Moore Patchwork & Quilting

I Love Xmas (still) continues

I'm still working on the borders of my I Love Xmas project.

I am pleased with the red inside borders and after thinking about it overnight, decided that a pieced outside border would go nicely.

I cut 2 1/2" squares from the reds and greys and arranged them around the outside until I was happy with them.

Now it's just a matter of sewing them together and then adding them to the quilt.

That's the plan for the weekend.

Lost Postcard....

Remember all of those postcards I posted back to myself from UK?  When I was adding them to my travel journal, I noticed that one day was missing.  It was a day we spent in Worchester and I was sure I had sent a postcard with a photo of the magnificent cathedral on it.

Turns out I was right because yesterday it arrived in my mail box (only 3 months late). It looks a little bit battered and bruised around the edges (Robin said it looks like it's been on a detour around the world.), but I'm pleased to see it. I can now fill that empty space dated 1 August.

Until next time

Lyn

 

 

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I Love Xmas continues

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Since I'm making a Christmas tablerunner, when it came to designing the patchwork blocks I thought a couple star blocks were appropriate.

I found this block in one of my patchwork books - I'm sure it has a name but the book didn't give it one so I remain clueless.

It was surpisingly easy to make and just to add some interest I used two different red and 2 different grey fabrics per block. I did make a third block but the red was a bit too dark and I decided that these two would do nicely.

Once the stitchery was completed I joined it with the blocks for the centre of the tablerunner and then it was a matter of adding the inside borders.

Fortunately the red fabric from my stash worked really well with the red and grey print fabrics.  I've cut them 1" (finished) and will now think about the outside border.

Until next time

Lyn

 

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I Love Xmas

Family Blessings - Love

Hatched and Patched

Anotherof pattern from Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched arrived in store today. 

The Christmas Goose is not a new pattern but a special order for a customer and it goes well with Christmas Bon Bon.

Finished size of the little basket is 3.5" wide x 3.75" high.  The bonus is that it comes with a pre-printed stitchery- makes it a very quick little project.

I love the rich-rac braid around the top of the basket and the ruffled handle.

It would make a lovely gift bag wouldn't it?

The pattern is available on my website. 

The Lovely Bones...

Last week while in Borders I bought a copy of the book The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.  It's been made into a movie directed by Peter Jackson and is currently in cinemas here.  I saw him interviewed on The Movie Show and thought it sounded like an interesting story. 

So I bought the book and sat down at the coffee shop to read it and after only a couple of pages found myself crying.  It is so sad. The story is basically about a girl who was murdered and the impact that this horrific event has on the people in her life. I struggled a bit with the author's concept of death and heaven but told myself it's only a novel and so was able to overlook that.  The description of the grief experienced by her parents is so real - it's not over-emotional but just 'real'. I had to put it away for a couple of days before I could brace myself to read it again.  The story has sadness like a blanket hanging over it and I'm struggling to finish it.  I'm only about half way through but have just decided that it's not for me.  It's going into our box of St Vinnie's donations and I'm going to stick to Tony Hill!

Until next time

Lyn

Christmas angels

Christmas Angels is a new Christmas stitchery from The Birdhouse. It comes in a cute little bag tied up with a red ribbon. I think it would make a nice gift just like that. And the big bonus is - it's preprinted on calico.  You know how I hate tracing - this one lets me off the hook.

The pattern also includes instructions for making the wallhanging as well.  The stitchery size is approx 16" x 5" and the wallhanging is 9"x20". 

The other new Christmas pattern is another Jennifer Knol design.  (She's always doing something good.) It's the beautiful bag I showed you from the Candleberry Country Christmas stitching weekend that Caroline and I went to.  The pattern is aptly titled Candleberry Christmas

Included is not only the bag, but also a large and a small swag featuring the angel applique. As usual, the fabrics Jennifer has selected just set the design off perfectly don't they? I have to confess that I still haven't finished mine yet, but seeing the pattern prompted me to get it out of the bag.  See the buttonson the side?  They are wooden buttons and are available from Candelberry Country.

Weblogs added...

I've just added some new blogs to my list - Abyquilt, Dutch Blue and Hanne Check them out, you will be inspired by their beautiful work.  Also, for us in the southern hemisphere, it's quite strange seeing snow at Christmas. (visit Abyquilt and you'll see what I mean.)

Until next time

Lyn

Decorations

I subscribe to a cross stitch magazine called 'Cross Country Stitching'.  I used to do a lot of cross stitch but slowly gravitated to patchwork and other stitching.  I still get the magazine though and love to look at all the designs.  Sometimes I make them but I find time seems to be against me now.  I received my latest magazine on Friday and it's full of beautiful Christmas designs including these beautiful little decorations stitched on 28ct linen:

I think I might be able to find time to stitch them.  I could even put them into a wall hanging or table runner.

Santa Wears Red Pyjamas...

I was feeling a bit Christmassy so I looked for other stitcheries to do and re-discovered this one from Leanne Beasley called Santa Wears Red Pyjamas.

Isn't it cute?  I love the Christmas tree one as well.  Both of them would be nice and quick to make.

Don't you just love Christmas?  I love the decorations, food, tree, presents, food, music.  When we lived in Jakarta, Christmas isn't such a big thing and we really missed all the celebrations.  You know that annoying piped music played in shopping centres? Those annoying Christmas songs?  Well it's quite amazing but I think I would have done anything to hear one corny Christmas song played in a shopping centre.  It's amazing what you miss.

