So, despite what seemed like a crazy amount of sewing over the holidays, I had very little to show for it in the gift department. This little quilted bag went to my mother along with the Santa and his Reindeer wall hanging I'd made earlier. The "Pickles" quilt went to my dad. It turned out nice, but what a nightmare. It is still not quilted. The black background in the panel ran, turning the comic panels grey. I didn't want to quilt it that way so I gave it to my dad as a top, then spent a day soaking it in Oxy Clean and then washing it again in Retayne. That helped, but it still isn't bright white. It's sandwiched and waiting to be quilted now.
I was planning on knitting a scarf for my sister, but decided in the interest of time I'd dye one instead. I dyed two and we gave her the green, orange and purple one because Jeanetta liked the one with turquoise. I had never steam set dyes before, but we rigged a functional stovepipe steamer from stuff we had around the house. I only burned myself once! I'm still not sure if it worked the way it was supposed to, but after some rinsing I got the excess dye out and the rest seems set. We are excited to do some more dying.
Overall, I had a very balanced holiday. I did manage to get a few things made (even if now it looks pretty puny), but didn't kill myself doing it. Now I need to make plans for how to incorporate crafts into the rest of my year. Quilting in the Snow is coming up at the end of January and with the cold weather we are having (-35 degrees presently) I am looking forward to the hot tubs as well as the sewing. I also got a new serger for my birthday (from the one who knows me best). I haven't even taken it out of the box, but I'm excited and hope to use it for many things, especially garments.
I made my own candied lemon peel. Very easy, but it would be worth it to find a commercial source as it takes a lot of lemons. I'd probably double the amount I put in, but I'm lucky I had any to use in the barks this time. Jeanetta kept sneaking it. Next I want to try one with Kirsch and Chukar Cherries, one with Grand Marnier and candied orange peel, and one with spiced cranberries. Yum!
So, despite what seemed like a crazy amount of sewing over the holidays, I had very little to show for it in the gift department. This little quilted bag went to my mother along with the Santa and his Reindeer wall hanging I'd made earlier. The "Pickles" quilt went to my dad. It turned out nice, but what a nightmare. It is still not quilted. The black background in the panel ran, turning the comic panels grey. I didn't want to quilt it that way so I gave it to my dad as a top, then spent a day soaking it in Oxy Clean and then washing it again in Retayne. That helped, but it still isn't bright white. It's sandwiched and waiting to be quilted now.
I was planning on knitting a scarf for my sister, but decided in the interest of time I'd dye one instead. I dyed two and we gave her the green, orange and purple one because Jeanetta liked the one with turquoise. I had never steam set dyes before, but we rigged a functional stovepipe steamer from stuff we had around the house. I only burned myself once! I'm still not sure if it worked the way it was supposed to, but after some rinsing I got the excess dye out and the rest seems set. We are excited to do some more dying.
