Decorations & Applique for WOYWW 234

WOYWW 234

My desk this week is very festive (and quite messy on the breakfast table) whilst I'm making easy peasy tree decorations. I'll shove it all onto that tray PDQ when I make my porridge! It's amazing to think that I've been making Christmas crafts since September, starting when I was demonstrating in Abakhan store and since then I've been making as much as possible for the CHICS (children's cancer care) fundraising sale. 

I don't usually begin to think of the "C" word until it's almost too late.

For these decorations I'm combining paper and felt by stitching (by machine) pretty, intricate, die cuts onto felt then cutting around them. So quick, so easy and they could also be made using stamped images.

I started off by cutting out the felt before machining but the card and felt shifted in the process so I soon realised it was easier to cut around them after machining. 

WOYWW is the inspiration of our prestigious leader Julia over at the Stamping Ground so pop over to find out all about it and to be amazed by all the other wonders to be found there via a simple click HERE !!!!

I used metallic threads for top stitching and it looks quite effective and a machined blanket stitch is good too around the edge.

They will have a ribbon and a tiny bell too. 

I've also cut a slit for a pocket, in the felt at the back, to hold a chocolate treat or a candy cane.Aldi has a great choice of chocolate items at cheap prices and the candy canes are only 75p for 10 in Home Bargains Stores. (There may be a Home Bargains near most UK residents as they are spreading across England.) 

I've also been making patchwork blocks for the monthly challenge for the quilting and patchwork group in our village, which I attend. 

Members take turns in choosing a technique and this month it was appliqué.

 We were given animal templates and guidelines to colours and fabrics.

I really enjoyed making these and so I made several towards the charity quilt they will be made into.

Previous months, challenges have been traditional blocks...

This is a rather complex block, from last month in the stages of making. A real learning curve for me.

This one was a bit easier!

and I loved doing this one

I'm now looking forward to seeing the quilts produced from our blocks when they are completed and in February it is my turn to set the design and I get to keep them from all the members!!