmas morning I found out that Santa was not real.  I was six or seven and I had a hunch about Santa.  That year I made sure that Santa could not get into our house.  I went around to all of the doors and double checked the locks.  Also, we had a fireplace insert so there was no way his fat butt was coming down the chimney...plus the fire was still lit.  Early Christmas morning I heard something down the hall from my bedroom...and of course I was scared to death...I thought someone was in our house.  I look down the hall and staring back at me next to the Christmas tree was this white butt...otherwise known as my Dad in his tighty whities bent over putting presents under the tree.  No more Santa...I am pretty sure I ruined it for my sister that morning too.

The last couple of years I have not decorated much for Christmas.  We have either been out of town or I was being a Grinch.  The Grinch attitude happens every other year or so, and judging by my want to decorate, I think this may be my non-Grinch year.  Here is how I would like to decorate:

1.  A white Christmas tree with lots of color.

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2.  Stockings.  In almost 14 years of marriage I still have not made Hubby and I stockings.  Gotta get on this.  Denyse Schmidts Quilts stocking Pattern could really help me.

3.  If I don't put our names on the stockings, I think these little embroidery hoops by Lilac Saloon would be fun to make as stocking tags.

4.  Bottle Brush Trees.  I like how Nest Pretty Things styled the different colored trees.

5.  Yarn ball ornaments in the Holiday Guide by Emily Henderson and map ornaments by Mary Janes & Galoshes.

6.   This easy Tree Skirt by Design Sponge.

Are you thinking about Christmas yet?  What do you want to make?

~Leslie

Valentine's Day

I went to the Goodwill one night just to look around for interesting fabric to use to make some bags.  While looking in the men's section I found a striped belt.  I immediately thought it would be great for handles on a tote bag.  A couple of nights later I was sewing with a wonderful friend of mine.  I showed it to her and she said it would make a really cool guitar strap.  (Thanks for the idea Melissa!)  Awesome, I found my Valentine's gift for hubby, and it only cost me a couple of bucks.  Much better than the watch I was thinking about buying him.  (Honey if you are reading this, I know you would prefer the watch, but it was better this way because you did not have to buy me anything expensive.  I am such a thoughtful wife.)

Let's back up a bit.  On our anniversary hubby and I went to breakfast.  As we sat down he said, "So, are you ready for your present?"  I am pretty sure my mouth was hanging open in a very unlady like way because he just laughed at me.  I was staring at him thinking "Oh crap!" and then I followed up with "Ooh, a present!"  He did not get me anything.  Although in his defense, I did not get him anything either.  We did not talk about getting each other anything so it did not happen.  A couple weeks before Valentine's Day I told him out of courtesy that I had something for him just in case he wanted to get me anything.  I followed up by saying he did not have to get me anything since I spent $2 on him.  He went to local bakery and bought me cookies and an ice tea...perfect.  

I used one of hubby's guitar straps to measure the new guitar strap.  I cut the strap and folded over the ends to reinforce the holes in the strap.  I zig-zagged the ends a couple of times and then I made a button holes through the reinforced ends.  To keep the edge of the strap from fraying I used Fray Block.  My BIL tried it out and it works.  Yay!!!  (Sometimes I never know if my projects will work.)  In the future I may have to alter it by adding leather ends to the strap; but for now it will work just fine.