How to NOT go Crazy with Christmas Crafting

 You start the season out with grand ambitions. 

Then life happens. 

Work, school, holiday adventuring, family drama, you name it!

Or you realize that your plans were too big for you to conquer in time.

Santa has an army of elves to do things for him. You just have... you. 

Is it possible to give your friends and family a handmade Christmas? 

Is there a way that you will not completely lose your mind, not go broke, and not stay up past Santa hour on Christmas Eve? 

Simple answer: yes! 

Long answer: Read on. 

You'll be okay! 

 1. Set realistic goals. 

What sort of time do you have available to actually craft? Maybe you only make things for those closest to you and your acquaintance list from Facebook can get gift cards for coffee. If you want to give people something handmade but don't have time to do something for everyone, you could support other makers and buy local!

2. Assess your gift list

You don't have to give EVERYONE a present at Christmas. Especially handmade gifts. Your in-laws 2nd cousin twice removed's fish does not need a new castle. Bubbles will probably be better off without a glittery palace anyway. 

Another thought within this topic - will the recipient actually appreciate what you make? I can't think of anything more discouraging than taking the time to make something for someone, and they don't like it at all. 

3. Make things that are within your skill set and with tools you already have

Don't attempt to do that really cool welded project when you haven't the slightest idea of how to use the machine. (Okay, that might be a bit extreme of an example, but you get my drift). In all seriousness though, the internet (especially Pinterest) is chalk full of beautiful, inspiring things, but step back and ask yourself if it's within your skill set. Trying to learn something completely new will only add to the stress that you're already putting on yourself. 

4. Be confident in what you're making

For YEARS, my family got pajama bottoms and pillowcases for Christmas. They knew it was coming, they just didn't know what print was going to be on it. The reason behind this though, is that I could make a lot of them rather quickly. No crazy weird patterns. No strange techniques. I could bang out a bunch and check that off the list (which is a big deal because I have a large family). We all now have a surplus of both products, and because of this, I've had to come up with a different scheme for this year. 

5. Come up with a battle plan

Even if it means that you're sewing Christmas presents for next year on December 26, don't cram everything into the short weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. You'll drive yourself crazy, you'll throw out your back because you're tense from the stress, then you'll spend Christmas flat on your back because you can't move. Not fun.

6. Be focused

Don't take on projects other than what's on your Christmas present list. You'll just drive yourself to insanity (unless you planned ahead and have them in an okay spot). 

7. Stay within your budget

Self-explanatory, but you don't want to go broke trying to save money by making things for others. Keep an eye out for killer sales, coupon like your life depends on it (there's lovely apps for this now, you don't need to haul around your coupon file), scour the clearance racks, and be creative with things you already have on hand. 

This is such a common problem that it was even memed! (Is that a word? It is now, I guess)

PS - *Special note*

Go easy on the glitter with your projects, please! It's a pain to clean up, gets everywhere, and just creates a mess for the one making and the one receiving. I tend to stay FAR away from the stuff. Have you seen the floors in the craft store during Christmas time? You could probably find Michael Phelps somewhere in all that glitter. 

Hope this helps! 

Until next time!

SG

Christmas Skirts

...Or the same fabric three ways. 

I was haunting the thrift store, when I came across hangers and hangers of plaid fabric. It looked like someone had cleared out their fabric stash and donated it. Honestly, I could have bought it all, but I restrained myself and showed self-control and only purchased one length. 

I had 6 yards of 60" fabric for only $11.99 and it has a gorgeous feel and drape. 

See what I mean when I say that I showed some serious self-control in not buying ALL of the fabric?

There was enough material that I could make 3 skirts - one for each of my sisters and myself. But we didn't want to have a matchy-matchy, we're-related-and-the-fabric-was-on-sale look if we should happen to all wear our skirts at the same time.  So we each decided on a different skirt pattern. 

The taller sister wanted a pencil skirt. No problem! I have a pattern for that! Except... the pattern wasn't in her size. Drats. So we found a different pattern. It was a wrap skirt that screamed 90's. Nope. Not going to happen. So we landed on a simple A-line made from a giant rectangle gathered at the waist with elastic. No pattern needed, sewing it up was easy (so was lining up the plaid). 

The skirt for my other sister is a circle skirt. From the get-go she wanted a circle, but I wasn't sure if I would have enough fabric. So her skirt was made last. :P Just to make sure. Her skirt was also made without a pattern. You simply fold the fabric into quarters (much like the first steps of any origami creation) and the magic radius' measured and marked. Put in a zipper, add a waist band, and voila! Another skirt done. 

Look at that gorgeously lined up plaid! :swoons:

 My skirt was also rather simple - just a reproduction pattern from the 70's. A-line, no gathers or pleats, and a button up front. 

 And the only seam I had to rip in this entire adventure was in this skirt. :fist pump: 

The goal was to have them all finished for the Christmas dinner at church. That almost happened. I just had a hem to finish, but then it was bitterly cold and we each decided on a warmer outfit for the evening. 

I'll have to see if I can convince certain sisters of mine that we need to get a group picture with the three of us in our skirts. We'll see if that actually happens though. :P 

Until next time! 

SG