I didn’t make as many gifts this year as I have in some years past but I did manage to get a few things done.

I haven’t managed to post about Steve’s wine making attempt this fall. Someday I’ll try to get him to sit down and help me type up a post about the process. He inherited his Italian grandfather’s grape press and it has been in our garden gazebo serving as an interesting conversation piece for a few years now. This year everything came together where he had the time, the motivation and the resources to make his own wine in the tradition of his Grandpa Vito.

A couple weekends ago it went from cask to bottle and last Saturday I helped him print up labels. Last night was our annual neighborhood Christmas Walk/Party. I made Holiday Tea Towels and used them to wrap bottles of wine to give as hostess gifts.

After the jump I’ll show you what I made for my Mom and my mother-in-law….

DON’T PEAK MOM!
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My Freespirit rep dropped off a half ton of fabric samples for my enjoyment today. I think I’m getting better at this fabric selection thing. I’m much faster and not nearly as overwhelmed by all the choices as I was the first time. I can unroll some of these fabric headers and give an immediate “meh” or “nope” now. Sometimes my reaction is more of a “Hmmmmm?” and I set it aside and come back to it with fresh eyes after looking at others.

Above are the selections from Amy Butler’s latest, Midwest Modern 2. I hate to say it but her newer stuff is quite often as not getting a “meh” reaction from me. I only selected five from the new colorways and added two from the original Midwest Modern to round out my current selection. I also added four prints from her Daisy Chain to match up some of the orphans from my first order from this line. I still think some of my numbers must have gotten mixed up on that first order because I *know* I ordered some of these dark blues and pinks that didn’t come in my first order. (That’s why I’m taking pictures this time so I know what I decided on!)

I’m also a little frustrated annoyed disappointed that her colors don’t match across collections. She has an olive in her Midwest Modern and one in her Daisy Chain that are close but not quite. Also I’ve found that often she’ll have a pattern/colorway in a collection that doesn’t really *fit* with anything else in the collection. I read on a fabric blog recently that Kaffe Fassett keeps pretty much the same color palette from one collection to the next and adds and subtracts to keep things fresh. But that way if you have an older fabric in your stash you can still find something new to coordinate with it. Of course my impression of Kaffe Fassets collections is that he just uses ALL THE COLORS so it doesn’t really matter!

A new line and new to me designer is Snow Flower by Dena. This was one of those bundles of fabric that I opened and my reaction was, “oh yeah!” I wanted it all, but you know that isn’t happening. So instead I did what I’ve learned is the best way for me to stock fabric, I select one or two of the colorways in a collection and go from there. (I’m sorry I can’t find this collection online anywhere yet.) After I decided which colorways I want I pick and choose from there. I loved the brights and black set in this collection so I chose a wide selection of these. I really don’t have a lot of really vivid brights and no black at all right now in my stock so this will fill in some much needed holes.
   
I’m also really in love with acid green and chocolate brown right now and aqua with green is a hot combo too. I think this collection is going to be really popular. I know I’m looking forward to sewing up some bags or girly dresses out of it this winter!

My Moda rep was also in at the end of last week with her bag of goodies from Quilt Market. I don’t have pictures of what I selected from her but rest assured, it is awesome! They have added some new designers who are really adding a fresh face to their collections.

Yesterday afternoon we had a fabulously fun Birdie Sling Class. It was a special class because it was also a birthday party. Happy Birthday Betsy!!!! (Nice bonus when my students bring treats and make me lunch!)

My favorite part is always seeing what fabric combinations everyone chooses and how they all turn out. The final reveal when the lining gets turned right side out is so exciting.

The finished bags were all so cute I may just have to make another one for myself!