Christmas crafting: it was a busy month!

This December was very busy with a lotof crafting, sewing, quilting, baking.I found it easier to share on Instagram(not something I thought I would say)
So here is a summary of the best:

And here are some of the details...

I finished a Christmas quilt that started as a mystery quilt over the summer by the Fat quarter shop,

using a softer palette than most traditional Christmas quilt,

and a lot of Liberty of London.

A plaid pattern by Lo & Behold stitchery was released in December, and right away I had to make it,

since I was short on time, I made first the mug rug (which was quite challenging by its small size),

then I made the pillow size, much easier, and just as perfect!

I made 3 felt ornaments, using nice felt from Benzie Design,

Both the dog and cup of cocoa ornaments patterns are from What a curly life,and the snow globe one is from Simply Eilene .

I baked a few cakes, new and traditional:Buche de Noel, Gingerbread-cranberry cakeand cranberry bread.

Here is my favorite buche de Noel recipe, and here is my cranberry bread recipe.

The gingerbread-cranberry cake recipe is from Blue Bowl Recipes.

I embroidered a few signs and lovely lady with dog,all from Les Brodeuses Parisiennes.

I set up a lovely little cocoa station,using 2 of the embroideries:

I made some cinnamon salt dough ornamentsto share with friends:

The tutorial is from Miss Mustard Seed.

And finally I sewed a lovely gingerbread apron:

The pattern is from an older book "Retro Aprons" by Cindy Taylor Oates.I previously made another on in 2011!
Overall a very good December month,with lots of creativity.
So far my plan for the next year only involve making a larger quiltout of that upscale plaid pattern.
Happy crafting!

my latest version of our favorite apple cake

I am revisiting our family favorite fall cake:

apple cake or as we call it at home harvest cake!

By changing the pan (and the amount of the dough)

I change the cake:

this one is like an easy apple tart.

It does look different depending on how the apple slices are arranged on top of the dough:

But it tastes just as good as the original harvest cake,and the perfect cake to make at the last minute,it takes longer to heat up the oven to 350 than making the dough!
for this larger pie pan:3 eggs150g of sugar150g of AP flour1.5 tsp of baking powder0.5 tsp vanilla0.5-1 tsp cinnamon3 tbsp of milk 150 g of melted butter
mix together, one after the other,pour into greased pie pan,and arranged the sliced apples (1.5 apples for this size)

bake for 30-35 min at 350,enjoy warm or cold.
We also make it in a loaf pan:

harvest cake



Happy thanksgiving!

pumpkin coasters and pumpkin placemats, never too many pumpkins!

I love sewing pumpkins!

And no, I do not have too many pumpkins!

I made paper pieced quilted coasters:

The pattern is from Joe, June and Mae,

I kept playing with different fabrics to have traditional orange

pumpkins, white and blue pumpkins,

they look quite nice with my new pumpkin quilt:

I also sewed some pumpkin placemats,

using mushroom fabric!

Mixing 2 of my favorite genres!

Another easy sew, the pattern is from Minki Kim.I even made a pumpkin shaped rye bread, very delicious!

And since I had a couple extra blocks from the big quilt,

I sewed a few more and made a simple table runner,

with some other fabric:

And yes our house is still full of pumpkins....at least for another week!
Happy sewing!

A sweet little ghost pillow

I always enjoy sewing home décor and costumes for Halloween,

 so when I saw that little ghost pillow, I wanted to make one for me,

 even I am more of Halloween crow than ghost!

Doesn't it look just perfect on my new pumpkin quilt?!

I started with 8 low volume prints from Zen fabric,

they are quite interesting (one can review their geometry and math in one of them!).

 I also added 3 squares of Provence fabric to really make it mine!

 I decided to cut all my squares and ironed them to some interfacing

and stitched them to go a little faster: no seam watching and matching.

I just sewed all the rows, clipped at each intersection,

and sewed all the columns, done!

I put some quilt batting,

I did some simple quilting, 1/4 inch away from each seam,

as I didn't want to interfere with the prints. 

And I quilted a simple back with one print, no patchwork.

And following the directions, I added the eyes,

and sewed it all to form a very cute ghost:

But then I found out the inspiration came from a book,so I had to get it, it is a very cute children's book,I read it to the dogs as both of my kids are in college!

Happy Halloween 🎃!

pumpkin kisses quilt: 102 pumkins!

It has been a while since I made a large quilt,

I sewed many smaller quilts and projects,

but not a large quilt.

I saw that quilt on IG and right away I wanted to make it,

and even more surprising I wanted to make it in with these fabrics,

so I bought a kit, which I have not done in years!

The pattern is Pumpkin Kisses by Coach House Designs.

 

It was quite an easy sew, but lots of pumpkins,

102 precisely!

Then lot of rows,

and finally a big quilt!

(before adding 2 borders!)

Finding space to pin the back and batting is always

a challenge, but with both kids in college,

I get to use some of their floor space!

I kept the quilting simple, just in the ditch,

and hand stitched the binding,

I found that part quite relaxing even with Bosco's help!

Finally I took my new quilt to the botanical garden for some pictures,

normal stuff!

Happy sewing!