Monday, December 12, 2011

Christmas sewing marathon!

Today I was busy sewing up pillows, antiquing and stuffing. I wanted to make some pillows stuffed with crushed balsam to put into packages, so that is what I did. I had the tree applique made first and today I finished those and made some quickie pillows. The tree appliques are fun to make, quick and easy, just cut up scraps of triangles and whip stitch them onto a backing. I used wool for the stem. I got some buttons to add to the trees. The other pillows are some old and some new christmas fabrics and I stained them to age them.


 These pillows I made with fabric I  found at Jo anns. I thought it would be fun and faster to use pre printed fabric, but I didn't realize that the designs are a bit skewed, but I tried to sew them straight, so they didn't come out too bad. I aged these, as well.


 This is the original fabric, a lot brighter and whiter. I do like the design and have enough to make a nice lap quilt for next year, good practice for my quilting skills too.


And for myself, I repurposed these old ornaments. I washed them with soapy water and then antiqued them. Then I made a little tube from scrap fabrics and filled that with the balsam and put that inside the stocking. Then I hung them on a rack, so I have fresh pine smell in the house. Notice the date, that is when these were originally made.



20 comments:

Linda said...

You were on a marathon!!! I love how everything looks after you've aged them. Prim and beautiful!

paulette said...

Wow!! You are a little dynamo! Very cute gifties!! You NEED to give a tutorial on Antiquing fabric!! I would love to do that! I have tea stained but it doesn't look like that! Yours really looks antiqued!
Just lovely!
P

The Eveningstitcher said...

Love all of your projects, Debbie!! You were one busy gal! I couldn't even finish decorating my kitchen...and I had the day off!

Allie said...

Girl you amaze me - these are so wonderful!! I had to laugh at the date on that ornament, I thought "that's not so long ago" - well, time is passing me by, it really is awhile! LOL!

TheCrankyCrow said...

You have been a busy little elf!! Love all your creations....and so like how you "repurposed" those '90's cross stitch pieces. Should have snapped a "before" photo, because the "after" looks pretty gosh darn good! Hope your week is off to a great start! Smiles & Hugs ~ Robin

Susan At Glen Oaks Primitives said...

You went 'sew ' crazy! Everything looks beautiful, Debbie. The date on the ornament takes me back, my daughter was just 2 (she's 23 now).
Merry Christmas

antique quilter said...

oh my gosh I just love that snowman fabric
toooooo cute!
thats going to make a great quilt, I hope you cut it apart and make great sashing blocks inbetween.
very cute trees!
looks like you have been busy in the workshop!
Kathie

moosecraft said...

The tree pillows are perfect! And, good use of the pre-printed stuff... you certainly do have a way of making good stuff so much better! And the balsam is soooooo heavenly... I'm going to have to order some if he has any left! lol!

primitivebettys said...

You are one busy gal! Crushed balsam sounds wonderful! :-)

Vicki W said...

What great gifts! You really made them special with your aging process.

Anna said...

you go girl! I wish I were you!

frontporchprims said...

Wow!!! That a lot of sewing. Such beautiful things. I love the stockings the most. You age fabric very well.
Good job. -Steph-

Soggibottom said...

Ah, they have "you" sewn all over them :-)
How about some beach ?

Debbie thank you..
I think so too xxxxx

Anonymous said...

You always amaze me! You get so much accomplished and you just know I love anything aged and prim! Those stocking ornaments are just TOO good!! What a great idea too to antique panels that I like but always think just too bright and white! Keep those ideas coming.

Barbara Strobel Lardon said...

Love the crushed balsam pouches. I bet that smells wonderful!

Char said...

What a great idea - the crushed balsam! Where does one get crushed balsam? Since we have an artifical tree I always miss the smell of a real tree - the balsam is a really cool idea! The pillows with the trees on them are just too cute! Love that snowman fabric!

Char

Louise said...

Lovely projects! I especially love the tree pillows.

Carole said...

Those cute little balsam pillows smell wonderful! You are so talented! Thanks for sharing!

Firecracker Kid said...

Well, you know I love these fabrics :o) Sweet little special xtras.
Yeah, I've come upon some misaligned printed fabrics too... not fun.
Carol

rachel griffith said...

very cute stuff :)