I've been shopping again - only this time it's not for me, but for my daughter! She's already got a couple of pieces of jewelry by the very talented Amanda Davie, and I was browsing her etsy shop when I saw these beautiful brass dragonfly earrings, adorned with faceted Wasabi Czech glass, and also this gorgeous pair in a stunning colour combination with pale pink carved gemstone beads and hand-embellished butterfly charms. They're going into someone's stocking on Christmas Eve - I hope she'll be a happy girl when she unwraps them!
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On Sunday I ventured off into the woods with Mr F in search of the perfect Christmas tree. Well actually it's not quite the woods - it's a field of Christmas trees owned by a friend of Mr F and he very generously lets us have whatever tree we decide we'd like - but the trees are so close together it feels like being in the woods. If the Gruffalo had appeared or even a hobbit or two I wouldn't have been surprised! Anyway it didn't take long and Mr F spotted one laden with pine cones. This is just what we were looking for... ...well Mr F didn't waste any time, and the tree was soon felled and hauled off to the car to transport it home, where Alice was waiting to decorate it... ...she made an excellent job and as you can see the twinkling lights really enhance those pine cones. In the evenings we'll hear the cones pop as they open up and it really is beginning to smell just like Christmas with this wonderful aroma... ...and here is our splendid tree, complete with twinkling lights and baubles and lanterns and of course it's got a star at the very top. Merry Christmas everyone!
A few weeks ago I bought a fabulous collection of fat quarters from the "Music" collection by Henley Studio for Makower UK. I'd already made a couple of toiletry bags with this fabric, and then decided to make a scrappy guitar strap too, using a tutorial by oneshabbychick. I bought the Ernie ball hardwear from Amazon UK, and unpicked it from
it's nylon strap. I used a varigated orange Gutterman Sulky thread for these straight rows of quilting. Now I've just got to get it wrapped up! If you want to buy some of this fabric, it's available from Secret Garden Quilting. I've had a busy few days getting the last of my Christmas gifts made -now I can relax and spend the next few days getting my last minute shopping done! This is a matching set of toiletry bag and cosmetic bag. The pattern is "Anna's Sminkepung" by the Norwegian designer AnnAKa, and the fabric is from a selection of the "Flower Sugar III" range by Lecien. I used white quilting thread by Mettler for a simple cross hatch design as this complemented the white lace trimming and the white zipper, and contrasted nicely against the bright red fabric.
A few weeks ago, my niece's sister-in-law had a baby boy, and I had promised her a baby quilt - well I started a couple, and they didn't seem quite right, and then I saw this fabric called Road 15 by Sweetwater for Moda. This was just perfect for the project I has planned! I ordered a charm pack and some fabric from the same range for the backing and the binding, and then spotted this cream tone on tone fabric also by Sweetwater, from their range called "Lucy's Crab shack" which was just what I wanted for sashing and borders. The strips for this quilt quickly pieced together (I used mettler fine embroidery thread as that's what my Bernina seems to prefer) and the top was completed in just over an hour... ...this quilt pattern is called "Charm Squares Baby Quilt" and is designed by Elizabeth Hartman. the pattern is a free download from her blog Oh Fransson! and I've made this several times and it always looks great no matter fabric range I use. I've used cotton wadding by Quilters Dream, and a cream quilting thread by King Tut. lots of straight rows half an inch apart gives the quilt a lovely soft ribbed effect. The binding is a lime green stripe from the Road 15 range, and yes I've sewn one of my labels in the corner too... ...now this can finally be posted off to baby Leon and hopefully he'll have lots of happy dreams snuggled up n it, and hopefully I'll get to see him soon and have a cuddle too!!
At this time of year I always like to have a "Christmas" themed runner on my table. This one is the very first runner that I made with a Norwegian pattern, and started my love of Norwegian patterns! It is called "Adventsløper" and this pattern was featured in the Norwegian quilting magazine Quiltemagasinet issue 4/2008 and was designed by AnnAKa. The original runner was made in purple fabrics for Advent, however I used red and gold fabrics from my stash for a more festive theme. This runner is quilted very simply using the "stitch-in-the-ditch" method with a gold Madeira metallic thread - and a machine blanket stitch around the appliqued hearts. This is a great pattern for using up scraps of fabrics with the same colour-theme for the blocks - and I've made a start on another one using some cream and gold fabrics, but goodness only knows if I'll have time to complete it in time for Christmas 2013!!
A few weeks ago I went to the Autumn Quilt Festival at Duxford and bought a fat quarter bundle of "Music" fabrics by Henley Studios for Makower from the Secret Garden Quilting stand. I chose another pattern by the Norwegian designer AnnAKa, this one is called "Godværsveske" and is not too fancy and frilly, so perfect for these fabrics. I used Pellon wadding, and this is quilted very simply with a variegated orange Gutterman Sulky thread... ...this makes a small boxy-style toiletry bag, with a curved edge. I've added 2 small tabs at each end of the zipper, and I've added one of my labels to the inside seam... ...and here it is - now I just need to buy some toiletries to put inside, and that's another Christmas gift sorted out!
When I went to the Autumn Quilt Festival at Duxford a few weeks ago, I bought this funky fat quarter bundle of "Music" collection by Henley Studio for Makower. It's perfect for anyone who likes music or guitars and was perfect for the projects I had in mind! Another toiletry bag was on my "to-do" list for handmade Christmas gifts, and I set to with "Anna's Sminkepung" pattern by the Norwegian designer AnnAKa. I've scaled it up a bit, and changed the layout of the fabrics. As this is for a man, I didn't add any lace trimming, and quilted it with a variegated orange Gutterman Sulky thread in a simple cross-hatch design... ..and here's the finished bag - now I just need to get some toiletries to pop inside and that's another gift crossed off my list. This fabric is available at Secret Garden Quilting and I've already ordered from them online again!!
I've already made a few of these "first-aid kits" - this pattern is "Anna's Sminkepung" by the Norwegian designer AnnAKa, and the centre piece is from a panel called "Nifty Nurses" by Loralie designs. I've got a larger version that I keep in my desk at work, and I made a small one similar to this for my youngest daughter who is at UEA (I filled hers with various cold remedies and some chocolate when she had a dreadful cold just after freshers week!) and decided I needed a smaller one to keep in my everyday tote bag. It's just the right size for a small packet of tissues and a packet of painkillers and an emery board and a smallish packet of chocolate too - well you never know what emergency you might have to deal with - a headache or a broken fingernail!!
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About me...Hi - welcome to my quilting blog! My passions are my family, my dog, my friends and sewing, not necessarily in that order! Archives
July 2023
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