A Few Christmas Gifts

The countdown to Christmas is growing smaller and I am relieved to say that I have finished every handmade item that I wanted to make as gifts. This is a complete difference from last year when I was sewing the night before Christmas Eve!

One of the items I quilted as a gift this year was a table runner for a very dear friend of mine that lives across the country from us. Since she has already received her gift I figured I could now share it here. I used one of my favorite tutorials to create it, The Half-Hex Christmas Tree Runner by Missouri Star Quilt Company.

My focal fabric was a Michael Miller print that I had in my stash that was just screaming to be used in this project.

I chose some complimenting fabrics and got started with the piecing on the treadle machine. I love sewing gifts on the treadle . . . it makes everything feel even more handmade since the machine is powered completely by my own movements. 

I think my favorite thing about quilting is watching all the little pieces come together to form a beautiful big picture so I always love sharing some of the progress pictures so you can watch it forming as well!

I added a pop of red in the border and the star and quilted it all up adding a hint of metallic thread for some shimmer! It turned out even better than I had hoped it would!

I must admit, I like this pattern so much that I also created one for myself. I switched the fabrics up to match some of the decor that would be on it. This time I used some of my M'Liss fabric in "My Pets Christmas" and complimented it with some shimmering metallic fabrics. 

I also finished and sent a special homemade gift for my friend's daughter. This one was not quilting related but turned out just so cute. I found a pattern over at We All Sew for an adorable owl pillow. I knew that this would make the perfect gift. I followed the instructions and was able to make it in a day. I chose some complimenting fabric leftovers from baby blankets that I had made. 

I cut out all of the shapes. 

And then assembled and stuffed. 

This turned out so cute that I just knew I had to make more. So I did. Last week I whipped up another for my cousin's adorable little boy! 

He turned out so cute that I again whipped up one more in the same prints for my own son that will be sitting under the tree on Christmas morning. I will share more of my projects as gifts get opened! 

Happy holidays and merry quilting!! 

Our Shabby Chic Tree Skirt

I cannot believe that we are only a few weeks away from Christmas now! I apologize for the delay in posting again . . . I have been busy quilting Christmas gifts like crazy! I cannot share pictures of those projects yet but I do want to share a special project that I made for our house for the Christmas holiday. I saw a pin on Pinterest of a beautiful lace and burlap tree skirt and I knew I just had to make one!

Directions for the original project can be found here:  http://www.u-createcrafts.com/2011/10/creative-guest-burlap-lace-tree-skirt.html.

I spent a few weeks collecting some supplies from the thrift stores, which meant this project only cost me $12 in supplies. 

My next step was to cut everything into the right size strips. 

This eyelet lace was my favorite! It is actually a thrifted bed skirt that I got for $2.99. I ended up using every inch of the bed skirt between this project and a few others!

I veered from the original instructions only when it came to edges and ruffling. I knew with kids in my household that I will inevitably have to wash this tree skirt, so I decided I wanted no raw edges. So I pulled out some of my vintage accessories and began playing with the hemming foot!

Why did I not try this foot sooner? I was in heaven!!!

Next was the ruffler foot . . . again, why did I not do this sooner?!

It took me no time at all to have a pile of fabric ready to use to build my tree skirt.

Next I took the thrifted table cloth and drew my line and circle to cut out.

I also cut down the size since my tree goes in a very tight corner. 

I also hemmed the edges on the table cloth. Once you start with that foot you just can't stop. 

I then began sewing on layer upon layer of ruffled fabrics, alternating between them all.

Once all of the layers were attached I trimmed the edges to be perfectly straight. 

I then took some of the remaining pieces of the bed skirt fabric and created binding out of it. I attached this all around the raw straight edges and the inner circle. I also used it to create ties.

And the tree skirt is perfect! It looks gorgeous under the tree!

Hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful holiday season! Until next time . . . happy quilting!