Corner blocks done.... and some patchwork Christmas cards

Here is my Chintz medallion quilt so far - with applique borders and corners attached.

For the corner blocks: I wanted to make a feature block that was relatively simple and large enough to anchor the corners. 

The circle shape was chosen to echo the circle in the chintz -and I wanted to use more of the stripe fabric that I had used for the inner narrow border. I made a circle template using this handy circle cutter. 

Here is one of the blocks ready for needle turn applique. The leaf is just a larger version of one in the applique border.

Ready for needleturn applique

Now to get to work and plan the next border.

Christmas cards:

Thought I'd try my hand at making some patchwork cards after I spotted this wonderful little tutorial  at Stitch n Sing blog - so clever. After all - she says it is "easier than it looks"...

It is a very clear tutorial and they are a lot of fun to make but quite time consuming.

following instructions on the ipad

I was so glad to have my new ipad on hand to follow the blog instructions step by step - I definitely do not have a photographic memory! In fact I began to wonder if I had one at all.

I love them but that was a full day's work! So I thought I might try some foundation pieced ones next but this is as far as I have got in the design process...sniff. It's a Xmas tree in case you wondered!

Foundation piecing pattern and fabrics

And this one is Santa. Yep - it will take shape once his nose and eyes are added. 

If I tell you that '1' is his face and '3' is his white beard, and '7' and '8' are just background?? never mind - I'll show you next time... if it works.