Xmas Reindeer.......and an engagement.. whew

Good Morning,  I am able to show you my reindeer I made as a secret santa present. This was handed out Monday night at our Xmas drinks...  We are all such a clever group and all make such lovely things and luckily we all received a lovely handmade gift each.  About 6 months ago whoever wished to participate chose a book of their own that had handmade Xmas items in it.  We named them and put them in a box and secretly I handed out these individual books.  You didn't know who you would get at the time, you then chose something in the book and made this for the person chosen.  We opened these last night and it was a lovely night.  Liz had decorated her house in her Xmas decorations and it was just lovely, loved your house Liz... I don't know why but I did not take any photos!!  My brain is a bit dead at the moment..

Here is my item I made....

On another note an engagement has happened in our house this week also.. can't wait to catch my breath next Friday...

I mentioned yesterday that the lovely Ankit and Hannah got engaged......whew what a whirlwind week, not any time to even take photos as they were headed back to Queenstown to work,  Will see them again at Xmas..  Here is a photo from Graduation Day....

On the last note we have been having lovely weather down here and the sun has been shining... it feels like summer...

Merry Xmas
Hope you catch a few minutes to stitch in the week ahead

A Xmas finish..

It's been quite a week in our house... A graduation, junior prize giving, engagement...  Thought I might have caught my breath today ..  But just been catching up on those necessary things like cleaning, washing, Xmas present buying, but...

I have had a finish but only a sneak peek allowed as I can't show this until Tuesday.

Another Xmas finish has happened last week also here is the Xmas decorations I got completed....

The two topiary pots.

Until next week on with the tasks ahead for the week..  I have one finished school already so not much time left for sewing....

Merry Xmas

Happy stitching please do call by again

SHARON

Value proposition QAL

Three more blocks done one more to go! 

I'm working On partial blocks 3 and 4  which are here ready to stitch together. 

So I'm on the homeward stretch just have to get the first path around 14, 15, 16 , 17 then it's block 18 and the Middle path to go.  Never thought I would ever get a Paper pieced quilt made but the proof is here.  I'll be ready to do the final path for the holidays. 

Merry Xmas I hope your all getting ready for 🎄.

Happy stitching 

Sharon

Graduation day today

My dear daughter graduated today I am so happy for her, we are so proud of her , she has worked hard for the last 3 years so it's nice to see her relax and enjoy the day

Good luck job hunting

Santa Sack Swap Parcel has arrived

I'm not sure whether you all remember but I participated in a Santa Sack Swap this year and guess what.... My parcel has been delivered on the front door step when I arrived home today!

A mighty big parcel  I wonder what I have to tuck under the tree before Xmas....

I got to open a present.  In the swap you got to choose a Santa Sack or Tote bag or Stocking.

I chose a Santa Sack.. so I got to open a gift and I now have a lovely Santa Sack to put these gifts into....

Some lovely parcels to go in that sack ready for Xmas Day.

Thanks to Simone go over and visit here at Quilting is my down time blog CLICK HERE


Thanks Cheryll for the great swap...  Santa Sack Swap

BOM - Sew Simplicity

So glad those parcels are finally away so much fun stitching them but the pressure of getting everything finished was a bit much....  Even though I though I was so organised..

So I have decided to stitch this free BOM for me something delicious,  go over and visit Jacquelynne Steves HERE

Santa Sack Swap

Whew!! all done and wrapped ready to go....

Just waiting on the sleigh to pick up....

Ready to go ...

Thanks for visiting hope you drop by again, I hope to reveal some secret sewing soon....

Value Proposition QAL

This blog was to be done a week ago, however life has taken over and I thought tonight after the Xmas Tree was put up it was time to get another blog done!

Xmas Tree 2014

This QAL is so much fun,  I have put the blocks I have completed up on the design wall.  sadly I have had to put aside for the last week, too much secret sewing.... and activities for school and events..

I am working on the blocks 15 and 16... visit Karens blog here

Value Proposition QAL

Xmas Stitching

Where have I been for the last 19 days...  Not sure myself at times but lots of secret xmas stitching has been happening, hopefully by the 1st December I will be able to post some of this as we would have held our Embroidery group xmas get together by then.

