Christmas is coming!!

Well yes it's already that time of the year again. We're all thinking about Christmas decorations! I've already started it took me a while to get going but the ideas are starting to roll! To start off with I made a few angels. I changed them a little from last years and have given them so lovely hair styles!!!! i also made this wreath which I love. I wrapped it with all different linens some are old. I then made flowers with mixed fabrics - wool, linens and felt. It's very soft and pretty! More images on flickr. Going on Etsy.

Vintage chenille baby blankets

I made these baby quilts last week. I had forgotten I had squares of lovely pastille coloured chenille which I bought about 1 1/2 years ago. That's what happens to me I buy things I love and hang onto them until it hits me what I want to do with them! I've been going through a phase of enormous productivity which makes me very happy indeed. More goodies will be blogged over the next few days. Oh and I made some lovely cushions to go with these too which I will photograph tomorrow and blog!

Vintage bag

A new vintage bag with embroidery and hand crochet trim. I got the pattern for this bag from my Japanese felt book ISBN 9784834723107. It's just the most lovely shape. I made the bag with vintage heavy weight hand woven Italian cotton which I also hand embroidered. The bag is lined with French toile. The cord on the bag is also Italian and hand made, I then plaited it! I've also made 2 wool felt bags which I will blog tomorrow. These are pretty little bags to keep things in and make lovely gifts! More images on flickr.

Hooty and Tweet

Today I made a 'Hooty and Tweet' from the "Melly and Me" pattern for Jamie. They are really cute! I used some of my new farics that I bought yesterday for the two bodies. Jamie picked the fabrics for the blue one with a little help from me.

Christmas pouches and Romantic pouches

It would seem I've gone pouch mad! Oh and old linen/cotton mad too! I love these little purses so much I can't stop making them, I have some many ideas and different variations for them. I thought Christmas ones would be great gift so I've mad the first 3 in reds and naturals. The embroidery for these are adapted from my Japanese books previously blogged. Then I did a couple in very pretty soft colours with applied lace and silk embroidery. I will be making more of these as they are fun to do. More images on flickr, on Etsy

Green Tea and Sweet Beans BOTM- Block 1

Here is my first 'Block of the Month'- I finished so I can keep up with Rach!! I wasn't very good at lining up the bits of fabric. It's quite tricky. I did start measuring but I think I did it a bit too late and it doesn't line up properly!! I hope that I get better!! I also changed a few fabrics to add a few more of the ones I like so it will look a little different to Rach's. I hand stitched these blocks but might try Month 2 on the machine. Month 2 has arrived so will get it started.

New pouches/wallets

I love these as they have so many uses - organising your bag, carrying jewellery, and so on. They also make great gifts. The sea blue/green pouches have been made with lovely machine embroidered linen fabrics and natural coloured linen. They are both lined with blue toile and have a shell button closure. The other pouch is made with vintage hessian and Japanese navy/beige floral. The flap has been embellished with linen, toile and hand crochet trim. It also has a lovely floral applique which has then been hand embroidered with Italian silk thread. It is lined with a natural colured linen and also has a shell button closure. More images on flickr

Green tea and sweet beans BOTM

Whoopee I finished my first block for the Green tea and sweet beans quilt. I've had it for quite sometime and hadn't started. I took the bull by the horns pulled out the instructions deciphered them and started. I thought 'my goodness' what have I gotten myself into. Actually it's my sister Sarah's fault she's doing it too and attached the bug to me! I am not precise and this is a job of precision! Whilst I was sewing the the individual blocks I thought 'ooooh it's all wrong and I won't be able to match them'. Thankgoodness I percevered as it all worked out and I've decided I like it! Need to get on with the next block before the next lot arrive. Oh I forgot to mention I cheated i sewed it on the sewing machine, too long by hand not to mention my stitches are like dogs teeth! Sas want to see yours hurry up and finish so we can see it too.

Navy blue linen bag

I love this new bag! I used a heavy weight navy linen, lovely texture. I applied different linens and trim with the machine. I lined the bag with a beautiful Japanese fish fabric I bought in Australia when I was there. I've been dying to do something with it. I had thought I would embroider a fish on the front of the fabric but them when I saw the applique I liked it so much I left it as is.

Cushion madness!

As you can tell I love cushions! I've made more, the fabric made me do it! For these cushions I used more of my vintage hessian which I just love. I machine appliqued strips of linen, tulle, handmade crochet trim, and even an old doiley (I'm not sure what it's called in English). I then embroidered using embroidery floss and/or Appleton wools. The monogram cushion is backed with a gorgeous plum coloured Max Mara linen, the other with natural linen. Yes I am fortunate enough to have a very large Max Mara outlet nearby. I must be the only person who goes in there and doesn't look at the clothing because I only have eyes for the fabric remnants!!!!! More images on flickr.

Red and beige pouches

These lovely pouches are made with some remnants fabrics I got at No Chintz in Sydney. By the way it's the best shop so if you're in Sydney pay a visit. The fabrics are upholstery weight 3 are linen and one a heavy weight cotton. I just love these little pouches as they are so useful and fit nicely into your handbag. They are also great as cosmetics bags and could even be used as an evening purse. Oh and Christmas is on the way they could be hung on the tree with presents in them - nice!!!