2nd prize on its way

Whilst I was finishing the 1st prize for one of the winners of Sooziii's Decorate your blog for Christmas competition, I put together these two small stitcheries for one of the 2nd place getters. One for the wall and one for the tree. These were also posted off today. They very nearly didn't get sent because I liked them myself. I'll just have to make myself a couple before the next silly season.

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1st prize on its way....

Today I posted of the above to one of the 1st prize winners in Sooziii's Decorate your blog for Christmas competition. I know I am very late, but I hadn't finished it. I had totally lost motivation for sewing with all of the hot weather we have been having since Christmas and then I moved onto making charity quilts for the bushfire survivors in Victoria. So on the weekend I decided it was long overdue and finally got it completed. I hope the lucky recipient likes it. I cannot say at this stage who the recipient is, 'cos it would spoil the surprise.

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Get It Done challenge

Well I have finally made a start on some UFO's. As I am a relatively new quilter (3/4 years) I haven't had to delve into the deep dark depths of cupboards, etc. Having said that doesn't mean that I don't have UFO's. I'm sure that I have at least one or two for each year I have been quilting...possibly more. To start I have chosen two wall hangings and a table runner which I started in the latter half of 2008. My reason for choosing these is that they were on the top of the pile and they are relatively smallish projects, so they won't take months to complete.

1. This is a wall hanging which I am making from a panel. There is a lot of faux embroidery stitching in the sashing, but it is difficult to see. I have overstitched these through the three layers which will hold it all together. I now just have to trim it up, do the binding, add somthing to enable hanging and add a label.

2. Christmas table runner. I actually bought this fabric around Xmas 2007, but didn't find a pattern I liked until 2008. This one I still have to quilt, bind and label. You can just see all of the pins in the picture which are holding it together at the moment. I was debating to machine quilt this one, but not ever having machine quilted before I think I might hand quilt it until I can practice on the machine a bit.

3. Another wall hanging. 'Chooks Rule the Roost'

There legless at the moment, so I'm surprised they haven't fallen off the roost yet!! LOL My attempt at some humour. Still have some more to add to the top, then it will need sandwiching, quilting and binding.

Now, one of the above projects will be for one of the blogs in 'Sooziii's decorate your blog for Xmas' comp. And I'm not saying which one, that will be the surprise.

It's time to decorate our blogs for Christmas

It's time again to have fun and decorate your blog for Christmas. Sooziii will put up a Voting Poll closer to Christmas and there will be prizes to win. Click here for all of the details.

In December 2007 Sooziii organised a 'Decorate your blog competition'.

Sooziii's Decorate Your Blog Competition Of course being new to the world of blogging I figured that I should get in on the act. And Sooziii was going to give a prize to the blog which was voted to be the best...even better. Then aubirdwoman and Lindi said that they would supply a prize for 2nd & 3rd places. Well I was lucky & was placed 2nd. I received this lovely wall hanging from aubirdwoman for my efforts.

This will now be hung every Xmas along with all the other decorations.
I love the french knot detail in these sprigs which I think represent holly.

Angels guard over Santa from the back.
Thank you Sooziii for running the competition & thank you Sheila (aka aubirdwoman) for the gorgeous wall hanging. I'm a little late with this posting, however as the saying goes 'better late than never'.

Toffee Apple Bag by Melly & me.....

In December 07 Lindi from 'Quilty threads and other things' had a fabric giveaway and I was one of the lucky winners. Lindi did ask at the time if I had any dislikes. I advised Lindi of the colours and themes which I tend to go for all the time and also said that something outside my comfort zone, the norm, would be good. Well what I received was definately outside of my comfort zone and the three fat quarters are pictured below. The colours did grow on me after a while and I came to like the middle pattern.

I had purchased a bag pattern called 'Toffee Apple Bag' by Melly & me and decided that I would make this bag out of the fat quarters which I had won. I added a cream for the lining and purchased another fabric in the same colour tones for the handles. The finished result is shown below.
As this bag was a bit bright for me, I gave it away as a gift to a friends daughter who was turning 21. I'm not sure if she liked it, but as fashion trends change it may became more to her liking. It actually would make a good beach bag as it is quite roomy inside and the bright funky colours are more summery than wintery.
Thank you Lindi for these lovely fabrics. I enjoyed using these fabrics in making up this bag.
With the bits & pieces left over I was able to make up some round floral shaped pin cushions in various sizes. I teamed it with some matching light blue vintage chenille on the base with the patterned fabric as the top. I will add some pics when I have the camera out again.