More Jane

Welcome 🙂

Here are a few more of the dark blue blocks I’ve been working on;

G7 Indianapolis – pieced and appliqué.

M13 Lynette’s Diamond – pieced and appliqué

L4 St. George’s Cross – pieced, a bit wonky but I’m sure it won’t be noticeable when all the blocks are sewn together!

M1 Dogwood Days – foundation pieced and pieced.

A13 Starlight-Starbright – EPP

D2 Mouse in a Mirror – EPP

One thing I have discovered is that hand sewing these close weave batiks is tough going on my poor fingers! So much so that I’ve had to make myself another batch of leather thimbles to cope! (This post shows how I do it)

It’s also probably why my little scrap project of hexagon flowers has been having more attention than I thought it would!

Sewing these is so much easier than the batiks! I’ve not only caught up with making one a week but I’m also ahead of the game with a couple of April’s flowers already made!

My Ladies Wot Sew group are going to try to make something for Christmas each month. Well, January came and went with no project but we did make a start this month with a Christmas card holder. Fiona from Celtic Thistle Stitches gave me the idea, thank you Fiona, and this is what I made.

It still needs a long piece of wide ribbon sewing on the bottom of it so cards can be attached to it but you get the idea. These will replace a couple of tatty cardboard card holders which are past their best.

I’m linking this up to Ho Ho Ho and on we Sew at Charly and Ben’s Crafty Corner

Until next time,

Chris x

 

 

 

 

Up On the Roof Top

Welcome 🙂

I’m still busy working on my newly started Dear Jane quilt but thought you might like to see this little wall hanging which was secretly stitched as a Christmas present.

It was finished way back in June last year after attending a workshop in April (or was it May?) I did post a picture of it here as a work in progress.

As soon as I saw it I knew it had to be a present for my daughter and her husband on their first Christmas as Mr and Mrs.

Now before I even show you this photo may I apologise for the quality! I took it on a very sunny day in the summer and the colours are all out of kilter, but as it’s the only one I have of it it will have to do!

These ones show parts of the wall hanging and the colours are much more realistic.

I’m happy to report that they liked it 🙂

Now, back to Jane!

Until next time,

Chris x

 

 

German Stars

Welcome 🙂

Last year I posted a few Christmas projects (just here!) I found on the internet which, if I’d had the time, I would have made!

Well this year I actually got round to trying out one of the projects – German folded stars. These are traditionally made using paper but some clever person obviously thought about using fabric and it worked.

So far I’ve made them using folded strips of fabric (so the raw edges are hidden) ribbon

and an old tape measure!

Whilst making them I referred to a couple of tutorials.

This one by Betz White was good to get the dimensions of the fabric you need and is slightly different to this one by Bonnie of What About Pie, this makes the star I made with the tape measure, but you can omit the last few steps and still end up with the same star as in the previous link.

Bonnie’s tutorial uses paper to make the star and has a grand total of 59 photos to make the process clear – very helpful the first couple of times you make them 😉

I secured the ends using a couple of carefully placed stitches on the fabric stars and PVA glue on the ribbon stars I made – the tape measure star didn’t need anything to hold it in place.

The loop is a length of crochet cotton but some ribbon would work well too.

Here are a couple more decorations that I want to have a go at one day.

This little bell is so delicate.

and this paper bauble looks fun.

Until next time,

Chris x

 

Christmas Cards

Welcome 🙂

Christmas is a-coming and I’ve actually got round to doing something about it!

For many years now I’ve loved receiving cards which are photographs of someone’s creations and this year I decided to have a go at making one for myself.

After a bit of designing, and sewing I made this…

…and I then had a photograph of it printed onto card stock using an online company who do this sort of thing.

So far, I’ve had a few nice comments from people who have received them which is very encouraging 🙂

Does anyone else make their own cards like this?

Hope you all have a great week end.

Until next time,

Chris x

Anyone for Tennis

Welcome 🙂

Tennis elbow that is 😦

I have been suffering for a few months now and it’s not getting better. I don’t suppose all the hand quilting helped! As it is in fact getting worse I’ve decided (VERY reluctantly) that I must be sensible and stop doing all things that might be irritating my poor arm.

Of course that includes sewing, so I’m going to take a week long break from picking up a needle and thread and I’ll see if it makes a difference.The idea of a day with no sewing is very strange indeed.

So today is the first day of my no sew routine and I’ve ended up moving furniture instead – new bed arriving tomorrow so had to move old bed and clean all those dust bunnies away! Hmm I think a bit of gentle sewing would have been better for my arm than that!

Before I started my no sew regime I finished this little Christmas pudding fairy ( I started this here).

She’s like a bumble bee – all body and tiny wings 😉

I’m going to take this opportunity to go through my sewing stuff and unearth all my WiPs ready for when my arm is feeling a bit better which will hopefully be soon.

Take care.

Until next time,

Chris x

I’m linking this up to Esther’s WiPs on Wednesdays.

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