Ok, I’m thinking of starting a 12-step program for all you over-achievers out there in blogland who have your Christmas decorating all done. You guys are making the rest of us look bad! What the Hey! I still have leaves on the ground. A TON of leaves. They came down so late this year, it’s ridiculous. In fact, some of them are still in the trees. We spent all day yesterday with BigDaddy’s Big Leaf Blower, in the sleet and rain, cleaning up leaves. And we only got the front yard done. This means another wasted Saturday to get the backyard cleaned up. Assuming snow or ice don’t beat us to it. I think I’m going to be sick.
So, here’s Step 1 for you over-achievers. I have to go on a work trip tomorrow. While I’m gone, how ’bout you guys come and get those *^%$%#ng leaves out of my backyard. Deal? ‘Cause I have things to do. I’m WAY behind on the making gifts list. My giftees will probably get half-finished projects with IOUs in their gift boxes. And I don’t even want to talk about the decorating yet — the house is dirty. It’s a never-ending cycle. I’m starting to feel the panic in the pit of my stomach. Just another week or two and I suspect it will float to the top. Aaack!
Anyhoo, enough complaining. Because I need a picture to cheer me up, I’ll show you a project I completed a few weeks ago. I needed some baby gifts and I had to wait until they were received to post them.
When I heard last spring that Jill was having a baby, I thought how fun it would be to make her a little treat. I hadn’t made a baby gift in years and I missed it — baby gifts are my favorite thing to do. Then, shortly after Victor was born, I received a baby announcement from an old work friend, so I made two hooded baby towel sets.
I also hadn’t played with my embroidery machine in quite awhile, so that was fun too. (If you have an embroidery machine, the little duck design is a freebie available in the baby section of Ann the Gran’s free designs.) The towels are made from a 36″ square piece of terry cloth. The hood is made from a 14″ square that has been cut on the diagonal. The whole thing was edged with bias binding, just like you would bind a quilt.
Naturally, TheEmptyNestChild had to get in on the action, checking out the new baby. I briefly contemplated having him be the baby model, but thought that the recipients might not appreciate a new baby towel covered in cat hair!
I’m off to throw a few things into a suitcase. Over-achievers — Chill Out! LOL!!!
XOXO,
Anna
Cute little baby gift!
I have not even started on decorating yet, and I just started making gifts today. I feel behind already, but isn’t that part of the Christmas hustle and bustle?
How adorable. In your free time could you whip me up one of those in pink please??? LMAO!!! Could ya??? Just one!!!
I’d be happy to send your new nephew Boo over to rake leaves for you. Or he could do some decorating if you would like. I’ll let you use him for free.
Very cute little giftee for a new baby.
I haven’t done any decorating yet but I have made a few gifts. Whatever gets done…gets done…I won’t stress about it.
How cute! Even cuter would be TheEmptyNestChild modelling it….LOL, but I understand about the cat hair. Ours is molting horrendously. Well, you know I’m giving up on Christmas decor this year. The big lunchy/dinner thingy will be at my mum’s anyway, so I’m not stressing out on having no decor.
Hey, who’s the overachiever, whipping out so much baby-related cuteness!?!
Seriously, I have no idea when we are going to get the Christmas decs out. Thinking about it makes my head start to explode. So I am totally chillin over here!
Have a good trip!
I agree with rohanknitter completely! Those are great baby gifts! As for decorating, I *would* have started this past weekend, but have to leave on an unplanned trip on Weds. so I didn’t drag it all out.
Maybe, I will go with a nature theme this year and just toss some leaves into the potted plants and call it done!
Love you blog!
Hi Anna, I’m one whose trees are decorated – but, that’s all I’ve done, and all I am doing. I HAD to do it this weekend or else…the month is so hectic and every weekend we have something else planned. It’s crazy isn’t it…to let life get so hectic…Every year I vow that next year will be different, but it isn’t. And we have leaves too out there still on ground…to be dealt with.
The towels are cute, but what is with all of *you* overachievers who feel the need to clean up the leaves??? I insist we just leave ours lying on the yard. Yes, yes, my husband complains tht it will kill the grass. I say this is an added bonus because then we don’t have to mow the grass either. Bwahhhhahahaha.
Those are very cute! I hardly ever use the embroidery part of my machine.. its always such a hassle. But these are pretty darn cute.
Have a good trip. Don’t worry, I’m not decorating here while you’re gone, we’re still knee deep in leaves and not even half them down yet.
those baby towel sets are beautiful! I am hoping to get some Christmas decorating done at the weekend…I like it up early December and taken down as soon as possible after the event! I have some new lights and baubles to put up at the window. So exciting! lol
Those baby towels are so cute!
