Key ring

I experimented with makinf a few key rings this week. A while ago I made two of the rectangular wristlet type, using the hardware from Dritz, 

I used some ribbon that I had on hand that was an inch wide, just the right size to fit the clamp.

I also had some narrower ribbon and some large split rings on hand, 

so I made this other style...

the. decorative part is made from two layers of felt, with a fabric hexagon topstitched on to one of the layers of felt, (before it is assembled)

This shows how I made the connector part, 

I just topstitched the ribbon on to some wool felt, trimmed it so that the edges were neat, and then folded it around a ring and stitched throught the layers close to the metal.

the two on the left I used for the key rings below, and the one with the longer ribbon part I just left as is.

I finished them off with some simple embroidered embellishments.  I made some others that aren't embroidered yet, but they are nice to work on in the evening while we are watching t.v.-- currently we are going through the British series, Inspector Lewis.

I guess that I will be ready for Christmas with a bunch of stocking stuffers on hand.

put a frame on it

this is my motto for today: "put a frame on it".

earlier this spring, I acquired this lovely frame at a garage sale for one dollar. I like the black painted wood even though, or perhaps because, it is a little bit beaten up.  I also find the gold accents quite delightful. They appeal to the magpie part of me that likes shiny details.

when I decided to try the techique of embroidering on to a motif printed on fabric, I decided that this project would finish up in this particular frame.

The Tim Holtz fabric that I chose had three large butterflies printed on it. So I made sure that when I cut the piece of fabric these butterflies would be centered within the intended frame. Also, I cut the fabric pieces large enough so that it could be mounted within the frame.

I have spent several happy hours embellishing these butterflies. I used a combination of machine free motion thread painting, together with some simple hand embroidery stitches.  The machine stitched areas are quite flat, while the hand embroidered sections are more dimensional and raised.

I had put a backing of fusible fleece behind the fabric, and although I started out by embroidering within a hoop, I soon found that this stabilizer on the back was enough to keep the thread from puckering the fabric,

this morning, I started to do some free motion quilting In the background around the butterflies.

then I decided that the whole thing would be improved if I added a little frame in the stitching.  upon reflection, I like the idea of adding frames, or borders and I think it will be fun to hand embroider a few more,

if one frame is good then several frames must be better, right,?

A pencil case

Well it's pretty warm out today so this afternoon I am going to spend some time in my  sewing room before working in the garden later this afternoon. (by working in my garden I mean that I wander  around with a glass of something cold and water the plants.)

Anyway, I picked up some hand stitching the other day

I started this project last January I think. It is sort of like doodling on fabric.

It's totally inspired by a Japanese woman who has some gorgeous embroidery.  Yumiko Higuchi, (I blogged about her here

http://periwinklequiltingandbeyond.blogspot.ca/2014/01/milagros-embroidery-and-new-classes.html

After I finished that piece shown above I was still in the mood to stitch so I sketched out a simple row of flowers on the piece of linen.

They were pretty quick to embroider and as I was stitching I thought about  a project i had been wanting to make from a  book I have called Zakka Style, 

It features  little stitched on corners at the bottom and its made out of wool. I decided to just put wool on the back and use my stitching for the front of the pencil case.

I had an orange zipper on hand so I decided to make the lining orange.

I'm pretty happy with it, and I'm really happy to have a pencil case. It's a bit deeper than normal so I'm sure it will be handy for other things too. Now I think I'll try to find Something brown to add for a zipper pull....details, details....

Hoop art embroidery

Red work Monogram

One of my interests is calligraphy, and another is embroidery.  I also like cushions.  What better than to combine the three in one project!

I have a soft, red, knitted rectangle that I had intended for a cushion cover.  I was using yarn left over from another project so I had only enough to make one side of a cushion.

I also had on hand some thick, tea towel cotton that has quite a pronounced weave to it that I decided to use for the other side.  

