I havent gotten anything yet. I will be buying for the same people as always.

 

I am thinking about just making Christmas tablerunners for everyone..........and adding a couple more gifts to those for my grown kids and dgd.

 

Problem is not everyone likes 'handmade' items.

 

I have a quilt top I started for my dgd a couple of years ago. Now it needs borders to make it large enough---maybe I will get back to that.

• Get Christmas card list ready
• If you don't have a list, make one
• If you don't do the snail mails, make an email list you send
• If you do already have one, update it, (addys may have changed, just whatever needs to be done, etc.. ) 

Post here when you get your list ready to go...

 

 

 

It's my Christmas gift to me and DH. The quilt presently on our bed it 4 yrs old and I have older ones.

 

 

Beautiful Quilt!

 

 

 

 

 

Very VERY pretty!  I wish I had the patience to quilt....or sew of any kind.  I just hate to measure.  Sort of impedes the results.  bahahahaha  Until then, I just order them from eBay.  There's always gorgeous Pottery Barn quilts at a fraction of the price and they don't fall apart like many of the other store brands.

 

You guys are WAY too organized!  Christmas????  Sheesh.  I'm lucky to get my kids all dressed and out the door for school each day.  ~sigh  I suppose I could surprise everyone and get it done early!  It may just be worth the shock value!  bahahahaha

~Toni

'Purchased' quilts are NOT the same as a handmade quilt.

I was my quilts usually twice a year (my granddaughter's got washed 3-4 times a year or as needed when she was little, she is will soon be 14 and is on the twice yearly schedule).

I launder my quilts about every 6 months if it is the top quilt on the bed. I launder the ones we use while watching TV more often and also the ones that are closer to us on the bed more often. I use a cotton thermal blanket over the sheet and then quilts on top of that, so quilts are not right up on us except the 'TV quilts' that we use in the den. They are washed about once a month.

 

The first quilt I ever made is still not showing wear (decided I didnt like it and hid it away about 10 years), and we have been using it the last couple of years in the den as a TV quilt------it is about 24 yrs old.

 

I most often have mine quilted by a longarm quilter on a quilting machine-----------I do not use hand quilted quilts for everyday much anymore--I am too slow these to replace them often.

 

If it is a 'utility' quilt, it is made to be used----which mine are.

Machine quilting is stronger than hand quilting.(especially when it will be washed often)

Store purchased'handmade quilts come apart almost with the first washing. They are made with bad quality fabric and zilch seam allowance........nothing there to put it back together with when it does come apart. So many people have ask me to repait their 'store purchased' quilt and I wont do it, I cant it, there is nothing there to work with to repair it. If you buy a $39-59 quilt it is a throwaway item.

 

I just replaced the binding on my sons quilt for him. The quilt is every bit of 20 yrs old and the binding was  worn thru on the edge, but still very securely stitched to the quilt. The quilt is well used and loved, washed every 3-4 months the first 8 yrs or so, and 2-3 times a year every year since. He was in 8th grade or so when I made it for him, he is now 34 with a 7th grade daughter.

 

Your are comparing peaches and apples when you compare a handmade quilt to a store bought quilt. There is a difference in handmade quilts too, because of the quilters 'standards' of  quality workmanship and of the quality of the fabrics used to make the quilt.

 

I have never bought a store purchased quilt, but I did pick up 2 of them at yard sales so I could 'study' them and their fabrics/stitching.

I paid $2 for a wedding ring pattern and 50¢ for another patch star of some sort. I have long since gotten rid of them but they do not use good fabric in those quilts.

 

well yes accuracy counts, so measuring is a must, but so much easier with the acrylic rulers and rotary cutters. I used to do everything with scissors and tape measure, I learned quickly to use the 'gadgets' Some quilts still have to be made using templates (I dont like paperpiecing).

 

This one was made about 5-6 yrs ago using a freezer paper template for each piece of the stars.

 

But these were all made by using rotary cutting methods (quick!)

wallhanging:

 

childs quilt:

 

twin quilt:

 

 

 

Your quilts are STUNNING!  My MIL and her mother have made multiple quilts for each of their children and I have been blessed with many beautiful ones.  This may sound odd, but I prefer to buy quilts to use on my bed rather than the ones they gave me (which I use for display) because with small children, they need to be washed A LOT!  I don't hesitate to toss the store quilts in the wash because the investment in them is simply monetary.  (My mom always said, "If money can fix it, it isn't really a problem." ...and we never had much money!)  The handstitched treasures we own are heirlooms which we treasure.  Grandma has been gone for nearly twenty years.  I never knew her and MIL is quickly approaching.  Her health has been really poor and she hasn't quilted since soon after DH and I were married.  I hope to pass some of their remarkable gifts of comfort and love to my children.

 

So, you're right!  There really is no comparison.  I feel a small loss when my store bought quilts fall apart.  However, I have noticed that of the storebought variety, Pottery Barn far outlasts the others (of course, you pay for it now or later, right?)  I've only had one homemade, homestitched one fall apart and it sent me into the depths of despair!  TRULY!  I felt like an ungrateful failure unworthy of such a mistreated gift.

