BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Well I got my Christmas Present early.....Harper Layla came into the world last Wednesday morning.

As you can imagine, we are all thrilled and both my daughter and Harper are doing wonderfully.  They only stayed in hospital overnight (not like my day when we had a whole week in there!) so let the celebrations begin.

We tend to forget just how small babies are, even though they are perfect in every detail.

I felt that Harper needed a special toy for Christmas and I went searching for a pattern.  I found a lovely bright Fox in a Homespun Magazine.  So for my first attempt at a softy, I fell in love with it

The button eyes were just pinned on in this picture, but I have since changed them to felt eyes so there's no danger of small parts coming off.

Jake loved Mr Fox and was very proud to put it in Harpers room, so now I'm making another one for him to match (in boys colours of course).

Having grandchildren brings so many joys and so much more sewing to do.....I think I need to retire now (hint hint)

I sincerely hope that you have a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends and I look forward to blogging with you in 2016


Dawn
xxxxx

TRAPUNTO CUSHION

Been busy lately (as has everyone else) and I havent been posting much...sorry (I still read all of yours though)

With my second grandchild due any day now, my very pregnant daughter asked for a cushion for the baby girls room.  She asked for a H on the cushion (wonder what the name will be??)

I found a wonderful tutorial on Pinterest (dont you just love that site) from Quilted Hugs and Other Nonsense.

It was extremely easy to do, I simply cut out the shapes and using Steam-A-Seam, ironed them onto the spotted square.  Then with a layer of batting behind, I raw edged all the shapes.  I then cut away all the loose batting.  This left just the shapes in batting.

Another full layer of batting behind, and I sewed around the outside of the shapes.  This made them stand out but then I stippled all the cushion front.  This REALLY made my applique POP right out.

A ruffle around the edge and a zippered backing and its finished.

   
                                                                                                 
Now all we need is the baby....

BUCILLA FAIRY BALLERINA STOCKING

Christmas sewing is such a delight and I particularly love the Bucilla range of Christmas Stockings.

After I discovered Debbie from andsew4th and the fantastic Christmas Stockings she has made,  (she also does great YouTube lessons on them) I have been addicted.

I am even teaching a couple of classes at Kate's now for other ladies who like them!!

Here is my latest one just finished, now we are all waiting for the little girl to arrive (should be next few weeks - stay tuned)

With all the sequins, it takes me back to making dancing costumes for my daughter, many moons ago.

I love her little face,  she looks so sweet with those long eyelashes (just like mine haha)






She is surrounded by all sorts of lollies, there's gingerbread men, cupcakes, bonbons, cookies and of course candy canes.

Toe of Stocking

Heel of Stocking

 
                                                                                                   
There is just one thing that needs to be finished......her name needs to be embroidered onto a cupcake which will hang off the side, but we need to wait until she is born to find that out !!!

CHRISTMAS WREATH EMBROIDERY

I can't believe its been nearly 2 months since my last blog.  I've still been stitching, but haven't taken any photos to blog about.

Back in October, I attending the FignBerry Soiree where I was lucky enough to meet Melissa Grant from One Day In May (my favorite designer).

One of the gift patterns was Melissa's Christmas Wreath.  Her designs are a little bit different, she often features a 3 dimensional effect and this one had holly leaves which gave that  look.

Rather than hang this little embroidery on a wall hanger, I thought I would do as Melissa did and get a lovely frame to display it in.

I know its a Christmas design, but its so nice, I think it can stay out all year round.  It looks so nice near my Paper Tole pictures, I can see it everytime I cook.

BELLA GARDEN - FNSI

My McKenna Ryan quilt - Bella Garden is a long term project and I am very happy to say, she is almost finished !!!

Thanks to Wendy of Sugarlane Designs,  I spent Friday night  getting the binding ready (there is so much of it!), now all I have to do it put it on.  I just couldn't wait to show you the photos, now that she is back from Mandy my great long-arm quilter friend.

It has taken me almost 2 years to stay on track and keep going, but its worth it now.

Just love the centre panel with those gorgeous flowers and sweet butterflies.

Mandy did a wonderful job of filling in the background with Ricky Doodles (thats what I call them??)  and swirls all around the border... Lovely

I love feathers so I asked to have some put in and look what she came up with.  (I've just noticed  I need to  embroider a little eye on my mouse..oops).

Check out the water fill quilting that goes all around the gorgeous blue water and sky.

My favorite part is the Wisteria, very time consuming to do but it came up a treat.








If you would like to see my progress making this quilt, check out my Bella Garden label on the side, to see how each block came into being  Or pop on over to the McKenna Ryan Group here to see other terrific McKenna Ryan projects

This one is going in the entry hall when its finished.  Its too nice to hide away in a cupboard so I have Mr H rearranging furniture so I can find a wall big enough to hang her.

ALASKA QUILT

Last year Mr H and I ventured over to the USA and Canada.  After the 17 hour flight (its such a long way from Australia to anywhere!) we arrived in Vancouver, Canada.  We took a Scenic tour of the Rockies and then a Princess Cruise up to Alaska.

Of course with any holiday, I was anxious to visit as many quilt shops as I could find and lucky for me, I found a couple each stop on the Cruise in Alaska.

I thought what a wonderful way to remember the holiday by buying some material which highlighted the animals found in that part of the world; Moose, Wolves, Bears, Eagles etc...

I came home and stashed my material and forgot all about it (probably got lost in my sewing room).

