Post Christmas Post

Gosh Christmas seemed to be spread over many days, but it also already seems along time ago.  Now the family are all back in their normal places, the bin men have emptied the over flowing bins, and the stuff that was shoved into the sewing room to make room elsewhere has been returned to its normal place, and I can get back in!

I did manage the finishes on "The List":

Anisa's quilt got named

Terri's scarf got written on and finished

(although the poem is a family joke, I also stitched it as an infinity scarf, so she can wear it in public:)

 I also wanted to share some other making:  These hearts are traditional Norwegian (maybe  Scandinavian in general) Christmas decorations. They are woven, usual paper or card, but woven in 3D to make a small basket (see this site for instructions)  The more intricate one below was sent to me by my great aunt, the more basic one was made with felt rather than card.

But I saw a few variations on Pinterest, and these appealed to be as a patchworker: I had great fun making some more.  [Note to self - red and white card needed!!!]

THE LIST
FINISHED: * Harry's I-Spy Quilt
FINISHED * 2 Pairs of Patchwork boots   
FINISHED * Wrap for Terri
FINISHED * Anisa's name onto a quilt
After Christmas
 * START Jacket for Jamie
 * START Nicky's Book Block (Out of Africa) 
 * START Janine's Butterfly block (Out of Africa) 
 * START Sana's Home is where the heart is block (Out of Africa) 
 * START Simone's caravan cushions
 * FOR ME Christmas Tree by Candlelight wall hanging

Nearly Finished

Well, thank you to all my cheerleaders, I think I'm nearly done now:

I wasn't looking forward to doing these:  They all needed to be hooped in pretty much the same place to make all the embroideries appear in the same place.

Usually I hoop the item to be embroidered, but instead I hooped some sticky stuff, so that could stay in the hoop and I could stick the napkins to it.

I then drew a line to mark the placement of the napkin corner

And carefully lined up each napkin along the line

And stitched

Each embroidery took a chunk out of the sticky stabiliser which is why that looks at bit patchwork, but it all worked out fine, phew!
 * FINISH Napkins for Anna
Just a few projects to go

THE LIST
For when Dave & Liz's baby arrives
 * FINISH I-Spy Quilt
For Christmas  
* START 2 Pairs of Patchwork boots   
* START Wrap for Terri
After Christmas
 * START Jacket for Jamie 
 * START Embroider Anisa's name onto a quilt
 * START Nicky's Book Block (Out of Africa) 
 * START Janine's Butterfly block (Out of Africa) 
 * START Sana's Home is where the heart is block (Out of Africa) 
 * START Simone's caravan cushions
 * FOR ME Christmas Tree by Candlelight wall hanging

Polaroid 9 Patch, and Placemats

Another day, another two projects off The List

A friend asked for a cushion for her sister, with pictures of the sister's young son. She sent me loads of pictures and I couldn't decide on just a few to use.  I've seen lots of Polaroid blocks recently and thought they would be a great idea to use lots of the photos.

I used Little Miss Shabby's pictures for my inspiration, and made this today.

* FINISHED cushion for Sam


The placemats have now been completed, all 12 of them.  Lisa will deliver them to her friend's mum on Tuesday, so they have been ticked off

* FINISHED 12 place mats for Carol

THE LIST

For when Dave & Liz's baby arrives
 * FINISH I-Spy Quilt

For Christmas  
 * FINISH Napkins for Anna
 * START 2 Pairs of Patchwork boots   * START Wrap for Terri

After Christmas
 * START Jacket for Jamie 
 * START Embroider Anisa's name onto a quilt
 * START Nicky's Book Block (Out of Africa) 
 * START Janine's Butterfly block (Out of Africa) 
 * START Sana's Home is where the heart is block (Out of Africa) 
 * START Simone's caravan cushions
 * FOR ME Christmas Tree by Candlelight wall hanging

Saturday Sewing

I wont achieve as much sewing as I could have managed today, as instead  I took full advantage of the first day in *months* that I haven't had to set the alarm, so I enjoyed a very lazy morning.

Then I got to panicking about "the list" so started on some sewing.

* FINISHED Scarves for Liam and Harry
I stitched these in a dark green as these scarves as going to the girls' boyfriends - they are intentionally low contrast

* FINISHED Increase star on Angel Wallhanging

  

Now in the Nativity crib at church

* FINISHED 5 x flannels for Beth

 
* FINISH Santa Sack for Casper

YAY!  The list is looking better :-)

THE LIST

For when Dave & Liz's baby arrives
 * FINISH I-Spy Quilt

For Christmas  
 * FINISH Napkins for Anna
 * START 2 Pairs of Patchwork boots 
 * START cushion for Sam
 * START Wrap for Terri
 * FINISH 12 place mats for Carol

After Christmas
 * START Jacket for Jamie 
 * START Embroider Anisa's name onto a quilt
 * START Nicky's Book Block (Out of Africa) 
 * START Janine's Butterfly block (Out of Africa) 
 * START Sana's Home is where the heart is block (Out of Africa) 
 * START Simone's caravan cushions
 * FOR ME Christmas Tree by Candlelight wall hanging

Looooong Term Project

I would hate to guess how many years (decades?) I've had this Christmas embroidery.  It comes out each Christmas with the decorations, and it goes away each January, with a few more stitches.

It will be lovely when it's done, I just hope no one is holding their breath!

(No it's not on the list!)


