Christmas handmade gifting in no time at all

At this time of year as Christmas and the Holiday season is just right round the corner, time seems to be short on for most.  It's such an amazing time of the year to gift to those we love and especially when those gifts are handmade making it all the more precious.

But with not long to the big day I am here with my top picks for beautiful, quilt and fast to make gifts you can sew in next to no time to have ready for under the tree.  

Sunny Dayz

Great hat pattern to make for the kids

Bethanie Apron

Make this for your baking loving friends or to fancy up your own cooking

Hair Dayz

perfect for the teenager or scrunchie loving friend

Measure Once Mini Quilt

for your sewing and quilting loving friends or yourself

PJ Pals

for all the kids you sew and gift for

Santa Sacks

perfect for all those gifts under the tree - both big and little kids

Zippy Hobby Bags

perfect for everyone

And how about some FREE Tutorials that you can find on my Blog.  Sure they may be oldies but boy are they still goodies.

Christmas Gift Tag Tutorials

Felt Snowman Tutorial 

I hope you enjoy sewing up these super quick and super fun projects.

Happy Quilting

Jemima x 

Latest Pattern Releases

I have to admit that as a pattern designer seeing my designs made by other's never gets old and makes me so grateful to have been able to turn my hobby into my full time work.  Since my Sewing Room Makeover its like I have had a whole new lease on my "sewjo" and I have been busy designing so many new patterns that I will begin to release as the year begins.

But before we get started with new designs I have a few of my latest releases to share with you today.

Introducing "Hair Dayz" - it is a Creative Card pattern (double sided A4 page format) which has both the pattern to make Scrunchies and these Hair Ties.  Yes you heard it - Scrunchies are officially making a come back.!!

When my own two girls were in Primary School I used to cut up their old school Uniforms and then re-sew them into  these Hair Ties.  Originally just for my own girls - but the other school mums soon went crazy for them and I couldn't keep up at one point.  I have made these also over the years for many of my friends little daughters and are great to use up scraps or lots of bright colourful fabrics. They make great gifts bundled together and the kids (and bigger kids!) go mad for them.

Hair Dayz PDF pattern available here 

Following on from my Viv's Rose Quilt - this new Applique Cross Stitch inspired quilt is named "Watermelon Crush"  and is all about summer fun!  Ive teamed up Robert Kaufman Solid Linens and this Essex Linen in Aqua for the background to let the design shine through these solid fabrics.  

And of course I couldn't go past using this Watermelon Smash fabric from Maude Asbury to use as backing.  I am very much a believer in not just putting any backing on a quilt but using a more considered and thought out approach to add to your quilt rather than just see it as the "back".  I carefully patterned matched the design and I love the back as much as the front in giving this quilt that perfect finishing touch.

Watermelon Crush PDF Quilt pattern available here 

And while we might have only just celebrated Christmas its never to early to get sewing to be well ready and inspired come this festive season.  "Here Comes Santa" is a Pillow set featuring a machine pieced Santa pillow and an Applique "naughty or nice" pillow.  

Both are included in the pattern so you can decorate your favourite spot for the Holiday season. Pillows are great to add some sparkle to your decorating or to gift at this time of year.  

Use fabrics from your stash as I did in this set (using mostly Bonnie and Camille fabrics) or your favourite Holiday range.

Here Comes Santa Pillow Set PDF pattern 

available here

As with all my patterns to - if you are a wholesale customer then all my designs can be found over at Creative Abundance here in Australia and through Checker Distributors over in the US.

I can't wait to share more with you this year with many quilts already literally, being quilted and more new designs being sewn up to inspire you to quilt, make, create and sew.

Happy Quilting

Jemima x x

Alice Caroline Fabrics and a Christmas Cheer Advent Calendar

Have you been introduced to Alice Caroline?  You know I love Liberty of London fabrics and one place that stocks a wonderful and beautiful range of these fabrics is Alice Caroline fabrics located in the UK.

Alice Caroline has long been one of my favourite "Go-to" stores for Liberty fabrics to add to my collection.  With their range full of the latest Liberty fabrics available as well as fabrics such as Interior and Linens. Kits, Patterns and even  scrap packs and notebooks. This beautiful bundle of Christmas inspired Tana Lawns was perfect to create one of my latest patterns with - the Christmas Cheer Advent Calendar.

Traditional Reds and Greens are my "Christmas Colours" and these prints were perfect with their striking prints and patterns.  These little pockets are perfect for hiding special treats as you countdown each day till Santa's arrival.

The Christmas Cheer Advent Calendar mixes sewing with Appliqué - you can of course Appliqué your Calendar however you choose but for this one I have used a Triple stitch on my machine.

This is a great Advent Calendar to involve the whole family.  Whether you fill it with treats, lollies, chocolates, trinkets or even beautiful notes this will be a treasured creation for many years to come.  Handmade to treasure as you countdown the days to Santa's visit. 

Jemima x 

New Pattern Releases

While it may be a little early to start thinking of Christmas it is not too early to start to think about your Christmas Crafting.  As soon as "Little Joys" by Elea Lutz (for Penny Rose Fabrics) arrived I knew exactly what I wanted to make.

With beautiful vintage Christmas designs and traditional colours in these fabrics I set about making my "Christmas Cheer Advent Calendar".  Little Joys is now available in Australia at these stores

Fabric Pixie

Patchwork on Pittwater

You can fill these pockets with which ever treats, sweets or little gifts you choose and all the family will enjoy this countdown to Santa's arrival.  

