Candle Mat Swap

My parcel arrived safely from Cara Wilson who lives in Canada. I was so excited to see the parcel in our mailbox this afternoon, but managed to wait until my DD arrived home from school to open it. I had promised her that I would wait and open it with her, as she loves parcels, who doesn't.

What a lovely surprise was waiting inside the parcel when we opened it.

And it goes so well with the oilcloth we have on our table in the kitchen, couldn't have been more perfect. And guess who has got her eye on the chocolate bar!?

Look at the quilting on these pictures, so lovely.

You can check out her blog here. She designs for Moda Bake Shop, how lucky was I. Thanks ever so much Cara, it is beautiful.

Wednesday's Class

Before class started, Mariya showed us the bag she had made using a set of fat quarters in Japanese Fabrics that the shop had.

And nobody except Mariya is having this bag, isn't that right Mariya?

We then got down to making Christmas Bells using polystyrene balls either round or egg shaped.

And by lunchtime they had mades these.

Madalena stayed on for the afternoon to continue with the balls and we were joined by Helena and Manuela who wanted to make the Xmas Bells.

My DD wants to have a go at making these, so I had better get cutting some fabric for her, as I shall be at the shop again on the 1st December (Public Holiday) for those that due to working in the week are normally unable to come. There will also be the opportunity to make the metal framed purses as well, ideal as a Christmas gift. If you wish to come in the morning only (10.00 - 13.00) contact the shop. Bye for now.

Saturday Christmas Balls

Two posts in one day!
Last Saturday we had three ladies turn up to make Christmas balls. There was a lot of chatting done and no actual balls finished at the end!! Teresa turned up to make a purse and when she finished that she decided she wanted a go at making a christmas ball, using a polystyrene egg! Here is a photo of them working!!

And Gertrudes came in the shop to show me her finished Christmas Tree Skirt. Which came out really lovely and she found a stitch on her sewing machine to use on the scalloped edge. It was really nice, well done Gertrudes.

So this Wednesday, tomorrow, we are making Christmas Balls again for those that couldn't come on Saturday.

Last Wednesday's Classes

A bit behind in putting on last weeks class. Some of the ladies had a go at making 3D christmas bells and took them home to stuff them, this is the part I try and get my DD Sara to help me with!

I hope the ladies remember to bring the finished bells, so we can see them all stuffed. Mariya brought some projects she had been making at home, for herself.

And Amélia had been working on her log cabin blocks at home and brought them in to decide which why they were going to go. And in the end we decided on this format.

In the afternoon a few decided to stay on from the morning group and Gertrudes started quilting her christmas tree skirt.

And Manuela took the opportunity to make the bag with the drawstring which she had missed the other week. And here it is finished.

We had a new lady to the group called Maria Carmo, who started making the Rail Fence tablerunner in christmas fabric and managed to get the quarter inch spot on.

This Wednesday we have a class on Christmas balls. Here are two I have made.



Candle Mat Swap

I am pleased to report that my Candle Mat Swap arrived safely to Wenche who is from Norway. Here is her blog where you can see what she had to say.
Now I am just waiting to receive my surprise partner in this swap, how exciting. Think I may take part in another swap, but not until 2011.

Wednesday's Class

Yesterday I only managed to take one picture and it was of Gertrudes' "Notebook" case. She had got the idea from a Portuguese magazine, but when she initially made it, it was too big for the "Notebook. So she downsized. She is sure that her nieces are also going to be asking for one as well!



And with the left over fabric she made a wallet as well.  

Sorry no photos of the Christmas Tree Skirt, because I put my camera back in my handbag and forgot about it all day!!

However here is my finished Candle Swap mat, which I will be posting tomorrow. I hope she likes it, as this is the first time I have taken part in a swap.

And here is a close up of the ric rac I added to the binding edge.

Next week, Wednesday17th November, at Arco Iris ao Metro, the ladies will have the opportunity to make these christmas bells. If you wish to attend call the shop to confirm your place. If you can't make the Wednesday class we will be repeating it on Saturday 20th November (15.00 to 18.00) along with some Christmas Balls.

Until next time.



Today

Yesterday I got around to starting my Candle Mat Swap.

Just need to add the binding now and send it off on Monday. I will try and put a picture of the finished mat on the blog, if I remember!

If anyone is interested in making one of this small table mats, you can still get the instructions from here, but the swap is now closed for anyone to enter.

Wednesday's Class

This Wednesday was a "Livre" day where people could work on their UFO's or do one of the projects they were not able to attend.

From left, Mariya was making a fabric journal cover, Gertrudes(Green Lady) was making a "NoteBook" carrier and Gaby was making a small purse.

