My Creative Space...

Feeling Christmassy anyone?
Yes? No?
I have to say that I sure wasn't up until today - Christmas was the furtherest thing from my mind!

But thanks to this swap, and a rather eye-opening, cheek slapping reminder from Miss Laura Jane that Christmas is in fact only a matter of days away (65 days if you want to know specifics), I thought it was about time I started getting organised and ticking off some obligations.

Well ok - only because I have a swap deadline to work to - but I am going to have to actually start writing a list (and checking it twice haha) of what I need to make for Christmas presents and all that soon too, to make sure that I don't wake up on Christmas Eve with no presents made or anything!
(Especially since most of them are going to have to be sent to England & New Zealand very very soon if they have any hope of making it on time - EEEK).

So I made a start last night by brainstorming what to make for my Christmas Table Runner swap partner...

First a (rough) drawing...

This was just to give me an idea. I knew as soon as I finished it that the end result of the stars would be quite different - I just couldn't be bothered redrawing.

Then a go at making the trees...

I used a tutorial and thought I pinned it, but unfortunately I cannot find it again. Whoops! Really really sorry person who made the fab tutorial!!
If you especially want to know how then let me know & I'll give you the measurements to make your own.

Then a mad idea to paper piece some teeny tiny stars...

I think I must need my head read! Seriously - what was I thinking attempting those tiny stars?!
- Only my second attempt ever at paper piecing and the first was over a year ago for this bee block (thanks to Felicity for that joy of a first ever bee block ;) ) - so you can tell I must have loved it the first time round huh...

Never the less, it was good to remind myself how fiddly and annoying I find it (and how time consuming I am at it).
Despite all this I did manage to paper piece one star before giving up in disgust & going back to free piecing...

Yes rather small isn't it. Lets just say you better not expect to see anything else paper pieced around here in a while! (Famous last words)

And since Hannah was thoroughly entertained by having a friend over for the day & Abbie had a good sleep, I managed to get it to this stage by the middle of this afternoon...

Crummy photo, but this is seriously awesome in real life!! (even if I do say so myself)
I think I might actually go as far as to say that it's my FAVOURITE thing I've ever made - so that's saying something!
I really challenged myself technically in new techniques in making this, and obviously I really couldn't be happy with how it turned out!!

But that can't be a good thing right? Because I almost never ever like things before they're finished. I hope it's not a bad omen!

Not a bad days work even if I do say so myself.
Now just to figure out what to use for the back & how to quilt it. Although I already have some ideas about the quilting so watch this space...

Just a warning to my partner though - you better swoon your little heart out about this, because if you fail to make a significantly excited comment about receiving this baby then I'm afraid it will be staying here for good and you will be getting something else (far less fussily pieced) instead LOL... ;)

Don't forget to enter my 200 follower celebration giveaway if you haven't already. It closes tomorrow.

And also if you haven't checked out my new "nosey parker" linky party announcement make sure you do that too :)

More creative spaces here...