The Last Christmas Tree Skirt of 2007!

Well Christmas is nearly over in the Rachael Rabbit workshop and I will be concentrating on some Easter and spring goodies now. I'll post more pictures of the Christmas Tree skirts on my website soon - but for now - here are some snap shots.

a baby polar bear

Santa and Rudolph around the tree

Santa in his sleigh
Cupid and Dancermachine embroidered skirt with bow detailWhere does Santa live?Santa's housethe reindeer are waiting for Santa
polar bears in lovesnowmen like to give gifts as well

bow detaila very christmasy patchwork reverse

HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY SEASON - I am now off to the UK and will be back behind Bernie in January!!

Recycling for Rabbits

After falling out with Bernie rather badly last week. I decided that perhaps he would like to come with me at the weekend instead of staying in the city - perhaps he missed me. So off we went together - and we seem to be firm friends again.

I have been pouring over my craft books and on Saturday I was reading Denyse Schmidt Quilts: 30 Colorful Quilt and Patchwork Projects again. (I am trying to organize my thoughts and ideas so that in the new year I am ready to go with a whole list of creative projects and gifts!) Suddenly, and quite randomly, I found myself boiling old sweaters and making rabbits - these rabbits are loosely based on Denyse Schmidt's "Steve" pattern (see the three Steve's below.)
I seem to find making rabbits rather fun and these are definitely more quirky than any softie I've made before. Aaron and I are still giggling at the "pink disco ballerina" rabbit - she just looks like she got SO over excited dressing up in pink things. Perhaps too much pink?

One of my new years resolutions will be to make more things from recycled materials. Stay posted to see what wonderful (or strange) things are produced!

Advent Calendars

When I was little the advent calendar was one of the highlights of Christmas. First we had the kind where you open the little windows to reveal a different picture .... then the chocolate advent calendars - which were a huge luxury upgrade (and it was hard to resist eating all the chocolates at once) ...... then we had the super duper Daddy upgrade. Daddy made us an advent calendar of boxes and in each box was a little gift ... perhaps a chocolate bar in one or a pound note or a party popper. Daddy's advent calendars were the best .... and it was confirmed that advent calendars were indeed one of the most exciting parts of Christmas.

You can read more about the history of the advent calendar at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advent_calendar

A couple of years ago I made our nephew Cullen his very own advent calendar out of felt. Although I was pleased with the end result I had not thought about what a large piece of chocolate each day can do to a toddler's sugar level - and the fact that I am still not able to restrain myself from opening all the windows at once and scoffing the chocolates - so what hope did a 2 year old have!!
So this year I decided to think about this a little more - take out the danger of sugar - but try and make something just as pretty and exciting. So here are this years personalized felt advent calendars with no added sugar. One was for Finlay's 1st birthday.... .... another for my sister's birthday ...
... and the other I sold on Etsy (woo hoo!)

Jeannie asked for the word Peace rather than a family name - so I made a little felt dove carrying an olive branch too. I think that the word Peace was a lovely idea for the calendar.

Birthday Napkins

I think I have found my new super gift ...... I love these napkins that I inflicted on my sister-in-law Emily for her birthday. I used the same Molly's Handmade Napkins pattern from the Purl Bee. They are 16"x16" and made from egg blue linen with Moda's Shangri La Oasis Green as the trim.
I am currently making some more from chocolate and cream linen bordered with Hoffman's Essential Vines in cream. Yum.

Make your own Posh Polar Bear ...

My dear friend Elaine asked me to make her two knitted teddy bears. I took this opportunity to make up my own pattern. I wanted to make a bear with a big cosy belly and shorter legs.
I'm not sure why I wanted a short legged, big bellied bear .... but I think I achieved my aim. I think he looks like a polar bear.
His jacket is jolly posh (I was rather pleased with this pattern) ... so he is a posh polar bear.
You can make your own posh polar bear from my patterns page. I did check the pattern when I made the second bear (he/she is still waiting to be dressed) ... so you will have to let me know if there are any errors!

Making Molly's Handmade Napkins

After reading kimmymade (and seeing her stripey bunny) I was introduced to the Purl Bee (be prepared to get addicted) and I fell in love with the idea of making Molly's Handmade Napkins. Before I could start sewing I needed to make bias tape. I read the instructions on my bias tape maker and ...... started ..... it all went a bit horribly wrong. So I've made my own instructions on my patterns & recipes page to make sure your first bias tape experience doesn't go as wonky as mine!! AND sewing in straight lines is not easy. There were many squeaks of frustration. But look at my lovely picnic napkins - I am unsure if there is such a thing as a "picnic napkin" but I call them picnic napkins because they are 11" sq and they would be perfect to take on a picnic!

Some completed Christmas Tree Skirts .....

I have finally finished some Christmas Tree Skirts - here is the original design ....
.... and the finished product!! The skirt is reversible with a felt scene on one side and a quilted patchwork design on the reverse. The patchwork has a decorative silver stitch along each seam. It looks quite pretty underneath the tree. Although I am pleased with the finished result - I think I have decided that I will use more symmetry in future Christmas tree skirt designs.

I have also made two Christmas tree skirts from recycled silk ties each skirt has a velvet reverse. I would just like to mention that it is REALLY hard to photograph silk and velvet - the light catches each lump and bump and my photographs show wrinkles you can't even see. I think a lot of it is down to the high sheen of the fabric. Does anyone has any ideas how to make this easier in the future?

This white silk skirt has a green velvet reverse, crimson red rope trim and very decorative white fasteners. I have to thank Sarah for this idea - I think it is really effective and they are so pretty you can actually have the fasteners at the front of the skirt rather than hiding the seam at the back of the tree!

This Christmas tree skirt was made from silver silk ties. The reverse is a warm charcoal grey color. It reminds me of the color of Russian blue puddy cats. The rope trip is white, blue/grey & beige and the fasteners are a similar grey color!

I have also decided that I need to start documenting my patterns - and I plan to start posting them on my website on my new Patterns & Recipes page.