 

I'm delighted you have such a wonderful talent that blesses and will continue to bless you and your family long after your gone.  How lucky they are!

~Toni

Thank you.

 

I really want my quilts to be used. I do not want them laid up for treasure. I do want you to take care of them..........in other words, I dont use $8-10 a yard fabric to make a dog /cat quilt.......I do not make quilts for animals, PLEASE to not give my quilts to your pets, I made them for YOU not an animal. (my Dad's 2nd wife killed a lovely crochet afghan I had made fo rmy Mom and Dad-----they had it 20 years and used it in the car when they travel, it looked pristine until Dad remarried 3 yrs after Mom died. HIs present wife killed it in less than 6 mos by using it for her sick dog and eashing it to pieces. Needless to say, they will never get any handmade item from me again)

 

Using an item and abusing an item are 2 different things.

 

What survives can be passed on or whatever.

 

I had a best friend who always saved the 'nice' things that she had been given, from needlework to just towels sets, embroidered kitchen towels, whatever. Well she kept them nice and new by never using them. She died at age 54 with all of her 'nice things' packed away in her hall linen closets. He daughter didnt want them, to her they were old and she didnt know or remember the people that has given them to her Mother. All the 'nice' gifts were sold to strangers for a few cents. I can't think of one person of those who gave her some of those items that did not want her to use them while she could enjoy them and think of us when they saw that item we had given her.

 

So consider this..............Is a gift really a gift if you pack it away and never use it and seldom think of it or see it? When I give a gift I want the person to use it and enjoy it.

I want it used, not abused.

 

When your children own these quilts from grandma and greatgrandma...............will they appreciate them more when they dont know or remember the quiltmaker?

OR would your husband appreciate them more because his mother and his gramma, whom he remembers and knew her personality enjoy it more?

 

Only you can decide, but it is something to consider.

 

 

• sweep leaves off porch
• sweep all the webbies down from house
• clean windows outside
• decorate porch w/ ribbons/bows, greenery/ lites/tree ( in a few weeks)

Living Room::

• move all the furniture around
• dust-all furniture, window sills,trim
• swiffer-floors
• vac-furniture, under cushions, around the edges & rugs
• windex-tv screen, picture glass, anything that can be windexed
• clean windows from the inside x 2
• clean glass door from inside
• take green shelf out & paint
• dh go get the rest of wood trim & get it stained-
• remove remainder of painted trim & take border down
• put new trim up, put up new border
• lights in windows
• tree up in a few months
• other Christmas decorations in a few months

 Area behind couch (now)

• everything for rummage outta this spot
• go thru a bag of my winter stuff & a basket of my stuff
• clean chest off & move
• clean bench off & move
• dust-shelf on wall, chest, noahs ark trunk/chest,bench
• windex-ceiling fan, knick knacks
• swiffer-floor
• vac-around the edges & under stuff
• lights in window
• tree  up in a few months

Our Bedroom

• clean out under bed, dust, pitch anything that has found its way under there & don't belong
• clean dh's side of bed
• dust, windex & vac.

Hallway between bathroom & our Bdrm

• clean out bottom part of closet
• tidy up 4 big shelves in closet
• pitch anything that is outdated or junk

Bathroom

• Clean out under & behind tub
• tidy under sink (find a spot in hall closet for cleaners) twins are almost 16 months, this needs to be done anyway, keeping doors shut works for now, but won't be long til they can figure out how to open them..uggh 
• move full length mirror out & clean behind it & under it
• clean mirror front & back
• pull corner shelf out & clean under, behind & shelf itself
• clean everything on walls
• put up 2 pieces of trim
• clean fixtures
• mop floor
• wash rugs & put away
• put holiday rugs down
• put holiday decorations up in there

Hallway to basement

• pull everything out
• dust, windex, vac.
• get anything outta there that don't belong
• put lights up on railing

Office area

• clean 2 desks off
• pull pc desk out, unhook everything, clean under & behind it
• put everything back that belongs, the rest find a new home or pitch it
• clean white desk off-1 drawer needs to be cleaned out again 
• clean window, put lights up
• clean window sill
• clean ceiling fan
• dust & vac.  
• clean off white wicker shelf, pitch or file & pa
• maybe put a tree in here again this year

Dining Room

• move exercise equipment to basement(after we clear a spot out)
• tidy up shelves, dust
• windex anything that needs it
• move things around some after equipment is outta here
• vac.

