Week Two Update { Stacey }

Hi there, um er I'm a little late for the update aren't I? I stayed up till 1am on the Tuesday night working on my bags. I made a sample that I thought I would try out, and I am still using it! I love it! It's such a lovely big bag, the tutorial is here. So now I have nine bags waiting to have the handles, and then they are finished. No photo sorry because my camera died as I was taking it! For the rest of the week I have been flat out working on a range of kids vintage clothes to sell at markets.

Week Two {Stephanie from Toastie Studio}

ARGH!! My Christmas sewing keeps getting side tracked!! I did at least make a start on gifts.
I made two fabric boxes from camouflage fabric, and filled them with a selection of dutch chocolates and sweets.

Later today I am cutting out and sewing two stockings for my nephews which I will also be filling with dutch candy.
And I am still madly searching for ideas on what to make for the adults and need to find something fast as time is running out!! 2 weeks left till I need to send it all off!!

Week 2 Update: Strephanie of Sewing By Stephanie

Happy week two everyone!  Sorry this post is late, I held off on writing it yesterday because I wanted to take a few pictures to share with all of you, but that didn't happen so here's what I've done (without pictures)

I completed blocks 5 and 6 of the 12 Days of Christmas Sampler Quilt Along and am almost done with block 7.

I made one sewing kit to test out the pattern.  The small scissors I ordered from Amazon should arrive today and then I'll be able to go into full scale production on them.

I made 15 felt ornaments (two houses, two snowflakes, one Christmas tree, one Santa, three swirly snowflakes, one owl, one Russian doll, one Nordic snowflake, one mitten, one mustache, and one singing bird in a cage). 

And I'm 7/8 finished with my skirt from the sew-a-long.  My serger was out of business for a few days after it fell off the table but now it's back and feeling better so I should be able to hem the skirt easy-peasy.

Not bad considering three of the days were completely sew-free because of the 3 day weekend, but I still need to pick up the pace to get everything done in the 37 days left before Christmas!

Stephanie

Carole's update week 2 (A Blessed Life)

No Idea how I did this ..made it a movie..anyhoo thats me all upside down lol

I had a big week work wise and was away at the weekend babysitting so not so much done,it looks a lot but all simple things....

I realised I had not done the Mummies a surf bag and that one daddy although will never use his may feel left out so I did him one,then I realised that the little boys have the same colour so decided to put an iron on name tag on all the bags so when they are hanging on the laundry peg they can see theirs and grab it.

I made the little underwear drawer scented bags for pressies, these are Rose and Ylang Ylang scented, I will make more and pack a large and small in pretty wrap together.

                                                                              Heat Bags

The bags I needed to make,and the names placed on them......

$ more peg bags, these are lovely to make and I will do some more.

Then I have done 3 heat bags and they are Lavender scented..


I have to find my original blog now to check my list, I have some other small things to make and will add a new list when I see what I have missed as you know my deadline is so much earlier I have just 2 weeks really.

Pomona's second week efforts

Phew! Made it on Tuesday this week - the discipline is doing me good. The scarf is only half way, but I have had a big flurry and made a batch of little wallet purses - the whole story and pictures are on my blog today, but here is a little peek.

Credits: pattern is from here at Keyka Lou (Basic Wallet), and  fabric from Tanya Whelan Grand Revival Ava Rose range, and Annie's Farm Stand by Holly Holderman for Lakehouse Dry Goods.

I think I need to speed up the pace a bit though - but I have quite a lot of work come in (I am a freelance editor) so that has been keeping me busy!

Week Two (Kelly)

Well, not a very productive week for me.  Having a few (major) family issues at the moment which seem to drain me of all my energy.  I did get one thing crossed off my Christmas list though

It's my 1 hour vintage sheet FQ picnic rug.  This one is for me and as you can see it needs an iron but I think I'll just throw it in the washing machine instead.

I hope this week will be more productive but it's looking highly unlikely as I deal with a traumatised little boy.

Week Two (Meg)

So there's not been much progress so far in my Christmas makings.  Last week I didn't even do an update as I had done nothing! I have done a little bit since then though but nothing inspiring I'm sure.  I'm enjoying seeing all of your great Christmas things.  It's definitely encouraging me to get a move on.

Today I bought fabric and interfacing for my bike baskets... hopefully I'll have cut them out by next week!

I've made and printed gift labels (some personalised, some generic).

I'm working on a booklet to accompany these play cloths (dyed muslin) for my 3 year old niece.  It will have photos of my boys using theirs so that it might give her some ideas.  If you haven't used play cloths or don't know what I'm talking about check out my blog post (click this link).  They are awesome.

 My cute tile photo coasters have become wooden ones.  No progress so far.