THE LIST
For Christmas  
 * START Increase star on Angel Wallhanging
 * START Santa Sack for Casper
 * FINISH Napkins for Anna
 * START 2 Pairs of Patchwork boots  
 * NEW 5 x flannels for Beth
 * START cushion for Sam
 * START Scarves for Liam and Harry
 * START Wrap for Terri
 * FINISH I-Spy for Liz
 * FINISH 12 place mats for Carol
After Christmas
 * START Jacket for Jamie 
 * START Embroider Anisa's name onto a quilt
 * START Nicky's Book Block (Out of Africa) 
 * START Janine's Butterfly block (Out of Africa) 
 * START Sana's Home is where the heart is block (Out of Africa) 
 * START Simone's caravan cushions
 * FOR ME Christmas Tree by Candlelight wall hanging

Not enough sleeps until Christmas

I'm still working on the list!  But I've had to move it back to normal size - I can't read it otherwise to see what to do next!

I've done some more work on the 12 placemats: so far they have all reached this stage.  They need another round of cream. then backing, turning through and quilting

THE LIST

* START 2 Pairs of Patchwork boots 
* NEW cushion for Sam
* NEW Santa Sack for Casper 
* NEW Increase star on Angel Wallhanging
* NEW Scarves for Liam and Harry
* NEW Wrap for Terri
* FINISH I-Spy for Liz
* FINISH Napkins for Anna
* FINISH 12 place mats for Carol

* NEW Jacket for Jamie 
* NEW Embroider Anisa's name onto a quilt
* START Nicky's Book Block (Out of Africa) 
* START Janine's Butterfly block (Out of Africa) 
* START Sana's Home is where the heart is block (Out of Africa) 
* NEW Simone's caravan cushions
* FOR ME Christmas Tree by Candlelight wall hanging

The finished items have been moved to the Finished page, - that makes the list look shorter!

Long List in the Sewing Sweat Shop

In the sweat shop that used to be my sewing sanctuary ... I have been working hard.  

I have embroidered names onto three dressing gowns, and names onto four fleece blankets.  I have designed and stitched a sample badge for the local scout pack who, next year, celebrate 90 years of scouting in the village. 

I have taken deliver of old covers for 14 caravan cushions, and a roll of upholstery fabric, and have been sent a dozen photos to magic into a cushion for a friend to give to her sister.

Also, I've been asked to alter an Angel wall hanging that was made for the crib at church,  Janet made this fab hanging, but one of the clergy feels there should be just one significant star.  

I think the other three do balance the quilt, and they will be difficult to remove or disguise without looking as if we had done that, so I'm going to increase the significance of the one big star, and hope that the compromise is acceptable to all parties!

 

Which looks best - the echo lines to the right of the star? Or the radiant lines to the left?


And I have been practising says "I'd love to, but I'm afraid I cant" - do you reckon I'll be able to say it to the next person who asks?


THE LIST: As the list is getting longer, I decided to use smaller font as it seems less of a worry that way!!!  I've also moved projects without a deadline to the bottom of the list, and taken off the previous finishes. 

• START 2 Pairs of Patchwork boots 
  NEW cushion for Sam
• NEW Santa Sack for Casper 
• NEW Increase star on Angel Wallhanging
• NEW Scarves for Liam and Harry
• NEW Wrap for Terri
• FINISH I-Spy for Liz
• FINISH Napkins for Anna
• FINISH 12 place mats for Carol
• NEW Jacket for Jamie
• START Nicky's Book Block (Out of Africa) 
• START Janine's Butterfly block (Out of Africa) 
• START Sana's Home is where the heart is block (OoA) 
• NEW Simone's caravan cushions
• FOR ME Christmas Tree by Candlelight wall hanging

Santa's Sacks Sorted

A photo of three more items finished from the lit

And Chloe's sack was also finished, but I guess I didn't take a photo of that.  Carol's place mats have been started: the monogrammed centres have been embroidered.  But there are more new costumer orders that have snuck their way onto the list too - such is life!

So the list now looks like this:

• START 2 Pairs of Patchwork boots 
• NEW Embroider names onto 4 fleece blankets for Debbie
• NEW Embroider initials onto 3 dressing gowns for Phoebe
• NEW Santa Sack for Casper
• NEW Scouts 90 Year badges
• NEW Scarves for Liam and Harry
• NEW Wrap for Terri
• START Nicky's Book Block (Out of Africa) 
• START Janine's Butterfly block (Out of Africa) 
• START Sana's Home is where the heart is block (OoA)
• FINISH I-Spy for Liz
• FINISH Christmas Tree by Candlelight wall hanging
• FINISH Napkins for Anna
• FINISH 12 place mats for Carol
• Batik Square Dance 
• I-Spy for Dina
• Christmas Waistcoat
• In The Hoop Gifts
•  I-Spy for Jane (Chloe) 
• Warm Stars quilt for Philippa
• Christmas sack for Richard
• Christmas sack for Chloe
• Christmas sacks for Liam and Harry

Another Finish from the Christmas List

One of the teachers at school is leaving on maternity leave.  I had it in my head that it was at the end of term, so I have an I-Spy quilt on the list, but no rush . . .  Until I was told that she leaves at the end of this month!

Gulp.  Luckily I did have the blocks cut and stitched into strips, so a quick quilt as I go (my method which really is quick!) and add a binding, and it's now done

Panic over

The To Be Done By Christmas list now looks like . . .

• Nicky's Book Block (Out of Africa) 
• Janine's Butterfly block (Out of Africa)
• I-Spy for Liz
• I-Spy for Jane (Chloe)
• Christmas sack for Chloe
• Christmas sack for Richard
• Christmas sacks for Liam and Harry
• 12 place mats for Carol
• 2 Pairs of Patchwork boots
• Warm Stars quilt for Philippa
• Christmas Tree by Candlelight wall hanging
• Napkins for Anna
• Batik Square Dance 
• I-Spy for Dina
• Christmas Waistcoat