Friday, August 2, 2013

Ho Ho Ho!

I'm excited to be part of another great blog hop! These hops are really stretching my creativity and enhancing my skills. I'm trying techniques and ideas I've never attempted before. In the last hop, I did machine quilting for the first time. In this one, I'm tackling bias binding around a circle, but more on that later lol. First of all, a big thanks to Madame Samm and Carol for all their hard work and support.

My favorite Christmastime motif is the poinsettia, so I decided to design an appliqued piece with them. Now poinsettias always come in pots, right? So the title of my piece is "Potted Poinsettia Party." Poinsettias come in many colors, although red is primary one used in holiday décor. For fun, and the look it achieved, I included a non-traditional color in the project...pink!

I came up with my design and hand-appliqued the entire top with DMC floss. The appliques are all pieces of wool felt from my stash. The background is also wool felt, and the entire piece is backed and bound with cotton. Buttons were added for the stamen in the centers.

After finishing the applique, I attempting the bias binding. I cut 4" wide bias strips; joined them together (per this demonstration); folded the whole thing in half; stitched it on with a 1/2" seam; folded the binding back and hand-stitched it on the back of the piece. It wasn't too difficult and I think it came out well!

Anyway here's the finished piece. It measures 16".


The pattern for this project will be available soon in .pdf format in my etsy and craftsy shops.

For a giveaway, I took my same applique shapes, made them slightly smaller, and created a set of poinsettia gift tag/ornaments. They can be hung as ornaments or tied onto gifts! I'm giving away a set of three...just leave a comment and you'll be entered into the random drawing. I will also soon make the pattern for the ornaments available for free on my blog!


Be sure to visit the other creative people on today's list!

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs (that's me!)

122 comments:

  1. Love your project, and your binding looks great! And what a lovely idea to make ornament tags - thanks for sharing!

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  2. Oh I love your project! Its so fun working with wool. The binding looks beautiful. I don't know if I could sew in the round like that. And the tags came out so cute!

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  3. wow! Those flowers are so cute. We haven't worked with wool before. It looks so nice. The tags are adorable.

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  4. Beautiful Poinsettia table topper! Looking forward to your pattern. Thank you for sharing.

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  5. I love the thought of using wool for this project. Nicely done. The poinsettia's are just beautiful...

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  6. My first thought when I saw the picture was "WOW" I really like your poinsettias! Thank you for sharing the pattern with us.
    ~Brandy
    brandizzle7133 at yahoo dot com

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  7. There is something about a personal design that has so much heart and style. It is not 'commercial' but highly marketable. It really unique and the materials really set it off - a lovely piece!

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  8. I so love your poinsettias and those gift tags are great.

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  9. Lovely piece and the tags are just wonderful - how clever. Thank you for sharing.

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  10. Christmas Poinsettias are one of my favorite flowers, I think I have even seen them in a pink color before, and lovely tags.

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  11. This is a wonderful idea, with felt and wool! I really like also the details with the buttons! Thanks for sharing!

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  12. Lovely! I do love poinsettias. They really scream Christmas! Great work!

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  13. So lovey these poisettias. Thanks for sharing

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  14. Nice work :) Thank You for sharing !

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  15. I also like poinsettias! Your projects are lovely!

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  16. Absolutely lovely. I truly like this design.

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  17. Now this is just so unique!! Love your poinsettias!

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  18. Love the poinsettias - your designs are just delightful. The little tags are beautiful!

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  20. Well done, you are a clever crafter...I love inspirational blogs too...

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  21. The poinsettias are wonderful. I love your design. Thanks for sharing your creativity and being part of this hop

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  22. Elizabeth. That is a MAGNIFICENT design and your work is so beautiful! I'm thinking your table mat will be chosen as one of the top 2 today (if not, it certainly is for me). This is unique and creative and just awesome (can you tell I'm very impressed?) Thanks for showing us a new take on poinsettias!

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  23. That is a beautiful design and I love that you made the pink flowers as well as the red.

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  24. downright inspiring Elizabeth...very much a piece of art...so much sooo well you will see...

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  25. What a beautiful piece!! I would love to win those gift tags...thank you

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  26. That is one gorgeous piece of work! Thank you for sharing with us!! Would love the tags, they are really nice.

