Gifts and Projects

I recently had a day of finishing some overdue gifts and trying out some new patterns and tutorials I've come across over the past few months, trying to clear up my desk and 'to do' pile in the sewing room.

Last December I gave Sam this red work stitchery (A Red Brolly design) for her birthday letting her choose how she wanted it made up. As her business is called Four Red Hens, this pattern seemed so very appropriate.

 

She asked for a hanging and it has sat in my craft room for the past 8 months until I found the perfect fabric to frame it. So very thankful for her patience in waiting for the finished gift.

When we met all the wonderful crafters in Melbourne at Let's Get Stitched, several of them had gorgeous project bags they'd made following Marilyn's tutorial on her Mardi Meanderings blog. I have been wanting to try making one ever since and finally got around to it. Let me say, an easy to follow tutorial and this won't be the only one I'll be making - already planning some in different sizes and fabrics. This one is a gift for Sam as she has gone above and beyond playing nurse and driver as I've had another trip to hospital. (Thinking I might whip up some chocolate fudge for the men in her family who let her come visit and help me out.) The small red floral fabric was a gift to Sam on that same weekend from one of the other ladies, the blue from my stash matches in really well.

While watching a you tube video the other day I spied one from the Missouri Star Quilt Co for Chicken pin cushions. So, whilst I had the red spot out to frame the chook stitchery, I whipped one of them up from the left over pieces. After a slight hiccup where I attached the tail feather to the wrong side, I had it done in no time. I chose to embroider the eyes on this one. I can also see some of these filled with rice and cloves to keep in the kitchen as an ant deterrent. Seeing as it's a chook and red, thinking this pincushion will also go live at Sam's and Four Red Hens.

A few nights later I whipped up another one, so quick, easy & lots of fun.

I also took the opportunity to plan ahead and whip up this table centre for a 90th birthday gift. The birthday girl is a sewer herself, a wonderful mother in the house of our church and I was so thrilled to be included in the birthday celebrations. Whilst she asked for a donation to charity in lieu of a gift, I just wanted to make something pretty especially for her.

All in all, a productive and enjoyable day of sewing with a slightly smaller pile of 'to do' projects on my sewing table.