Good luck on your work trip!
Given the EmptyNestChild’s apparent interest I think it was probably a good thing the model was plastic and not real!!!! Lucy xxx
Goodness me, what a lot you’ve been writing! I’m way behind in my blog reading – far far far too busy! Groan. Anyway, you’ve written some lovely posts and you always cheer me up with your livelines and optimistic outlook. You’re right – I too am lucky to have a job, since we’ve sort of got used to having money to buy food and so on.
Well, this is one under achiever checking in here! You out did me, the duckies are adorable. Have a good trip!
I was curious how you made these. Anna, the set is beautiful!
We spent the weekend raking, too (well, Brian did, anyway!). But the tree is up and the boy just loves the lights! We really scaled back our decorating this year, though.
I wish I could come help you out!
XO
Anna: Don’t feel bad … I don’t have many Christmas decorations up yet either. I love the baby gift … very cute! I have to tell you … my quilting friends were very jealous of Mr. Bunny. They absolutely LOVED him! Have a nice trip!
Mary Jane
hey, I am behind too. so don’t feel too bad. :)
the bath towels are cu-ute!
Thimbleanna I agree with you 200 percent!!! Christmas decorating done??? Oh my goodness!!! I still have everything stashed away in my “junk” room in laundry baskets from cleaning up for Thanksgiving! And I know it is going to take ages to unearth things from there. And somewhere in there I have banner letters and their backing colors (in two separate places mind you!) saying “give thanks!”, hmmmm, I hope I find them and get the finished by next year! I tell you, sometimes it gets very discouraging reading how much everyone else has completed! Oh well – better go get started with something! By the way, I love your blog! Merry Christmas!
Diane
Ok- The towels are lovely and I wish I had an embroidery machine- whats that all about? Then I clicked all your blog buddies linked up there and freaked out- cause its not even ( said in italics) December YET!!!!!! Man! I get so sick of it all if I put it out too early! Don’t feel behind for one more minute! They are abnormally early! geez! I have one tiny tree out with some elves on it and a light up house. I just do a little bit at a time! anyway- I have sewing to do! love ya- and chill, sistah- there’s plenty of time left! :) kim
Hey! I’ve used that embroidery design before! Adorable. It’s amazing how different it looks in different fabrics!
Oh my Gosh! How cute! You inspire me to use the embroidery machine…well not this year…I’ll be lucky to get (2) quilt gifts out this year.
As far as decorating…I tossed up a 3′ tree (from my quilt shop display) on a table (without ornaments) and will call it good until my family and friends give me total grief for doing so little.
Take care and thanks for sharing all your pretties!
Jere’e
Gorgeous gifts, makes me want an embroidery machine!
It’s adorable… so darn cute!! You are one talented lady!
Joni
Cute, cute. An embroidery machine is #1 on my Christmas list this year. Hope Santa knows!
–Vivian, not an over-achiever at all! (we still have Halloween decorations up.)
Over-achiever – then how come I’ve been such a slug for the past few weeks, LOL.
Cripes sister you always come up with such
CA – UTE things and make me want to break out that dang embroidry unit and re-educate myself on how to use it. OK that’s it – that’s my goal for 2008 –
Hugs – Karen
Was I supposed to start my Christmas decorating? I’m still trying to pretend it is October.
XOXO
Anna, when you say Over -achiever are you looking in the mirror? Because you get so much done. If I didn’t love you, I would hate you…..I love the baby gifts, makes me want to make something with my embroidery machine. xoxo
What an adorable baby gift! You talented girl, you!
I agree about the over-achievers, but I’m going to go my usual sluggish pace, and do things when I feel like it. I still have Fall decor all over the house! In the meantime, I sure am enjoying looking at all the gorgeous decorations!! Lots for me to copy – LOL!
Gorgeous baby pressies Anna – you’re a bit of an over-achiever with that lovely gift!!! We have done nothing about Christmas yet other than the advent calendars, our decorations won’t go up for another two weeks either and I seem to be spending a lot of time wandering around the shops aimlessly when I should be doing some serious shopping!
Kim x
Darling towels. I need to use my embroidery machine for embroidery some time! It’s usually so busy doing other things. :) Kitty looks so cute, but your baby model scares me.
I’m a self-proclaimed over-achiever…but my decorating hasn’t even started! Christmas snuck up on me this year…it doesn’t even feel like December already!
Love the baby presents – those are great!
:) D