Christmas stitching

I know, I know.......I said I would post on a Wednesday and believe me, I fully intended too and especially as this is my very favourite time of the year for crafting/stitching, but it's ironic isn't it? It's always my busiest time of the year for things other than my stitching!!!

Family, home, church, entertaining, running the roads, all seem to take priority at this time of the year. Don't get me wrong, I am delighted to be fit and able to do them, but.....sometimes I yearn for a little more time to make Christmas things, but guess what, I am on hols next week and I have promised myself and those around here, that mama is going to have several days of play!!! Watch this space:)

I did manage to find some time to make a few short projects, so that made me feel 'Christmassy'

This little pillow is a 'Country rustic primitives' pattern. I finished it off with wool of course, with little wool applique tongues.





Next is a runner, very difficult to photo, especially with my phone!



A little tree I made, but I will show a better pic next time. My son is to make a little wood block to set it in, but I don't see it yet!lol!



I still need to spray stain the snowmen a little, but I'm a little afraid to, in case I make a mess! Sorry, a bit blurry there!



Next-these little wool applique mittens were a kit I got a while back from Primitive Gatherings. Probably a bit big for the tree, but you get the idea.



This gives a better idea of what they look like-this was before I cut them out with their backs-make for a nice runner or something sometime??



Whoops, don't know what happened there, it published before I said farewell!

Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping in, I hope to be back with something after my few day's of 'playing', but we shall see!

Shazy x

Christmas Sampler quilt top!

I am trying my best to post on my blog each Wednesday and today is just slipping away from me and that includes the light, in order to get a few good pictures!

Last year I started this quilt by Cheri called 'Christmas Sampler'and again it is wool applique. I made a few little changes that personalises it a bit.
Here is the quilt top-just another one to add to my collection of 'tops'!!



I wool felted Santa's fur trims and used mini ric-rac that I got from 'Country Stitches' to outline the gingerbread girlie. Also, some rusty bells to the tree and wool felted snow to the leaves of the top tree.



You can see I added a manger scene, as that is the real reason why Christmas is so important to me in that Jesus my Saviour came as a little babe.
I also included some stitched wording 'Glad Tidings of Joy' it helped fill a little space too!



I may add a few details more and no doubt as I look at the pics, areas that need filling will be clear, but this is what I have been working on the last few days.

That's all I have time for right now as there is a house full of hungry kids here, needing feeding.

Until next week,
Shazy

Quilt blocks and RAK!

It's a blustery Autumn morning here in Ireland; a good day for sorting things out and that is what I have been doing with my Autumn quilt blocks, pattern by 'Heart to Hand'

I finished off the cornucopia last night and then got all my completed blocks out to see what they look like......only 4 more to prep and sew!!!
Please excuse the colours, they look somewhat faded, but I had to use my phone as I can't find the plug to charge my camera. They say creative people rarely have an organised house-that's my excuse anyway!

This is block 7



....and block 8



A picture of the first 6 completed or thereabouts-I'm seeing a little something I might like to change!lol!



Yesterday morning, I got the most lovely surprise! Postie brought me a little package and you all know I just love getting little packages in the post.
my good friend Wendy (The Quiet Room blog) sent me a RAK, a just because, in her own words 'everyone needs a few more pumpkins'. Just look at this adorable set of pumpkins, which I have proudly displayed on my front table for all to see when they enter the front door. Sorry I can't seem to do anything about the blur, no matter how many times I took the pic.



I just love them Wendy and thank you once again for your thoughtfulness and generosity-I might add though, she has enough pumpkins to share with her village! I shall say no more, we all have our obsessions, don't we???

Happy stitching/creating or whatever makes you smile,

Shazy

Wool tree links now live!

Just popped in to say the hyperlinks on my previous post for the wool tree tutorial and 'preferably prims' blog, are now active.I know some people were keen to try their hand at making their own.
Sorry for the delay,
Shazy

Woolly trees!

What does a girl do when she can't buy prim trees in the UK? Well she has to......MAKE them of course!

I LOVE feather trees and I came across a great tutorial on how to make a wool feather tree-well..... you know my love affair with wool? Also my good friend Christine from 'Preferably Prim' had a special birthday and I know she has been looking for some prim trees to decorate with, hence my excuse to get started!
You will see her trees here




I used brown coloured wool and attached mini pumpkins for a fall tree. I showed our teenagers my attempts the other night-of course they said it was lovely but....mum, 'pumpkins don't grow on trees'!!!! How sad, that not everybody gets the prim thing!lol!
I am not sure if I am hyperlinking these sites but I will try again. The feather tree tutorial found here


This is a wool crazy bobbin tree.



A smaller autumn coloured tree and just to show the size....



Finally, a bobbin feather tree



Sorry the links don't appear to have worked:( I will try and edit again when my son comes home-he is more technically minded than I am

Hope you have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by,

Shazy

Christmas quilt top finish!!

It's very like a winters evening here, between the winds howling and the rain beating against the window-very comforting and it is just making me itch to stitch!

I probably should be leaving this post until tomorrow, when I can get better pics, but I have finished my quilt top and I am soooo excited!
The colours are quite dark, but I can't wait until daylight.

Goodness, you would nearly think I had the quilt finished with my excitement, but I am just in denial about the mammoth task of quilting-it is always the bit that challenges me most!

Without further ado- my quilt top! I love how the borders were designed and PG's cool way of doing them in wool.





Another little finish-a Cheri pattern, I started last year.



And finally, a peep at tonight's hand stitching!



Thanks again for popping in and I hope you have a stitching evening lined up too,

Shazy x

Stitching progress!

I wasn't sure how to title this post as it covers a number of things, but first up I want to show you some pictures of my little niece who has a passion for 'Little House on the Prairie' (a yearning for the simplistic life must be in the family genes!!)

Anyhow, when she heard we were for Lancaster county for our hols this year, I got a little request for a prairie dress, but not being able to find one already made, we bought some lovely fabric from an Amish fabric shop and a pattern.So you can guess what I have been working on over the last while for her birthday, which was also 'Little house on the Prairie' themed. I must confess it was a joint affair between my mum and I as she had to come to my rescue a few times!

Here are a few pics from my phone-I just wish you could see the little patterns on both the fabrics-makes them very old looking!





I wish I could capture the image of her going about on her scooter with the dress flying in the wind-reminded me of Lancaster....You just have to imagine it with this pic (the van sort of ruins the image!lol)



Doesn't she look adorable and really suit the image? Happy b'day again Keri and I am so glad you had a lovely time at your party, your mum is quite the party organiser!

I have been making some progress with my Christmas 'heart to Hand' quilt. All the blocks are finished (until I spy something I have left out) and I am working on the borders now. Sorry I couldn't get great shots as I had no models to hold it up for me, when photographing.







We had another momentous occasion in our household.....babe started primary school!
Just look at all the size of this wean going to school.....here is all three ready to head out for another years study. I can't believe summer is over and the routine has begun!



Thanks again for taking the time to share with us here and hope you all have a great week,

Shazy x