The Panic Is Kicking In

With the help of all those kind people on Instagram posting the number of days left until Christmas on a regular basis I have been gripped by the annual 'I've got to post things to Canada and I've not made anything yet' panic. So the making had begun. From now until whenever I need to focus on that, not me, as much as I possibly can.

I started with my brother - who doesn't read this blog - and it was easy to decide what to make for him. Because he asked for placemats. He told me his new dining room was dark green and the table a dark wood. I could have gone with this colour scheme (yeah, right) but felt that maybe the room could use a little lightening and brightening.

I dug around in my stash and emerged some time later, short of breath but happy, because I had come across some hand screened prints done by Ceri for her Brit Bee blocks in round two. I thought they provided just the whimsy and inspiration I required. I added some strips of bright solids and Kona snow, and some Stof white linen, and I got piecing.

One thing for sure, these will certainly stand out on a dark wood table. I managed to finish the piecing today, baste and quilt them in a circular pattern starting in the upper righthand corner. I rather hoped the quilting would bring to mind the heat of the sun coming down on a summers day, or ripples in water. Now, all these placemats require is binding.

And I am one step closer to completing my first Christmas present. There may be hope for me yet.

Susan