augh.

no energy today, don't know why. Getting barraged from all sides by people needing help.

Over the weekend, I got a lot done (perhaps the reason for being tired today?): wrote the biostats final, did a bunch of grading, cleaned house, baked fruitcakes, helped decorate the church for Advent.

I also made a present for my "nephew" (that is in quote marks because my "nephew" is a 20 lb. Maine Coon Cat). I found a nice flannel printed with cats at the quilt shop back in Sept. and bought a yard of it with the thought of making something for him. As time went on, the idea of "something" grew simpler and simpler until I finally decided I better make it this weekend.

So here is what I did: I bought a yard of matching fleece fabric and a packet of coordinating satin blanket binding. I put the (preshrunk) flannel on top of the (preshrunk) fleece. (I trimmed the flannel to square it up first). I cut the fleece to the size of the flannel. Then, I pinned blanket binding all around the outside of the roughly 40 inch by 36 inch rectangle. Then I basted it on by hand (this is a very important step to making it look neat). Then I took it to my machine and zig-zag stitched the binding on.

I also made three Humbug bags (so named because they are shaped like an old type of "boiled sweet"). This is one of those great patterns that is very easy but makes up into something that looks very nice. I made three: one, to practice, out of my leftover "Snoopy skating" fabric. I also made one out of a blue and brown print for "Mrs. D", a longtime friend of the family (blue and brown are her favorite colors). Both of those were in the small size, which would be good for keys-jewelry-lipstick storage at the gym or something. I also made a medium sized one from a cat print fabric for my mother, to enclose the pin I bought her for Christmas. The medium size is perhaps large enough for a small knitting project on short double points, or a small crochet project. It would also work as a tiny purse if you didn't carry a big bulky wallet in your purse like I do.

The pattern is surprisingly easy even though it includes a zipper. The longest step is the (optional but recommended if you're using quilt fabric) machine quilting. (I also used the fusible batting recommended and it's really wonderful if you want a stiff, firm finish. Wouldn't be so good for a bed quilt, I think, but would be wonderful for purses or machine quilted vests, that sort of thing).

Looking forward to getting home this evening, doing what grading I have to do, and then relaxing. Like I said, I'm really tired out today for some reason.