Love Story Patchwork Stockings : :

Holiday making is well underway and my goodness, I do LOVE these days of non-stop making!



Last year this time my Love Story collection had just arrived at my studio and I was brimming with ideas for using these pretty prints for some surprising holiday themed handmades. I made so many bags that I never finished these Love Story stockings that were at the top of my to-make list, until now...



Making unique Christmas stockings have become one of my favorite things to make! Years ago, before I knew yet how to sew, I purchased our family's stockings from Pottery Barn. Their shape and size are the style I still like best all these years later, so when it came time to try making my own to gift and to sell, I traced one of those stockings to be the template that I continue to use for each one. The extra large size is just perfect for stuffing with all kinds of small gifts and treats!



These Love Story Patchwork Stockings include all twenty quilting cottons that make up the collection. And to add a special boho touch, I embellish each with handmade flower & fabric twine cluster!



Aren't they pretty?! I love them so much!! So much so that I made eight!

*UPDATE* All Love Story Stockings have sold out, but I would still love for you to check out my other Ready To Ship bags, pillows, quilted journals and quilts of mine, you can visit my new Instagram Pop-Up Shop --
https://www.instagram.com/shopMCH/



Thanks for looking! xo Maureen

For Now : :

After sharing my scrappy bear paw block plans last week, to turn these 25" blocks into two Euro sized shams, one for each of my boys beds. I started to really love them right here on my wall!



Your comments even encouraged that I do the same! And so...



When we Christmas-ified the boys rooms over the weekend my pillow plans were left behind, and thankfully, the boys didn't mind one bit! When we celebrated my son Kaiden's thirteenth birthday (oh my!) this past Sunday, you can see those bear paw blocks still hanging on the wall!



In case you happen to be wondering what's happening in the photo above, those candles are in what we call in our house the "mega sandwich," which is just a fancy pressed sandwich that Kaiden requested I make for his birthday dinner to put his candles in. Just to humor me, he let me put candles in his cheesecake, as well!

After a wonderful weekend spent decorating and celebrating, I didn't get much sewing done, besides the pair of Quick Quilt As You Go stockings I made for my twin baby nieces yesterday!



Using the same quilt as you go method I teach in my new Craftsy Class, a festive stack of Art Gallery fabrics, and Aurifil thread I stitched these up in no time! The stockings are made neat and sturdy from the layer of cotton batting and lining them to finish. You can see the others I've made for my brother David's family here and here!



While making these stockings, I decided that I will simply quilt those bear paw blocks up into mini quilts to hang them right back up on the wall! What do you think?

How about you, are you busy making anything handmade for the holidays?

Happy sewing! ♡ Maureen

Quilted Christmas Stockings : :

Yesterday we had such a wonderful day celebrating my little girl's birthday! Thank you for all her birthday wishes! We also spent some time together in my sewing room stitching up these quilted Christmas stockings for my brother and his fiance.



I had never made stockings before, but I found it really quick and fun. I even made a felt pattern to tuck away for any matching stockings they may need made in the future. :)



The fronts are quilted, with a layer of soft, cotton batting and the insides are lined. That was definitely the trickiest part for me. I had to think carefully of how I would need to do that... Yes, the lining needs to be inside out on the outside, right sides facing, with an opening for turning... It gets confusing for me. How about you?



The backs are both finished in the Cheery Circles Dots prints by My Mind's Eye for Riley Blake. I picked up both from my sponsor Pink Castle Fabrics -- they're still available right here for a great price!



The fronts are made up in a simple scrappy patchwork with some polka dot prints, some of my favorite Little Apples prints (on sale here :) and a little of my new favorite, Sundae in Ruby!



I think two more may have to be made before Christmas -- one for Kevin and one for me!!!