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.

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.

Tutorial: Lovely Squares Mini Quilt

As the name suggests, this mini quilt is all about squares. A very simple and quick step-by-step tutorial on how to sew your very own mini with tiny squares of your most favourite fabrics. This pattern does not require high level sewing skills and is suitable even for a beginner. Being a very symmetrical person, I really like the perfect match of all the squares and the stitches in this pattern and the ease with which you can connect all the squares together. OK, let's get started!

It's All About Minis Today

Ove the last two months I have made a few lovely mini quilts. There used to be time when I had no idea what to do with a mini, I did not even see a point in making one because they seemed to be simply useless to me. How wrong I was! There are so many things you can do with mini quilts. You can hang them on a wall to decorate your place or sewing room, you can use them as a place mat or a mug rug or even use it as a trivet and of course they make lovely gifts. I like using mine on our dining table under a vase with flowers or a small stack of books. I also enjoy using them as working mats while doing some hand sewing in the living room. I realised that the most important idea behind a mini quilt is trying new patterns, ideas, new challenging techniques and showcasing your skills and pretty fabrics and they are simply fun to work on.

Autumn, Acorns and Hot Chocolate Recipe

What is your favourite season of the year? I honestly cannot decide. I think I love all four of them because each has something unique and special about it and without one I would not enjoy the rest. After a hot and sunny Summer I am embracing the Autumn with my open arms. I love the slight coolness of the morning air, heavy rains and grey skies, yellowing leaves dancing in the wind and chilly evenings. Autumn is always the time when I start craving hot chocolate. With both hands gently wrapped around a warm cup and savouring every sip of that delicious drink cozily snuggled up on a couch with a favourite book. That's the Autumn I love.

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.

Goodbye Year 2016!

The year is pretty much over. With just a few hours left before we begin a new journey through 2017 I look back and feel that the year for me has gone by too quickly. Sometimes days and even weeks were rushed by without much realisation or productivity, they came and went in some kind of a sleep deprived haze. I know it's just a phase and it will pass like everything in our lives, but my goal for the next year is to slow down and concentrate on the happiness of every single moment no matter what I do or how tired I might feel.

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?

Hexagons, Hexagons and More Hexagons

Or shall we simply say "Hexie Love"? Just look at this beautiful splash of pastels! The most beautiful "Woodland Clearing" line by Liesl Gibson parading here in hexagons. Pink, aqua, beige...beautiful prints that almost look like watercolours or cross-stitch designs.

Precious Memories

I find it difficult parting with old things, especially things that have some sentimental value to me. Just like this white lace. It was made by my dear Mum a long time ago, when she already was unwell and didn't have full control of her hand. She made me a simple item of clothing and added this crochet lace on some parts of it. The garment had been worn out long ago, but I could not part with it. It was too precious. I kept it tucked away in a box for years. It bore the memory of my Mum, her crafty skills, her hands, her love and warmth, and kindness.

Flowers, Teapot and Butterfly

A very simple, but I should say a rather delicate mug rug thanks to the Japanese cross-stitch design and this lovely floral fabric that I had only a tiny piece of. When I found this teapot and cup cross-stitch pattern, I instantly fell in love with it. Just a few crosses that can be stitched in any colour would make a lovely addition to any mat or a tea towel.

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.

Some Sad Things and Some Happy Things

Remember my garden in a coffee cup? Well, I have some sad news. It's gone. Forever I suppose. We went away and one week without watering was enough for this tiny green world to suffer so much that it could not bare it anymore. It dried out. Once we got back home, I tried to revive it but the damage was too much for the little plant to handle. It is sad but luckily I split this plant in two a few weeks after I bought it because it was getting a bit wild in the tiny cup. It's growing ok in a large pot outside. So I should be happy that it was only a small part of the plant that died. Now I have to find some other plant, that can survive without water for long periods of time. Any suggestions?

Small Gifts and Christmas Rush

I am sure it's a very busy time of the year for everyone. Christmas is just around the corner and there are still so many things to do. Every January I promise myself that I would start getting ready for Christmas some time in October or at least in early November so I would have plenty of time on my hands and would avoid the mad rush. Well, easier said than done. I was not able to keep my promise yet again. I waited for too long, I was in September mode until almost two weeks ago. So of course I could not avoid the madness of trying to finish some gifts on time. But somehow I managed. Hurray! I made a few things for my friends that I hope they like.