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  27. Beautiful piece and the tags are sweet too!

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  28. Hello Elizabeth,

    Just love your Christmas design, thanks for the opportunity to win the wonderful tags.

    Happy days.
    Bev.

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  29. Love your table mat! These hops are just wonderful to inspire us to step out of the box.... great job!

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  30. Beautiful table mat. And the tags are great too thanks for offering the giveaway!

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  31. How beautiful! Love the poinsettias and the way they come together to form a circle! Those tags are adorable too!

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  32. Love your projects! Great job! :)

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  33. Oooh, this is my fave so far...I adore those tags!!

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  34. gorgeous work. love the Poinsettias thanks for the giveaway.

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  35. LOve your poinsettias. Such a creative idea.
    tvbart@charter.net

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  36. LOve your poinsettias. Such a creative idea.
    tvbart@charter.net

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  37. Your poinsettias are spectacular!! I love them in the table mat and in your gift tags. Just lovely.

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  38. Love your poinsettias. Thanks for being a part of the hop.

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  39. Oh, that is just so sweet! You are going to have one pretty table. I love those tags too.

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  40. Oh you have done it again, Elizabeth! You hit it right out of the park with your lovely poinsettia piece. I have seen pink ones in real life and white though those tend to have a greenish cast to them, it seems. You choice just the right hue for this. Very deserving of most creative today!

    And how cute are those gift tags, showing that motifs can be used in other ways as well. THX for the giveaway opportunity.

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  41. Love your poinsettias. Thanks for sharing & thanks for the chance to win.

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  42. I like the combination of pink and red.

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  43. Lovely and the colors work so nice, I love the tags.

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  44. I love the ornaments and are looking forward to your free pattern!

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  45. I just love it. Good job! :D Thanks for sharing!

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  46. Fabulous - what a great idea!
    Thank you for sharing!

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  47. Beautiful poinsettias and thanks for sharing!

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  48. Very nice tree skirt and gift tags. Thanks for sharing.

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  49. I love this pattern. I am just getting into wool applique and this design is beautiful. The little ornaments are so cute.

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  50. So cute! I love what you created.

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  51. Wow wow wow! Madame Samm was right when she said this was just a work of art! Absolutely gorgeous!

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  52. I love your HoHoHo project but the little gift tags a wonderful! You are so talented!

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  53. This is very pretty! And I love the gift tags
    xo jna

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  54. what a sweet table topper or candle mat! there is something so Christmasy about poinsettias. looking forward to the ornament pattern -- love those tags!
    marcab77@aol.com

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  56. I love poinsettias too! Very cute tags!

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  57. Your poinsettia mat is really nice and the tags are cute, would use them as ornaments.

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  58. Wow! These are just stunning! Blessings, Marlene

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  59. Oh my gosh, your poinsettias are so beautiful...I love them on your topper. Those tags are just too cute, too!

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  60. Those gift tags are adorable!! I will look for the pattern. Thanks.

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  61. Wow, this is a wonderful piece. Great design and color choices. Would love a chance to win the tags.

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  62. Love your poinsettias! What a great idea. Thanks for sharing and a chance to win the tags.

    bevwalks at aol dot com

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  63. thanks for sharing your poinsettias tags.your project is unique and beautiful.

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  64. Congrats on being a creative pick of the day! Your project is just fabulous. Can't wait to see the pattern on your Craftsy site.

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  65. Love the gift tags. Thanks so much for sharing

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  66. Great poinsettias- I love poinsettias as they were my wedding flowers- we were married on Boxing Day(December 26) and so I have great sentimental attachment to them.
    Very fun gift tags.
    Thanks for participating in the hop.
    Regards from Alberta,
    Anna

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  67. The poinsettia design is lovely! This is a fun blog hop. Thanks for the sweet giveaway!

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  68. Love your pointsettias. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  69. I love working with wool, and your pieces are lovely! Wouldn't those tags be a perfect finish for a holiday package!
    Thanks for sharing,
    forgetmenotstitches dot blogspot dot com

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  70. What lovely Christmas flowers...they are probably the only ones I could have in my house...If I brought the real ones in my kitty would be sure to nibble and get sick!