So this week my plans are to:

• complete and print out play cloth booklet
• cut out bike basket pieces
• choose photos for the coasters
• decide what baby gift to make for the teacher who is leaving on maternity leave
• take a Christmas photo of the kids for cards/emails

Week Two .... (Fay)

This week I've managed to finish off a couple of things and make a start on some others that I had been procrastinating about.

I've finished up Riley's stocking ....

I've made the Christmas crackers and stashed them away somewhere safe and out of reach of curious little boys.

I have also made a start on my advent calender (I'm hoping I can get it done by the 1st of December!) and I've finally decided on and started making some Christmas decorations ....

Inspired by this

Christmas Challenge Update (leonie)

So here I am, a week late on my Christmas Challenge update...sigh. But I have been plodding along with my crafting.

We did a photo shoot with the kids to do this year's Christmas card... this is our final one....

But I couldn't resist sharing the out takes... because cooperation was apparently not to be had!

No guessing who are the little monkeys in our house!! Miss K just patiently sat holding the sign while the other two acted the goat!

{Week 2} Kylie

What was a viral infection last week turned into a full blown sinus and ear infection and lets throw in tonsillitis while we are at it.  I have been on antibiotics for a few days now and feel so much better. I really do get sick when I get sick don't I.

I managed to finish off the little coin purses.  I am thinking of adding a movie ticket to these as these girls have been fantastic to my little miss.

I have also decided to go a little easy on myself and am not going to attempt to make Christmas cards this year.  I picked up these from Spotlight (thanks to the 30% off sale) and will work on getting them written up this week and am going to smile nicely at my husband and see if he will write the Christmas letter this year.

I have also cut out the PJ's for the boys.  Hoping to get those sewn up this week.

Week Two Christmas Challenge - Oriel

Hi all - the last week has just flown by but I have managed to do some of my list.

Firstly I have finished the Gingerbread Boy and Gingerbread Girl for my two youngest grandchildren.  They do look a lot better in reality than they do on camera.  Have attached photo below.

As I have a gingerbread theme this year I am deciding whether or not to make a cake Gingerbread House but will have to see what time I have closer to Christmas.

Next on the list are coasters.  I have decided to make coasters rather than a table runner this year as quilting is a very new craft for me.  So far I have only done the one but plan to have at least 8 finished by next Tuesday and hopefully another 6 by the end of November (we are having 14  adults and three children for Christmas dinner this year which is going to be fantastic).  See photo below.

I have been side tracked a little after reading Pomona's blog about the Pleated Pouches and decided to purchase the pattern from Keyka Lou Patterns and have a go myself.  It is a great pattern to use and is very well documented so that a beginner like myself could follow the directions.  The best part about it was that it only took a short time to make and I think the end result was great.

I have also managed to cross stitch some more cards and now I have the beading to do so hopefully they will be finished by next week.

Still a few more things on my list but I have found the Christmas Challenge very motivating and a great help to keep me focused.

Look forward to reading all your progress reports.

Happy crafting!!!!
Oriel

Mini-quilt update

Well, the stripey mini-quilt got a bit boring so I've cut it up and stepped out of the boat to do my first couple of more geometricky quilt designs.  Both are around 1m x 1m and were quite easy to do.  Loving the white op shop sheet that makes a frame for the colours and stops them being too overpowering.

I've also been able to buy lollypop sticks, ribbon and cello bags in prep for the kids' classmate gifts which I'm hoping to have done in and handed out by the end of the first week of December.  We're going to make the reindeer in the top left of this image... marshmallows dipped in chocolate!  Around 40-50 of them - two classes worth!

I'm still dithering about what I should make for neighbours/two teachers/friends and who I should make for!  Ideally I'd love to make something for everyone but realistically I know I can't!

I think I might need to do some larger gifts and some smaller 'token gifts'.  Also I really want to download that clutch purse pattern someone else here recommended.  I think it would be fabulous for my mum and sister in gorgeous gold silky fabric.  I think though that those might be on my If I Have Time List.

I'm so impressed with all your makings - you blow me away!

Week Two, Wahoooo Sandra

Well so far so good, I am charging along, adding things to what was quite a small list LOL
So lets have a look at how I have done this week:

2 Covered notebook made with bind it all for Dad,

4 Altered paper mache letters (I ended up getting wooden ones) spelling out something Christmassy6 Altered CD Case made into a Calender

7 Decorated pillow boxes for the Dr's gift baskets at work (they just need filling now)




I have also made some christmas cards, only a few need to organise some more.
So my list currently looks like this

1 Card writing compendium DONE
2 Covered notebook done with my Bind-it-all DONE
3 Christmas table runner (My first go at patchwork in 16 years eeeekkk) DONE
4 Altered papermache letters spelling out something christmassy eg NOEL DONE
5 Christmas cake, fruit has been soaking in Sherry and Peach Schnapes for ummm a good couple of weeks LOL DONE
6 Altered CD cases turned into Calenders DONE, ALTHOUGH MAY DO ANOTHER
7 Pillow boxes for the Dr's gift baskets at work DONE
8 Altered tins for gift cards

And adding to the list, Giftie for a friend. We decided since we seem to have missed out on pressie swaps we will do our own!!!

