Buttons and Bobs

Thread a Christmas tree is very quick and easy to make: You need : Ribbon A button for the toddler to hold on to to pull the ribbon through the slits you cut in the shapes A button to act as a stopper at the end of the ribbon so that the shapes don't fall off the end Felt cut in to Christmas tree shapes. At a basic level the child can practise threading the ribbon through the trees. With an adult the child can be encouraged  to make pattern sequences.on the ribbon. The shapes can be used without the ribbon to explore simple maths - adding, subtracting, more than, less than ... Safety note - of course ensure that buttons are sewn on very securely.

Well this didn't turn out as planned but I'm happy with it. It was going to be one of seven bags to hang up on banisters in December. Each bag would have a date label and each would contain two small gifts for two small children.The labels would be changed each week on the lead up to Christmas - so 7 bags and 24 labels equals a sort of Advent calendar. The first test (in reality presents would be wrapped) showed that the bag was too big at sides 6 inches by depth 6 inches, the bags would gape open (it would be had to resist emptying seven bags in one go!) plus we would run out of banister space. I followed most of Debbie Shore's instructions on Youtube on how to make a cube  bag .  I cut my pieces six and a half by six and a half inches used wadding to line the bag stitched lines one inch apart after leaving a quarter inch allowance all around each piece for hems. I am having a rethink on Advent calendars while I fill the first bag with Christmas fat quar...

I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the quilts and the skills of the creators at the 2018 Festival of Quilts at the NEC, Birmingham. The experience was enhanced by the friendliness of the other visitors - everyone was enthusiastic and keen to share their excitement.  The exhibition far surpassed my expectations. I took too many photos. Here are just a few! Please click on photos to enlarge. Photos arranged by Fotojet