Filigree Christmas Tree

This is a wall hanging made from an old issue of Popular Patchwork magazine

Fits nicely on the front of the treadle sewing machine cabinet on ehich is stood our tree this year.

Thank You from UK Embellisher Swap

Eileen from UK Embellisher Swap group has sent me this lovely winter landscape Chrstimas card, made on her embellisher, to thank me for organising all the swaps each month.  It glistens and sparkles and it was a nice surprise.

Monika who lives in Bavaria sent me this super card, again as a thank you for organising the monthly swaps.  There is a delicate gold thread running through the top layer of fabric which catches the light beautifully.

Thank you ladies, I am delighted with them and so pleased you enjoy the swaps.

Christmas Table Toppers

 Small table topper I made with leftovers from one the Christmas quilts - they go on the little tables we have around the house and they're handy to stand drinks and dishes on.  I did a bit of FMQ in the shape of large holly leaves.  These little projects are handy for confidence building with the FMQ.

Christmas Gift Quilt

Here's my first Christmas 2010 gift quilt complete.  I've chosen and flannel backing and sashing this year - very snuggly.  I wonder who will get this one?

Advent Calendar Quilt

 It's a while since I made one of these - probably 15 years or more when my youngest was a baby.  I couldn't resist buying this panel at the Hutton Buscel workshop last week.  It didn't take long to sew on the little pockets, quilt and bind it.  I've sewed a rod pocket in with the top binding so it can be hung up easily.  Need to remember to buy sweets for it soon.

Christmas Tree Applique

Here's the start of a Christmas wall hanging - I saw it in an old Patchwork and Quilting magazine "Filigree Tree Hanging" by Mary Mayve and it took my fancy.  I've used Heat n Bond Lite Sewable and I don't like it - it's so lite it doesn't stick very well and parts company with the backing every time I attempt to sew around the edges.  I've got Steam a Seam and good old Bond a Web so will be using that for repairs and the rest of the project.

FMQ Journey begins

I've made a small table topper with the squares left over from the Christmas quilts and cushions.  This is the first real piece I have FMQ'd (free motion quilted).

I have found the first steps to FMQ extremely hard.  There seems to be a battle which has to be fought between getting your sewing machine fine-tuned in every area and your own mindset and posture.  You approach the first steps with fear and tense muscles and a sewing machine which is determined to object to this new mode of operation.    Success only comes after your initiation which can include broken needles, zillions of snapped threads, taffles, knots and aching neck, shoulder and wrist muscles.  The number of hours this has to be endured varies from person to person, but when the FMQ spirits decide you've done your apprenticeship, suddenly everything works, your muscles relax and your stitching flows smoothly.  There's no clue to what you were doing wrong all those hours, it just works.

Now the festive season is behind us I need to get back into quilt production so I have somewhere to practice my newly acquired (novice) skill of FMQ.

Christmas is SO last year.............. Talking Threads

I've only just got round to watching the Talking Threads Christmas Specials and what a treat.  Parts one, two and three are available on line.  Poinsettias from organza, needlefelted cards, machine embroidered cards and a twisted, strip pieced bag.  Well worth viewing and I always think January is the time to do your Christmas sewing, or at least get it planned and buy in the supplies.  Leaving it until autumn means dark nights and so much else to do.

Talking Threads Christmas Specials           
Part One                     
Part Two                           
Part Three

Tree Decoration Swap

Here is my lovely tree decoration, made by Jenny Jones.  Thank you Jenny, it looks great on my tree.

The colours are not good - think rich Christmas red and green.

 I've got more learning to do with this new scanner.

Back to Quilting

Illness delayed completion of our quilt, but here it is now.  Completed on 27th December, only a couple of days late!  The leftovers are currently being made into a small table topper.  Pattern is a Magic Nine Patch using nine different Christmas fabrics.  Quilted in a simple diagonal pattern with gold metallic thread.  80/20 Hobbs Heirloom wadding.

Tree of 2009

Adorned with lots of hand made decorations - many which the children have made over the years, machine embroidered ones by me, embellished/felted ones from the UK Swap group and a knitted one from my colleague Audrey.  Very nice they all look - it's as good a tree as we have ever had.

Embellisher Christmas Swaps

I've sailed very close to the wind with these, my eye illness has meant lots of hospital trips, some treatment and a lot of campaigning and lobbying for NHS funding.  This wiped out two weeks of December which meant no time for sewing projects or other Christmas preparations.  I've taken a few hours out today and put something together, one Christmas tree decoration and one Christmas card.  Not as fancy as I would have liked, but what I could manage in the time allowed.  Hope Royal Mail can get them where they should be before the big day.

Simple idea.  Felted a piece of dark red wool tops with a sprinkling of Angelina.  Felted a piece of dark green, cut into tree shape.  Small piece of brown felted for trunk.  Free motion embroidery over the top depicting a stylised Christmas tree.

Tree Decoration

Topper for Card

Finished Card

Christmas Quilt Workshop

The Christmas Quilt workshop was a nice, relaxing day.  Here are some of the things I have made, started at the workshop and finished at home.  I've made quite a few of the little batik notebooks using dark coloured papers from my cardmaking supplies, put a beaded string around and clipped on a white gel pen.  These are for secret santa pressies at my work night out tonight.  Hope they like them.

As well as the notebooks there are little gift sacks that look great filled with sweets, cards made from quilt panel fabrics and a homespun tree decoration.  What I haven't done yet is a Christmas table runner, but I'd like to get one done before the big day.  If not it will be an early make for 2010.

The workshop, which was at Hutton Buscel was tutored by Beryl Frank.

Folding Christmas Tree napkins

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Here's a neat little idea for the Christmas table. Instructions for making the napkins are here Click on the link and a .pdf will open giving illustrated directions

Christmas in August!

What I don't do in summer, isn't ready for Christmas - so here's today's effort. A quilted "Noel" complete with a handmade golden tassle.

Crazy Christmas Placemats

Using the crazy patchwork stack and cut technique, here is a nice and easy tutorial on placemats for the Christmas table. You need to check out the stack and cut technique before moving onto the tutorial - see more at Mel's Own Place