I'm Starting on Christmas!!

Cathy at Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much is hosting a Christmas CountDown and a Giveaway for anyone who participates. Today is the deadline for this month and then Oct, Nov. and Dec 7 are the upcoming deadlines to enter. I appreciate Cathy getting me inspired to get started on my Christmas stuff!!

I made 13 drawstring bags for our family to use for Christmas gifts. I've made several of these in the past, but not any for our family. So I got out my Christmas fabric and got started. I have various sizes and prints. I also made some "Cars" bags for the little guys in my family. I still need to make more....some now and then I will probably add a few every year.

I think this will be a nice alternative to trying to find boxes, buying wrapping paper and tape and spending hours wrapping gifts every year. I think it will also be fun to get the bags out every year and remember what you got in that bag the previous year. A new family tradition that I think will be fun and a lot easier for me in the long run.

I have my next month's project cut out and ready to sew. I'm excited to get started and Thanks again Cathy for the inspiration!

Chookeyblue SSS

This is what Kate sent me for the Chookeyblue SSS. The fabric is absolutely gorgeous and the coasters are so cute that Kate made. She also sent me a pinchushion that reminded her of her childhood and some yummy candies and scrapbook stuff. Thanks Kate for a wonderful swap!

This is what I sent to my partner Tatania who lives in Australia. I made some fabric garland, owl notecards, yo-yo pins,

tissue holder, owl trivets, a tissue holder and some fabric.

Then I wrapped everything up in some reusable fabric Christmas bags that I made.

Thanks Kate for a wonderful swap!

I'm just checking in real quick I'll still don't have internet service at the new house. I hope everyone had a great holiday!!!

Start a Family Tradition and Make ReUsable Gift Wrap

My sister Cathy suggest to me a few years back to make fabric gift bags for wrapping Christmas gifts. My first thought was, "Oh my gosh, that isn't practical with 8 kids. I'd have to have a ton of them." Then my sister Stacey sent my kids party bags from her boys birthday party and she used fabric bags to put the goodies in. My kids loved the bags and have used them for lots of things so far.

So last year for Christmas I started making a variety of sizes of fabric gift bags. I just use Christmas fabric and then because I know my kids, big and little, try to peek through the wrapping, I line mine with flannel. They turned out cute and they were nice for the kids to carry their gifts home in. So these are some of the ones I made last year.

This is a Valentines Bag and my sister Stacey wants some spider man bags for her boys birthday presents.

I was thinking that Furoshki would be great for those gifts that don't fit into bags.

I think these bags are going to be a nice Christmas Tradition. The kids will look forward to getting them out every year and they will be so much easier for me, besides being environmentally friendly. I usually end up wrapping everything and this will save me a lot of time, once I have the bags made, and I can always use more time at Christmas! I am using Michael Miller fabrics for some of the bags and then I think I'll buy some cheaper gingham and plaids for the rest. I can't afford Michael Miller fabric for all of the bags but I LOVE his retro Christmas fabrics and since these will last a long time I figure I can make some out the more expensive fabric for a few of the bags. I am using penguin fabric for one of my daughters, Precious Moments for another and so on and so on....... This is some of the fabric I bought for this years bags.

Anyway, I just wanted to share this idea with everyone. I wasn't crazy about it at first but after trying it out, I love it!!!