Christmas is Coming

It's the crazy last week leading into Christmas and everything has shifted into overdrive. I've been trying to squeeze in time with as many friends as possible, while also finishing off two quilts and just generally taking in the Christmas spirit.

I had dinner with my oldest friend during the week, and was lucky enough to sample a selection of her amazing Christmas cookies. I do love having a pastry chef for my bestie.

I managed to get binding on both quilts I'm trying to finish. There was a little panic when I realised I hadn't actually bought fabric to bind Star Blossoms (below), but a quick rummage through my stash fixed that with a little Vintage Modern.

I remembered last night that I had other Christmas decorations stashed away, and hung the star light and paper chains. Bella is just checking things out, and waiting for me to leave so she can crash-tackle the tree.
 

A quick little baking session this morning before I head out for today's festivities. I love my shortbread recipe.
 

Just a reminder that the shop will close at noon on the 24th of December, and re-open on January 3.

Merry Christmas

Well the big day is here...Merry Christmas to everyone! It's a fairly quiet one here; we all took lunch in to eat in the hospital with my grandma. I've never seen her eat a meal so quickly!

I've had a few present disasters here; an online store wrapped and sent the wrong item, so poor mum opened her gift to find not what she expected. Won't be able to get that fixed till mid-January either unfortunately.

Did a little last minute baking; love homemade shortbread!

I use this recipe; but make sure you only bake them for 15-20 minutes, the 45 minutes in the recipe will give you charcoal!

Whoops!

I was being such a good blogger, then I got busy and my blog got neglected, sorry! My grandma had surgery just over a week ago, and things have been very up and down since then. I'd never realised how tiring it was being so stressed for so long, but all I've done this weekend is sleep. When I visited her this morning they had her up on her feet, and she was sounding quite cheerful, so I'm feeling very pleased!

Safe to say though that there hasn't been much craftiness happening here. I did get the binding on my Hopscotch quilt, but I'll be taking it with me on holidays to hand-stitch it down.

My Christmas tree is up and looking a little sparse (Miss Bella is a fan of the crash-tackle so we keep it minimal), but I've done almost all my shopping so it does look a little like we have the Christmas spirit around here.

I also had my Christmas party this week at the Langham Hotel...very swish!

I received a surprise delivery of Fig Tree's Avalon this week, and should have some more Cluck Cluck Sew patterns arriving soon...but I'm definitely looking forward to a break once Christmas is done, so I'll be shutting the shop for a week and a bit.

Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone a merry christmas, and all the best for the year to come. Hope today is everything you want it to be.

I know we don't get a white Christmas in Australia, but it certainly isn't sunny in Melbourne right now...a hail storm is on the way! So the above seemed almost suitable.

Free Shipping

I'm in the mood to celebrate the first day of summer (though apparently the weather is not)....so for today only, free shipping!






Pop the code XMAS11 into the checkout over at Bella's Patchwork to receive free shipping.


Please note that this is for standard postage only (not express) and for Australia only.

Christmas Macaroni Cheese

If you're anything like me, you've spent the last week eating leftover Christmas ham...I've had sandwiches, salads, and even antipasto plates made up with leftover ham. Tonight I satisfied my pasta craving with this yummy variation of macaroni cheese.

I diced up some ham from the bone and cooked it in the frying pan until crisp, then put aside.

Then I cooked some diced onion in some olive oil, and added some fresh thyme and a teaspoon of seeded mustard.

In another pot, I cooked the macaroni, then drained and put aside. In the same pot, I made up some bechemel sauce, to which I added some grated cheese. When that was ready, I mixed everything together, poured it into a casserole dish, topped it with more cheese then baked for about 20 minutes.

I got home from my holiday to find this pretty flower in bloom in my garden.

I would love to have got a better shot of the sunflower, but this baby is about 7 foot tall, well over my height!

Gingerbread

Christmas just isn't the same without a little festive baking; for me it's usually shortbread and mince pies, but I've changed things up this year and made gingerbread.

Talk about hard to find a recipe; I scoured my cookbook collection, and couldn't find a single recipe. But I did find one on my trusty recipe website Taste.

It's a very easy recipe, and makes a lot of biscuits. I halved the recipe and still came up with about 50 biccies.

I also cooked mine a little longer, 8-10 min, which resulted in a crunchier biscuit, but if you want a softer middle just cook for the recommended 5min.

All decorated and ready to be shared and eaten. Yum!

Market Wrap-Up

Could I have picked worse weather for my first foray into markets? Possibly, but it wasn't the best. Overcast all day, then 20 mins before closing, a massive thunderstorm. The weather seemed to keep the crowds away and it was pretty quiet, though I managed to make enough sales to make the cost of the stall worth it, and the advertising for my business was priceless.

I'm happy with how my stall looked, and I certainly had plenty of kids interested in my toys, but not so many parents willing to open their wallets. Finances are still quite tight following the GFC.

I've got chrissy stockings to offload, so if you were interested, now is your chance. $35 each including postage within Australia, $40 overseas (though they prob won't arrive in time for christmas). Email me at kate@bellaspatchwork.com.au. All the stockings are quilted on the front, have batting front and back, and are fully lined.