From left again, Carmen was continuing with her bag and the new lady was making some Rail Fence placemats using Chritmas Fabric. Fernanda made a wallet using the leftover fabric from her Bag class.

The finger belongs to Ameila, who spent all morning cutting fabric for her Log Cabin quilt. She was going to go home and start putting them together, 20 blocks in total. Well as far as she was comfortable in putting them together. In the afternoon, Helena came and wanted to make some Pinwheel Blocks and Clementina made a Christmas stocking, she was hoping to go home and make another 5 to give as Christmas presents.

And finally this lady, sorry I forgot your name. Wanted to make quilts for two single beds but using very large squares, as she wanted to get the two single quilts put together quickly. She is using fabric which used to be curtains and you had to see it to believe that in the 15 years that they had been hanging they hadn't faded and the fabric was really lovely 100% cotton. She said when she originally bought the fabric it wasn't cheap. So this the centre block! (Sawtooth Star).

Next Wednesday's full day workshop will be on making this Christmas Tree Skirt.

I really enjoyed free motion quilting this and was pleased on how it came out. But had a very sore finger after handing stitching the binding on. You see I just can't get on with a thimble and I have tried a few.

Wednesday's Bag Workshop

We have quite a few ladies on Wednesday wanting to make a bag and if they finished the bag in time there was an extra project to make to go with the bag. Here are some of the ladies working already whilst the others were round the otherside of the shop cutting their fabric.

And by lunchtime Fernanda who was in a rush, as she was only able to come for half a day had got this far.

There was a mother and daughter who came as well, but no photo, but the fabrics were great. And in the afternoon Helena was the first to finish her bag and went on to make the surprise project, with the left over fabric.

And here is the green lady (sorry, but I have such difficulty in saying her name let alone spell it) threading the cord through.

And here is it finished along with Gaby's as well.

And mustn't forget Mariya's whose inside is very stylish, but forgot to take a picture of the inside.

I didn't get a picture of Claudia's or the lady you can just see behind Mariya's bag, sorry ladies. But they looked lovely as well.

The surprise project was a wallet to match their bags, but sorry it was getting late, so no time to take more pictures. Had a little girl waiting for her Mummy at home. Next Wednesday is "Livre" at Paula's, so people can work on their own UFO's or start something new, that they want to learn to do.

Wednesday's Class

We had a busy day yesterday at Arco Iris Ao Metro, especially in the morning. Maria brought in her finished Xmas stocking and another she had made at home using applique. There is still a third one to be made.

Maria and Fernanda decided to make some christmas stars and they spent the best part of the morning stuffing them, Maria couldn't believe how much stuffing you needed to add to the star. They had a good time chatting,though. Sorry no pictures. Carmen continued with her Mariner's Compass pillow. It was also a day for people to finish their UFO's. Manuela brought her New York Beauty project and we spent the best part of the morning deciding which fabrics to add. This was one of the options.

And she finally decided on this combination.

In the afternoon Manuela stayed on to continue with her NYB quilt and another three ladies joined the group. There was Helena and a new lady who wanted to make purses,

and another lady, whose name I am sorry I have forgotten, again, who was unable to make last Saturday who wanted to make a fabric journal cover, sorry no picture.

We meet up again next Wednesday for a full day on making a bag and if the ladies finish their bag in time there is an additional project they can make with the remaining fabric, BUT only if they finish their bag.

Xmas Stocking Class

Well we have finally started doing workshops on Christmas projects. We had 6 ladies who wanted to have a go at making an Xmas stocking using the crazing quilting method.

They had to forget some of the rules of normal patchwork to create the front, which for some was difficult. Here is some of the mess this project can generate.

And here they are busy working and there was a lot of chatter!

Had to take this one of Manuela sewing standing up!!

The only person who I managed to get a photo of the front of the stocking was Fernanda, but she wasn't able to stay for the afternoon, as she had to go off and teach painting.

The remaining ladies still had some homework to do (TPC in Portuguese), so hopefully on Wednesday 20th October we will get to see some finished work! OK ladies.

Well this saturday we are making fabric journal covers, so don't forget to bring a book, diary or a notebook to cover. Hopefully my voice will be better by tomorrow, as I have managed to get a sore throat and cough. Lots of hot tea with honey help, plus my usual antibiotics should do the trick.

Today!

Today, I was in a creative mood, but first I had to go through my fabric stash to see what I could use or could part with using, without having the tempation to go out to buy more fabric! I didn't realise just what I had stored away in my boxes. It was lovely just going through it!! Hope DH is not checking in on my blog. I must, must stop buying fabric and use what I have. But it is so difficult when you teach in a shop and new stock keeps arriving and Paula and Manuela saying have you seen this that arrived today.
Anyway I can't show you what I have been creating, as it is not quiet finished. Sorry.