This winter which has been rather colder than usual, Mr H asked for a quilt so the dogs would sit on his lap.  What a perfect 'man quilt' my Alaskan material has made:

I had purchased panels of animals and also some coordinating brown and blue material.

All I had to do was add the black borders and a few flying geese for colour and there you have it.

Very simple and quick to assemble and I even did the quilting myself (I'm getting braver)

I can even say we saw some of these animals in the wild, brown bears running alongside the train into Jasper, a Moose (minus the antlers) in Banff, lots of birds everywhere but no Wolves!!

Mr H and the dogs, are very happy and there's more room in my sewing room for the next addition of material - everyone's happy :)

BLACKBIRDS - FINISHED AND FRAMED

Just thought I'd do a short post to show you my finished 'Blackbirds' that I was learning with Kellie Wulfsohn

I know I had showed you the raw edge applique and I was about to have a go at the free-motion quilting........well here she is all framed up.

As you can see, I am extremely happy (sorry about the photo quality)

Here are some close ups of the quilting

The swirls aren't all perfect but overall the bad ones are hidden amongst the good ones.  Once its up on the wall, no-one will notice (I hope)

FNwF - BUCILLA PROGRESS

Well that was a relaxing Friday night and along with all the other bloggers, which is kindly organised by Cheryl  here is what I got up to......

Now that Jake will be two this Christmas, he deserves a Christmas Stocking fit for a king, and what better than a Train Stocking!!!  I love making Bucilla Felt Stockings so I have allowed plenty of time (cos they do take a while) to do this one

If you have never done a Bucilla before, I have shown a little of what to do:-

1. Start with a pattern, it might look complicated but if you break it down a little each night, you can do it!

   2.  Gather your equipment, needles - beading and applique, pins, scissors, threads, magnifying glasses (only if you need them, but you probably will), sequins and beads.

My Sequins and bead Box

   3.  Layout your pre-printed felt 

    4.  Follow the instructions, they detail which piece, thread colors, stitch, and sequin to use.

   5.  Once you have embellished your numbered piece with applique and sequins, you can then place onto the main piece and stitch in place.

Stocking in Progress

Oh and please dont think I did all that on Friday night (I'm not Superwomen), I only did his scarf (told you it takes a while) but I do love the fringing that is on the end of it.

Well thats what I got up to on Friday night, how about you???  I'll be over to see what you did throughout the week.

By the way, if you want to see my other Bucilla's check out the label 'Bucilla' on the side.

Happy Sewing

Dawn

BLACKBIRDS - RAW EDGE APPLIQUE

I am in the middle of doing a class with the designer behind Don't Look Now, Kellie Wulfsohn.

Kellie has opened a beautiful shop in Fairfield called  Cutting Cloth and is running a Raw Edge Applique beginners class featuring her 'Blackbirds' design

It looks easier than it is (well for me anyway).  Going around the leaves three times ensures that you catch in the raw edges, I think I needed to go around a few more times especially on the curves.  Practice makes perfect and by the time I got to the birds and trunk, I felt a little better.

When all the leaves, birds and trunk  are on....phew took a while, then you sew the branches, leaf vein and birdies legs.

Its very important to hold a good tension on the material while you are doing the applique and my new quilting gloves helped a lot. This will ensure that your quilting will turn out without bumps (I hope)

Tomorrow is my last class and we are going to tackle the quilting.  I've been practicing drawing swirls all week and even had a practice on the machine.

I am not so sure how I'm going to get those swirls in between those little leaves?? but I am sure Kellie will hold the secret.  She has been a terrific bubbly teacher and very patient with us all.  Her teaching room is ideal and last week she even had fruit and fudge to try and inspire us......

I'm looking forward to tomorrow and if my project quilting is worthy, I might even post another picture of the finished job.

Bye for now

HANNAH'S GARDEN

One of my UFO's is Hannah's Garden by One Day in May.  Its a 7-part pattern and I'm almost finished putting it together.

 Here are a few of my finished blocks

Most of the blocks have a combination of embroidery, needle-turn applique and 3D work.

Can you see the two rows of ecru stitching top and bottom?  This was new to me but gives it a beautiful finish.  You do a running stitch to the end, and then weave the embroidery thread back through the stitching line.  

I think the original design had different material, but when I went to buy the kit, there was a substitute piece.  I am still very happy with the colours and am eager to put it all together with the borders.

I must admit, I cheat a little on the needle-turn as I just can't seem to master the art.  I make the shapes first using applique paper which is water soluble and should partly dissolve when washed.  Then I applique the shapes directly onto my block.

Stay tuned for the full wall-hanging, I'll post the picture as soon as its done (dont hold your breathe, it could be a little while, there are quite a few UFO's......... LOL)

Happy sewing

SANTA'S RIDE - BLOCK 8, 9 AND 10

In between my hand embroidery, quilt tops, free motion practice, and classes (just begun a Kellie Wulfsohn beginners class, will show you more later), I am still progressing on my Santa's Ride Machine Embroidery.  

Lucky its a Christmas project, so I still have plenty of time (and plenty to do).

Here are the three latest blocks hot off the embroidery frame.

BLOCKS 8 AND 9 - SANTA IN THE SLEIGH

BLOCK 10 - TOYS IN THE SANTA SACK

If you would like to read more, take a look at my previous post 
SANTA'S RIDE - PART #1

I am making two Santa's Ride at a time, one for me and one for my DD so it takes twice as long.  One background is blue swirls and the other is blue with stars (you might see pics with both backgrounds and wonder what I was doing???)