Bliss--Whimsy--Hunky Dory

12 Days of Christmas

12 Days of Christmas

Peace on Earth

So the market wasn't quite as scary as I thought it might be, and I'll probably have another go. Just need to cross my fingers for better weather!

One Last Stocking

I've had a bit of a break from sewing after going into full production mode for the maker's market, and just been taking it easy. But I'm heading into my old work tomorrow and wanted to drop off a gift for my friend's little boy.

So, I whipped up another stocking; this one using scraps of 12 Days of Christmas left over from the other stockings. Just 3" squares, then quilted on the diagonal.



Backed with another 12 Days fabric, and lined with Bliss tonal green. I love it!


I've also quilted and bound a second cot quilt for the market...I'm liking this one a lot.

Merry Christmas

I've been a little slow on the blogging this week, though not for lack of doing anything. In the last week I've made raspberry jam, biscotti, shortbread, a christmas pudding and a fruit cake, assembled and quilted Mini Wild Thing, and also put together a practice hand-bag hanger which I'll show off in the new year. I may not have a job to go to, but I've certainly kept myself busy!

I caught up with some of my family today, and my sister was finally arriving home tonight after being stuck in Paris a little longer than she anticipated due to the snow storms. I'm having christmas lunch with my mum and grandma tomorrow before escaping up to the country for a week. So....

I wish you all a fantastic christmas, and a happy new year. I hope you get all the goodies you wish for, maybe some fabric?

Dear Santa

The very lovely people at the Fat Quarter Shop are giving out pressies on behalf of Santa, so here is my letter to the jolly man himself.

Dear Santa

It's been a long time since you last visited me, and I think its about time we got reaquainted. I would very much like it if you could fulfil my quilty desires.

This year for christmas I would really love the Glace Frosted Windowpanes quilt kit.

If I couldn't have that, then I wouldn't mind one of those gorgeous Moda Bake Shop Sampler Boxes.

I'll even leave you some milk and cookies!

Kate

Merry Christmas!

I'd like to wish everyone a very merry christmas. I hope everyone has a fabulous day filled with friends, family, food and lots of lovely goodies under the tree. In the new year I'm sure there will be lots of new quilting projects, and l look forward to seeing what everyone is up to.

I'm going away tomorrow, so there probably won't be much going on here for the next week.

All the best,

Kate

Another present finished!

After a bit of fiddling around yesterday with different combinations of fabric, I finally whipped up a cushion cover as a Christmas gift. I used 9 Swell charm squares, with a small white border to make it the appropriate size.

For the backing I used fabric left over from the back of the Crabapple quilt as a bit of a contrast.

I'm pretty pleased with it; it's only the second cover I've ever made and fits more snugly than the one I made a few years ago. Just hope the recipient likes it; otherwise I'm more than happy to keep it!

Tablerunner 2

A couple of days later than I planned, but those tablerunners are just about done. One is completely finished, the other needs the binding stitched down on the back. But anyway, I did solve the problem of the sashing disappearing under the binding, and I'm pleased with how they look.

I've also almost finished Dilbet; he just needs eyes and spots, and he's done.

Bella is always close by to keep an eye on things. Never mind the fact I made her a quilted mat to sleep on (the red at the back of the photo), she seems to like the sewing machine cover better...

Gradually getting through my to-do list. Still need to put a label on my Crabapple quilt; that bit always takes me ages. Also need to work out a christmas present to make for my sister (I've got some ideas brewing), then shop for the rest, including all the girls at work. Only two and a bit weeks to go!!!

Summer!

It's oficially the first day of summer today! The weather has been a bit on and off the last few weeks, but today seems to be ok; warm without being hot.

The fabric for my tablerunner backing only arrived today, so I haven't got them finished yet, sorry. Hopefully in a few days if I've had a bit of time at home. However, I haven't been completely slack! I've been working on a Dilbert for a 3 year old boy I know, who will be getting it for Christmas. I've got all the spikes done too, just need to sew the body together, then finish off...

I've also picked up another Liberty fabric that I need for the Pappilion quilt. I don't plan on making this quilt anytime soon, but I'd like to have all the fabrics for when I do. One more to go!

And I bought a Portobello Market fat 1/4 bundle. My sister turns 21 next year, and I'm already planning on what quilt to make for her. I've chosen the 4OT pattern from Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. (Bad photo sorry, all the fat 1/4s are loose in a box).

The lovely weather we've been having has bought a few new visitors to my garden. We have a family of Magpies in the street which like to come to the front door for a feed. One in particular is quite happy to take food from my hand, so it gets more than all the others....

Also, out Feijoa tree is covered in flowers, which is feeding about 6 gorgeous parrots.

Tablerunner

The little project that I gave a sneak peak of the other day is now finished. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out, though I think it needs a little fiddling so that the ends of the sashing don't end up under the binding...

This was just a practice-run, so now I've got to put together a couple more as christmas presents. This one is all mine!

Sneaky Peak

After a mild panic on the weekend about the lack of christmas shopping/crafting taking place in my house, I did a trial run for some chrissy presents. Just showing off a little sneak peak until I get it finished, probably in the next day or two.