Week15-Christmas in July...Almost?

[Misty]

Hey ladies,

My apologies, the last giveaway ran twice as long as usual. You know how it goes, even a girl like me has work to get done and I'm afraid the forum got neglected b/c of it! But I'm back in the swing of things (I hope...seriously) so let's get this ball rolling.

First of all, the winner of the Harmony Charm Pack... dakotacityquilter CONGRATS!!!

Now, I know it's not technically July yet, but I keep hearing all this talk about Christmas in July, yada yada. Me personally, I get ready for Christmas AFTER Thanksgiving. I just like to do things in order. But I know a lot of you make wonderful gifts/QUILTS! for your loved ones. So, I wanna know, when do you start getting ready for Christmas!? Also, you can share any gift ideas you have planned!

Keeping with the theme, the prize is 1 I Believe In Santa Charm Pack

[dakotacityquilter]

Re: Week15-Christmas in July...Almost?

I usually don't make quilts for Christmas presents. I give them throughout the year to family/friends who need them. I guess it could be said I do Christmas year round!

[nanbright]

Re: Week15-Christmas in July...Almost?

I usually don't start thinking about Christmas until after Thanksgiving. I work better under pressure so if I start too early I have a tendency to just slowly put things together and then kick it in gear once Christmas gets closer. I am planning on doing some table runners for gifts this year so the charm pack would fit right into my plan. I might even start early who knows.

[lizziwhizz]

Re: Week15-Christmas in July...Almost?

Every year I tell my husband I'm going to save a bunch of money by making Christmas presents for everyone. I make one or two sets (last year I planned to make reuseable shopping bags), then get bored, then buy presents. There are a couple of problems with making presents myself:
1) storage. I don't really have a good space to keep 30 presents for however many months. (although I suppose if I decluttered it would solve this.)
2) I get too excited about presents to wait long to give them. I end up giving them early, as "whatever" gifts, and then have to start over for Christmas!

[Quilt Hollow]

Re: Week15-Christmas in July...Almost?

I give quilt gifts all year to include birthdays. As for thinking about Christmas gift making is when the boys went back to school in August....then the pressure is really on in October. If it starts getting too close to the holidays the quilted gift tends to become smaller like a minature quilt, quilted pillow, stockings, pot holders etc. Also only certain people receive a handmade gift from me. I enjoy the time spent making it and thinking about the person it is intended for. I want it to go to somebody that truly appreciates the time I spent in the process of their gift rather than making a purchase off the shelf at WalMart or something similiar....those are for other people who I know just don't get it. One year I made MIL a quilt; she told me even their dog liked it. Do you think I worked on another for her? LOL

[1stNoelle]

Re: Week15-Christmas in July...Almost?

I have too many ideas for gifts. The question is - How many will I get accomplished before the holidays?

[Laine]

Re: Week15-Christmas in July...Almost?

I am making quilts for my 3 children this year. I have 2 out of 3 quilt tops done - the hard part for me is the actual quilting of the whole thing.

[niki]

Re: Week15-Christmas in July...Almost?

I have three tops that are almost ready to go. I wish I could quilt them myself but I have not gotten the hang of stippling on my machine. I would like them to look really nice as these are gifts. If they were for myself, I would not mind if my quilting was not that perfect. I really like the look that a long arm quilting machine does. Two of the quilts are going to go to my two best friends and the other is for my oldest son.
Niki

[mdmickey]

Re: Week15-Christmas in July...Almost?

Every year I tell my husband I'm going to save a bunch of money by making Christmas presents for everyone. I make one or two sets (last year I planned to make reuseable shopping bags), then get bored, then buy presents. There are a couple of problems with making presents myself:
1) storage. I don't really have a good space to keep 30 presents for however many months. (although I suppose if I decluttered it would solve this.)
2) I get too excited about presents to wait long to give them. I end up giving them early, as "whatever" gifts, and then have to start over for Christmas!

Last year I saved jars to make gifts with and bought baskets and ADD got the better of me and it never got done. I want to make quilts but you know how that goes.

[marine_bio]

Re: Week15-Christmas in July...Almost?

I usually start thinking about Christmas in August and start planning all the gifts I can make. Then the question is how many can I get done. Last year was my personal best, amongst several other crafty gifts, I finished 4 lap quilts for all the kids in my best friends family. Each one was designed especially for them. Since they live across the US and I only get to see them once a year, it was nice to surprise them with something that suits their personalities.

[sbonetsue]

Re: Week15-Christmas in July...Almost?

I too wait until after Thanksgiving to get ready for Christmas, I just can't get into the spirit until then. I used to tell myself I would gt a head start but that just made me feel guilty and that is just no fun.

I make a small holiday wallhanging each year, something easy and quick, which goes to one of my extended family. Everyone seems to appreciate the gesture even if some of them have been waiting quite a while for their turn to receive.

Sue Cahill

[rougealar]

Re: Week15-Christmas in July...Almost?

I have a pile of Christmas fabric sitting on my cutting table and it's been there for a week. I want to make Christmas string quilts for our 4 children. Since I just started quilting I have no idea if they will all get made especially since I find it hard to turn down other sewing requests from family and friends I figure if I take a couple of hours a day for quilt cutting and sewing I'll be able to get something done.

Diane

[Quilt Vader]

Re: Week15-Christmas in July...Almost?

I start planning for Christmas on Christmas - that is for NEXT year. I enjoy the gifting, and when it is all done for one year, I'm ready to start another one. However, that does NOT mean I have everything done, when the next one is closing in. But my lists are made, my excuse to shop is ready made all year long, and my 'starts' begin immediately. I do not cook and only very (occassionally ) RARELY bake - so you know my gifts are from my hands and heart and not the kitchen. I don't fully appreciate Christmas themed gifts for Christmas day - so I don't make them either. Christmas themed gifts are given much earlier, like around my end of October birthday. So now I am watchng to see what you have

[shell.scraps]

Re: Week15-Christmas in July...Almost?

I'm starting to work on christmas gifts...table runners and matching hot pads..we'll see how that works out.

[Debs]

Re: Week15-Christmas in July...Almost?

Hi all, Christmas in July would be wonderful as far as I'm concerned as of course its winter here in NZ. I would so love to have an authentic christmas with all of the lovely hot foods etc but of course we have salads, barbeques and sliced cold meats and all of the desserts etc because of the heat.
I say the same thing every year and that is I will start making things for Christmas early in the year but of course it never happens. This year I have been involved in two Christmas in july swaps so I am enthused at present so maybe, just maybe I will continue in the vain for pressies.