Slow Stitching - all the little birds

I have finally finished up my little birds that I started quite a while ago.  I have been working on them off and on and in the last couple of weeks have applied myself more diligently as the repetitiveness has gotten to me and I needed them all finished.  They are half circles of fabric with hand cut hearts for wings.  I hand stitched the beaks and tails and legs before I stitched the bird in place.  Generally, with little stitches all the way around the edge and then a variety of stitches to fill in the body.  I did the same for the wings - all the way around and then filler stitches.  They will be part of a quilt at some time in the future.  Until then, they await in their little ziploc.  

Therese

 

Sewing - potholders with washable removable covers designed as a flip top pouches

I created a rectangle of fabric (22 3/4" x 8 1/2") to create the flip top pouch which will  hold the "inside" of my potholder.  This piece now measures 21 1/4" x 8 1/2" with a doubled over quarter seam folded edge on the right hand side and a half inch double folded seam on the folded edge on the left hand side. My "inside" measures 7.5" square and consists of 4 layers of flannel stitched with a cross and square to keep them all together.  I have folded this piece to fit around it.  I figured out where the folds had to be by simply wrapping this piece around the "inside" and marking the folds.  

You need to fold the left hand side over the middle section.  This piece will be the front of the pot holder and will create a pocket for your hand when using the potholder.  Then fold the right hand side to the center over the left hand side.  It will be the inside of the pocket.  It will come up to about a 1/4" short of the left hand side.  

To finish it you simply sew a seam (1/4") on both top and bottom.  To reveal the pocket for the "insides" you turn this inside out.  Insert the "insides"(below) and then flip the top side over and it encased the "insides" and creates the pocket on the front.  

After working this out and taking the insides out several times I expect that most people will not be willing to remove the cover for washing and put it back on.  The two might very well become separated if the cover spends too much time in the laundry basket.   The construction would have to be very consistent so that any "inside" fits in any cover.  

I think I will reformat the size into a cover for a hot pad instead with a smaller flip top or some other kind of closure.  I would then make the cover different on each side  - one fall and the other Christmas or spring and Easter, etc.  or just two different fabrics.  I will do some research and see what size would be best and make a prototype!!  Watch here for it!!  Therese

 

All occasion card featuring a colour washed card front, decorative paper collage background and a sunflower

I had fun making up this background.  I started by colour washing my card front as it was just a bit too "pumpkin".  I trimmed several scraps to 1" wide and laid them on my card.  I added a strip of paper pierced green cardstock to fill the gap between them. I had a little baggie of  inchies that I had made up for these cards in March.  I filled in the gaps with coordinating inches and it worked out so well.  The sunflower (TC) is from my stash and I watercoloured it to coordinate with the background.  I added paper piercing (pattern tracing wheel) and then layered it over a piece of green cardstock.  I added a lighter layer diagonally across the rectangle and then border punched the right hand side.  I adhered the sunflower to the green layer and mounted it to my card front using 3D foam tape.  

Therese
 

All occasion card featuring napkin daisy background, a daisy flower with a tied ribbon

 I love this daisy background!!!  I snagged a spare napkin at a function I was at in June - they were so beautiful!!  I stripped the top layer, trimmed a piece of cardstock and glued a portion of the paper to the front of the panel and then wrapped the edges to the back and glued them in place.  I found this cute little daisy (?) in my stash and it went so well with the background.  I added a bit of length to the stem with a fine tip permanent Sharpie so I could tie on the ribbon and still have it showing below.  I watecoloured the daisy, distressed the edge and layered it onto a rectangle of green cardstock.  I added a length of yellow ribbon across the stem adhering the ends to the back with double sided tape.  I tied another piece to the one on the front and flipped the knot over so the back of it would be showing.  I trimmed the two ends to finish off this element.  I mounted it over my background using 3D foam tape.  I love it!!!  

Therese

It's a Wrap - my collection of merchandise for the show on Saturday

 I took a photo of all the items I made for my "It's a Wrap" campaign for the Climate Change Fashion Show tomorrow.  Bookmarks, mug rugs, CD card holders, card wallets and bag tags!!!  I hope a few people will embrace the concept!!  

Therese

GA - It's a Wrap - bag tags for all the bags you own

I made up some bag tags for the "It's a Wrap" collection I put together for the fashion show tomorrow!!! An environmentally friendly way to wrap a gift card which means you can give a gift in a gift!!!  Nothing to throw out at after the gift opening!!!  I did some research on line and combined several features to make mine.  I started with two pieces about 8.5" x 3.5" and stitched them good sides together leaving an opening on each end.  Handy for turning it inside out and also where the loop will be inserted.  I made the loop from a strip about 1.5" x 12" which I folded into quarters - both sides to the middle and then in half.  I stitched down both sides.  I inserted each end of this strip into the openings on each end of the main piece of the tag and top stitched all the way around.  This secures the loop to the body.  I had to be careful to not twist my strip when I was putting it in the openings.  Next, I folded the body of the tag in half and top stitched down both sides which creates the pocket for the gift card.  I also added a little bit of cording to one side of the loop which can be used to tie the two sides of the loop together and secure the contents.  This tag when attached to any bag - purse, backpack, briefcase, carry on, etc makes it very easily identifiable as yours and will also store business cards, sticky notes or a few cards you would like to have immediately at hand.  Would be really handy for business cards at a show or event - or when you meet someone at a venue and want to pass on a business card!!  Therese 

 

All occasion card featuring embellished bubble background, coloured transparency tulip and punched border

Another card created for upcoming occasions!!!  I started with a large green card.  I started with the tulip in a pot (?) which was printed on transparency so I coloured it on the back using makers and pens.  I border punched a piece of white cardstock, trimmed it to size and added my coloured image using little staples.  It needed a bit of bling so I added some little flower embellishments.  I layered this element onto a rectangle of pink with distressed edges.  I found this blue bubble background which I made quite a while back and thought I would use it for this card but it needed a bit of tweaking to work with the flower - I stamped several greens, then turquoise and then some pink and that worked quite well.  I added a paper pierced strip of blue (used a pattern tracing wheel) to the background and adhered this large element to my card front.  I added my tulip element with 3D foam tape.  I did add paper piercing to my background as well.  Therese
 

GA - It's a Wrap!! - card wallets which will easily wrap a gift card

 

I created these card wallets as part of my It's a Wrap collection - a way to wrap a gift in a gift - which provides no waste packaging!!!  They will be available at the Climate Change Fashion Show on September 6th.  

These are created with two large circles (11.75") which are sewn together, turned inside out and then top stitched.  This double sided circle is then folded in half and a line stitched 4"-4.5" from the folded line.  The two flaps on the outside of the circle are opened up and the stitched  middle line is aligned with the center line fold of the circle and ironed flat.  Next, this whole piece is flipped over and the bottom flipped up to the top creating the three pockets.   To secure the pockets two lines of stitching are added on each outside edge with the top of the stitching starting aligned with the V of the petals to the bottom folded edge.  I added metal snaps to the two outside pouches and then slow stitched a decorative circle over the stitches on the outside flap of  the outer pouches.  The inner pouch lies in between the two outer pockets.  Lots of room for cards of every king - credit cards, loyalty card, membership cards, etc!!  The outside pockets are secure so they could also be used for cash or coins.  The middle pocket would be perfect for post it notes!!!  

So to package a gift card it is a simple matter of adding a card to any of the pockets!!!  A cute and very fun way to package a gift card and no waste!!!  Great for any occasion!!  Therese