Two Christmas Wall-Hangings

As we got most of our Christmas decorations up last weekend and also the tree, it left me with some time to finish those two projects I had started last week.The first one I put together using left over fabric from the Christmas table runner I made earlier and some Christmas decorations I bought in Lidl. They were a perfect match colourwise, but as I only had two, I had to make the centre wreath from felt and some cute Christmas buttons I had to hand. The middle squares measure 6" by 6" and it is quilted in an all over pattern.

The second wall hanging is a variation of the Christmas Table runner, with some decorations hanging from the tree.  I bought the crochet angel and star at a local craft fair in the village along with the little felt house, all purchased from the makers. The ceramic Xmas tree was purchased at the Craft & Design Fair again from the maker. The plan is to fill the tree over the years with all handmade decorations from local craft workers. It is quilted in an all over pattern and measures 15" by 33" finished.

I am delighted with the Table Runner and two Wall Hangings and can't wait to put them out. The house is almost ready for Christmas but I still have loads of small gifts to finish off etc. and some Christmas shopping to do! I hope your own Christmas plans are coming together for you.  Until next week, bye for now.

National Craft & Design Fair RDS

The National Crafts & Design Fair was held in the RDS this week starting on Wed and finishing today Sunday. My friend had taken a booth and I was delighted to be able to call in and see her on Thursday morning, she had had a good day on Wed and was looking forward to the next few days. This is a great place to go if you need to pick up some Christmas presents and would like to support Irish craft workers at the same time. I can't tell you how good it feels buying something from somebody you know has designed and made it themselves (I spent most of my time (and money!) in the Home Industries and Food section). As I was there early on Thursday  morning and it was quiet I was able to chat to the craftspeople I was buying from, they were all so helpful and willing to tell me all about my purchase, I have to say it beats going to a chain store or department store hands down (sorry about the pun!)

The first photo below today shows a Christmas table runner inspired by the brilliant Jenny Doan at Missouri Star, I absolutely love watching Jenny, she is truly an inspiration and makes everything look so easy. Thanks a million Jenny for all the video tutorials you put up on You Tube, it's the sharing of tips, techniques and ideas that brings stitchers/craft workers everywhere together.

I quilted the table-runner in a small heart design alternating one up, one down. I haven't seen this design on any other quilt anywhere, (I picked it up from a pillow sham I had had for years before I even noticed the quilting design) yet it is a nice simple all over quilting pattern that I find easier to do than stipple quilting or meandering.

The other photos show some Christmas projects I have yet to finish using up scraps and left over fabrics after a big tidy up (which was hopeless as I didn't manage to get rid of anything, just moved everything around to a different spot, you know the way it is).

Anyhow I had better sign off now and get on with some other work. I have learned so much already about blogging on the computer and adding the photos etc. etc, but I am still very slow and it takes a while. The weeks come around so quickly but setting a goal of one blog a week up to Xmas is paying off, although I still have a lot to learn and am just about making it every Sunday evening!

Tumbler Quilt on the Double

This week I finished the two boys quilts I am working on (see blog dated Sun 11th). I pieced the tops in a Tumbler pattern using two charm packs for each quilt. A charm pack is a bundle of fabrics all cut to the same size, in this case 5" by 5" square. The tumbler pattern is a very good way of getting full use out of a charm pack as there is very little waste. There are ten tumblers across by ten tumblers down, 100 altogether. As there were only 42 squares in each charm pack I had to add 16 to each quilt from my fabric stash. Both quilts were "stipple quilted" before I added the binding and labels. They are now all ready to be wrapped up and posted out, and hopefully they will reach their destination before Christmas Day. I named the two quilts after the charm packs I used, the first one is called "Peak Hour" (Riley Blake) and the second one is "It's a Strike" (Benartex). I hope the boys will be pleased. 

"PEAK HOUR"

"IT'S A STRIKE"

Decision Making Time

Decision making time at our house this week! Yes or No? Will we or won't we?

If the truth be told, my daughter and I didn't have much deciding to do but my husband needed a bit of gentle (only gentle, mind) persuasion. And the answer was a big YES.

Having had our last dog for more than sixteen years, it was difficult to imagine anyone taking her place. She provided us with lots of happy memories and will always have a special place in our hearts. But who could resist this gorgeous little thing?

Having visited her twice now, it was almost impossible not to be won over by her. We hope to have her by Christmas (fingers crossed) that is if she is weaned off her mother and has had all her vaccinations. And, even if she doesn't arrive until after Christmas, the prospect of her coming is exciting in itself. So, expect some doggie projects showing up here in the near future!