With a rather nebulous idea, I started to draw on the fabric using a blue, water soluble ink pen.  ( I love that pen, it has come in handy for so many things)

To draw a circle, I have various sizes of inexpensive embroidery hoops, 

This is what I started with,

After I had those lines embroidered,

I decided to fill in the rest by just repeating the flowers and leaves.

The stitches used are mainly 

      backstitching, to outline all the lines inside the two circles

      Chain stitch to make a heavier line for the circles

      French Knots to add accents on the flowers

I thought about stitching a pattern on the H, but I am pretty much out of this thread.

Time to sew up the cushion now! 

It's a beautiful day

This morning is just so perfect that I have to sit on the deck and stitch. Coffee is also involved.

I decided to do some fun little embroideries that will fit in to hoops later,

Last night I drew up my petals on the TransWeb fusible web,

And cut out the rest of the petals that I need to complete the blocks for the vintage combination quilt that I've been working on.   Still don't know what that block is called.

Do you know the name of this block?

If so, please advise.

Store furnishings update

This is the bulletin board that I was working on the other day.

I'm pretty happy with how it turned out,

The idea is that it supposed to look like a piece of looseleaf or lined paper.  I added a few photo transfer images that I had in my drawer,  the bottom left-hand image is from a children's picture book of Snow White,

I am constructing a ware cart.  It is made of wood and plumbers pipe.  There is still a bit more to add to it, but I have to crochet more pipe covers before I can add the other pieces.

Milagros embroidery and New Classes

Yesterday I started an embroidery that is all in backstitch, (with just a few french knots). 

 I was inspired by the work of Yumiko Higuchi,

you can see lots of her stuff on her Pinterest boards, here

She seems to cover a whole piece of fabric with motifs, like this:

and then either frame it or use the fabric to make another item: such as these bags:

So, I drew out some motifs onto one of my fat quarters of Essex Linen, using a blue ink pen that disappears when it gets wet.  

  

 I had about 4 hours yesterday to stitch, so I was able to get a pretty good start on it.

 

Sometimes in redwork embroidery you use backstitch for more detailed pictures, and stem stitch when you want a heavier line, 

Anyway, the way of having the motifs randomly spread out over the surface reminded me of Milagros, the little motifs that many south americans use for prayer.  they sometimes fix them to a cross or a heart, as reminders of what to pray for,

The back of the piece, for whoever is interested......

 CLASSES!

As I was stitiching, I started to  think that it would be lots of fun to have a class at the store based on embroidery stitches!  (My mind is in overdrive right now as I am thinking of our new store space).  

It's been about 4 years since we had a whole variety of classes, since we just haven't had a dedicated space for a classroom.  However, in our new space there is a full basement (2000sq.ft!) and surely we will carve out a large sewing room.  So, now my brain is churning about what sort of classes we might offer.....  If there is something you've been hankering to take a class in, let me know!!

Enjoy the process

Have you ever heard that saying "he went riding off in all directions."?  That describes me the last couple days.  I have been working on all sorts of different projects. However I have finished a couple of small gifts for Christmas. Remember the lavender sachets?

Remember the Dottie quilt top?

I put the borders on, and was preparing the backing fabric, (that's the zigzag fabric in the photo above), when I realized I could make small pieced border for the quilt as well. It's not on the pattern, but I think it would be nice edging for it. I was thinking of just some gray and white half square triangles all around the perimeter.

I'm up to four blocks done for the Swoon quilt:

And I decided to try some simple embroidery on one of the cotton linen fabrics:

I traced a couple of black and white images of birds on to  6 inch squares on the fabric and I am backstitching the outlines.   

So far I have done a sparrow, and have started on a screech owl

I'm thinking that I might make papers pieced frames to put around the birds.

Not quite too sure about this project, where it's going.  I guess it's one of those that evolve. I'm not sure if I'll use just the linen fabrics or maybe use one of them as a background and use printed fabrics for the hexagons.....

Well I hope you are getting some Christmas projects done, just enjoy the process!