Cathy's Christmas Countdown - October results

Good Monday everyone,

This weekend wasn't as productive as I would have liked it to have been, however I have completed a new project - more at the bottom of the post.  Today is the day to post my month's results for Cathy's Christmas Countdown.  I had been aiming for 15 presents this month, but I've not quite made it - I've made 12.  Some are birthday presents but with my family having birthdays in November/December, I lump them all into the same bucket!

I've posted about all but one of these gifts before so if you want to know more, see previous posts, but here they are in all their "glory":

1-5. 5 sets of 2 appliquéd lavender hearts

There are 6 sets shown on the picture (wow, check out those maths skills!) but 2 of them were my one measly gift completed in September.

6-7. Two embroidered bookmarks:

(the one on the left is actually green and that carpet is blue - I didn't change any of the settings after taking the picture above...?  I don't think I'll ever be a photographer!)

8. Patchwork pig:

(This is the first item from my Craft Book Challenge)

9. Shoulder bag:

(This is the second item from my Craft Book Challenge)

10: Set of 4 coasters:

11: Sewing machine cover

12: Drawstring bag:

I made this yesterday - I'd been working on the Peter Rabbit Cross Stitch (Item 3 of my Craft Book Challenge) and decided to mount it on a little bag (it's about 30cm x 30cm / 12inch x 12inch).  It's the first time I've attempted anything like this and I am really happy with it.  I cut an aperture in the pink gingham fabric and used a fancy top stitch (the choice is limited on my mum's machine, but I do like this one).  It's also lined in pink cotton:

Which kind of shows through the white cotton and makes a very pale pink effect.

So there we have it!  Go over to Cathy's blog and see what everyone else has been up to.

Tonight is my first Sew Something class at the Husqvarna shop, I'm really excited.  We work on our own projects, but there is a teacher to help us out - I want to attempt a zip!