Christmas Coasters

Our Sip Tea and EPP Christmas Sew Along is going strong and we still have some ideas to share with you. During our second week, Irina and I made some coasters. I can never have enough coasters! I love using them and I love gifting them to my friends. They are quick to make and let you try out some new ideas and explore new techniques. It's that kind of make that gives you an instant gratification.

Sashiko Coasters

Last month I visited the Sydney Craft and Quilt fair for the first time ever and I truly enjoyed this experience. There were plenty of amazing quilts to admire and get inspired by, wonderful stands to browse and shop at and lovely people to talk to and ask for an advice.

As I was leaving the fair, I came across a stand Indigo Niche that was selling Sashiko supplies. I have always loved this Japanese embroidery technique and even gave it once a go that failed miserably as I was not prepared to follow any instructions or even read the basics of Sashiko at that time. A panel of six designs caught my eye, and I gently pushed closer to the stall so I could see what else was there. Women were buzzing around picking fabrics, printed panels, needles, threads...talking about beautiful items hanging on the wall. Even though I have been sewing and embroidering for a long time now, I felt completely lost and had no idea where to start, but I really wanted to give Sashiko another proper go.

Tutorial: Lovely Postcard Coaster

Two years ago I made a set of Christmas coasters using my ever so favourite Belle and Boo fabric. I planned to use them only during the holiday season, but they turned out to be very popular, that I decided to keep them all year round. Every time the late night tea is served I tend to use only these coasters. They do bring joy and make us smile. I though it would be nice to spread the joy at this special time of the year so I wrote a quick tutorial for you to make your own Lovely Postcard Coasters.

"A Stitch in Time" Book Tour

I could not be more excited and honoured when Sharon Burgess of Lilabelle Lane Creations asked me to participate in her book tour for her new book "A Stitch in Time" published by Tuva Publishing. I have been following Sharon's work for some time now and I am working on a quilt using her Tenderness pattern that I absolutely love and that has a special place in my heart. So I of course said yes because Sharon's work is amazing, inspiring and involves a lot of English Paper Piecing to make you appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of this technique. The book features 18 darling English Paper Pieced projects that combine some embroidery, applique, quilting  and is complemented with delicate tiny details. Bags, mats, pincushions just to name a few.

Scrappy Little Thing and Future Giveaways

I absolutely love making little pretty things! Especially now when I get constantly interrupted by my Little Man, I find this kind of projects more rewarding and fulfilling. I made this scrappy coaster using a ticker tape method and tiny precious scraps from my stash.

Hello My Sweet Friends!

It feels like it's been so long since my last post here and I miss it so much. With my Little One turning into a real boy and giving up his day sleep and the summer school holidays, I find it more challenging to dedicate any time to my blog than ever before. I am spending snippets of my spare time sewing and reading, but mostly it's all about chasing my Little Monkey. But I do come here regularly and I am so grateful to you for visiting me, leaving your comments, asking questions and following my sewing adventures. Your support and encouragement is very important and dear to me. Thank you all so much! I hope you are having a good and very creative beginning of the year. I cannot believe that half of January has gone by already.

A Set of Christmas Coasters...

...that I made for this Christmas and no one wants to use them. Not because we don't like them, but quite the opposite. The boys are saying that they are too pretty and nice to be used for something like a cup of tea that might stain the coaster. Well, I kind of agree with them. :-) The coasters turned out so sweet that I myself keep looking at them and fiddling with them while having my cup of tea and trying my best to keep my cup on the very corner of a coaster or using a different mug rug all together. That's ridiculous and we should stop this nonsense once and for all and enjoy using the things I make no matter how much we love them. Right?

Spring Coasters

This year, like never before I have been waiting for the Spring to come and finally it's here. The sun is shining, the new leaves on trees are popping out here and there, spring flowers are blooming and you can just feel the warmth in the air. To celebrate the arrival of the Spring I decided to make a set of coasters with spring flowers based on Kazuko Aoki's book "The Embroidered Garden" that I bought recently. I have been a huge fan of Kazuko's work since the first time I saw one of her embroideries. Her work is exquisite, delicate and very detailed. If you like any kind of hand embroidery, I am sure you would enjoy Kazuko Aoki's books.

Valentine's Makes

Even though the Valentine's Day is well and truly over and a few decorations that we had hanging around are already packed away till the next year, I felt like sharing the things I made with you.

Four Little Coasters

Finally I finished these four floral coasters that I started after the holidays, but planned to make last year. The tiny squares with fruit and vegetables were made while I was practicing free motion machine embroidery which was a lot of fun. A few of the squares I have already turned in to different things, but for these four I only now found the time. Don't we all need more time?

Tea Time... Or Maybe Not

I have been drinking a LOT of tea lately, more than I usually would. On some days you can even trace my steps around the house by the unfinished cups of tea left behind.

Interesting Discovery

I was going to make a set of four linen coasters with a diagonal flowery cotton stripe in the top left corner. I cut all the fabrics, stitched it all up.

Totally Handsewn...

... darling tea companions. They are smaller than your ordinary placemats but slightly bigger than coasters. Just the right size to place a cup on it and a small snack while enjoying a cup of tea in a company of a good friend.

Cross-Stitch Linen Coasters

One more small tick on the list. Oh, it feels so good! Finally I finished a few sets of winterly coasters with yet another new cross-stitch pattern.

Winterly Coasters

Bright red rowan berries covered with a cap of white sparkly snow. Isn't it a perfect sign of a late autumn or an early winter and the most magical thing ever? To me anyway. There is something wonderful and festive in a combination of white and red, rowan berries and snow.

Cross-Stitch Pattern: Toadstool

I am feeling very happy, I achieved something new. I created my very first and my very own cross-stitch pattern - Toadstool. I know, I know, for many of you it might seem simple and even primitive but for me cross-stitching and embroidery in general never was natural, I didn't have patience for it and I used to get frustrated and bored easily within the first few stitches. So no matter how simple it is I am very happy with my tiny achievement. To celebrate this special event, I would like to share the toadstool cross-stitch pattern with you, my Dear Readers. Go to the end of the page and click on the pattern image. Print it. Use it. Enjoy it!

Cross-Stitch Linen Coasters

I am in love. In love with my newly created linen coasters. I think they are my favourite creation at the moment. These little owls are very special to me because they signify the beginning of my stitching adventure. I embroidered them last year, when all of a sudden I had an urge to give cross-stitching a try. I had no idea at that time that I would start a blog, would keep sewing and embroidering and would meet many interesting people on the way.