Christmas Critters

I just noticed that there is a linky party for these cute little critters over at Mocking Bird Hill Cottage and also at Creative Cain Cabin.
The patterns are PDF and free and simple to make. Two each month.

I made the owl yesterday and the cardinal and sheep today. Today I used the good felt. It is much thicker and nicer to work with. It is 100% wool.

The owl is out of 80% wool and 20% rayon? I think. It is much thinner and not as nice to handle but it is cheaper and not quite as 'squeaky' to work with as the acrylic felt.

I had to make a little English Suffolk sheep because they look so cute.

Visit Flickr or Pinterest if you are not into Google+ comments.

Happy Quilting and Crafting,
Val

Just a little pouch

I have been so busy organising to move so I have just done a bit of sewing to try to relax. Nothing final on the sale yet but it all looks good.
When I found the little heart needle book there was a cute pouch on the same blog.
It was easy to make but even though I concentrated really hard when I put the binding on I still got the seam on the front of the pouch. I used regular double fold bias for this one. Since I burned myself out embellishing the heart needle book I decided to find a fancy closure for the pouch. I bought several flashy hooks and eyes and clasps when in America. I chose the giant hook and eye.

I expect to do a few more posts before going offline to move ( I am expecting to move) but after that I have my trip to Sydney with my mum so I will be pretty quiet for February. I am trying to keep up with the goals I set for Something old Something new but I doubt I will get to the something new this month. I also discovered the Christmas decoration sew a long so have to get a couple of felt cuties made in the next few days. Check it out.


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Happy Quilting and Crafting,
Val

Little Christmas Bits 21

Still a day behind. I have just about run out of steam and was thinking it is time to sit back and relax. But then I saw this log cabin santa pattern. One log cabin square makes two santas.
I used a 2 1/2 inch square to start then used 1 inch strips for logs. It turns out quite large. About a 7 inch square finished.

You can find the picture tutorial here.

My Flickr photo

Check out my Pinterest boards if you have nothing to do today.

Happy Quilting and Crafting,
Val

Little Christmas Bits 18

I started this one as I sat on the train on my way to a delightful lunch with family at Room with Roses in Brisbane. It has a lovely atmosphere but is quite expensive ($27 per meal).
The little puddings are so cute and free from Cross Stitching.com.

This is a direct link to the little spice bag charts. There are lots of nice designs for free. I registered a while back. I don't get any newsletters from them. I may have unsubscribed. I can't believe they never would have sent me anything.

You may remember my tea cosy teapot design. I got the cross stitch from the same site.

If you don't like Google + you can leave a comment on the Flickr photo.
You can also hover over and pin the image.
Don't forget you can just +1 my post on Google + if you have already left me lots of comments this month.

Happy Quilting and Crafting,
Val

Little Christmas Bits 14

Had to catch up with a small and easy item. This little stocking was inspired by ornaments on my Pinterest board and is the same design as my ribbon stocking. I like the peekaboo style. I may have to make other things using this method. A tea cosy springs to mind but I already know what I want to do for my next tea cosy and probably tomorrow's item.

Happy Quilting and Crafting.
Val

Little Christmas bits 13

I saw the most beautiful ribbon angel by Karen at Sunburnt Quilts. It made me think that I should get out my Christmas ribbons and make something. A little stocking to hang on the tree.

I cut out a felt shape, gave it a squirt of spray baster then stuck on each piece of ribbon, trimming it just past the felt. I stitched along both sides of each ribbon then flipped it over and stitched around the edge of the felt shape. I trimmed the ribbons with my pinking shears.
I sewed a second stocking shape to the back leaving the top open and putting in a spoonful of plastic stuffing beads to give it a nice weight.
I then attached the the cuff over the front of the stocking shape to seal it up and catch the hanging ribbon in.

Happy Quilting and Crafting,
Val

Little Christmas bits 10 and 11

No wonder I get behind in my posting. I got up at 6am and have just spent an hour looking and pinning in Pinterest. I only went there to get the link for the pouch pattern.

Two projects today for catchup. The one more tonight. Hopefully.

The felt snow globe turned out really nice. I just traced the photo from my Christmas Ideas Pinterest.  I can't provide patterns when I have just copied them from someone else but they are easy to trace. The original is from the flickr photostream of Priscila Cunha Arte & Mimos . She has some nice felt things in her photostream.

I have some plastic stuffing beads (thank you Fiona) and I just add a spoonful or two before closing the stitching for the backing. It makes the felt hang nicely.

This little pouch pattern was easy to follow. It was free from Stitchin' the Night Away  .

I used 8 ply for the pink one then found some silky bamboo yarn more like 4 ply for the gold one and a 3.50 hook.

I plan to hang them on the tree.

Happy Quilting and Crafting,

Val