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

Christmas In July

With only three days to go until ‘Christmas in July’, I thought I’d share with you a special series I made last year for Christmas called 12 Days of Christmas Crafts.

Some of you out there may be looking for some quick little crafts to make to mark the occasion OR are looking for an early dose of inspiration before December 25th comes around!

Here’s a preview of all the things I made in the series…

And here’s the link for the playlist if you’re interested in watching more…

[CLICK ME!]

Feel free to share this amongst friends who you know are searching for some last-minute Chrissie crafts!

I’m hoping to create another series for Christmas 2014 – all depending on how well I can organise my life between now and then! Christmas is busy, busy, busy!

I might be a little early to the party – so to speak – but if you have any suggestions of any Christmas type craft you would like me to demonstrate making, let me know! Comment below or send me an email at 3and3quarters@gmail.com!

Well, it’s only Tuesday and I’ve already got a whole lot of sewing under my belt this week! Whoop!!! Stay tuned at the end of the week and I’ll let you know (and see!) everything!!

Happy Sewing Friends!

xx

Day 12 of 12 Days of Christmas Crafts

Happy Christmas Eve!!

And with that comes the very last day of 12 Days of Christmas Crafts!

(There’s mixed emotions floating around here…)

Like I said yesterday, this craft is the simplest of the lot and will literally take you 5 minutes or so to complete! (Go on, give it a go right now!)

So with that said and all videos uploaded, I would like to take this moment to wish you all a very Happy Christmas (and prosperous New Year!) and to also give my deepest thanks and appreciation for all the support and lovely, kind words you’ve all sent to me over the past year!

It truly does mean a lot!

Happy Sewing Friends!! xx

Day 11 of 12 Days of Christmas Crafts

Wow-Oh-Wow!

It’s Day 11 already! And in 2 days time it’ll be Christmas!

Todays festive project is what I made and gave to some very special friends of mine.

I filled each bag with a bottle of some organically produced Shiraz (I bought it because the label looked pretty!) and hung a little Hessian Bird Tree Ornament from the neck of the bottles.

The final product will be in my Handmade Christmas Low-Down blog post that I’ll write and publish after Christmas!

~~~~~~

So tomorrow comes with the last Christmas Craft episode of this little series!

I can’t wait to share it with you – it’s one of the most simplest projects yet!

Until then…

Happy Sewing Friends!! xx

Day 10 of 12 Days of Christmas Crafts

Day 10 is here!!

Holy-Moly, can you believe it’s only 3 more days until Christmas?! Oh my!

Surprising, I’m pretty much ready for the big day. I have a few cooking chores to do over the next few days but apart from that, I say ‘bring on the big day!’

If you’re still stuck on what to get that special someone aaannnddd you’ve got a knack for sewing up some quick seams, stay tuned for tomorrow’s Christmas Craft…it involves a bottle wine!

Happy Sewing Friends! xx

Day 9 of 12 Days of Christmas Crafts

On this awfully hot and humid summer’s day in Sydney Australia, I present to you Day 9 of 12 Days of Christmas Crafts!

I think this is such a fun and creative activity to do with kids.

Together you can go hunting for sticks and twigs in the backyard, then sort through them and finally make some really awesome down-to-earth tree hanging-thingys.

A word of warning, if you are thinking of doing this with your kids, perhaps use PVA or strong Craft Glue instead of Hot Glue – just to save little fingers from getting burnt! However it does mean the trees will take longer to dry…

So have fun, go crazy, be creative!!

*****

Tomorrow is not only predicted to be another heatwave-of-a-day (40C+, YEESH!), but it’s also my nephew Noah’s 2nd birthday aaaannnnddd I’ll have Day 10 (!!) uploaded promptly in the morning!

Get out your tub of scrap fabrics cos this is a fun one!

Happy Seasonal Sewing Friends! xx

 

Day 8 of 12 Days of Christmas Crafts

Happy Day 8 of 12 Days of Christmas Crafts!!

I simply can not believe there are only 5 DAYS until Christmas! (Yeesh, this year has just flown by!)

Today’s craft has been specially made and modelled by my darling dog Lucy!

Lucy’s simple patience while I filmed her shocked me a wee bit, as she’s usually quite camera shy and tends to either look down or walk away! (Boo!)

See here as an example…

Me & my Lucy!
Me & my Lucy!

But this day she just sat there and let me do my thing! (Thanks Lucy-Juicey!)

*****

Day 9 is all about recycling/upcycling/reclaiming fallen sticks and twigs and making them into something very creative!

Get you’re Hot Glue Guns ready!!

Happy Festive Crafting/Sewing Friends!! xx

Day 7 of 12 Days of Christmas Crafts

Deck the halls with boughs of plastic tinsel! Fa-la-la-la-la La-la-la-la!

Day 7 is upon us! And I only realised this morning that we’re already half way through this little series! (Time flies when you’re having fun!)

Donning my honesty hat, I must admit the only thing I didn’t like about this tinsel wreath is that it was messy to make!

I had bits of tinsel everywhere allover my sewing room and little specks of red glitter from the ribbon in some of the most awkward of body places!

But apart from that, it was a hoot to make and it now hangs in place at my front door!

Tomorrow, my beautiful dog Lucy takes centre stage, modelling a sweet canine/feline project for Day 8 of Christmas Crafts!

Until then…

Happy Festive Sewing Friends!! xx

Day 6 of 12 Days of Christmas Crafts

Get out your cookie cutters, Christmas paper and scissors and join me in making this speedy 3D Paper Star Garland!

I love how effective this simple little project turned out! I have mine hanging joyfully on my bedroom door!

Coming your way tomorrow on Day 7, I’ll show you the how-to to making a very speedy, very simple door wreath!

Happy Sewing Friends!! xx

Day 5 of 12 Days of Christmas Crafts

‘O, Christmas Tree! O, Christmas Tree! How lovely are your branches…’

Looking for an easy little project to do with the kids over Christmas? Well look no further!

This has to be one of the most sweetest, quickest and easiest festive crafts to get stuck into!

If you don’t like the whole photo frame idea, leave the photo step out and hang it up as is!

It’ll still look really Christmassy on the tree!

Day 6 is coming your way tomorrow – another super-dooper quick and easy project! Whoo!

Happy Festive Sewing Friends! xx