Not a lot of sewing done this last few days but I have put up some photos of cushions I made during the summer. Nine in total but can you spot the log cabin pattern I was demonstrating this week. I used a mixture of left over "Toile de Juoy" and linen to make this one and it actually turned out quite well.

Irish Country Living - Preview
(Click to enlarge image)

To watch the online video tutorial that corresponds to this article, click here.

Bye for now!

Sitting, Sewing & Chatting

I can't believe another week has gone by already. They are coming around too soon!

I meet up with some ladies once a week to do some stitching and chatting, and of course, we end up doing more chatting than stitching. I haven't been able to make our weekly meet-up for a while now but this week I got there and was able to slip stitch the binding onto the back of one quilt. I haven't done this in ages. I normally machine sew the binding onto the back of the quilt and then fold it over to the front and machine stitch the front. It was nice to be able to sit there and sew without too much concentration and chat as well. We meet in the evening and can bring our sewing machines along if we like, but sometimes after a long day you just want to sit and sew by hand and this provides a perfect forum for just that. So there I was, in good company, sitting, sewing and chatting, a perfect end to a long day!

Irish Country Living - Preview
(Click to enlarge image)

To watch the online video tutorial that corresponds to this article, click here.

Borders & Basting

I managed to get a small amount of stitching done this week! I cut and added on the borders to the two boys' quilts I am making at the moment. Then grabbed a bit of time to layer and baste them. I had bought some basting spray to do this but then thought better of it. I haven't used the basting spray before and I felt the quilts might be too big a project to try out something new on, so I used pins. I am delighted that job is done, now I can start the quilting soon.

Here are some photos of the apron I am demonstrating this week. They are both exactly the same pattern only the pockets differ. They are both made from oil cloth but the fabrics are quite different - one is soft and supple, drapes lovely and has a matte finish while the other is not as flexible and is shiny. On one set of pockets I did some embroidery, "chicken scratching" which is a lot easier to do than it looks and on the other pair I did some applique.

Irish Country Living - Preview
(Click to enlarge)

To watch the online video tutorial that corresponds to this article, click here.

That's all for now.

The Knitting & Stitching Show

This was a busy and exciting week! The Knitting & Stitching Show came to Dublin and was held in the RDS. There were lots of fabric/craft shops there that we wouldn't normally have access to and some great exhibitions also ("Jaberwocky", my favourite). I managed to pick up some fabric for two small quilts I am making for two boys, two brothers. As always, I am behind on getting them finished but, now that I have the fabric, I hope to have them finished and in the post by Dec 1^st, as they will be making their way across the Atlantic.

Also, at the moment I am writing a small number of articles for “The Irish Farmers Journal” following on from the last series called “Quilt of Memories”. This was a quilt I designed to be made over ten weeks that would be suitable for beginners showing different skills and techniques involved in patchwork. As it was a great success, the Journal asked if I would make another series giving step by step instructions on how to make items for the home as well as gifts and decorations leading up to Christmas. The Irish Farmers Journal decided to launch this at the “Knitting & Stitching Show” and were giving out copies of “Irish Country Living Magazine”, the supplement that comes with the newspaper every week that publishes the craft series. If you would like to follow the series, just pick up a copy of The Irish Farmers Journal (available every Thursday) or visit their website where you can watch a free video demonstration every week.

Irish Country Living - Preview
(Click to enlarge image)

To watch the online video tutorial that corresponds to this article, click here.

Here are some more photos of the placemats that I am demonstrating this week, made with hexagons using the English Paper Piecing method. I hope you like them!

Halloween Sweet Cones

Halloween Sweet Cones
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We had lots of little people calling to our house throughout this week so I thought it would be a good idea to make up some sweet cones for them. So, they filled up their cones with candy rock (bought on a recent trip to Wales by my husband) lots of ghoulish foul smelling "halloweeny" sweets, chocolate and black liquorice, and they all went home happy.  I also got to finish this lovely table runner made with a charm pack from Moda, called "Phenomenal Fall", which is now sitting on our kitchen table for Halloween. The 'friendship braid' block came in handy here and it was made to the exact measurement that was needed. The inside border measures 1" finished and the outside border 3" finished. It is not quilted and backed with calico. I am happy with the design and  the way it turned out.

This is my very first blog and just an experiment. I have a goal! To blog once a week from now until Christmas. Don't know if I can do this but I am going to give it a try. We'll see :)