I made a Quilt!!

As is expected at this time of the year, the last few weeks have been filled with festive get-togethers, exciting gift making and an endless array of baking, giving me very little time to tend to my lovely little blog.

But in the last few days before Christmas, I’ve hoarded away a little bit of time to spend writing to you! And boy, is there a lot to write!

So with Tony Bennett’s Christmas album crooning in the background, let’s get down to business!

First, allow me to introduce to you my beautiful niece Amelia who was born on the 5th December.

Amelia!

She came into the world in a very hurried fashioned that earned her and her parents a National News worthy story! Let’s just say, they didn’t quite make it to the hospital in time! Here’s the story if you want to know more!

Next, let’s address the title of this post…

Yes indeed, I did make a quilt. And I did it in quite a sneaky type way too (you may have seen a few glimpses on Instagram!). Usually at Christmas, my close group of friends and I do a Kriss Kringle type of gift giving. So to sooth my need to make a quilt as a gift this Christmas season, I chose to make one for one of my closest girlfriends who I’ve known since high school.

Sam's Tribute Quilt

Thankfully she loved it! And even luckier, the colours went perfectly with a lot of the décor she has in her new inner-city apartment! Whoo!

The pattern I used is called the Tribute Star Quilt that I found (as a FREE download!!) on the Denyse Schmidt website! It’s quite an easy pattern to follow, choc-full of HSTs and simple squares that would look great using any print or solid fabrics.

Sometime in the New Year, I’m planning on giving the Tribute Star block another go using a few different type prints (maybe) and turning the block onto it’s point and adding corner triangles to the edges. From what I can see in my mind’s eye, I think it’ll be a little good ‘un!

What’s also kept me busy over the past few weeks are the Christmas tutorials I’ve been filming, editing and publishing onto YouTube!

Videos I’ve made include:

Paper-Pieced Christmas Trees

Handmade Christmas Felt Ornaments

Handmade Christmas Paper Crafts

Reindeer Cupcakes

The BEST Gingerbread Men in the World

Rocky-Road Christmas Tree

I’ve been putting so much time and effort into these little videos to the point where I’m quite ready to take a much-needed break once Christmas and Boxing Day arrive!

However, once Christmas is over, I’ll be getting straight back into it!

Before the month’s out, I’ll be publishing another Stop-Motion Embroidery video featuring this beautiful design from Urban Threads.

Create Embroidery

And then in the New Year, I have a ton of new quilt block tutorials planned as well as some other fun crafty ideas for you to be inspired by!

If you want to be in the loop of what, where and when I upload these video tutorials, check out my YouTube channel and subscribe to be the first notified! I would love to have you join me!

So my friends, I wish you all a very happy festive season, celebrating and making beautiful memories with your nearest and dearest!

xx

Handmade Christmas Felt Ornaments!

Get the Pattern: Handmade Christmas Felt Ornamants Template

***

Although it’s currently summer here in Australia, today has greeted us with a cold and drizzly rainy day that I really don’t mind too much at all! (See ya later humidity!)

So, with only 13 more sleeps until Christmas (What!? Surely, that can’t be right?!), here’s a little video I made showing you how to make some very inspiring and very festive felt ornaments!

Now these little beauties are entirely handmade, so of course they will look a little rough and imperfect, but I think that adds to their charm!

If you’re keen to make this craft this season, feel free to be as creative as you like, go crazy and mix up the colour combinations or stay traditional in your designs like I have. The choice is completely yours!

XmasOrnaments

For more information about these handmade goodies, check out the description box that’s accompanied with this video on YouTube.

Have fun making!!

Happy Sewing Friends!

xx

XmasOrnamentsAlternate
Alternate Video Thumbnail

 

TUTORIAL: Paper-Pieced Christmas Trees!

ChristmasTrees

GET THE PATTERN: FPP Christmas Tree PDF

Hello & a Happy Wednesday to you all!
Today brings my first of many Christmas videos for 2014! And we’re starting off with a bit of a tricky one. But take comfort, once you know the basic steps to Foundation Paper-Piecing, you’ll be whipping up these blocks in no time!

Like I mention at the beginning of the video, if you’re new to Foundation Paper-Piecing, perhaps watch the tutorial I made a little while ago explaining everything there is to know to this technique to then help you out with this video.

Tools

And if you’re interested, here’s just a quick little list of the sewing tools I used in this video*…

– Brother Innovis 200QE sewing machine
– Brother 1/4″ sewing foot
– Gutermann polyester thread
– Fiskars Rotary Blade and Cutting Mat
– Sew Easy Rulers
– UHU Paper Glue
– Triumph Craft Scissors
– Clover Serrated Tracing Wheel
– Clover Finger Presser 
– Fabric from Spotlight

And as always, share with me any pictures of your finished blocks if you’re keen on giving this a go! You can contact me here: 3and3quarters@gmail.com

Happy Sewing Friends!

*This is not a sponsored video or post. All products have been bought by me and all opinions are my own.