'Twas the Night ...

I've done several blog hops over the last couple of years with Sew We Quilt!  This is the first one I've done that is more of a swap ... so fun!  Thanks once again to Madam Samm and Marlene!  Marlene is amazing and I know she spent hours (and hours) getting everything just right. (The complete schedule is here.)

There were a couple of rules to keep in mind this time around ...

1.  We were to make small gifts to be made in hours, not days.

2.  We had to mail it all off by Oct. 31 ... yes, Halloween =)

First, here is what I received from Theresa at Bumbleberry Cottage. (We need to encourage her to post about her fun projects ... if they're anything like this, I want to see MORE!)

Isn't she just precious!!  I was squealing like a 2-year-old when I opened the box.  I honestly don't know how she did this in hours and not days, but I am so grateful!  I just love everything about her ... from her curly red hair, to the pincushion and new quilting pins and finally to her perfect posture =)  I'm still trying to come up with just the right name for her ...  Thanks again, Theresa; I really do love her!

I'm usually starting on my Christmas crafting during the summer, so I didn't think this would be too much of a challenge.  However ... I had quite a time deciding what to send because (to be honest) I was a bit intimidated by Nancy and her beautiful Couer d'Alene blog.  I finally decided on a couple of tried and true gifts that we use all the time in my family ...

First, some rice hand warmers from my all-time favorite Blitzen scraps.  These are super simple and made from charm squares layered with flannel and filled with rice.  I add a few drops of essential oil (usually lavender) into the rice and mix well before I fill. We just throw them in the microwave for 30 - 45 seconds and put them in a coat pocket or at the foot of the bed to warm it up a little before we climb in =)  I use Lori Holt's tutorial here.  I also make some in the shape of sleeping masks that I keep zipped up in a baggie in the freezer and pull out when I have a headache or sore muscles; they feel sooooo good.

Next was a covered notebook.  I love me a good notebook and I figure every creative person could use at least one.  If I don't jot things down as they cross my mind, they are quickly lost forever.  I used this tutorial for the outside, and this one for the inside pockets.  I modified the dimensions for the pocket flaps to match the 1st tutorial.  Also I learned that you don't need to finish the one side of the flap as directed in the 2nd tutorial since I was flipping and turning via the 1st tutorial.  Clear as mud?

Finally I found these quick goodie bags at All People Quilt early in October.  I wanted to make some in bulk for a bazaar and figured this was the perfect opportunity to make sure I could handle it on a larger scale.  It came together with some of the last of my Blitzen scraps and I filled it with some fun Hershey kisses (dots found here from my favorite printables blog.)

Now, let's continue to get in the holiday spirit with some fast, fun ideas from these other awesome ladies today ...

Just Let Me Quilt

Bumbleberry Cottage

A Reformed Heath’n (that's me)

Coeur D’Alene

Sew Incredibly Crazy

Threading My Needles

Ridge Top Quilts

Thanks so much for stopping by!