**WEEK 2 ADD, Christmas cards,
Alter a jar and fill with yummies for Dad

Righto, must go and enjoy the rest of my day off work
Happy Christmas crafting to you all

Progress Report (Katie)

Hi everyone,

Firstly - love the progress everyone is making. You are all getting so much done! Well Done :-)
I fell off the radar a bit as I had the flu last week. On the mend now and I did manage to get a couple of things moved along.

Here's how my list is looking:

1. Design and make Christmas cards to send out - DONE -  designed and ordered online (I got a deal to get them printed and it saved heaps of time) plus they have already arrived!
2. Write a Christmas newsletter (including photos) - STILL TO DO 
3. Design and order calendars featuring baby for family -ALMOST DONE - designed and I'm just going to do a final check this afternoon and then get these ordered!
4. Make Kiwi Christmas Ornament Swap ornaments plus an extra one for me - GETTING THERE - I have started these, none are finished yet but I have made a start to 5 of them (I think I need to make 9 total!)
5. Make a crochet bag for a friend - STILL TO DO
6. Applique a t-shirt for baby - STILL TO DO
7. Crochet a cushion cover for my Mum - STILL TO DO
8. Turn 2 x cigar tins into mini-albums - GETTING THERE - I picked a theme for the tins and got the photos printed - now I just need to put them together!

It seems very boring posting with no pictures so here is the Christmas photo I took of my baby boy to use on the cards and the calendar...

Week One? Or is it Two now?

 I saw Stacey IRL for lunch today and confessed I hadn't started a thing yet.  That was lunch time.  An afterschool playdate cancelled so I thought I'd start on the easiest thing on my list... a mini quilt for a new little niece in the UK.  Nice and simple stripes.  I'll back it with fleece (probably in mocha to take the emphasis off the red) and edge it with polka dots.  I'm not sure if I'm thrilled with the colours, a bit too Christmassy so far, but I'm hoping the backing and the edging will make me happier with it.

I've also bought these gorgeous green/blue materials to make another mini-quilt for the first little nephew in the family.  Arrrrh Pirate Sam here we come! Stoked to get the pirate material at Spotlight - a half metre for just $2!

 And I'm loving this material $4/m at Spotlight in their sale again.  I'm going to make a little skirt or sundress for Pirate Sam's big sister Miss E.  I'm thinking a Market Skirt a la Made.  I'm also tempted to use it to make some clutch purses for my sister and two SILs.  Too ambitious?  Hmmm we'll see.

We always say we're only going to send presents to our parents and then kids only but I always want to send/make more and then... doh.... realize that the postage to the UK and Hong Kong is the killer kick.

Jen Pen's Christmas Challenge list

Well I might be a little late, but better than never!

This is what I would like to complete before Christmas this year.

Some decorations ...

 

 

 

 

All from Fa la la Felt by Amanda Carestio.

 

And some gifts ...

 

From Scandinavian Needlecraft by Clare Youngs.

And I would like to make some headbands with crochet flowers on them from here ...

 

Hopefully I can fit all this in!!

 

Week One Update: Stephanie of Sewing By Stephanie

My first week has found me with a few finishes, but also with a few additions to the list:

First off I finished the pillows I'm making my sister for her birthday.  They match the quilt I'm making her for Christmas.

Fresh from the dryer (it took FOREVER ironing these things to get them flat and perfect again)

 Each pillow has 24 leaves machine appliqued onto a 16x16" square of Kona white

 I then hand quilted using pearle cotton in 4 colors (dark blue, medium blue, light blue, and teal) around each leaf

and around the border of the pillow in two colors (teal and light green)

I also machine appliqued 7 of the blocks for her Christmas quilt, only 9 more to go!

I also made one Christmas ornament, but I don't have a picture yet.  I'm holding off until I have more to photograph. I bought supplies to make Christmas cards at the Scrapbook Expo I went to on Friday in Ontario.

And I made two more blocks for my 12 Days of Christmas Sampler quilt

I changed up my list a bit and am now only making 5 sewing kits, but am adding a tulle-fringed apron to the list for my aunt. 

I also realized that I'm seeing my friend this Friday who just had her 5th baby and didn't have a present.  I used a Cape Ann charm pack and Elizabeth Hartman's Charm Squares Baby Quilt pattern and whipped up this quilt top yesterday.

 (please forgive the horrible, horrible lighting)

I'm planning on basting, quilting, and binding it today.... and on watching Battlestar Galactica (LOVE that Battlestar Galactica)

I've also been participating in Anna of Noodlehead's Simplicity Skirt 2226 Sew-A-Long and will finish up my skirt this week.