xmas crafts

TGXIO! Thank goodness xmas is over! I'm looking forward to some non-stressful crafting, and getting a jump on NEXT year's gifts, because there were so many things I wanted to make and just didn't have time for. I'm also looking forward to seeing everyone else's "show and tells" about all the cool stuff they made, even though I'm sure it will make my project list even longer!!

Here's one project I'm so happy to cross off my list. I've been meaning to make some I-spy bags forEVER. I've been collecting little trinkets at garage sales for the last few years, and I think I even had all the other supplies last year, but I just never got around to making them. But this year was it - if I waited any longer, the kids would be too old to play with them!

This was one of those projects that didn't go very smoothly. I didn't follow a pattern, and I cut out the fabric for several bags all at once but messed up somehow and was short, hence the white strips (and what was I thinking to use white flannel for a non-washable kid's toy??). Then I sewed up the first one and realized it was way too big, so I had to trim the others, and probably would have had enough fabric if I'd only made them smaller to start with. Sigh. Anyway, I'm just glad it's done. Well, almost done. I made 3 (the wonky first one for my daughter, and two more for friends' kids), and have another one mostly done, and supplies to make 3 more. I'm planning to make up those other 3 in the next few days, before I have a chance to wimp out and let them sit for yet another year!

Here's my one other handmade gift - an apron for my grill-loving husband. I made this at the retreat in November. It's double-sided (with the yellow print on the back), with an extra layer of plain off-white cotton in the middle. I added the extra layer to make it even more sturdy, and to prevent the black from showing through on the lighter side. I'm happy to say he loved it!