tree skirt
Showing posts with label tree skirt. Show all posts
fabric and day off frolics
I'm gearing up to prepare for next year, despite this definitely being the time of year where I feel like hibernating! It's time to make plans, thinking about what next year will bring and sorting out sewing projects. I'm hoping to get things in order over the Christmas break, sorting out my sewing stuff ready for a fresh start in 2020. Recently there have been a few stash additions, I've been out in Manchester stocking up and enjoying cheese toasties, and finally sneaking some project finishes in!
As I continue to work on my Manx Log Cabin blocks I realised I wouldn't have enough Essex Metallic for the centres so ordered a bit more from Sew Hot and the other prints were just irresistible:
clockwise from top left: Essex Yarn Dyed Linen Metallic in Oyster; Camo in Yarrow, Gleaned by Carolyn Friedlander; Dottie in Coral Metallic, Basics by Cotton + Steel and Pop Off in Peach Fizz, Pop! by Rashida Coleman-Hale - this print is one of those that I HAD to have and knew if I didn't get some I would wish I had. Honestly it's pretty easy to resist these urges nowadays but when it comes to Rashida Coleman-Hale prints I have no control because they are always fabulous.
This next selection was a surprise treat, a very kind lady that came to one of my classes had been to Standfast & Barracks and picked up these big cuts of Liberty Tana Lawn. She knew I loved Liberty and so I got all this for less than the price of 1/2 metre! These aren't scraps, they are large folded pieces. I'm very grateful she let me buy them from her and these snowdrops have already found their way into my log cabin blocks.
Christmas in July
I realise that some people are very prepared for the festive season and there are beautiful homes that are seasonally decorated throughout the year. As much as I admire that preparedness and seasonal living, it isn't something I've done much of. We have banners for certain celebrations, I made pretty spring bunting (free tutorial here) and, of course, we have Christmas decorations. Part of the reason I haven't taken the plunge into changing up the quilts and cushions we use depending on the season is because we don't have a lot of storage space! Despite that though I think it is lovely to be able to celebrate at different times of the year and to have things around the house that represent those special days or changes in season. Today I'm sharing some makes I created for 'Christmas in July' on Sewing Quarter. What I really like about these projects is that they could all be used throughout the year (with maybe a tweak or two!).
I made the Snow Crystals quilt pattern by Pam and Nicky Lintott. It's 72" square and is made up of a lot of HSTs. It's one of those quilts that the more you look, the more different sections stand out and the play of colour value results in a cool 3D appearance.
The pattern it creates is really striking and I like how the corner sections really frame the quilt well. It almost looks like staggered cubes and blocks.
Blue and white is such a classic combination (a close second to red and white in quilts I think?) and, while it has an icy snowflake look, it certainly doesn't scream Christmas! It would go perfectly with blue and silver decorations when it's that time of year though.
Next is a Bargello Christmas tree skirt, designed by Sally Stevens. I managed to get a picture of the back as I was making it but not the finished item - then I got a brilliant shot of Vicki wearing it so there's that below too! I wanted to show the back because that swirl looks so good. It could easily become a table cover if you covered the hole in the middle with an appliquéd circle of fabric. And if it were made with various shades of red, you could create a lovely ombre swirl and then again it could be used year round.
It now occurs to me that I sound lazy not wanting to change up the home decor (that might have something to do with it!) but for those of us with already full houses it makes sense not to have to pack everything away!
The final Christmas make I'm sharing uses a favourite, traditional Dresden Plate cushion. This pattern is by Kristyne Czepuryk and cleverly uses extra wadding to give the Dresden centre and outer sections more dimension.
The fabric is the Joyeux collection by Makower and I like that they've used bright pink and lime in a Christmas range, just look how fun these reindeers are with different coloured noses!
If I were to make this as a 'permanent but could be festive' cushion I would make it with neutral colours that had touches of metallics (like Modern Background Luster by Zen Chic). That way it could live happily looking chic throughout the year and then more Christmassy when surrounded by glittery tinsel!
