Postcard Swap

I became involved with Postmark'd Art - a postcard swapping group.  I enjoy doing fabric postcards - but I do not wish to sell them and my friends and relatives may be getting tired of receiving them - so I joined this group.  I signed up for 2 themed groups (there were a few choices) - Winter and Music.  These are my 5 fabric Winter themed postcards that I am mailing out in a few days - 4 go to the USA and 1 goes to Wales, UK.  The object is to get 5 Winter themed cards back.  This is Round 21 for this group.

They measure 4" x 6" - I embroidered the snow people.  It was fun & I hope they get to their destinations, unharmed, and on time.

I now have to create 4 Music themed postcards ...

Modern Christmas Trees Wall Hanging

I had started this wall hanging in January 2014 - hoping to get it finished before spring - but then we went away for 5 weeks!  In December 2014 I decided to finish it for Christmas - but I ran out of the quilting thread (I used too much I guess).  So I ordered another spool (1000 m!), thinking maybe I'll get it finished for Christmas 2015…

The thread came and I finished it New Years Eve day - so I officially finished it in 2014!!

I saw the quilt and instructions at www.christaquilts.com - a lesson in free motion quilting.  It measures 43" x 50" when finished.  It looks great hanging in our entryway - it is crooked here as the nails need to be even.  It is ALL free motion quilted!!  It took 1.5 spools of 1000 m thread to complete it.  The bottom quilting is mini fans - used to represent snow drifts.  The middle quilting is pebbles - used to represent snowballs.  There are also snowflakes and a star on top of the tree; plus the words Peace, Noel and Joy.  The top quilting is spirals or swirls - used to represent the wind and sky.

Zentangle

I needed a card for my friend's 64th birthday & I decided to try one by doing Zentangle!  The process is rather mediative and I had to stop myself from overdoing it.  Not too bad for my first attempt - she seemed pleased with it...

Christmas Sampler

My niece, Judy, was having the Christmas dinner this year - there were about 30 of us!  I found Red Brolly's Christmas samplers this year and decided to do this one for her.  This was was titled "Christmas Home".

I was originally just going to put it into a picture frame, but I had not left enough at the sides - so I quilt framed it instead.  It is about 9" x 10".  

Butterfly Sampler

Butterfly Sampler

Finally got the background completed (almost, except for the green one as the thread is on backorder) and ready to start embellishing each butterfly.

This is the Butterfly Sampler by Sue Spargo which she is offering via Craftsy.  The base is about 16" x 24".  Each shape and butterfly has been appliquéd down and I have done some embroidery on the shapes - will do more when the butterflies are completed.

Next I will appliqué cotton shapes onto each butterfly and then I will add embroidery stitches - lots of.

I do so love working with wool - as opposed to just appliquéing on cotton.  The BOM I have been doing with Sue Spargo, "In Full Bloom", has been a great learning experience and my stitches have definitely improved.  I cannot post a picture of this wall hanging yet, as we have to sign an agreement NOT to post any pictures during the year, so face expulsion from the BOM!!

I have also signed up to do next years' BOM with Sue Spargo, so I can work on this sampler while I am anxiously waiting each month for the next step.

2014 BOM

2015 BOM

Mug Rug Swap 2014

Mug Rugs & goodies I received

Mug Rugs & goodies I made & sent

This year I was asked to join the Quilting Gallery Mug Rug Swap through Stitching Cow website.  The idea is to join the group, receive a swapping partner (they ask if you are willing to post overseas), make two mug rugs and send them to your swap partner.

This swap's theme was 'Friends & Neighbours Live Here' - Butterfly Cottage & House on a Hill were patterns designed by Lenna Green of Stitching Cow.  Mug Rugs are 5.5" x 10.5" mini quilts.  Usually they just create a theme & the partner designs mug rugs based on this theme, but this time they went with a pattern.  I appliquéd the pieces on with blanket stitch and did the hand embroidery.

It was fun creating a gift for someone else (one who actually understands the amount of work and effort that goes into these pieces).  My swap partner was Diane Graham who lived in New Zealand and moved to Pomara, Queensland, Australia when it came time to post my parcel.  We corresponded by email and she sent these two lovely mug rugs and souvenirs of New Zealand.  Along with the mug rugs I also sent two Christmas potholders I had made, some snowflake buttons, and some lucky stones and beach glass that I had gathered from my walks on the beach, as well as a picture card that I had taken of Gimli Harbour

Bertie's Winter

Yeah!!  Finally finished Bertie's Winter by All Through The Night.

Final measures:  28" x 34" - looks good in the front entry.