Stairway to dd's bedroom

• have her clean it off
• vac. really good
• decorate stairway
• small tree on platform
• stockings all up
• lights up

Kitchen

• clean out some cabinets
• clean out corner beside fridge
• take table to basement to set laundry detergent & softner on
• clean 2 upper shelves in pantry
• clean floor shelf in pantry
• clean fridge inside & out
• clean oven
• tidy broom closet
• sweep & mop floor
• put hot chocolate mugs out, snowman tin w/ hot chocolate packs in it out
• tidy shelves under bar
• tidy big shelf behind bar
• lights in windows
• holiday rugs down

Noahs Bedroom

• clean his room up
• move bed out & take down old trim
• put up new wood trim
• put up camo border
• clean his closet out
• put chest & dresser in closet (big walk in closet)
• scoot furniture around & get his room in holiday shape
• lights in window
• put his small tree up

Kelcies Bedroom

• clean sweep it (lol, I think that is what it really really needs) I just don't have anyplace to put everything right now.. lol
• pickup, putaway, pitch
• dust, windex, vac.
• find a place for everything, if there isn't one, put in sell pile
• lights in window
• small tree up

Basement

• tidy up
• take pool table out
• rip up carpet
• move exercise equipment down there
• get rid of all the rummage stuff
• sweep floor
• paint floor (later on)
• put small tree up down there as well

Shopping-Ideas, Ordered, Green is already bought & here, Red is wrapped & under the tree

JD(dh)-

Josh-Heat-lok gloves black, Bears wallet,

 Crystal~

Jake- Paula Deen Cookbook, set of silicone spatulas (SS), Heat-lok gloves camo, 3 pc. roaster pan

Lisa- tin star w/snowman painted on it, snowman throw,  lighted snowman jar, snowman, 3 pc. metal star collection, scented electric candle, floor photo screen 18 pics

Kelcie-quilted purse & wallet set brown/pink,

Kelly- pink camo purse

Noah-grn/blue nite lite, wired Etch A Sketch, camo pjs blue & green,  

Savana-Drama Queen pjs, fleece prayer throw

Micha-Monkey pjs, fleece prayer throw

Tyler- little people plane, shake n'go racer, learn & carry books & CD, hooded 2pc. towel set dog,

Kadence-2 pc. towel set duck, prayer fleece throw

Emma- 2 pc. towel set cat, prayer fleece throw

Kadence & Emma (both names on)~ Cleaning cart,little people vehicle bus

Granny-

Dad- Electric razor

Mom-

Angie-

Karen-

Jeff, Dana & kids-

Noahs teacher @ school-

Pastor & wife gift-

Extras(not sure what I'll do with them)::: snowman throw x2, christmas cookbook x1, fall cookbook x1,  snowman x4, rustic wooden plaques x4,electric candle x1, cracklin wood candles x3

Supplies for wrapping, etc.:: Wrapping Paper:: Christmas cards x 2 boxes, Christmas cards x1, small glittery apples in gold & red to tie on packages, Christmas stamps x

 every little thing accomplished & cleaned is a blessing..

Just updating the shopping part of my list as it is waaaay long.. thinking I'll make a Holiday Cleaning List on a different post.. so we can separate the two. 

 

Shopping-Ideas, Ordered, Green is already bought & here, Red is wrapped & under the tree

JD(dh)-

Josh-Heat-lok gloves black, Bears wallet, hoody, hoody, tees, socks, undies, shoes, Gift Card $50.

 Crystal~ purse, pjs, jewelry, lotion/bath set, socks, top

Jake- Paula Deen Cookbook, set of silicone spatulas (SS), Heat-lok gloves camo, 3 pc. roaster pan, hoody, hoody, socks, undies,

Lisa- tin star w/snowman painted on it, snowman throw,  lighted snowman jar, snowman, 3 pc. metal star collection, scented electric candle, floor photo screen 18 pics, top, hoody

Kelcie-quilted purse & wallet set brown/pink, pink Dell pc/laptop, hoody

Kelly- pink camo purse, hoody, hoody, socks, bath/lotion set, earrings, gift card from Fashion Bug $50, Gas Card $50.

Noah-grn/blue nite lite, wired Etch A Sketch, camo pjs blue & green, Hoody, Hoody, jeans, jeans, cologne, socks, undies,

Savana-Drama Queen pjs, bratz doll, necklace, earrings, outfit, houseshoes, socks, undies, game?

Micha-Monkey pjs, baby doll, necklace, earrings, outfit, houseshoes, socks, undies, game?

Tyler- little people plane, shake n'go racer, learn & carry books & CD, hooded 2pc. towel set dog, outfit, pjs, houseshoes

Kadence-2 pc. towel set duck, 2pc set cellphone/lited keys, outfit, pjs, earrings, houseshoes, socks

Emma- 2 pc. towel set cat, 2pc set cellphone/lited keys, outfit, pjs, earrings, houseshoes, socks

Kadence & Emma (both names on)~ Cleaning cart,little people vehicle bus

Granny-

Dad- Electric razor

Mom-

Angie-Snowman

Karen- Snowman

Jeff, Dana & kids-

Noahs teacher @ school-

Pastor & wife gift-

Extras(not sure what I'll do with them)::: snowman throw x2, christmas cookbook x1, fall cookbook x1,  snowman x4, rustic wooden plaques x4,electric candle x1, cracklin wood candles x3

Supplies for wrapping, etc.:: Wrapping Paper:: Christmas cards x 2 boxes, Christmas cards x1, small glittery apples in gold & red to tie on packages, Christmas stamps x

 every little thing accomplished & cleaned is a blessing..