I have managed to walk this week and this is my view while walking through the park last Thursday.
Look at those ducklings following mum.  Only in Invercargill would those ducks stop traffic while crossing the road into the park..  funny..

A class was held last weekend and I held two mystery projects.  Only two ladies attempted these the others had too much to do...  but achieved a lot also..

The projects I offered were the following...

Triangle pouch purse

Sewing Carry-all

I have also been working on the Quilt Along by Karen over at Faeries and Fibres and this is a few more blocks.  I hope to post a larger version when I get them all up on the wall. Perhaps I may use the camera and take a clearer shot...

Inserting a zip for a cushion back - Tutorial

Hi, I hope you all had a lovely Labour Weekend in New Zealand and achieved some kind of stitching.

As promised I have the tutorial for the zipper insertion on a cushion back.  This is photo rich to ensure you can acually understand how I do this. Thanks for the reminder Debbie, I hope this helps.

First you need the fabrics for the backing, cut to size of back making sure you allow for another 3 inches on the top colour of backing.

For example if I want to make an 18" cushion, I will cut the back panel as follows:
top colour 18.5" x 9" (2" will be the fold under)
bottom colour 18.5" x 11.75" ( allowance to cut back 0.25")

Choose colours for backing
making sure they will fit the finished
of cushion

1. Place zip right side to right side of fabric
and stitch to the top colour of your backing

2. You will then have this zip sewn to
 the top of the fabric

3. Take the bottom piece of backing
 fabric, place the zip right side to right side
 of fabric matching the sides of fabric

5. Turn right side over
you will have the zipper attached

6. Pull about 2" down over
zip to create a fold, iron
this

7. This creates a fold over the zip

8. Turn over to wrong side and pin
the zip through all layers
then prepare the ends
with pins as ...

4. Sew this to the top of the fabric

9. Make a z, sew along the fold
across the zip and then along the zipper
teeth edge to secure the zip onto
the layers

10. Sew along the zipper along the marks
on the zipper

11. When you get to the edge of the zipper
turn the foot and sew across the zipper to
 the fold.........

12. When you reach the fold on the underside
turn the foot again and sew along the
edge making sure you catch the edge
of the fold

13. Follow the pins and stitch..

14. It will then turn out like this...
Remember when attaching this backing to the cushion top
to open the zip slightly, so you can get into the
cushion when you have sewn around the outside of the cushion

Pickledish progress, 12" Summer Mini has arrived

Welcome to pickledish land, it seems like all I've been doing is making pickles....
but is addictive like hexagons, you just have to keep going... and going...

Here is my progress on the design wall...  A cushion panel, appliqueing the centre down.... I will give you a tutorial on this centre soon...

 

The quilt size on the design wall....

 

 

 

I have a few tips and tricks to put this together, the above quilt is put together with the centre square a pieced four arc piece, (I personally do not like this look as it gives you seams through the block. the black one above is appliqued in a whole piece) I will work on putting up as a tutorial, just give me a day or two a bit slow today as I had a class of ladies last night from 6 - midnight.... it was fun, hope to show you some pictures if they give me them of their designs....

 

A Summer mini has been received from Michell, this is the final in my mini swaps for the year...

Thanks to stitchingcubbyhole for the organising of this it was fun..

 

Thank you Michell for your lovely design

 

Thanks for calling by and Happy Weekend Stitching

Sharon

 

In the sewing room

In between the pickle dish quilt I have been steadily working on finishing up some items and continuing on more blocks

More pickings from the pickle, finished up trimming the arcs, hope you can see, as Paris was not moving!!

I managed to get this oragami folded fabric bag done last week, uses two fat quarters and I had it all made in an hour. A great gift, one for the present box. You can get this pattern from the brother sewing website. "Fabric origami bukuro"

While I am doing this Paris is keen to remove all of my heart pins from my pin cushions on display and not letting me even pick them up

She is a bit or a ratbag and thinks the sewing room belongs to her and her alone.

Queen of sewing

I even managed to get three more blocks prepared for my flower Kim McLean quilt

Keep stitching, thanks for calling by, must get on and stitch

Happy stitching

Sharon