Take the Stress out of Sewing this Holiday Season

All of the sudden the fun and leisure of summer has come to a screeching halt and our thoughts have turned to fall. Fall is my favorite season of the year. I love the varieties of red and golden yellow leaves in the trees as they start to change color. I am looking forward to playing with my granddaughter in the crisp fallen leaves this year. While shopping for fall fabrics, I search for those that are warm and cozy or the comforting plaid prints. The smell of pumpkin spice begins wafting through the air as everyone is enjoying their spiced lattes and everything else pumpkin. And as soon as I start to settle into the fall routine and enjoy all that comes with it, I am jolted back with a dose of reality that the holiday season will soon be upon us. Oh no, how many weeks are left before Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas?

Do you get excited about crafting for your home or making a personal gift for family and friends for the holidays? I do, especially for my granddaughters. Have you spent countless hours searching for ideas and pinning them to your Pinterest boards? Do you have a beautiful collection of pictures all nicely organized with the anticipation you are “going” to make everything on those boards for the upcoming season? Then bam, it hits! The anxiety level starts to increase. You’re instantly taken from that warm and cozy place. How will you get all of this done with all the other things going on in life? There is not enough time, You’re already behind. It is going to be impossible, again. Have you begun to cross many things off the to do list before you even get started?

If your experience is the same as mine, I am here to tell remind you it’s not all doom and gloom. The good news, somehow it always gets done! If not, you’ve do the best you can. Forgive yourself, relax, enjoy the season, that is my goal this year. Easier said than done, right!

I am sure there are some of you who have been crafting and sewing for the upcoming holiday season already, kudos to you. Since I have not, I have put a list of tips for “creating” stress free this season.

1. Make a plan and work your plan. Make your lists and check it twice. Who will you be crafting for, what supplies will you need, etc. Prioritize the lists. Keep it realistic. Of course on my list, grandma’s girls will come first.
2. Take a class or attend a retreat. At Sew on Sew Forth they recently posted the fall calendar filled with many opportunities to start and complete a project just in time for gift giving. Attend the fall retreat. This is a wonderful opportunity to set aside a large chunk of time to work on your projects uninterrupted. Remember, it’s always more fun to craft with a buddy.
3. Organize before you start. Take inventory of what you have and what you need, organize your space, block out time on your calendar for you to do what you enjoy. Break it down, put kits together for your projects so if you only have a little time here and there you can grab what you need and get to work. You will find that you accomplish more.

4. Don’t forget about yourself. There is the old saying about the shoemaker’s kids never having shoes. This season I am going to make something for myself…that I keep! That’s my goal anyway.

Lastly, remember, the holidays are for making memories not just stuff. This year I plan to involve Abigail in on a few project with me while watching the process or creating and giving through the wonder of a three- year old.

Happy crafting till me meet again.