Deck the Halls Free Christmas Tree Pattern!

 It would seem that when I like a particular designer's work, I can gush on, and on, and on ( and on) about them. One designer's work that I keep coming back to time and time again is Cori Dantini. Almost every fabric line that she has put out, as soon as I see it, I have about twenty project ideas that come to mind. When I first saw her Joy & Wonder collection for Blend Fabrics, that was no exception. As I was drooling over studying her collection, it hit me... a paper piecing pattern was staring me right in the face! So, I approached Cori earlier in the year and asked if I could adapt her design into a paper piecing pattern... and now in the spirit of the season of giving, I am turning around and giving it to you too... the Deck the Halls Christmas Tree pattern!

I also drew inspiration from other elements in Cori's fabric line, and added a house and tower. Her fabrics are absolutely perfect for fussy cutting, don't you think?

For the stars I used the reverse applique method because I wanted to have a very clean and finished look, but did not want to remove excess fabric from the back of the small stars as you would for a freezer paper applique star.

Much of my quilting was simply shadow and straight line quilting, and I really wanted the stars to be focal points of the quilting as if they were really shining. You can see a good bit of the work in progress on my instagram feed.

...additionally, I wanted to say a big thank you Jessica, for helping me get this into a nice, cleaned up pdf format!

Area you busy working on Christmas projects for yourself, as decorations, or are you part of Santa's team and making presents for others?

Linking up this week to WIP Wednesday and Let's Bee Social. 
 

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Anna Magazin

At beginning of January of this year, I submitted a couple of Easter projects to the OZ-Verlag magzine, Anna Magazine. To my surprise, I was told that Easter was a long gone theme and that they were currently working on Christmas. I think I was shocked into silence for the first few minutes having just packed my own Christmas decorations away. I obviously knew that magazines have to work ahead, but I never imagined that far ahead. So needless to say, I've been waiting quite a while to share what I've been working on since January. "Weihnachtsfreude", which are five of my projects are featured in the November issue of Anna Magazin:

Anfang Januar dieses Jahres, habe ich ein paar Oster-Projekte an das Anna Magazin vom OZ Verlag eingereicht. Zu meiner Überraschung, wurde mit mitgeteilt, dass das Thema Ostern schon längst vorbei wäre und derzeit an den Winter- / Weihnachtsmodellen gearbeitet würde. Zuerst war ich etwas schockiert,  weil ich meine Weihnachts-Deko ja gerade erst weg gepackt hatte... Mir war zwar bewusst, dass Magazine einen gewissen Vorlauf bei Ihrer Planung benötigen, aber so etwas langfristiges hatte ich mir nicht vorgestellt. Also habe ich mich dann an die Arbeit gemacht und Weihnachtsmodelle mit Stoffen aus einer brandneuen Kollektion entworfen. Verständlicherweise musste ich dann einige Zeit warten, bis ich endlich mit Euch teilen durfte, woran ich im vergangenen Januar gearbeitet habe, aber endlich ist es soweit: "Weihnachtsfreude" ist in der November-Ausgabe des "Anna Magazins" erschienen und beinhaltet fünf meiner eigenen Projekte samt Schnittmustern:

I used Cori Dantini's "Merry Stitches" line from Blend Fabrics, which I just adore (as you might have noticed from my last few posts) What a pretty little stack of fabrics? In addition to sweet little birds and angels, you will find...

Ich habe Cori Dantini's "Merry Stitches" Kollektion von Blend Fabrics verwendet (habt Ihr vielleicht schon hier gesehen). Was für ein wunderschöner Stapel Stoffe? Außer kleiner süßer Vögel und Engel findet Ihr...

... a Christmas wall hanging decor (Freude in German means "joy")

... einen Weihnachtsfreude-Wandschmuck,

...decorative accents for the perfect wintery table setting.

... die perfekten Akzente für eine winterliche Tischdekoration,

... mittens to line the chimney with care.

... Winterfäustlinge als frische Alternative zu den "alten Socken" für den Kamin,

... winter lovebirds snuggled in for the long cold season.

... süße Vögelchen, zusammen gekuschelt für die kalte Saison,

... and all wrapped up to give your special gives that extra touch.
 
... und einzigartige Geschenkanhänger, die Deinen Geschenken das gewisse Extra verleihen.

These and more great holiday crafting ideas can be found in the November issue of Anna Magazine.

Diese und andere tolle Ideen kannst Du in der November Ausgabe des "Anna Magazin" finden.

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Der April weiß nicht was er will

"The April doesn't know what it wants" is a very common phrase in Germany... and I know exactly why. Often I find it difficult simply trying to figure out what to wear for the day. Not because I am a fashion diva trying to get just the right look, but because the weather in Germany can go from bright and sunny in one minute to overcast and dark the next, flip to rain, and then back to sun again. Perhaps it's just in Northern Germany that one experiences such indecisive weather, but as it's often said in Hamburg... if you don't like the weather, then just wait fifteen minutes. (sometimes quite true)

But I have to say that I am holding onto the saying:

Bunnies that spring,
Larks that sing,
Will certainly,
the Springtime bring.

Springtime... where are you? April, you look seemingly grey today.

Pillow with free motion quilting technique and Hippity-Hop bunny felt applique.

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