The Tree is Done!!

The Christmas Shows / Markets are finished for me this year! It's been a hectic fall. Thank you to everyone who commented on my art work and to those who purchased something from me. You are all awesome!

Well, the tree is up and decorated! Big job!!! I wasn't going to put tinsel on the tree this year but it was bare to me as I love lots of glitter. In any case, why break with tradition as I've always put it on my trees. Even as a child, I put it on one strand at a time.

Please note my gorgeous tree skirt. Made for me by my wonderful sister, Joan. This was a birthday gift a few years ago before we left Newfoundland.

I received a pre-christmas gift in the mail this week. What do you think of these!!! Apparently, my sister measured my cushions this summer with Christmas ones in mind.

Here are a few closeups of ornaments on the tree - before the tinsel was added.

Hand made by my friend, Marilyn in NL. Love this one!!

The stained glass ornament is one of three, made by my brother, Don, in NL. Gale made the snowman when she was living in Chicago (about 4 years ago).

 This cat is ancient. It must be at least 45 years old.

This one was made during a textile tour to England in 2008. We visited a local artist and did these.

I received this Temari Ball during an ornament exchange at the St. John's Guild of Embroiderers, years ago.

Enjoy! Hopefully I get back into the routine of posting more to the blog. Thanks for visiting.

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!!

A Crafty Afternoon

Monday was a school holiday here, so we had Gale for most of the day. She wanted to do a craft. We looked through some books and found a Santa ornament. We didn't have any paper plates so a plate was traced onto red computer paper and cut out. The circle was folded in half for extra strength and glued into a cone. The directions were followed but with modifications. Children do come up with great alternatives when the suggested materials aren't available.

• No black construction paper for the boots so Gale drew a pair and coloured them in
• No cotton balls. Wool roving instead
• No arms in the book pattern but Gale made them anyway

We both had a good time. She was happy with her santa ornament!

•  Santa Plastic Ball Ornament 
•  Santa Face Pillows    
•  Santa Hat Ornament    
•  Cross Stitch Santa on Pinterest HERE  
•  Faces of Christmas Wall Hanging   
• Santa Quilt Block 
• Patchwork Santa Wall Hanging    
• Santa Quilt Blocks on Pinterest    

 Enjoy!!
   

Day 1 of a New Year!

Happy New Year's Day! 

 

We had snow overnight and it looked like a winter wonderland today.  Here's a few WINTER projects that I found to celebrate the new year (did you think I was celebrating about the snow?) Yikes!! Not me! I'm ready to fly south with the birds except . . .

Anyway, here are the links"

• Fleece Snowman 
• Winter Sewing projects on Pinterest HERE, HERE,
• 101 Sewing Tutorials for Winter
• Snowmen Patterns on Pinterest, more HERE
• Trapunto Snowflake Pillows

 Enjoy!!

Colourful Plants

I guess by now you realize I'm not at home these days but travelling across this wonderful country of ours. My house and garden are in good hands so I don't have to worry about that. I do miss my own plants but I'm compensating for that by visiting other gardens and nurseries. I liked the various colours in the plants below. Check out the sites listed at the bottom.

Here's a few photos from a flower shop along the way:

• Elaine Quehl
• Garden Maze Quilt Block
• Imperial Garden Quilt
• Rise and Shine (idea)
• Sunflower Craft Pillow
• Poppies & Posies (ideas)

Enjoy!

Cat

I've been a cat lover for years. When my daughter started kindergarten we got a shelter kitten named Blossom (on her certificate). She was quickly renamed Mittens because of her 4 white paws. To me, she was always affectionately called Puss!! Puss lived for 17 years.

I was visiting relatives in Ottawa and they have a beautiful white Persian called Tissue (Scotties tissue commercial). These photos are for my stitching friend in NL who has cats. She'll know who I mean.

To celebrate cats, here are a few links to check:

• Cat Bean Bag
• Cat Pillow
• Fat Cats Wall Hanging
• Cats & Kittens Crafts
• Appliqué Cat Quilt / Hanging
• Terry Cats (cute ones)
• Catsville!
• Free Cat Quilt Patterns

I have more but they will have to wait for another time.

Enjoy!

Show & Tell at the Embroidery Guild

The St. John's Guild of Embroiderers meets the last Tuesday of the month. Here are some of the items shown last month. Firefox is playing games again (at least on my computer) - not all the photos are shown on their screen.

Sewing Box

Cross Stitch Pillow

Needle Point Landscapes

Sashiko Bags

Christmas in July 2011

For awhile I figured it was getting close to Christmas! St. John's had and still is, having the most terrible weather. In June we had 27 days of rain, drizzle and fog. July isn't much better except that the days are a little warmer. On that note, it's time for Christmas in July.

Get inspired by visiting these sites:
Satin Moon's countdown calendar and other stuff
Sew Mama Sew also has an advent calendar, and stockings from a vintage quilt
Gail Pan has a free christmas stitch project to try
This pleated pouch from Skip to my Lou might be the perfect gift for any occasion
I love these Christmas Booties from Cute'n Crafty
BOM Quilts has lots to choose from
Christmas Quilt Round Up from A Sewing Journal, is worth a look
This snowflake pillow is cute. It's from Diary of a Quilter.
Another advent calendar from Moda Bake Shop

Last but not least, check out my last year post for Christmas in July.

Enjoy!

Sunflowers

I know this is the wrong time of year to be talking about sunflowers but it does go along with my previous post! The sunflower is an annual herb and not just a large yellow flower. It has been used as a folk remedy for many ailments but today is mainly used in food preparation. Sunflower oil is used for cooking, margarine, salad dressing and soaps. For more information, check here.

While visiting the National Gallery, London, I had the pleasure of seeing Vincent van Gogh's Sunflower painting. The one pictured on the site is the one I saw which is one among a series that he painted. I did purchase a small matted print of the sunflower. It's amazing how many things have the sunflower motif. There is even a National Sunflower Association.

So, to help get you through the winter months, why not make something bright and colourful! I've found a few things with a sunflower theme. Most of the patterns are freebies - not all are quilt related!

Twirling Sunflower Quilt Pattern
Sunflower Serenade
Wendy's Sunflower Quilt - check this one for the machine quilting
Rise and Shine
Textured Sunflowers
Provencial Sunflower - for inspiration
Sunflower colouring page - pattern for a quilt?
Sunflower machine embroidery design
Cross Stitch Pattern - scroll down
Sunflower Cake - baking idea
Sunflower Pillow 
Cat and Sunflower