PDF Downloable Pattern for my Christmas Cheer Advent Calendar is now available at my Website and Etsy Store

Liberty fabrics melt my heart - I love the prints, colours, designs and feel of the beautiful Tana Lawn.  This bright bundle arrived from Ava and Neve and I quickly set about making this large cushion teamed with Essex Yarn Dyed Linen (Navy)

This new pattern - Confetti Cushion shows the beautiful bright prints and how striking they look set against a beautifully textured Linen.  

PDF Downloadable Pattern for my Confetti Cushion is now available at my Website and Etsy Store.

Happy sewing

Jemima x 

Little Joys by Elea Lutz

While it may only be May I love Christmas and all the planning and preparation that goes into this special season.  This new range designed by Elea Lutz called Little Joys is the sweetest vintage inspired Christmas range that I know will be loved by many.  If you loved her Milk, Sugar and Flower range then you will be equally mesmerised with this Christmas range of prints.

Made for Penny Rose Fabrics and distributed here in Aus by Millhouse Collections there are 12 prints in this range that have your ever faithful dots and characters that are very cute such as Reindeer's and Gingerbread Men.

I love the traditional colours of this range with the splash of pink and I have set about creating a new pattern that will be all about the countdown to the visit from the big jolly red man himself.

This range will be arriving here in Aus in July.

Jemima x 

In the Press!

Whilst walking through the airport terminal the other day I was excited to see the new issue of Handmade Magazine on the stands.  And there on the front cover is one of my Christmas projects - a Fabric and Felt Wreath!  Yay!

So upon my arrival home I was able to excitedly have a look through the pages and inside there are actually 3 of my Christmas projects featured.  Not only the Fabric and Felt Wreath but also a Christmas Baubles Applique Table Runner and a sweet Gingerbread House felt decoration. 

If you are wanting to get a start on some Christmas crafting then there are lots of great projects to inspire you in this months issue by many talented and crafty people. 

It is quite a buzz seeing the projects you yourself have made on the glossy pages of magazines.  And let me know if you make any of my projects - I'd love to hear from you!

Jemima

I've become a Dot Com

There has been alot going on at Tied with a Ribbon HQ over the past few weeks.  I have been doing alot of behind the scenes work.  Firstly in case you have not noticed my blog address has changed now to a .com.  You can now find me at

www.tiedwitharibbon.com

I will still be posting here at my blog I have just changed its name so I have less addresses as such.  It is re-directing all the traffic to come here no matter which address you use but you can update it in your favourites and readers.

I have also been working on new pattern cover photos for all of my Felt Kits.  I recently had a photo shoot with Sheena Cooke Photography.  It was a great day - I was so amazed at how creative she was and could just capture the right photo. I had a couple of models to put together some great Editorial style shots and I can't wait to share the end results with you.  Although I have been working on my own photography skills sometimes it is best to get an expert.  I will be revealing the photos over the next few weeks so stay tuned.  Here is one of the photos I took of my Delicious Doughnuts.

On the topic of Cameras - my Ephiphanie Camera Bag arrived and to say it was worth the wait is an understatement - I absolutely just love it.  It is a bit larger than I expected but I can put my purse and phone and use it as my Handbag when I want to take it out.

Here's a sneak peak at a Christmas Stitcherie I have been working on.  While I might be alone on this I am a firm believer that it is never too early for Christmas so I have started on this new design which will be available soon. 

 

I have been using Cosmo Threads to stitch the design and if you have not heard of them before they are well worth tracking down.  I was introduced to them a while ago and love the Egyptian Cotton they are made from - they are beautiful to work with and have such a gorgeous lustre about them that make the little extra you pay for these well worth it.

Although none of the stores I rang locally stock them there are several places online you can buy these from.  I got mine from Cookies and Cream Craft.  Sandy has been so helpful with getting the Cosmo threads to me I was after.  Her shop has lots of beautiful things to have a look at.



Introducing!

Introducing some new friends and items being added to the Tied with a Ribbon Range :

Funny Frog Felt Kits

Lovely Ladybirds Felt Kit



These kits have the pattern and instructions to make these new Forrest Friends.  You can also make them as a brooch or key ring as well as a hanging ornament with a brooch bar, a key ring and ribbon included.  These would make great starter sewing kits for children as well as adults.

Tooth Fairy Pillows

It has been "raining" teeth here at home lately and with my two girls came a request for something special to have for the arrival of the Tooth Fairy.  So after consultation with what the girls wanted on the front of the pillows I decided to make what you see above - and then of course I could not help myself and made more and have put some in the shop also.

This is the completed Custom order cushion I was completing in the last post.  I love butterflies and my sock monkey could not help but jump in to have a photo too!!

These dresses were made by some lovely ladies who came along and after a workshop completed these gorgeous dresses.  (One of whom had not sewn since high school)  They did a great job and this blue dress was also made by another lady.  She took hers home for her little girl and sent me this pic after a little photo shoot with her.  She looks so cute in her dress that her mummy made for her.

I have made more progress on the quilt I have been working on.  The top came together very quickly but now I have been hand quilting the top - I have been using some Pearle 8 threads and slowly, slowly it is coming along.



Merry Christmas

Well after months and months of planning the day has almost arrived.  I hope Santa is good to you and that the festive season is a safe and happy time for you all.  Let the drinks begin and the over eating commence!!

Sweet Christmas Party bags that I have filled with some special treasures for my girls for Christmas Eve.  Merry Christmas all!