Santa Claus Advent Calendar and Autumn Mini Wall Hanging

The Santa Claus Advent Calendar is finally done!

This is a Nancy Halvorsen panel that has been sitting here for a few years. Yes, years.............. I bought it because it looks gorgeous, but I never got around to make it!  

It looks like it is fast and easy to make, but there are lots of details.

There are 24 ornaments and each ornament is bonded with fusible web and black felt for durability. Each ornament had to be cut out nicely and pearl cotton had to be added to each for the hanging. 24 red buttons are added to the tree to add the ornaments for each day.

I have FMQ using matching quilting thread, details are outlined and stitch-in-the-ditch. 

I added one row with squares and 24 black buttons are added to this row. The ornaments can be hung here while waiting for them to be added to the Christmas tree.

The 24 ornaments neatly cut out

A fall mini wall hanging. It measures 14 inch square / 35.5 x 35.5 cm

Last week I pulled out more Debbie Mumm fabrics from the shelf! I have made four placemats, which is ready to be quilted. The plan was to do that today, but I ended up doing other things. :) 

With Christmas approaching.....

...I'm in Christmas mood! :) Yes, I know, I know.... There are still +2 months until Christmas, but I don't want rushing the last days to get things done. That is why I have made a few things for myself.

I love the Australian crafts magazines! They always have so many budget projects made from scraps and here is one I just "had to" make! :) Cute little daisies, a combination of applique and embroidery. It measures 12" x 14" (30 x 36cm).

Another budget buster is this cute little basket, made from leftover pieces. Last year - long before I started this blog - I made "Snow Wonderland" by Whimsicals - and was left with quite some leftovers. I have used those leftovers for the basket - I think the snowman and crow are just so darling! :)) I have decorated the basket with buttons. I think the basket will be nice for nuts.... or even sweets... It measures 3,5" x 4,5" (9 x 11,5cm) diameter.

The crow...

...and the snowman. :)

The Christmas bag; made of the same collection + a few other matching fabrics. I've used black linen for the lining. It has a magnetic bag closure too. I had to go to Port Louis to get it - one dozen - doesn't sell less....

T'was the night before Christmas

and all through the house

not a creature was stirring

not even a mouse..!

(I'm sorry the photos are a bit blurred - didn't get them better...)

Creative weekend

I've been creative this weekend! After some weeks without doing much, I got around to do this mini-quilt from Art to Heart. I love Nancy Halvorsen's works! It says "the only thing better than a friend - is a friend with chocolate"! It's so true - so true - isn't it?! After I completed it I noticed the "l" in chocolate came a bit too close to the "o", so it looks like the word is "chocdate" - LOL! I started working on the mini-quilt Saturday morning, but couldn't find the fabric for the head, hands and legs, so I gave up and went out sanding the railing on the porch.
We got it made approx one year ago. After it was done I put two layers of oil based varnish on it to protect it from the rain and scorching sun. I don't know if it is the combination of the weather as well as not so good quality on the varnish, but now it is time for maintenance. This time I'm going to paint it - brown - so it resembles wood. I sanded down almost half of the railing, and yesterday I spent approx 5 hours doing the undercoat. That is why this part - as you can see - is white now. My MIL - who lives next door - gave me a bowl with freshly, roasted peanuts, and said; "you're working too much!" :) The peanuts were still warm - delicious! It was so sweet of her! Yes, I confess I was tired after spending that many hours doing the undercoat, but I'm also glad I managed to do that much. It has to be done before the rainy season sets in - in a couple of months. Fortunate hubby made dinner and did the dishes so I didn't have to think about that too! :))

This is how part of our garden looked like this morning. Wild iris in bloom. 4-5 years ago we brought a couple of small plants from the forest, and now it covers almost the entire flower bed. They are so beautiful, and the greatest is that they keep the weed away! :) The flowers last for approx 10 hours only. This is the 5th time they are blooming in only a few weeks.

Look what I found...

I have never been 100% satisfied with my "cave" (computer/sewing room), and after hubby pestered me with suggestions I finally decided to move my beloved bookshelf into the bedroom. The computer corner needed more "air", and in the end I got the idea to re-do that corner by adding half the bookshelf (yes, it consisted of two parts) to the left side of the desk where I placed all those "things" that belong to a computer. I even got space for my quilting books- and magazines! :-) I placed the upper part of the bookshelf in the bed room. Actually it looks cozier there too with some books! :-) Sadly I had to put some of the books into the wardrobe, but hopefully I'll buy another bookshelf soon... Some years ago I made two dolls that are displayed on the bookshelf. Last year I made the doll/angel (left) after a pattern in "Handmade". And then is my beloved teddy bear "Bamse" - poor thing - I still haven't got around making him clothes - as you can see!

Isn't it fun what pops up when not looking for it?! When emptying the bookshelf I discovered a small box with letters, and on the bottom of the box I found this beautiful small quilt made by my dear friend Kari in 2007!!! I had completely forgotten about it! Shame on me! The quilt is made from a photo she took during her visit to Mauritius some years earlier. The technique is called faux chenille. Now it is out of the box and hanging on the notice board in front of me! :-)



...And I found this one! It's a small DMC cross-stitch booklet! On the front it is printed "Bibliothèque DMC - Point de Marque - 3me Serie". I got it from MIL some years ago, and misplaced it - of course! I have no idea how old it is. The back cover is missing, perhaps it had shown which year it was printed... In addition to letters in different sizes, it has other patterns like; borders, flowers, people and even a horse! Oh, how I'd like to do cross-stitching again.....