Tote Bag and Cross Stitch Progress

I made this bag as a Christmas gift and it was also a part of the Tree Bird Blog Hop at Sew We Quilt.  I followed this tutorial. 
(If you decide to make one, please note the tutorial does not tell you where to place the pocket or straps, 
so I centered the pocket about 2 inches from the top of the fabric 
and lined the outer edges of the straps with the pocket.)

I crazy quilted the pocket. 

I hoped to make a second gift, but spent most of my free time working on this long term Christmas project. (The photo above shows progress through March 25th. This was a free chart at Heaven and Earth Designs that is no longer available, but it is a small section of this larger chart.) I hope to make significant progress by next month.

1 Xmas Item Per Month for March

Dia Duit, some time ago, I visited Kimono House in the Nicholas Building Melbourne and purchased half a metre of the Japanese fabric. A Beautiful piece of fabric. I have made it into a Japanese Grab Bag, a Christmas gift for a great blogging friend of mine.
Sl~an, O'faigh

March Items

Whew, I actually have something to show this month. I made a little progress on the adorable advent animals. They are so much fun to stitch and they are really cute. Meet Cashmere Camel and Pierre Penguin.

March brings 

the second installment

to my longer term and bigger project-

another block of an odd looking reindeer

well dressed for our current rather chilly spell!
I've been seeking out my scarves myself the past couple of days :)
Brrr

Gosh there are some gorgeous
items this month!
You Elves are so inspiring :)

May you have a joyfully jingly-jangly April :)

Sisbabe

Part B

The second block for my small project is now complete.
It's one of Yvonnes designs...and it's a little cutie!

Thanks Narelle... for hosting us all once again!  xox

March Marches On

Can you believe March has almost come to the end and tomorrow (here in Aus) is the 25th.  Time has been whizzing by and I have managed just a little 'birdie' stitching on block 2 of 'Merry Christmas Garden'.

How has your Christmas sewing been for March? ... Please share your finishes or progress on long term projects.

Merry Christmas Stitches to you all.