A pillowcase for you & you & you

I decided the children on my gift list would receive a personalised pillowcase this year as my boys love the ones they received last year.  So after a few text messages with the Mums we have 6 pillow cases for 6 special people.

L-R Blue LEGO FAN, Purple girlie girl, Blue camping girl, Orange piano player, Green bike loving boy & Green LEGO fan.

The LEGO pillows were the hardest as Lego fabric is hard to find in my part of the world, so I ended up printing colourful silhouettes on fabric & appliqueing them on. I think they look cute.

I do particularly love the photo of them all wrapped & stacked.

Handmade Christmas.

December - where oh where did my year go??

Wow, December always comes around way to quickly.

2015 was no exception.

In 'sewing land' I was able to see my son's enjoyment as he completed his Grade 8 Home Economics Boxer Shorts.  He was so proud and enjoyed the process so much, that he made a 2nd pair as a Christmas present for his brother. (Not sure where I put that photo)

 I continued work on "Mum's Quilt".  This quilt was a jelly roll quilt that Mum had made because 'anyone can make a Jelly roll quilt'.  It was a centre that needed turning into a quilt, so after, borders, procrastinating, finding a "mum approved" lily silhouette I was back to work to finish it.

 Water Lily silhouette with 'stained glass' edging

 I then remembered that I had promised the boys personalised pillow cases for Christmas, so a frantic afternoon sewing and they had "Star Wars" & "Pokemon" pillow cases ready for Christmas day.

 

We then headed to Brisbane to spend Christmas with the family.  Mum's quilt wasn't quite finished, so I was binding whilst taking in the view.

 Finally Finished.

 It looks good on Mum's bed

 and more importantly Mum is happy with it.

Then it was Christmas and in a heartbeat it was New Years Eve.

This was our view for NYE .  It was our wedding anniversary & my sister had arranged a motel in the city for us all. The view of  South Bank was AMAZING!!

 Apparently 15 years wedding anniversary gift is crystal.  Hubby did not think this Waterford Crystal Chandelier was appropriate.  At only $15000 it was a bargain.  :)

 As sun set on 2015 we prepared for the fireworks

 

They did not disappoint.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

  

Trying to be a better blogger in 2016.

A Christmas Finish

I have another finished project for this year.

This is my Christmas Table Cloth.

 

This cloth belonged to my Paternal Grandmother.  It was always on the 'big table' at Christmas dinner.  By the time I was old enough to graduate to the BIG table, we were all at the big table so I don't know if I ever got to 'sit at the cloth'.

Any how about 10 years ago Nanna was cleaning  out and decided I could have the cloth as I am a Christmas tragic.  I decided that I needed a tradition for my family, thus started the cloth signing.

  Every year that I host Christmas , I have the guests sign the cloth, I then embroider over the signatures.

 I love seeing how much my kids have grown buy looking at their writing.  In the photo above Edward is 4 (yes it looks like Edmond) and below he is 7.

 I love that as the years go by the signatures will increase and change. Maybe one day my Grandchildren will sign this cloth, who knows?

So the signatures from 2012 Christmas are done and the cloth will go away until the next time I host Christmas, maybe 2013 maybe 2015???

Do you have any Christmas traditions in your house?

Christmas Treats

This Christmas past (2011) I was spoilt with 'crafty' presents. 

I felt really spoilt, so I thought I should share the pressies with you.

My wonderful husband bought this vintage style lace holder made from lovely silky oak timber. (My parents think it looks like a silk worm silk spinner). 

 I will have to remember to photograph the winder with lace on it.

 5 patchwork books from my sister that I had been 'online' stalking.

 and Mum found this piece of Quilty fabric in her Local Quilt Shop.

 a bundle of Christmas fat quarters from Karyn - her plan is that I will sew something from it (hopefully for her)

 And this gorgeous jely roll and layer cake from my in-laws. 

It is all red, white and blue with 'stitched' designs on them. 

