Ready for Christmas

All parcels have been mailed and most have been received, trees are up, floral arrangements done, dark fruitcake is made and wine has been purchased!

This year I opted to leave off the strands of tinsel.

My Charlie Brown tree is in the dining area. It's a skinny one and doesn't take up much room.

Here's a full view of the tree skirt that made my sister made a few years ago.

Our favourite dark fruitcake from an old recipe of mom's.

I have been making a few gifts but cannot show them until after Christmas. Stay tuned!!

Enjoy

3 Pillows

Now that the Twelve Days of Christmas are over, I can show you these quilted pillows my sister, Joan, made us for Christmas. Joan was posting photos on Instagram for the Twelve Days of Christmas and one of the pillows was day 12. I didn't want to spoil her fun. The pillows have 12 triangles of the Flying Geese pattern. You can see more of Joan's Instagram photos @lovemombo. She shows among other things, quilts, knitted socks, children's clothes and garden stuff!

These pillows match two quilts that she previously made for us. The center pillow has stitched and beaded motifs that she found on a piece of fabric at a thrift store in Tennessee. She sure knows how to use such different finds! Thanks, Joan. Love the pillows.

Now for some things I found:

• Pillows on Pinterest HERE and HERE
• 30 Modern Christmas Pillows 
• Batik Log Cabin Pillow 
• Free Modern Quilt Pillows 

 Enjoy!!

Nifty Idea

I was roaming the reduced Christmas section of the Superstore a few days ago, and came across a useful item for my studio. Part of my room has a step wall so this mantel stocking hanger is perfect for using on the ledge beside my machines. It's heavy, won't fall off and can hold a fold up travel case that I found at Dollarama a few years ago. I keep scissors, sewers aid, clips and whatever else accumulates next to the machine. The table top is not as cluttered (for now). I hope they aren't all gone as I need to purchase a couple more!

More Finds:

• I'm going to borrow a nifty link from my friend's last post at Magpie's Mumblings, Sew Free Patterns.  
• A retired St. John's surgeon transforms NL scenes and famous paintings into rugs. His wife (also a doctor) is a quilter friend of mine. Check HERE.
• This Half Round Hanging Basket would be perfect for hanging beside my machine too. 

Enjoy!

Merry Christmas

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas wherever you are!

Today's post shows a few photos of getting ready for Christmas. I know, this should have been done a few days earlier but life takes over.

Gale decorated her own tree at my house. She chose all my bird ornaments to put on hers. Then she looked over at mine and saw a few things she liked and said "that would look better on my tree"! Of course, you know where they ended up. BUT, it's all about making memories. We had fun.

This is Gale's tree

Tree with Shimmer Ornaments

We had a green Christmas but snow was on the ground when this was taken

My Christmas Pudding from an old recipe mom used to make

Made back in the late '90's

Cookies for Santa that Gale & I baked. She did the decorating!

Now for a few links to check:

• Ten Textile Artists Pushing the Boundaries
• Exploring Textile Art on Pinterest HERE
• Art Textiles: Made in Britain
• The Textile Blog 
• The Textile and Fiber Art List   

Enjoy!

New Christmas Book: Stumpwork Embroidery

Fingers crossed that we don't have a power interruption!  We are getting lots of rain at the moment with high winds. I did get to the post box this morning and was surprised to finally get my 3rd Christmas book, Stumpwork Embroidery by Helen Richman. What a lovely book!

The book gives practical advice on working with threads as well as how to stretch and prepare fabrics. There are over 900 coloured photos to guide you through a wide range of decorative and raised stitches. Detailed instructions are included on combining stumpwork with a range of other techniques to create unique designs. Helen has provided ten projects to show how to use the stitches in designs, including stumpwork human figures. Don't you just love the figure on her book!

Follow Helen on Pinterest HERE. Also visit the Bluebird Embroidery Company, which showcases her embroidery artwork and embroidery kits.

Enjoy!

