Settling In

A few days ago I was chatting on the phone with a friend whom I don't get to spend enough time with these days. After a considerable amount of catching up, she asked if I was "settling in". Hmmm?

While she was telling me how she is refusing to settle in this year, I took a quick look around the house and was astounded at what I saw. Gone were the soccer schedules and Halloween snippets that had graced the bulletin board. They had been replaced by flyers for holiday programs and the local ice rink schedule. My craft board was hanging heavy with all forms of fall and winter inspiration and a holiday plan.* Tall piles of craft books and holiday magazines wobbled slightly beside my chair and a stack of brand new cookbooks (from the library) sat on the coffee table. Boxes of fabric and trim surrounded my sewing machine while a basket of interfacing and bias tape exploded on top of the ironing board.

I had indeed settled in.



"I'm going to make all of my Christmas gifts this year."

"Hahahahahahahahha!"

"What?"

"I have known you for three years and every year you say that. I think now's a great time to start...planning for next year."

"Well, I have a whole Rubbermaid in the basement full of stuff I started making the last couple of years and I figured if I finish some of that, I'll be way ahead."

"I've heard that before, too."

"You're a bitch."

The nerve. Does she think I won't do it? Because I will. Wait and see.

I even have help this year. Sew Mama Sew and Cotton Spice is offering up a whole month's worth of inspiration and tutorials. So if you want to get in on the handmade holiday action, head on over there and get busy.



*Yes, I actually have a plan this time. If I can stick to it, you will see the all the fruits of my labor. If not, you won't hear another thing about it. Ever.