 Yummy

 This cute book is full of 'quilty quotes' and biblical quotes about families and quilting.

Thanks Bindi.

I am a very lucky quilter.  Thanks to my family and friends I have lots of new things to do.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FRIENDS

Well Christmas time is here again and our family couldn't be more excited.  We have all been a bit creative.

E made a LEGO reindeer and sleigh.

Baking apricot balls.

 T with his painted nutcracker

 and well, I haven't made anything this month.  Maybe in the next week???

So from the Outback Crafter Family, we wish you Merry Christmas and I will see you in blogland in 2012.

Tea Towels & Christmas, Craft Fair and OPAM

 Look what has been whipping through my sewing machine.  18 tea towels ready for sale at the Craft Fair all paired up and tagged.

Tea cups

 Christmas

 Farm Animals

 Birdhouses

 Books

 And 3 embroidered wall hangings/ bell pulls.

and a close up of  one of the embroideries.

I am getting really excited now.  My hubby is making 'props' for me, we have repainted other props to match our colour scheme and the stock is coming together.  It is just as well I am organised  getting it together as it is only 3 weeks till the Craft Fair.

Christmas has arrived and OPAM

Yes, I know it is only the end of October, so Christmas cannot have arrived, but if you looked at my sewing area at the moment, you would think that it was Christmas tomorrow.

I have completed 3 lovely table runners

 and a couple of adorable wall hangings.

 Here they are in closeup.  The fabric panels were designed by Dianna Marcum (a couple of years ago I think)

 I love the phrase on this one.  It really makes you think.

I have also finished a 'secret squirrel' quilt (made with a friend) that I can't reveal or it won't be a secret, but we love it and we're am sure it's new owner will love it too.

So I am quite excited.  These are 6more items for my OPAM list and that brings the month tally to a very healthy 30 items.  Whew, no wonder I feel tired  like I have been sewing alot.

Christmas in AUGUST??

Christmas has come to my house in AUGUST.  Yes, I completed another UFO off the list.

This table cloth had 1 name waiting to be embroidered from Christmas 2010 and it was a UFO.  Just one short stint of stitching in front of the TV and it is done.

Ah what a good feeling

This cloth has a story.  

It was my Nanna & Poppa's table cloth & we had Christmas at their house almost every year until I was about 18.  This cloth was on the "BIG" table (or the adults' table) and being the 2nd youngest I was never old enough to move to the "BIG" table.  By the time I could move up the table wasn't big enough and they added another "BIG" table so we could all be there together.  

Nanna cleaned out her Christmas things about 10 years ago and thought I would like the cloth & napkins as I LOVE Christmas.  (And I don't mean that lightly - Christmas is the best time of year - truly)

The cloth has lived in our house ever since and I decided when we host Christmas our guests will sign & date the cloth as a memento of their visit.  Now in 10 years of marriage, I have had Christmas of some variety at my house 4 times.  Each year is stitched in a different colour and all guests regardless of age are represented on the cloth.  The names go around the centre design and hopefully will fill the white border over time.

I love that is has captured my children when they were 'little' as they sure don't stay that way for long.

I love that it is a 'tradition' that my family unit has created.

A finished Quilt - yep, completely finished.

It's Finished..... it's finished.... it's finished.

Please meet "Christmas Memories".

Completely finished.  Quilted.  Bound.  Labelled.  Off being valued, FINISHED.

You would recall I blogged about this quilt back in May 2011.

I am so proud of the quilt.  As I feel a real sense of I created this myself, not following someone else's pattern.

It was quilted by the lovely Rosalie of Rose Quilting at Meringandan West.

Look at the quilting detail.  Gum nuts, gum blossoms and eucalyptus leaves.

It is lovely and and I can't wait till this Christmas to put it to use.

Quilt specifications:  Embroidery designs by Heart of Gold Creations, Aspley.  

Fabric: Frosted Memories by Holly Taylor for MODA

Design: Me.

Quilting: Rosalie Waters, Rose Quilting.

Size: 79" x 93"