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"