I’ve had a slow sewing start to 2025, which is how I planned it since my own family already has so so so many quilts from me and I can’t really afford to have them professionally quilted just to give them away to strangers. Even so, I have done less than I expected. Less of everything, really. However, inspired by my friends Barbara and Marie Louise, I did finally find an organization that accepts the donation of unquilted quilt tops and I have donated three of those so far and plan to do more.
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| (They requested Holiday fabric for some of them.) |
I have been channeling my sewing energy more into bag making this year and so far it has not been very successful. Although the bags I’ve made so far all look good enough from across the room, up close they are very badly put together. I am planning to try several more of them before I give up, hoping that practice will get me to a point where I am not ashamed of my creations. The bags are functional and they will also be donated in the hope that someone can find some use for them.
I’ve finished making Christmas tree skirts and a handful of holiday throws to put away for each of my grandchildren for when they start their own homes, and to offer to Jack’s grown kids. I also intend to include an embroidered table runner for each grandchild and think I might make Christmas stockings to add to those boxes.
It has been difficult to keep my mind on sewing, difficult to find peace. This is a challenging time in our country for many people, and I feel the effect in my energy and mood. Books that I used to consider dystopian now read like current events. And yet the hummingbirds and orioles have returned, I saw a pretty little garter snake this afternoon, and life goes on. I fear for my grandchildren, for all of our children, but there is some comfort in the thought that nature will survive us.
