Uses time wisely…

What do you do the night before you go on vacation? Pack? Print out directions and reservation confirmations? Stay up late ironing? Or merely anticipating? I do all of these things. But I also have this nasty habit of adding at least one item that I've been putting off forever. Those pants that have never been worn because I've been meaning to hem them for over a year? Yup, those would be just perfect for the trip so they finally get hemmed and packed. Been wanting to rearrange the furniture in every room of the house? No better time than 2 a.m. the night before a trip.

My Christmas trip this year was no different. We left on a Sunday and that Saturday I was in the midst of wrapping, packing and organizing. I was feeling very festive and ambitious. So, of course, why not tackle just one more project? The mission: to recover the throw pillows for our couch.

I've had three quilted squares (squares that are ready for quilting at least) waiting for this moment for years. I took an improvisational quilting class with Denyse Schmidt quite a long time ago at the Make workshop in New York. Quite a long time ago. So long ago that I've made two major moves since. I was reminded of the unfinished squares when I saw the sneak peak inside Denyse's beautiful Connecticut home in the Dec/Jan issue of Readymade. It includes an easy how-to for these pillows. So on that Saturday, I was determined to get this thing done. And somehow… I did. There's something to be said for the energy and excitement before vacation. A true indicator that we should go on more trips.

How about you? Do you ever find yourself tackling those things you put off for so long just before a trip?