Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

Its that time of the year when 'diets ' seem to be the main topic of every conversation! I'm guilty!

I think a new year and a new start is just what I need.

A new start to dieting.. finishing projects (that seem to have been hanging around for forever) and looking forward to whatever is ahead in 2011.

So heres to 2011...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Another lovely giveaway

This blog is fast becoming a giveaway list! But, sure its great fun!

Check out this lovely magazine..

Its the first issue of Leanne Beasley's wonderful new magazine. Looks like there could be some wonderful Spring projects in there.

Here's what happened...

Super giveaway going on over at p.s. i quilt

Dear Santa,
I'm upset. My present didn't arrive, I had asked for some Parisville fabric by Tula Pink. I think it must be hiding under the seat on your sleigh-could you check please?
love Karen



Dear Karen,
I've checked under my seat but no luck...Maybe the elves couldn't find it, by the way were you a good girl this year?
love Santa



Dear Santa,
I was a good girl this year... maybe you could send me some dottie fabric by RJR instead?
love Karen



Dear Karen,
I'll get Mrs Claus to parcel it up as soon as she finishes sewing my new quilt! ho ho ho!
love Santa.



Dear Santa,
Do you think that possibly, Mrs Claus may have, by any chance taken....couldn't resist....
no no forget I asked.
Love you Santa!
Love Karen xo

Mr Postman

Even though we have had a lot of snow, it didn't stop our postman from getting through to-day, and I am so glad he did!

Two parcels for me!

Firstly, there was a lovely parcel from Kate Spain - I won a

'Stocking Stuffer' from a recent giveaway on her blog..

Some amazing 'Fandango' flannel (gonna have to get me some more of that!), some 'Central Park' squares and a surprise package beautifully wrapped, which I don't/do want to open!

The second parcel was a quilt returned to me from Yvonne McKee - beautifully long arm quilted!

You'll have to wait to see this one on the Moda Bake Shop!

Oh no more snow

It went away..and then it came back,

Snowed in - perfect weather for sewing.

Sparkly trees

I hate throwing things out, I always think that maybe it could be useful someday. Upcycled, recycled whatever. Our attic is bursting with 'you never know when it could be useful' items. I always remove buttons and zips from clothing that is being thrown out, they may have a use....sometime. I have quite a collection of old zips, all sizes and colours. Buttons aswell.

So when I imagined my sparkly trees, I though of my shiny buttons.

I made some more Christmas Trees... sparkly frosted ones this time!

Here's how I made them.

I had bought a picture in a local charity shop, I loved the picture, hated the frame. So it was removed and replaced with a shiny new one.

I painted the old frame and gave it a distressed look, I really wanted a crackle glaze finish, but ended up with this instead. Measure the inside of the frame and add 1/2" all round. Using this as a guide, piece together some scraps of cream and white fabrics - snowflakes, plain old calico - anything goes. Place a slightly larger piece of firm wadding behind the fabric.

Free machine some wavy curls on the fabric and wadding. Using a water soluble pen, draw the outline of some trianglular trees, this gives a quideline when sewing on the buttons.

Sew on the buttons.

I tried to use a variety of sizes and different shades of white and cream.

Then, when you have completed the buttons, applique on some tree trunks.

I used some scraps of dark brown tweed, just to add some more texture.

Using the back of the picture frame as a guide,

trim your fabric to fit inside the frame.

Carefully place the fabric inside the frame so there are no raw edges showing and secure back in place.

Now sit back and enjoy your recycled work of art!

Christmas Tree Winners

Thank-you to everyone who entered the Christmas Tree giveaway, I love reading all the comments and hearing about patchwork and quilting projects.
Anyway without further ado..here are the winners:

Jodi who said"Right now I'm working on a quilt for my son, but I love making and gifting table toppers/runners"

Jenn who said"My favourite decorations are lights. I've got dozens and dozens of lights on my trees and around my house"

and

Gill who said "My favourite decorations are those handmade - mostly by my children"

Congratulations!
Please email me your addresses and I will race down to the
Post Office faster than Rudoplh!!

To-night I am going Carol singing with the Girl Guides - I am only a helper but am really looking forward to it!

O Christmas Tree

It has snowed again!

Ok, so I know its winter... but you have got to understand that normally in Northern Ireland we do get a little snow, just not this much.

It makes everything look beautiful, but driving is a problem!

Last weekend I got all the Christmas decorations out of the attic and gave the house a bit of a makeover. Kinda forgot I had so many Snowmen..
and angels!
Anyway they are all now in place and even my fabric Christmas trees have found a little spot!

Would you like to make your own Christmas Trees?

The pattern is available from my online shop. Or enter my giveaway for a chance to win a pattern (I'm giving away 3) and some beautiful Christmas fabric to make your own!

You can enter by:

1. Telling me what your favourite decorations are!

2. Become a follower of my blog, or tell me if you already are.

3.Blog about this giveaway and come back and tell me you did.