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  71. Your poinsettias looks really pretty. You did a great job. And I love the tags. I think they would be so cute to decorate a package. Thank you for sharing and for a chance to win.

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  72. Poinsettias are always nice for christmas. Here the local senior center does a giveaway every year and they always have a dozen poinsettia plants.

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  73. Great idea for the tags! They are so cute!

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  74. I love your poinsettias, they are just gorgeous!

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  75. I really like your design and will be back for the pattern.

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  76. Wow, really original design. Just beautiful. Looking forward to the pattern!

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  77. Stunning. An heirloom to pass down.

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  78. How pretty and poinsettias are my favourite plant at Christmas to.

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  79. I love wool applique and the poinsettias are wonderful. Well done.
    Thanks for sharing.
    cheers
    maggie

    maggiemine42@gmail.com

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  80. Beautiful poinsettias, both of them or all I should say. Thanks for the giveaway.

    (smjohns63 at yahoo dot com)

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  81. Your poinsettia mat is absolutely stunning!!!

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  82. Very nice project and lovely handwork.

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  83. Beautiful wool applique. I can't believe you got the binding to lay so flat. Love the little ornaments.

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  84. SO very beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

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  85. How clever and so sweet. If I don't win them, I look forward to getting the pattern to make my own.

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  86. That's a lot of detail! Just beautiful work!

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  87. That is a beautiful design you've come up with. And the tags/ornaments are awesome as well. Great job on them all.

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  88. Those tags are so very pretty! please count me in!

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  89. Love those little pots of poinsettias. Very original and pretty.

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  90. Beautiful work! The design is beautiful as well. Thanks for sharing!

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  91. Your poinsettias are beautiful. Thank you for sharing, happy quilting!

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  92. I love your poinsettias. I really want to try some applique I have not done a lot of applique on quilts. I did digitize some things and appliqued with my embroidery machine. Since my hoop is only 5by7 I can only do small appliques with it.

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  93. Hiya Elizabeth!!! I ADORE your table topper, and I love poinsettias too. I signed up for your email posts, cuz I want to get that future pattern. Those ornaments (that's what I'd use them for) are so precious, just lovely. Thanks for sharing and having the giveaway. Merry Christmas, blessed be, hugs!!! Pam

    pamspretties57 at gmail dot com

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  94. Poinsettias scream Christmas. The table mat is wonderful and adorable. The binding is impeccable. It's refreshing to hear that other crafters have challenges, too, even those I would consider to be pros. You are very generous to be soon sharing the ornament pattern. Thank you very, very much for participating and sharing your marvelous creativity.

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  95. I love your poinsettia project. Very well done. The gift tags are really cute, also. I'll be watching for your pattern! Beautiful work!

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  96. That's a really cute design and I think the tags/ornaments are super!

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  97. very cute design fun hop and thanks for sharing your blog

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  98. Very pretty design. Thanks for sharing.

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  99. Your poinsettia mat is gorgeous! I finally just bought some wool felt and can't wait to try some applique. Thank you! anglanouette at gmail dot com

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  100. Lovely designs. I really like the gift tags...such a neat idea.

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  101. Love those plants but can not keep them without them going back to green. Perhaps I can copy you and have red ones for ever.

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  102. What sweet poinsettias...love them!!

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  103. I love your designs! I am feeling inspired!

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  104. Fabulous projects. Thanks so much for the giveaway chance.

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  105. Beautiful project! The poinsettias are wonderful. Congrats on being one of the chosen and thanks for the chance to win some of the pretty poinsettias.

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  106. Absolutely a beautiful project! Love it all!

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  107. Beautiful project! Your work is wonderful, as always.

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  108. What a lovely project. It is so different!

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  109. Beautiful work, well done!
    Thanks for sharing.

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  110. Thank you for sharing your beautiful project and the chance to win the tags.

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  111. In a word...FABULOUS! Thanks for sharing.

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  112. These are so cute. Thank you for the pattern too.

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  113. I love your table topper. Thanks for the chance to win!

    wigglypup2(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  114. I love the ornaments! They'd make anyone's Christmas tree special.
    nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  115. Your potted poinsettias make a lovely table topper. I am glad you have made your design available for purchase. Thanks for participating in the blog hop. It has been a lot of fun.

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