Don't forget to put your name in for the giveaway.  Robin will draw out the winner tonight.

Until next time

Lyn

P.S.  I'm feeling way better today.  The antibiotics have kicked in and my throat is not nearly as sore as it was.  Thank you so much for all your good wishes.

Christmas stitchery

I was so relieved that the election has finally been called. I'm sick of all of the politics on the news at the moment.  I think it's going to be a long six weeks. Having said that, sometimes I think we take our right to vote for granted.  In some other countries people are literally dying for the privilege that we have. Isn't that an unsettling thought?  We (including me) complain about voting and politicians but at least we have a say. I believe we should take our responsibility seriously. Make sure you are enrolled to vote.

I found another nice little Christmas pattern to show you.  It's a quick little stitchery from Bareroots called Christmas Stitchery. It's very quick to make and could be framed or used in other projects.  Maybe a card?

Reading...

I go through stages when I read books and then I might not read anything for a while.  Lately, I've read Kathy Reich's new novel Bones to Ashes.  I like the main character Temperance and there's always a few twists in the story.  I do find that the autopsies can be a bit gruesome so sometimes I skim through those parts but otherwise they are good to read.

My friend Viv gave me a novel by Tara Moss called Split. I've never read anything of hers before and Viv thought I might enjoy it.  Well she's right.  The characters are interesting and the story has enough twists to keep you reading.  I think I'll read more of hers.

For the Yada Yada Reading group I've just finished reading a Max Lucado book called Every Day Deseves a Chance. It is such an encouraging book and challenged me to look at each day differently. I enjoyed it so much that I'm now reading another one of his called Cure for the Common Life.  It is such a good book.  It challenges you to live in what he calls 'your sweet spot'.  It has really helped me to put things in perspective.

Until next time

Lyn

Heart of Christmas

Still looking for something to stitch for Christmas?  Heart of Christmas is a great little stitchery project by Rosalie Quinlan.  The pattern includes 3 hearts each measuring approx 8" when finished.

I think they would look nice hanging on your tree or as a gift for someone special.

Where has the year gone?

The other day I was reading an article and it referred to October 2007.  I thought to myself 'that's ages away.'  Then suddenly I realised that it's only next month.  I can't believe it. It seems to me that as the year goes on it starts to pick up speed.  I always start the year with good intentions of getting some sort of balance in my life and everything seems to be nice and smooth and then the pace slowly picks up and before I know it I'm running at full speed again. I feel that I'm almost there already. Maybe that's just the modern life. 

Some words of wisdom for today: 'If you rest - you rust'.

Until next time

Lyn

The Holiday Season

Another great Christmas pattern is Holiday Season from Country Cupboard Designs.  It includes a lovely wallhanging and a table throw.  I particularly like the table throw.  I've made a couple of similar throws and find them really handy at Christmas time, to throw over coffee tables or sofas.  You can also put a hanging sleeve on the back and use them as wallhangings as well.

I'm also a real fan of blanket stitch applique - it's so soothing to do. I can get into a good rhythm and off I go.

Back to normal

Yesterday was such a nice day here, it was like Spring had arrived.  I sat out on our front verandah (my favourite spot) and did some stitching for a couple of hours.  It was so relaxing and refreshing that I actually felt 'normal' afterwards. Time out like that helps me to keep things in perspective. I'm still feeling the benefits today.  Have resolved to do it more often - weather permitting.

Until next time

Lyn

Little Blessings

Another great Christmas pattern is Little Blessings by Kookaburra Cottage. 

The photo doesn't really do it justice.  I saw the completed items in person at a Trade Show in June and was really impressed.  The decorations and little angels on the treeskirt have little beads embroided on them.  They are done in crazy patchwork with decorative stitches and beads.  Very nice.  I think the tree skirt would also look nice done in country colours.  Have to add this one to my to-do list as well.

I'm still busy knitting my stole - am quite determined to get it finished before starting another 'big' knitting project.  I want to knit myself a new jumper for next winter.  The plan is to start now and then when the cold weather hits I'll be all prepared.  Sounds good doesn't it?

Happy stitching/knitting/crocheting

until next time

Lyn

All things Christmas

I know it seems that Christmas is a long way off but in stitching time it's not really.  I like to decorate the house wih Christmas 'things' I've made like quilts, stitcheries, dolls, etc, and every year the same thing happens - I wish I had more things to put out or 'new' things.  Last year I made projects every month and by the end of the year I had some nice new things but this year I haven't done anything. So I thought I would start gathering some ideas. 

One really nice pattern is Gail Pan's All things Christmas.  It has 16 little stitchery blocks as well as instructions to put the quilt together (finished size is 40"x48"). 

If you didn't want to make the quil, I think the stitcheries would be great in other projects as well - wallhanging, bags, cards - endless possibilities. There's plenty of time to make the quilt for this Christmas as well.

Every couple of weeks I get this clean up my sewing room bug and I rush around doing just that.  The room looks great for a week or so and slowly the clutter comes back and then I clean it up again.  I'm kinda in the 'must clean up' stage so by the end of the week it will turn into a compulsion and then I will feel good for a week and the mess will come back again.  Still haven't worked out where all the 'stuff' comes from.  Must breed or something.  Maybe that's the key - find its breeding ground and wipe it out before it starts.  Sort of like weeds.

Maybe I'll start on my workbench today - lost my scissors yesterday - must be under the pile of fabric. Wish me luck!

Until next time

Lyn