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!

fall sewing: mug rug, more mug rugs and mushrooms!

Over the past few weeks,I have been sewing lots of mug rugsor coastersto use and share with friends and family:

pattern from the Seasoned Homemaker
fancy one like these acorn ones:

in traditional, whimsical and modern fabrics,or this apple one,

pattern from The Seasoned Homemakerwith my favorite apple cake (recipe here)
or simpler like the fall theme ones!

Who doesn't love some cute fall friends?

I also have been playing with paper piecing,and making mushroom pincushions!!

pattern from Joe, June and Mae
And finally doing some more mushrooms sewingin the form of cross stitching!

pattern from a 2023 agenda book, from Veronique Enginger (aka Les Brodeuses Parisiennes)
that one is an on going project,as it takes me a while to stitch it all!
Happy sewing!

sewing card

This Sunday is Mother's day in France,
so I sewed this sweet little letter for my Maman:

I really enjoy these little projects from Minki Kim,

previously, I made this sew illustrated card

and this mini quilt:

from her second book.

Here it is before I added the little bobbin of thread:

sticking to my design board,

and before attaching it to the card.

I used a watercolor card, so a pretty heavy card stock

 to handle the weight of the fabric.

It makes it a very personal card

(we both like sewing so it is a current theme between us!)

for a very special lady!

Happy sewing!

a pouch with a little Eiffel tower

A good friend of mine was celebrating

a big birthday this week 

so I had to make her a little present:

a sweet pouch with a little Eiffel tower!

I used linen and Liberty of London,

and a little tag for the back:

I use the pattern from "Diary in Stitches" by Minki Kim,

but chose a different applique that is not in the book:

and a little hand embroidery,

I know my friend is dreaming of going to Paris one day...

So I also added some Eiffel tower print in the inside!

The binding is actually a premade binding, I think it is Japanese,

it is linen with some little Parisian details!

It makes me want to go visit....

Happy sewing!

little goody bags for Easter: a tutorial

Over the last couple of weekends I worked on making Easter goody bags for my kids and nieces/nephew, and tried not to eat all the chocolates!

The bags turned out really cute,

and there are some chocolates left,

so a total success!

I went old school for the bags and put chicken on them instead of bunnies.....

The pattern for the chicken is from Bustle and Sew (the April 2019 magazine)

They are a mix of felt and Liberty of London, fancy applique chickens!

So here is a little tutorial on making these little bags,

once you are done with the chicken, of course!

I started with a 16 x 8 piece of egg print fabric.

and appliqued the chicken, just like other sew illustrated things

I have been making lately.

Then I cut another print, same width but taller,

so that it can be seen from the top,

I wanted about a 1 inch visible, so 16 x 10.

I sewed it on the top, if the print is directional,

make sure it will be right side up once it is folded....

A little pressing then will be it easier 

when the lining is pushed inside the bag.

Then I folded the fabric onto itself

to make a very long rectangle,

and sewed all around it,

 except for a little section that is left opened.

From this opening, the fabric can be turned right side out.

After some ironing and pressing,

the opening can be stitched closed by hand

or machine, I like to do it by hand, it is quite fast.

Finally the lining is pushed inside the bag,

and voila!

I did a little extra top stitching at the top, 

between the main fabric and the lining 

(not seen on this picture).

To close the bags, I just use a piece of string

or ribbon.

I also made some other ones using some chicken wire fabric,

quite appropriate!

And the houndstooth is perfect for it,

it is known as rooster foot in French! 

The orange chicken bag is not lined, just sewn with French seams.

And here there are together,

waiting for this Sunday gathering!

Happy sewing!