FTF - Handmade

Last week was so much fun participating in Favorite Things Friday with Ms. P. over at Quilting in my Pyjamas that I decided to jump in again.


This week I want to show you all what I received from the Make My Christmas exchange. 


As I stated in my previous post, I was lucky enough to draw someone I knew, and really had fun making her a quilt.


But when my really good friend KimmyD announced that she had my name, I was elated!!  Everyone wants to have her draw their name, and for only my second year participating, it was amazing that she drew me!

Kimmy takes old wooden windows, and paints the American flag on the reverse side.  It's truly a sight to see!  And I couldn't have been more excited.


And just in time for the Progressive Dinner party this weekend, we got it hung on the wall in it's permanent spot.  It looks fantastic!

And just to show you a close up, here you go!

Imagine seeing the beauty every day, and sitting beneath it every night.


So this week, this window and handmade gift is one of my favorite things.  And so is my friend KimmyD!  Love you girl!


AMW

MMC 2010

Back HERE I mentioned that I joined the Make-My-Christmas event again this year.  This was it's 17th year, and my second participating.  This year I drew someone I knew, and really had fun.


DT's favorite color is TieDye followed by Purple.  I've never tie dye'd anything myself, but figured I'd give it a shot.  So I cut twenty 13 inch squares of bleached muslim (on sale, of course) and spent a day twirling, tying, rubberbanding, twisting, etc...  and dying.  Then rinsing.  And rinsing.  and rinsing.  Oh, did I mention rinsing?  About 6 HOURS of rinsing.  And when I was done?  Yep, RINSED some more!


And ended up with some cool looking squares.  Got some way cool purple fabric for the sashing.  And pieced a very simple quilt.  


Then decided to Tie Dye a solid piece for the back.  So I twirled, rubberbanded, twisted, tied, and dyed.  And then I rinsed.  Again.  And yes, again....  You get the picture.


Ok, fine - you held in here long enough to see some pictures...

The front.

Close up of a few blocks...

The back.

Close up of the back (with a little of the quilting).

Folded on the pool table.

And it was a hit!  I'm so happy that she like it as much as she did...  Here's a couple of pics:

She walked around the place wearing it as a cape for a bit.

The smile says it all.  On both of us!  


Oh, what'd I get?  Something very special!!!  I'm gonna save that for it's own post...


AMW

Where did this year go????

Wow!  I can't believe it's November and that Christmas is a mere 53 days away...  It really does feel like summer was just here.   


Oh wait....  That's probably because we had temperatures in the 80's (almost 90) last week.  


But now that the temperatures are falling (much to my dismay), it's finally setting in that fall is here, and the holidays are peeking right around the corner.


I'm reading blogs with folks working on holiday projects, and thinking, OH SHIT!  


I signed up for Make My Christmas (MMC) again this year.  In case you're new or forgot, MMC is similar to a "Secret Santa" gift exchange, but you MAKE a gift for the person whose name you draw.  And in return, you get a handmade gift from whoever draws your name.  Last year was my first time participating and you can read about my project and the results in the second half of THIS post.  


Luckily, this year I drew someone's name that I know.  A little bit.  But I've gotten some good info, and I'm pretty sure she doesn't have a clue about this blog, so I just might post some preview pics along the way.  I'll say this:  I'm going to once again step outside my comfort zone and do things with fabric I've never done before.  


Easy now - don't go going anywhere crazy with your thoughts on that last sentence......  ;)  It's a quilt, after all.  


Ordered some supplies and books on amazon today to help the project along.


Off on another out-of-town adventure this coming up weekend, and then I'll be home to get started....


That's about it for now...


AMW