Giveaway is open until Sunday 12th December 10pm GMT.

Sneaky Peaky

A little sneaky peak at what I've been sewing...

A little Moda brightens up my day!

Snowy Sunday

Arctic air over Northern Ireland has given us this......

Christmas Table Runner

The new issue of Irish Quilting is out and packed full of beautiful seasonal projects.

Look out for my Christmas Table Runner made with lovely Makower Uk Christmas fabrics.

The magazine as always has some fantastic photos, I'm afraid my poor photography skills do not do it justice here!

Christmas is fast approaching and the weeks are becoming more and more hectic. I've come to the conclusion that this is the norm for us - life is so fast, one week flows into the next. And isn't everyone in the same boat? Maybe I could slow this week down, anyone know where the brake is??

Loving this giveaway..

Just a quick note to share this giveaway at retromummy with you, check out the beautiful fabrics from the Australian designer Rosalie Quinlan...

Anybody want to share any more giveaways this week?

Oh, just remembered about another giveaway going on over at comfortstitching more beeeeautiful fabrics! Check out the pips!!

Giveaway winner

I am busy getting ready for some local Craft Fairs, I have just finished writing up a new pattern for 'Hotch Potch Patch Bag'! Its a long name, but its just what it says it is, a hotch potch of different fabrics! I used various curtain and soft furnishing fabrics aswell as tweeds and checks.

I added a satin bow on the handle and even some flowers made from zips and buttons - recycled zips seem to be a popular fashion accessory at the minute!

This pattern is available from my website http://www.lisnawearyquilts.co.uk/

Anyway, more importantly the winner of the Irish linen giveaway is.............

Heavensent1 who said "Whenever I think of Ireland I think of my dude...he's an O'Connor..."

Congratulations....please email me your address and I'll ship it to you asap!

Bloggers Quilt Festival

I am just amazed at the fantastic idea of a Bloggers Quilt Festival, and thanks to Amy at Amy's Creative Side everyone can take part:)

I want to share my 'Hippy Quilt' which I made in 2009, as part of a Patchwork and Quilting course I was doing at the time.

I had thought of making a quilt from old denims, but thought it would be too heavy. So I decide to use really bright fabrics and appliqued on some denim symbols that I associate with the 1960s:)

There are a wide variety of fabrics in this quilt even some I hand dyed in class. So this quilt always brings back memories of the course and new people I met:)Thanks for taking a look!

The key to my heart...and a giveaway!

I recently got my hands on some beautiful Irish linen, lovely shades of grey and blue.

In between sneezing and coughing this past week I have been gradually putting a wall hanging together!

I thought the 100% linen would have been a bit stretchy, but a quick spray of startch made it very easy to work with:)I made this wall hanging,

anyone else feel the same way? :D

Here is a quick tutorial for a super quick project;)

If using 100% linen fabric, use spray starch on the fabric before starting.

1. Cut out the background fabric 12 1/2" x 18"2.Trace the letters and heart lock on to Bondaweb, iron letters and heart lock on to different fabrics. Cut out carefully, and place on background fabric. Press in place.

3.Cut a piece of medium weight Vilene slightly bigger than the background and place underneath.

4. Applique the letters on to the background fabric using a small zig zag stitch. I used Invisafil thread which is quite fine and didn't overpower the letters.

5. Cut out the first border: 4 pieces 1" x 24"
Cut out the second border: 4 pieces 1 1/2" x 24"
Sew first border to second border, make 4 borders.

6. Sew on borders and mitre corners.

7. Press well. 8. Layer backing, wadding and top together, pin together.

9. Draw the heart shape out on cardboard and use this shape as a quilting template.

Place template randomly on the wall hanging and draw around it using a watersoluble pen. Quilt around the heart shapes.

10. Make binding 2 1/2" x 82". Attach binding and hand sew in place.

11. Make a sleeve for the back of the wallhanging and enjoy!

Finished size approx. 15 1/2" x 21"

Please email me if you would like a copy of the letters and heartlock shape to make this wall hanging. info@lisnawearyquilt.co.uk

There are a limited amount of "fabric is the key to my heart" wall hanging kits, which are £15.99 plus postage

(UK & Europe p&p £3.99. USA/Canada p&p £5.50).

available on my website www.lisnawearyquilts.co.uk

I have a wall hanging kit of "Fabric is the key to my heart" in exactly the same Irish linen to giveaway:)

Here's how to enter - please leave a comment for each entry.

1. Tell me what you think of, when someone mentions Ireland or Irish Linen!

2. Sign up to be a follower on Lisnaweary Quilts blog.

3. Hop over to http://www.lisnawearyquilts.co.uk/ and tell me your favourite pattern/fabric.

4. Blog about this blog, giveaway etc.

You have til 10pm Tuesday 9th November to enter.