New Books

Christmas isn't Christmas unless there is at least a new book or two! I received two with one more on the way.

Hazel Blomkamp's book, Needle Lace Techniques for Hand Embroidery, was added to my library. I do like the new book format. Check it out HERE. 

 

The second book is Inspirational Kantha by Anna Hergert.  To find out about Kantha, check  HERE.  

I'm hoping to get some free time soon to sit down and explore both books.

• Kantha on Pinterest HERE,  
• Kantha Embroidery    
• How to Stitch Kantha Embroidery 
• Introduction to Needle Lace 
• Needle Lace on Pinterest HERE,  
• Needlepoint Lace Tutorial  
• Needle Lace Daffodil 

 

Christmas

Merry Christmas to all of you. I hope your Christmas and New Year is full of joy and laughter with family and friends.

Thanks for following my blog and reading / commenting on things that interest you. It is very much appreciated.

Today we put together a gingerbread house. After several flops, as icing was very soft and didn't stick the house together very well, it worked! Lots of sticky fingers but everyone had fun!

 

Christmas Trees

It has taken a week, but my Christmas tree is up and decorated. I had lots of help from my granddaughter, Gale, on Sunday. She also finished her smaller tree. It's suppose to go in her bedroom but this is as far as it got. 

Gale made some of her ornaments and also chose ornaments from the boxes. She selected most of the birds and a few cats! Like me, she loves glitter and had to have the silver tinsel garland. Needless to say, we had fun.

Gale's 4 foot tree

• Past posts referencing Christmas Trees HERE and HERE
• Feels Like Christmas Mug Rug 
• Stitched Christmas Trees   
• Plaid Tree Cross Stitch  More HERE on Pinterest  
• How to Crochet a Tree 
• No Sew Quilted Christmas Tree      

Enjoy!!
       

Credit Card Holders

Today I finished making seven Credit Card Holders from my fantasy fabric, for my booth at the Bridgewater Elementary School Craft and Vendor Fair on Saturday.

 

Check out a few more HERE and HERE.  

Which Would You Choose?

This afternoon, I packaged up some needle felted mitten ornaments. Of the two below, which do you prefer - the more abstract ones in photo one or those in photo two?

 

• Needle Felted Ornaments on Pinterest HERE,   
• Felted Christmas  
• Felted Snowmen 
• Needle Felted Cookie Cutter Ornaments  

It's still "WINTER" here in spite of the fact spring came this month so please don't chuckle over my Christmas theme on this post!!

Enjoy! 

Joan's Quilts

My sister, Joan, has been busy quilting up a storm! This first one is part of a series. She will send photos when the others are finished.

This is a cute Christmas Quilt. I love the colors. The yellow is Kona Cotton's color of the year 2016, Highlight.

Free Quilt Along from Sew Fresh Quilts

I've just added a new button on the side of my blog, Have a Jolly Little Christmas Quilt Along with Sew Fresh Quilts. This quilt along begins January 14th. You can make as many or as few blocks as you wish to create either a quilt, a mini wall hanging, a cushion, a table runner, a bed runner or whatever your heart desires!!

Christmas is a whole year away so if you get started now, you could have a few special handmade gifts ready to give.

Did I mention that this is a FREE Quilt Along from Sew Fresh Quilts?

Merry Christmas from St. John's

I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. To my family, near and far, I wish we could all be together this Christmas. Make memories!  To my friends, I'm glad I have you in my life. To my readers, thank you for stopping by and for your comments. Have a great day tomorrow!!!

Storm Watch and other Stuff!

There's a storm watch for this area over night and tomorrow. I'm glad I visited the fabric store today as I have a small project to sew up. I won't need it until January 1st but I will get started on it soon.

First, I have to gut out the studio in between been carpenter's helper. We will be very busy for the next week finishing the painting of back porch, powder room and hall as well as putting down new flooring. Any sewing will have to be done at night. I'm also hoping to get the tree up this week. This is the latest we've been putting it up.

