Scraps,Scraps

When you can't buy new fabric but you still want to do some quilting you have to improvise.
Using my small bits of leftover fabric is the solution I found since my fabric diet began.
I searched for some fabric from my Farmer's Wife Sampler and cut it into small pieces

The little squares are 1'5".
With them I made some nine patch and snow balls, I  want to make the " Short and Sweet " table topper, which is a Kim Diehl's pattern

This is what I've achieved so far, next week-end I intend to make some more.

Merry Christmas

Another year, another Christmas. I wish all my friends a Merry Christmas.
May God bless us all with love good health and... some more fabric.

Fighting with circles

This past few weeks I've been hand sewing. Since i first tried needle turn applique I got hooked on it and I have been sewing a little bit every night while watching T.V.

 My first attempt is finished. I will probably use it in a pillow.

Presently I'm using a pattern from Kim Diehl. It's called " Country Whig Rose", this first part went smoothly but when I got into the small circles... it got tough.

 I sewed the first eight circles but they got pointy and looked like smashed grapes. I had to unpick the whole thing and start all over again

Well, my circles aren't perfect yet but I think I can accept these ones. Hopefully  time will teach me and the next block will be even better.

A little Xmas topper

I found a little piece of fabric with some nice squares. I used one to make a small table topper

The little mouse looks so cute

Now I  just need to sew the binding and it's ready for my small round table.

Emergency runner

Yesterday I began decorating my house for Christmas. I have an old Nativity that belonged to my grandmother. The figures are ceramic and very old, I treasure it. When we were assembling it I noticed I hadn't a runner to fit the cupboard. EMERGENCY!
Today I got some xmas fabric from my little stash and in about an hour the problem was solved.

Now it looks a lot better

PIF from Danette

This week the mail had a wonderful surprise for me. I received a package from the U.S.A. It came from Danette at Quilting Chemist. I was her PIF recipient and she sent me the most gorgeous gifts.

She made me this fabulous table runner

It's so beautiful that I don't know where I should put it, on my coffee table

or on my dinning table, it looks great on both of them. 

 Danette also made me this leaf mat and sent me a darling snowmen with a measuring tape inside its pocket. So sweet!

 Last but not least, I received a pattern to make a mini quilt with a small lil'twister ruler included. I think I got just the right charm pack to use it in.

Forgive me the poor photo.
Thank you so much my dear friend, I loved all your presents!

Sunday sewing

Some little Christmas crafts

No woman can resist a zippered pouch, right?

Hugs,

Teresa

FNSI Report

I had a great FNSI. First I made my two blocks for the Quilting Gallery " Sandy Quilt Block Drive ". I made two blocks that I'm sending to my team leader. She will  assemble the blocks that  I and other quilters are sending and turn it into a lovely and warm quilt to be donated to the victims of the super storm Sandy.

If you want you can help too. Just follow the link above and you'll find all the instructions needed.

The rest of the evening was dedicated to hand sewong. I've been making some applique blocks and this is the one I made last night. It isn't finished yet. The design is from Kim Diehl. I really love her work.

Sewing Saturday

Today I made some more arches and added some more rings to the Double Wedding Ring Quilt, it's growing slowly..

Xmas pillow is finished

The Xmas pillow I had started on Friday night With Friends is finished!

I appliqued the letter and blanket stitched around it. Also quilted around it and made some little stars ( they are almost invisible in the photo.)

 Added some free motion quilted hearts and...

 Voila´! It's finished and ready to go into my Xmas gifts cupboard.

Friday Night With Friends

I couldn't miss this one! Cheryll decided to host another Friday night sewing and I jumped into it.
I've finished my mail organizer.

I used some Moda fabric I had left and now I can organize my mail and my bills ( yuck). I'm going to hang it on the kitchen wall. Now there is no excuse for lost mail!

Christmas is just around the corner so I thought it was a good idea to make some gifts. I've started a Xmas pillow for a little girl. I didn't have time to finish it ,  I still have to applique her first name's letter on the center square.

I would like to have more to show you but yesterday I spent almost two hours on the phone with my dear friend Célia. She is back to Australia and we hadn't talk to each other since July. It was great to chat with her again.

Nevertheless i'm happy with the results and very excited to be a part of this new Friday Night with Friends! Thanks Cheryll.

Needle turn

One project ready to be hand quilted and another one has just began...

I love sewing in the evenings while watching TV.

This week-end I managed to quilt some more feathered circles on my big quilt. It's a hard task and my arms are giving me a hard time.

I love squishy mail

Yesterday I received a package from Australia. It was from my secret partner Chantell. I entered Sue's Cushion Swap a couple of months ago and when I saw this cushion at Sue's blog I wished it could be mine. Never did I imagine that my wish would come true.

When I opened the parcel I had the most pleasant surprise.... the cushion I had wished for was MINE!!

I absolutely adore it. It seems she knows me so well. The fabric, the panels, the colors, everything is perfect!!!

Look at the gorgeous  ceramic button in the middle. It's awesome.

 As I still don't have the stuffing to put in it  I'm showing you some photos I "borrowed" from Sue's blog

Thank you very much Chantell!!! I love my new cushion.

|The first is almost done....

My first needle turn project is almost finished. I still struggle on curves and valleys but I never thought I would enjoy it so much. So much that I'm already searching for some patterns to make a bigger project.

Do you know where can I find some traditional applique patterns?

The rows are done!

At last I've finished sewing all the rows of my Farmer's Wife Sampler quilt.
It was a hard task, there were times when I thought I couldn't get it done.
All those tiny squares and matching ( kind of) all the seams wasn't easy but the important it's that is done.

Most important...I'm loving it

Now I have to think about the border...Solid or print? What do you think?
Today I'm linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced for another WIP Wednesday.

Needle turn applique...first try

I love  seeing all those wonderful needle turn applique quilts all over blogland but I had never tried doing needle turn applique before.
My friend Celia brought me some freezer paper from the U.S.A. ( we don't have it here in Portugal) and she also offered me a DVD lesson on needle turn applique.
So...here is my first try at it

 Preparing the applique shapes

I'm doing a pillow from the Lynette Anderson's book " Country Cottage Quilting". I love her work and hopefully I'm going to have a beautiful pillow.

Don't miss the next episodes ( LOL ).