Christmas Items

I bought some christmas fabric the other week to make some christmas items, I was spoilt for choice for fabric but eventually decided on these fabrics 

Work in progress...

On facebook a lot of people have already made (and sold!) christmas things, so I thought I would make a start, I've got some ideas for christmas stockings, still a work in progress though...the little squares when they are finished will be hopefully be applique presents! I've got loads of fabric left so I might make some decorations for the tree as well!

 I've spent the last two hours hand-quilting and I'm taking a short tea-break otherwise I will get fed up and they won't get finished!

all I need to do is decide what fabric for the lining, I think this vintage rose fabric I've used before would be a good match, what do you think?

Edited : just hand-stitched two little applique presents...fiddly little things!  

and made a start on the hanging loop, braided of course!

Josie x 

Christmas - Mum's Present - Garden Rag Quilt

Well just a week to go to christmas and I've finished it - my Mum's christmas present, a rag quilt. Can you remember in March 2008 when we went to Norfolk for my Mum's 65th birthday and I bought the Garden quilt kit..... well for the last six weeks on and off I've been busy trying to get it finished and tonight after busy sewing and clipping frayed edges for three and half hours, it's finally finished! and this is the back of the quilt...

I've used up some of the wool fabric left over from making my rag quilt but I had to buy the wool check fabric to finish it. I hope she will like it, I'm still not sure because of the raggy edges and the bits that come off but well we will see.....I think it looks better than my rag quilt because it is larger!

Anyway that's my sewing for 2009 all done with, so now a few more pressies to wrap (a few! - hubby wanted the pathe news videos so I've got from 1931 to 1995 to wrap up!) and some more food to buy next week (we've already got the turkey!) and the house to clean and I'm ready for christmas!

Josie x

Christmas - the presents

I've finally sold something, someone asked me to make a sewing machine cover with a matching pin cushion specially for them..... and I've sold some stuff on eBay, so with a budget of £26 ( to buy pressies for three people!), I'm off to the Charity shops next week, to look for some cups and saucers to make these.....
This is an idea from Niki @ Nostalgia At The Stonehouse
http://nostalgiaatthestonehouse.blogspot.com/2007/11/tea-time-treats.html but instead of cotton hankies, I've bought some nice floral paper hankies. (I've already used the cotton hankies somewhere else!)

I've already bought some books from Amazon and chocs from Tesco and I've made another Morsbag for my Mum, the embroidery which I've appliqued on is from a tray cloth and the cream fabric is some old stairs curtains. I'll post pics when the camera is working again.

If you need more inspiration for Christmas on a budget, Martin Lewis's website has lots of "Festive Fivers" ideas http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/festive-fivers

Here's a photo of Kitt Cat wanting to know where her food is....as we had just eaten a home-made vegetable curry (recipie somewhere on blog)

Josie x