Enough of that!!

From 2012

Check these out:

• Modern Christmas Tree Quilt or block. One of these trees could be a mug rug or small wall hanging. 
• Freebies for machine embroidery   
• This Table Runner caught my eye. It isn't difficult but takes a little time to do. It's on my to do list one of these days.
• Crochet Owl Basket   I like this one too.
• Christmas Embroidery  (inspiration & free patterns)

I hope you find something interesting!
Enjoy!!

Making Progress - Part two

My borders are pieced, ready to be attached to the main part of my project. That's a job for another day.

Now check out a few more links:

• Pentagon Folded Star Quilted Ornament
• Textured Tree With Pleats
• Fabric Origami Ornament
• Mini Felted Mitten Ornaments
• Waldorf Stars (paper but very pretty)   
• Christmas Holiday Projects

Enjoy!!

December!!! Ornament Exchange - Part 3

I love Christmas! The lights, the tree, the decorations, the baking, the food, the goodwill, family, friends, making gifts . . . Need I say more. I will be posting some great links this month so check back occasionally.

Needless to say, the embroidery members did some fantastic stitching. I did not participate in the exchange as there wasn't enough time to do something handmade. My Shimmer Ornaments are lovely and partly handmade but I like to keep my business ventures separate from my guild activities. Maybe I'll have time between now and next year to finally make one to share!!

Here are the rest of the beautiful ornaments from Tuesday evening:

Shimmers and Cake!!

It's time to take the bull by the horns and get back to posting. One of the minor problems I'm having is not having my photos on my machine. I got this new tablet just before we left in May and as a result, most of my photos are on a portable hard drive (somewhere among my husband's stuff) and on my phone. So instead of transferring my phone photos to computer (long story), I have been emailing them to me and using them that way. Got to get all this fixed soon.

Today I finished stitching the last of the new Shimmer Ornaments (elves below). They still have to be trimmed with the burning tool and packaged but that's minor in the scheme of things. All my ornaments come packaged as you see below in the second photo. They can be put in a card and mailed anywhere in the world (cheaper than sending a package).

These elves are drying before cutting apart.

Packaged, ready to go!

The Gingerbread House was designed by my daughter, Jill. You can see her art at: jill-cooper.com
and on instagram: @jtcartist.
Her paintings are amazing!  

Designed by my daughter, Jill T. Cooper

These shimmers are mummers. Mummering is an old Newfoundland tradition. Read about it HERE. 

Mummers

This 24 inch tree was purchased at Home Depot. It has a 6 hour timer for the lights which works out perfectly.

Tree for displaying Shimmers at the fair

Tonight I baked my dark Christmas Fruitcake. This is my mom's old recipe and the best one I've ever tasted. However, mine cracked on the top even though I spread it over with a knife dipped in hot water before baking (mom's tip). It didn't work for me - again!! However, it smells great and I know it will melt in the mouth!

Enjoy!!

Check These Out!!

Verna has more beautiful Temari Ornaments finished! These are my favorite designs.

And here are some interesting blog posts to visit:

• Marmalade Rose (felted wool and stitch)
• Art in Stitches 
• Creations . . . Quilts, Art . . . Whatever 
• Tutorial at Creating My Way to Success 
• Ravelry: 12 Days of Christmas 
• Quilting Mod     
• Spoonflower : Free Piecing Quilt Block Tutorial
• 
  

Icicles

No, we aren't having winter weather, yet!! However, I am making new shimmer ornaments for the Christmas Craft Fair next month. These icicles will be sold in sets of three and are stitched in white and silver thread. I have new packaging ordered to fit these longer ornaments. These will sparkle on a Christmas tree or hung in a window.

Have a look at a few 'Icicle' related projects:

• Icicle Block Pattern
• Faux Christmas Icicles 
• Icicle Ornaments  
• Felt Icicle Ornament  
• Icicle Ornaments on Pinterest          
• Crochet Icicle Pattern (free)

Enjoy!