Island Batik Christmas in July

An early Merry Christmas!

The Island Batik Ambassadors were challenged to create a project 

with a Christmas theme for our July posts. 

I made this Dresden Wreath table topper using some of 

Island Batik's Holiday Happenings fabrics. 

The background fabric is Mirage from Timeless Treasures out of my stash

with metalic lines in it.

The Island Batik fabrics just popped on this background. 

I give a brief summary of how I made this table topper. 

After sewing the blades of the Dresden wreath 

and machine appliqueing the fussy cut deer for the center to cover the hole, 

I used a blind hem stitch to machine appliqued the wreath to the backing fabric. 

I used Dritz Wash Away Wonder Tape to hold the wreath in position. 

 I wanted the wreath to be puffy, so I used 2 layers of batting. 

Sewed around the blade points and around the circle center. 

Then I cut one layer of batting from the outside of the wreath. 

 I spray basted the backing to the other layers. 

Using a green embroidery thread for a finer stitch and less prominence on the top

and thread that matched the brown color of the background. 

I quilted the base of one blade, up the side (and down again) of that blade. 

On to the next blade base and up and down the next joint seam. 

All around to finish it. 

I made a small stipple on the background fabric 

using a gold rayon embroidery thread

that blended so well with the background. 

I squared it up to 17" and used binding from the background fabric. 

I sew bindings to the back, bring it around to the front 

and top-stitch the edge from the top.

This way I have it completed totally by machine

and no hand sewing (which causes flare-up of my carpal tunnel problems).

The bobbin thread is the same thread I use when quilting the piece 

so it appears it is part of the quilting.

Are you sewing Christmas projects this month?

Have you gone to your local quilt shop for a Christmas themed sale?