12 Kittens of Christmas

Some cute kittens I found round the web

Happy Holidays!!!!

xoxoxoxoxo

Holiday Season- Drawstring Gift Bag

Normally I am very last minute with preperations for Christmas.

When I was tidying up my fabrics I found the holiday prints I got last year and it was too late to do anything with them.

I made them into gift bags with drawstring closure.

 I have two cute prints and a traditional choice.

 These snowmen and snowflakes are very fresh and modern.

The reindeer are so cute with their rosy cheeks and button noses. I am big fan of red and aqua combinations.

 I lined the bag fully with no exposed seams

 The corners are boxed so it can stand up and gives it a smarter look I think.

This fabric is my favourite so it gets two photos!

Are you preparing for Christmas?

Merry Making Magazine by Heart Handmade UK

Heart Handmade UK has produced a wonderful publication: Merry Making Magazine

Merry Makings Magazine by Heart Handmade UK

A must read for brilliant ideas in making your home beautiful this Christmas, ideas to create the best gift tags and wrapping and making wonderful things to share and to give joy.

Love it!!!

Upcycled Christmas- Pimp up your old Christmas Ornaments with Embroidery

Embroidered Christmas


Halloween is over, bonfire night is over and everyone's mind has turned to Christmas. If you are looking for cost effective ways to update existing ornaments, consider a bit of embroidery. Stitching and handcrafted are very in at the moment, as people are appreciating the beauty of handmade. Take a look at these beautiful ideas to be inspired

Christmas Felt Stocking

Contrasting Stitches Holiday Felt Stockings

Felt Hearts and Gold Thread and Bead Detail

Sequents Robin Hanging Felt Christmas Tree Ornament

For the accomplished embroidery enthusiast, beautiful embroidered Christmas Cushions.

If you do decide to make something, only buy WOOL felt, anything else falls apart.

If you'd rather shop, Not in the High Street, Etsy, Folksy and Misi have wonderful selections of unique handmade Christmas gifts and for you to make your home ready for the Holidays.

Christmas Stockings

Christmas has been on my mind, as I don't normally do anything for Halloween. I have been looking at fabrics and after much deliberation, have bought this lovely patterned cream and red.

by Makeower

Rich Red Batik

The plan is to make stockings with it. I was thinking a classic stocking in the cream, with a red cuff.

There are many tutorials out there, pintrest has loads if you are not sure how to make them. I am so excited-will start this on Saturday

Handmade Holidays- aka Handmade Christmas

Make this Christmas -Holiday Season special by offering handmade gifts to your loved ones. And if you are a crafter, don't forget to make something for those in need. A blanket or a knitted hat can help someone in the streets stay warm. Share joy and goodwill.

Christmas Quilted Table Runner Troubles

Hi,

I have been working on my Christmas quilted table runner all weekend. The project went great until it was binding time!

I seem to have a mental block when it comes to that and always get the end stitching wobbly and uneven.

First I attached the binding to the front, folded over the back and stitched in the ditch. The back was a mess! I had missed it in a few places altogether and some of it has a 1/2 inch seam allowance.

Next I tried the technique in  sew mama sew, where you zig zag a secret stitch that only shows on the back.  http://www.sewmamasew.com/2013/01/machine-quilt-binding-tutorial/
Mine showed on both sides.

Finally, another American tutorial came to the rescue. I will be sewing the strip to the back and then sew the front nice and neat. I may even add ric rac as it looked awesome in the video

In the meantime, I am busy ripping the stitches.

If anyone has advise on neat binding please share your wisdom.

Weekend Sewing Project

I had ordered some fabric because I wanted to start making something special for Christmas. It was only meant to be binding in red and white stripe, but I wanted to put it together with the other fabrics before I started. and hurray! It arrived today.

What I want to make is a Christmas table runner, using a quilt technique

I have been looking at Christmas Sewing, Quilts and Christmas Quilts in Pintrest and on-line for days.

Here are some of my favourites

I am not one to stick to patterns though. In my head I have combined endless ideas into a pattern based on my fabrics.

I plan to sleep on it and if i don't change my mind (again) will get started on Saturday. Cant wait!