Decking the Halls

I picked up my Wooly Wreath from the framer today and hung it up in our living room.

The local framer I had been using closed a couple of years ago so I had this framed at Michael's.  I'm very pleased with the work they did.  It looks great hanging on the wall. 

Hand applique using wool was a new-to-me technique this year.  I enjoyed it and am very happy with the end result of my project.  I will probably do another little wool something but piecing quilts is still #1 in my craft repertoire.

If you are a new reader and want to know more about this project, I blogged about it here and here.

Wool Penny Rug Wreath

I put the last stitch in the wooly wreath on Saturday afternoon.

Now I need to get it framed. There are a couple of framing stores near me, as well as Michaels. I'm leaning towards Michaels because I think they might be more experienced framing needlework. I think I should put this on some foam core or other stiff backing before I have it framed. If anyone has experience with something similar, please leave advice in the comments. This project came out of a magazine but the directions stopped short of the framing part. Not so different from so many quilt patterns that end with "quilt as desired and apply binding" as though the quilting and binding are a complete afterthought.

I'm resuming work on the star pattern quilt inspired by a postcard I found in Paris.  I shunted this project aside for Christmas in July.  All the blocks are finished so it is just a matter of sashing and setting triangles to get the top done. 

And I've been giving considerable thought to what to start next.  I have a few ideas up my sleeve, or rather, in my brain; just need to decide which one comes out first. 

Wooly Wreath

I finished the little wooly pieces for the wreath and have them fused to the black wool background, ready for final stitching. 

My version is not quite as layered as the original in the magazine but I like it that way. 

I can finish this up over the next few weeks when I watch tv and then get it framed, ready for Christmas decorating.

Wool Applique

I've made a little progress on one of my other Christmas projects, this framed wreath.  Directions are in Sew Scrappy, an American Patchwork & Quilting publication from last fall. 

I'm making my version using a variety of shades of red and green wool.  I bought most of it from Attic Heirlooms when they vended at a local quilt show. 

Here are a few of pieces I've put together so far.  When I have a few more done, I'll start putting them on the black background. 

I've found wool applique to be not at all difficult (this project anyway), though it takes some practice to work up a rhythm and keep the stitches evenly sized and evenly spaced. 

Cottons n Wool has a nice tutorial on methods for wool applique.

Circling

I've been cleaning up my space after the making of Cobwebs and started cutting out what will be my "portable" project for the summer.  I will be taking Miss Main Street on a college visit roadtrip and anticipate a fair amount of down time out of the reach of my sewing machine.  That calls for a portable, hand-work project. 

Last fall, I got this magazine, Sew Scrappy, a special edition from American Patchwork & Quilting.  It holds several projects I want to make.

First up is this one, called Lots of Dots in the magazine.  I've never worked with wool or done hand buttonhole stitch, but no matter; I'm game for something new. 

I bought a bunch of small pieces of wool at a vendor's booth at a quilt show (Attic Heirlooms in Maine) and augmented with more wool from an Etsy seller (Quilting Acres).

I have the circles cut out, and I bought a piece of black wool for the background.  On Saturday, I'll swing by Michaels for the embroidery floss and I'll be ready to go.