Thursday, December 27, 2012

Random Round-Up

I'm trying to get my mojo working again after Christmas.  You know how it is when you have things you should do, which may not be what you feel like doing? 

Yeah, over here, that's me.  There's a quilt I should be finishing, but did I work on that today?  I did not.  Instead, I decided to start something altogether different. 

I pulled out some of the thrifted men's shirt stash to make this quilt.  So far, I've gotten the pieces from the light shirts cut out.

Somewhere along the way, I got an ear worm of lyric from an old Jethro Tull song, which seemed apropos.  Of course, then I had to go listen to the whole song, because the guitar (and melody) is sweet.

"Skating away...skating away...skating away on the thin ice of a new day..."

As far as the sewing mojo goes, sometimes you've got to slide back into it sideways, I think.

* * * * *
Last weekend was full-on, pre-holiday housecleaning time.  In the middle of dusting, I decided to pull everything off the shelves in the office and rearrange the Pyrex to display the Snowflake pieces in a grouping.

Being that I only have about five pieces in that pattern, I rounded things out with a totem of gravy boats,

and some vintage tea tins, coffee pots (yep, there's a little motion-activated red light in the percolator), and crochet hooks.

It works, for now.

* * * * *

Having several days off in a row for the holidays, we managed to watch quite a few movies, including Premium Rush (fair to good), The Avengers (I'm not big on comic book heroes and over-the-top action, so for me it was just okay), Lawless (surprisingly good), and Catfish (wow, what a strange twist; but Nev Schulman is adorable).

But last night we watched the best one of all, Pitch Perfect.  I laughed out loud a lot, and pretty much any time "Fat Amy" (Rebel Wilson) said anything.  Funny, and entertaining with the singing/musical aspect of it.

* * * * *
My nieces got a kick out of their pillowcases on Christmas. 

Shaina
We had a good time with family, as always.


Nick, Michelle, Norm
Russ, Darrell, Jen
Gerry, Nita, Terry
My daughter gave me a new cutting mat for Christmas, which I really appreciate, since the old one next to my sewing machine was about as rutted as an icy side street around here.  I also treated myself to a couple quilting books.

I'm looking forward to experimenting with some improvisational-type fabric play in the New Year. 

How about you, are you making plans to try something new in 2013?

11 comments:

Dar said...

I just saw your tutorial on making a throw from men's shirts. Such a great idea and your tut was very well done. I have a lot of men's shirts, but most are 50/50. I might just try it with those anyway -- if I get my 50+ UFOs under control. ha ha. Hope the new year finds you playing with your new books and having fun quilting.

Karen said...

I think you are about the coolest cat anyway, but a motion activated light in your percolator? SO cool! Love those books you gave yourself :-)

Lori R. said...

Wow, are we both on the same wavelength? I just bought THE CARELESS QUILTER also! And emailed Kristen Miller since her website doesn't have anything more current than 2006. Yes, she's alive and well and busy working for environmental causes.

Re the gravy boats - you are making ME feel collectible! Grandma had the top pattern and I had the middle pattern. Ha ha ha. I also have a "collection" but mine is Frankoma pottery.

Sara said...

I think this is the time of the year when we don't know what to do with ourselves. In between Christmas and the New Year. Just around the corner though....:)

I love all the snowflake patterned dishes on display!

Happy New Year!!

Jen BK said...

New Year Plans....slashing the stash...I need an intervention. I'm going to try some of the 15 minutes of play style stuff too in hopes of getting rid of some VERY old fabrics and some VERY tiny bits that I can't seem to throw away!

Elizabeth said...

My plans for 2013 are the same as they have been for the last several years; to finish a few things I've already started. We all know how that goes. I get distracted by something sparkly and new and there goes my sewing time.

Love your family photos! Such a handsome group!

Also, I find that when I have more to do and less leisure time, I get more done, because I know time is short/precious and want to make the most of it. On days when I don't have a bunch of stuff to do and plan to do so "me" kinds of things, I decide that my priority is to do nothing at all. I'm weird in the head.

Loved your arrangement on the book case. Your plants are so pretty.

xo -E

Vicki @ DottyJane said...

Nice photos of the clan:) Your niece looks especially happy with her gift!

Since I'm a little short on quilting room at the moment, I'm playing with yarn. It's a satisfactory diversion!

Happy New Year! Love the Snowflake Pyrex!

Sarah Craig said...

Love those pillowcases!!!

GardenOfDaisies said...

I have made many of those fun fabric pillowcases for my kids, and their friends and nieces and nephews. They still use them. :-) My son always love the flannel ones best.
I love the blue snowflake pyrex! So pretty.

Shay said...

I totally hear you sister! I always feel like it takes me forever to get going again after Christmas. I went back to work a couple of days after Christmas and it was slow going even there!(dont tell my boss )

Sewing is sewing – even if that means getting distracted by something new . If that’s what it takes to kick start your mojo all well and good I say .

Love the snowflake display. It looks so sweet. One day I really want to experience a white Christmas with REAL snowflakes.

Some vague plans afoot here for 2013 sewing , but nothing set in concrete yet . Im a go with the flow kind of gal.

MomWaldsPlace said...

Love, love the shelf of vintage goodness. Happy New Year!