Amish Star Hanger - Tutorial

I love making Christmas gifts and this is one I made this year for some of my friends. It is something I saw when I went to Intercourse, Lancaster, America. It was one of my favourite places that Val and visited. I just love the Amish people and influences.

Click here for your free tutorial to make these beautiful hangers.... They are too nice to be potholders!

I used Kona solids to make them, which I think gave my hangers a more modern influence.

Hope you like them!

homemade hot chocolate spoons

Do you want to make an easy peasy present. Well here it is!

Hot Chocolate Spoons
makes 9

375g bag of milk chocolate melts
Bamboo spoons (I bought mine on ebay)
Mini muffin cases

1. Place 9 muffin cases on a muffin tray. (you could use a baking tray) Okay I might have made them a bit bigger...:)

2. Place the milk chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. I used a glass jug. Microwave on Medium for 1 minute. Stir. Microwave again on Medium for 1 minute. Stir. Continue to microwave for 10 second intervals, stirring each time, until the chocolate is melted and smooth.

3. Carefully pour the chocolate into the mini muffin cases. Set aside until the chocolate starts to set.

4. Place the bamboo spoons or wooden ice block stick in the centre of the chocolate in each muffin case. Decorate the chocolate. I used white chocolate bits or you could use mini marshmallows.

5. Place in the fridge for 1 hour to set.

6. Carefully peel away the muffin cases and wrap the spoons in your choice of packaging. I used cellophane.

7. To serve, unwrap and dunk in mugs filled with hot milk. Wait until a little has melted and stir to combine.

Yum!

For another easy twist - replace the milk chocolate with dark chocolate or white chocolate.

Here are some hang tags for your presents!

Sunday Colour Inspiration

My garden has been a great source of solace over the last few years. I love that each day you can wander through your plants, and pat them!.... and it gives you a sense of peacefulness.
So I have gone one step further and started taking pictures of the flowers and plants at home to give some colour inspiration. It is amazing the colours that make up the roses. Nature at its best!

I hope you enjoy just one of my beautiful roses!

School Graduation Button Quilt

For the past 2 months I have been helping a Year 6 class at St Bernard's Primary School to make a button quilt. Yes, my daughter is in the class and obviously has told her teacher that I am a quilter, so I know exactly how it started. :)

But anyhoo, I donated some beautiful Kona solids, cut into 8 1/2" squares and some batting cut into 9" squares. I had sheets on how to sew on  buttons and I brought along some variegated Pearl 8 thread.

My first lesson with them was designing their blocks. What surprised me the most was the enthusiasm they showed in working out their design and the variety of designs was fantastic.

I had a total of 55 squares of fabric and 5 blocks of 11 colours. Each student had the opportunity to choose the colour they wanted for the block. We also had some button sewing lessons.

I received the completed blocks and it was my job to piece them together and finish off the quilt for their Graduation Ceremony.

The result of their hard work was a beautiful rainbow button quilt. It reflects the personality of each child in the Year 6 class. It was wonderful to see the joy on the children's faces when they saw the completed quilt for the first time. Everyone in the class wanted to see where their finished block was.

Finally, it has been a privilege to help the Year 6 class to make their graduation quilt. I am proud of their efforts. I hope you can see the joy in their quilt.

I am restarting my blog.... be afraid, very afraid.

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/5739987/?claim=shy9xcbm7ep">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Okay.... its the end of 2014 and I am on a mission.... I am restarting my blog.... be afraid, very afraid.

Yep, I have missed writing and realised it has been a long time since I have blogged..... and I have things to say....

Please join me in my journey..... I have been creating furiously, have attended Houston Quilt Market.... and traveled some of America...


For me being creative is a way of life and I want to share it with you...

Enjoy

Easy Christmas Present - Make a Key Fob - Free Tutorial

At Christmas time, I always make Christmas presents for my family and close friends.. Its something that I have always done... These fobs I actually made for presents last Christmas, I know .... took me a while to post..

Any who.... I also taught this class for a School Holiday Class... Children between the age of 7 and 11 completed this project.... therefore its great for beginners or those who want to make a quick gift...
Click here which will take you to my website and there you will find the pdf download. for the tutorial which you can save or print.


Key Fobs

Key Fobs made by 7 to 11 year olds

New Christmas Tree Hanging coming soon!

Have been busy designing and of course sewing!!! Just love the whole process... Been working with using cream and white backgrounds... Here's a sneak peak of my new Christmas Tree hanging using free motion raw edge appliqué... Makes sewing quick ! Just love it... Hope you like the photos.