Christmas Table Runner

Hello!

It's hot here in Southern California!
Some days it's so hot, that you feel like doing nothing. I made a couple of little crafts with Brenda, and lots of cleaning and organizing.
We did some summer activities, like movies and things like that. Still about a month until school starts.
This week I managed to do a little sewing, and finished this table runner .

I used only scraps and fabrics from my stash. I am really trying to use the fabrics and craft supplies I have at home.

I got the inspiration from here.
My blocks are smaller, the runner was made to fit my sideboard.

I think I need to do some more quilting, and them machine wash and dry.

I used about twelve different prints in green and red. None of the six blocks have the same combination of prints.  I always have a hard time piecing.  Somehow, I always do a little bit of mess up. These blocks were fun to make, but they are not perfect. I enjoyed very much making this table runner. I love the colors and the pattern.

I specially love the candy cane binding. It adds a nice finishing touch.
It took a long time for me to decide to make a Christmas table runner.  I could not make up my mind on the pattern to use.  Now, I just need to make a Valentine one to complete my small collection.
Have a great weekend and stay cool!

Ana Paula.

Patchwork Christmas Stockings

Hello!

I know... funny posting Christmas stockings in April.
I wanted to make them last year, but I got busy, and never made them.
Now, here they are!

I love the Scandinavian look. The matching stockings had to be red and white.
There are several online tutorials on how to make stockings like these. Here is one I like.
The quilt as you go style is the best. Very fast and easy. It's a no brainier.
The pattern for the stocking shape I got from one of my Holiday crafts magazines. I find it very hard to draw the pattern myself. I love this shape, not the old booty one!

The hard part for me was to attach the cuff. It was very bulky, It took me a while pinning and ripping seams. But I love the way they look! My family finally has matching stockings!
I made a stocking for Brenda when she was little, but never made for me and my husband. We had some old plaid ones for a while, borrowed from my MIL. I returned them so I could have a real reason to make our own. I did it now.

I like how they are similar but different. I collected red and white fabrics for a while to be able to make some projects, including these stockings. Not easy, Joann's has a small selection. A couple of years ago they had some new ones, and I got some. Besides Joann's, I only have one more fabric store near by. Sometimes I get lucky there. Sometimes on e-bay.

This is the fabric I picked for the back of the stockings, a cute peppermint candy print.

Now I just need to get some wooden letters to personalize them. I like this idea.
I am very pleased with our new stockings! It's so nice when a project comes out the way you imagined it!

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by my blog!

Ana Paula.

A Christmas Table runner and Thanksgiving Decor

Hello!
On the weekend I finished a new quilting project. There are lots of tutorials online for this quilt as you go table runner. I used this one. Her blog is great, many tutorials and beautiful pictures. I had made a similar table runner years ago,  but this one turned out a lot better. I am really happy with the results.

I made it to fit on this Ikea  storage trunk that I use as a coffee table.
It was easy to make. I used fabrics from my stash , cotton batting and a muslin back.

No Christmas decor for now, but I have some Thanksgiving decor to share.

 We made this Thankful garland other day. Just a bag of paper leaves from the 99 cents store and twine.

Brenda wrote things that she is thankful for on each leaf. A simple and meaningful craft.

I put my Halloween stuff away and out came other things.

This sweet pilgrim bear is from Bearington bears.

Some Indian corn. I love their colors and variety.

A Cherished Teddies mini plate.

Brenda loves this little Thanksgiving display .

Today I went to her school to teach the kids to make a little craft.

Her class loved to make Tom Turkey, this cute craft from Gooseberry Patch. They have the directions on their blog here . We make this craft with the cousins every Thanksgiving dinner. It is so cute!
One last thing, a gift I am putting together for a friend's girl  who turned ten years old.

Because she likes crafts, I got a cute craft book and some supplies that will help her on her craft adventures. A cool idea for Christmas, don't you think ?
Thanks for stopping by!

Ana Paula.