While one day I might have more space to get creative with makes for every occasion, for now I will make do with bunting, flowers, candles and sewn projects that suddenly look festive in combination with those smaller decorative touches!
Attacking the WIPs
**Make sure you enter the GIVEAWAY before Friday!**
So I said I was being relaxed about my sewing, which I totally am but oddly that seems to mean getting more done! I have been flitting around working on bits here and there and even starting a couple of new projects. Taking the pressure off myself feels so good and makes sewing way more fun - surely the whole point!!
completed
- Vintage Holiday QAL, which became a tree skirt:
- Birthday crown for my son's friend:
This was heavily influenced by Maureen's beautiful crowns and I used this tutorial by Frontier Dreams for the construction. I didn't have felt so I used cotton, sewed on some yo-yos with buttons and appliqued some leaves. It was fun to make and something special for the birthday girl!
fresh
So many birthdays to attend!! I guess that's what happens when your kid goes to school. We had two parties last week, two more this weekend and one next week. That means present sewing...
- 2 pouches using lovely Aneela Hooey 'Walk in the Woods'
- A little lap quilt for my daughter's friend. I'm using up scraps of lovely bird, garden, flowery prints so this one will be called the Girly Garden quilt! I already had some charms cut up left over from other projects and hopefully the scrappy works. We go to playgroup with this adorable girl, her mother has been a great friend and support each week as we sit, drink coffee and chat while the girls play! Actually I've known her since I had my son, who used to play at the same group with her older daughter and we were even pregnant with our youngest girls at the same time! I will miss her terribly next year when they start nursery.
in progress
- Baby quilt. Top done, needs pressing along with the backing and the binding:
- Braid quilt, a couple more strips done:
- Rose Star block number 19:
- Kids project, coming along, there's a few elements but it's coming together.
no progress
- pin cushion
- Blogger's BOM
- Retro Flowers
- Granny Blanket (Rachel so needs to come over again I think I might have forgotten what to do I've left it so long!!!)
- HFWYG QAL
baby
I'm 28 weeks, in the last trimester and apparently the baby can now open it's eyes and has eyelashes! I'm getting very little sleep, still lots of reflux. I've also got restless legs syndrome... I'm the most moaning hormonal monster right now (my poor husband!). There are moments though, deep and pure moments where I can honestly say I'm so utterly happy, so connected to this growing, kicking baby that I feel filled up with love...
if that wasn't sickly enough we've also been cooking some flapjack!
stats
completed: 2
new projects: 3
in progress: 12
Hope you're all having happy, pressure free sewing time too!
Not wanting to be an enabler but you have to check the amazing clearance sale over at Fresh Squeezed Fabrics, there are gorgeous fabrics at just over two pounds a yard!!! Really! Be quick!
Linking up:
Vintage Holiday
I have finished my Vintage Holiday blocks but despite joining a QAL I didn't make a proper quilt, I made a tree skirt instead. My son helped pick out which blocks would be featured!
I am determined to get a real Christmas tree this year and it seemed like the perfect pattern.
Rather than have the baubles facing one direction I positioned them to go around the centre and I couldn't face cutting a circle out of a bauble so I used some great Father Christmas fabric for the middle panel. I really love how it adds to the retro feel. This has some of my favourite fabrics in it and I know I'll be smiling for the whole time the tree is up! I used part of a vintage sheet for the backing that I had left over from the Shattered Stained Navy. It matches nicely with the Flea Market Fancy I used for the sashing.
It was free motion quilted using a holly and berry design I sketched out and I'm really happy with how easy it was to do and how it looks:
I attempted to make bias binding for the whole quilt but my pregnancy brain totally messed up when I was cutting and it was pure luck I could rescue enough to make straight binding for the outside and have enough bias binding for the curve. Not sure what I did wrong really but it just didn't work. If anyone has a fail proof tutorial for cutting bias binding please let me know!
Hoping this will look great under the tree... I should maybe work on some cute decorations too.
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