No photos today - we have a new camera that needs a new memory stick, so there is no space for crafty photos at the moment.

I’ve been working on my Turning 20 quilt. I’m using Fresh Cut by Heather Bailey fabric.

So far I have made 16 of the 20 blocks. The quilt is going together very easily - the hardest thing is deciding how to allocate the fabrics to blocks.

I’ve been busy designing an embroidery for an apron.

On the weekend I realised that I hadn’t thought of presents for my girls’ teachers.  As school finishes on friday, I don’t have much time. I decided to make the bird christmas tree ornament from this book.

Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t get the belly section to join the body section without puckers.

The timing was pretty much spot-on - it took about four hours to make five of them. I think several in the tree would look fabulous, but I’m not sure if I have the motivation to make any more.

In Part 1 I digitised my letters. Now I’m going to stitch them out and attach them to a towel.

I like use calico (Quilters muslin) as a stabiliser for my T-Shirt and Towel appliques. It seems to work really well for me.

As you can see, I hoop the fabric as well. For some other projects I don’t hoop the fabric just the stabiliser, but I’ll save that for another day.

I then stitch out the letters…

I use Robinson-Anton Rayon Embroidery thread and Janome bobbin fill (I resent having to buy the Janome Bobbin fill, but it does seem to work the best). It’s also a good idea to change the sewing machine needle every 8 hours or so.

I then cut out the letters. I usually do this while watching T.V.

I’m now ready to attach them to a towel.

I spray the back of the letters with a basting spray - currently I’m using Craft Smart Applique and Embroidery Positioning Spray (I also use this to attach fabric to the stabiliser when I don’t want to hoop the fabric). I bought it from Spotlight.

I use low tac masking tape on the towel to mark a straight line and I place the middle letter of the name in the centre of the towel - the spray will make them stick (just temporarily).

I then attach the letter. I use an ‘invisible’ thread in the needle and a bobbin thread in a colour to match the towel (in this case white). I use Sulky Invisible Thread, which you can get from here.

I sew the remaining letters using the same method - working outwards from the centre. For example, with a name like Karen I would start with the r, then the a, then the e, then the K and finally the n.

I would show you the finished product, but this one is a gift and I don’t want anyone to see it before them, but here is one I prepared earlier…