All occasion card featuring a paper pieced decorative paper background, embossed vellum, a stitched strip and a fussy cut bird

 For this card, I created a pieced background using a variety of coordinating paper scraps.  A log cabin look on the left hand side and several strips added to the right to make it the correct size for my dark brown card.  I embossed (CB) a torn piece of vellum and secured all my elements by stitching down a strip of brown over the top of them.  I adhered this to my card and then watercoloured my bird (CLKER) to coordinate.  Not the right colouring for a chickadee but that it the way art goes sometimes!!  Therese

Anniversary card featuring embossed handmade paper, vellum, mesh and a serendipity heart

 Another anniversary card featuring all of my own handmade papers!!!  I embossed the small sheet of green (SU).  I laid two purples next to each other and added a strip of yellow which I stitched on which created by background.  I tucked the heart vellum under the edge of the yellow strip and over the green piece.  I added a rectangle of embossed mesh and then a gold embossed serendipity heart.  I stitched down the center which secured all the elements to each other.  I added another line of stitching to secure the end of the vellum layer.  I added faux stitching with my pattern tracing wheel on all four edges before adhering this large layer to my green card.    Therese

All occasion card featuring a hand decorated background, embossed vellum, stitching and a fussy cut bird

 A fun birthday card for a special person!!!  I started with a piece of blue scrap book paper and added a layer of stamped leaves in a light green colour of ink.  I watercoloured over them with blue and green to make a muted background.  While it was drying I tore and embossed a piece of vellum using a leafy branch embossing folder (CB).  I laid it over the background and added a strip of tan cardstock.  I used a decorative stitch on my sewing machine and stitched all of the pieces together using blue thread.  I mounted this large element to a tan card.  The bird (Supercoloring) was sized and laser printed and then fussy cut.  I watercoloured it to coordinate with my card!!! It was mounted to my card using 3D foam tape.  I printed several birds so will be using them on future cards.  Therese

Anniversary card featuring handmade paper, embossed vellum and mesh and a stitch serendipity heart

I have been working on getting cards ready for the special occasions of my family members.  

I made this one for an anniversary!!  I layered embossed vellum over commercial handmade paper and added a yellow ribbon tied with one knot to hold them together.  I layered the serendipity heart over a piece of mesh which was embossed with gold and silver embossing powder and then onto a piece of my own handmade paper.  I stitched through all the layers down the center of the heart and then adhered this large element to my terracotta card front.  Very happy with this sketch and will use it again!!  

Therese
 

All occasion card featuring handmade paper, stitching and watercoloured daisies

A card for a friend who is celebrating her birthday soon.  I started with an almond card.  I trimmed brown handmade paper and added a small sheet of marigold handmade paper and then the daisy image (my doodle).  I stitched around the flowers with my sewing machine in yellow thread and then added faux stitching to the other layers using my pattern tracing wheel.  I watercoloured the daisies to coordinate!!  

Therese
 

Sewing - finished my bright blend quilt with a red broadcloth backing

I have finally finished this bright quilt (47"' x 63") which I made up with the scraps of blend fabric that were donated to GLA.  I added a batting and then a red broadcloth (cotton poly blend) backing.  I wanted to be better at quilting a pattern so I decided to do squares on the pinwheels.  I pinned everything very carefully and then started in on the squares.  I should have done all the middle first and then moved to the sides.  Needless to say, that with all the pushing and shoving that is required to sew a square in each pin wheel the results were not stellar.  I started by unstitching half of them because there were large puckers in the quilt top.  After taking that much out I decided to remove all the stitching and starting all over.  Best decision!  I stitched down the middle and then added two more lines of vertical stitching on each side which nicely secured my layers.  Next, I trimmed my batting and backing and stitched the backing to self bind the edge of the quilt.  After I had it all finished I decided to stitch up the squares I orginally had stitched which worked much better now with all the layers nicely stitched together.  I had added halves to the edges and decided not to do those so I had to scrub off the pencil marks so it was washed again!!  The pencil marks came out!!!  I am happy with the final result but it was the loss of a full days work but a valuable lesson learned.  That is how life goes!!  Learning is sometimes time consuming!!!  Therese

 

Sewing - a small quilt with the last of the jungle fabric

I have made up a little quilt (36" x 38") with the last bit of Jungle fabric and some of the cotton fabrics which arrived with the last donation from Edmonton.  You can see that there is a rainbow of colours. I dyed the yellow and the orange to finish up the colours of the rainbow.  Really happy with how well that turned out.  I found a green cotton in my stash to go with it and so added it to the top and bottom of the Jungle fabric scraps.   I also had enough for the backing.   I am a novice quilter and after taking a photo the stripes do somewhat overwhelm the jungle fabric.  If it proves to be unacceptable for the merchandise table I will pass it on to the Linus project.  Therese

Dyed some light yellow cotton fabric - a brighter yellow and orange

 

I used some Tintex dye (Brilliant Yellow and Mandarin Orange  $1.60 each) which I bought at Dollarama to dye some of the light yellow cotton fabric I have on hand from the donation for GLA we received.  It worked really well.  I did a  half package and weighed fabric for the dark dye recipe.  It took 30 minutes for each batch and then I added more fabric into each one which gave me a lighter colour and then I mixed the orange and the yellow and got a light orange colour.  Nice to get a variety of hues in those two colours.  I have added some of these to my Jungle quilt.  It was colours I was missing and could easily be dyed from what I had on hand.  Therese

GLA - Grandparents Tea @ Cronquist House - September 7th

You are all welcome to come to our Grandparents' Tea in September.  There will be good food and a fabulous atmosphere for celebrating with a cup of tea!!                Therese

All occasion card featuring handmade paper, ribbon, embossing and vellum butterfly

 My oldest aunt has passed away at 91.  We are headed to the funeral this weekend and I got this card ready for her family.  I started with a white card and chalked the edges in pink.  I added faux stitching to the edges of the trimmed handmade paper, then an embossed strip and a pink sating ribbon.  I hand stitched the ribbon to the center of each motif using white thread.  I tied on three short lengths of the same ribbon on the right side and a hand embossed butterfly on the left hand side.  I added a green body to the butterfly (SX) to help it stand out and to accommodate the glue I used to secure it to the card.  It will be nice to see our cousins again!!  Therese

Sewing - pink baby blanket with pink, striped & white squares and happy face flannel backing

I cut the five inch squares of cotton fabric for this quilt a couple of weeks ago and took a sewing day yesterday to put it all together.  I stitched together the front matching the corners really well.  I created the backing using some happy face flannel and added a strip of the same pink as the front as I had to trim out a stain.  I layered the backing, the batting and then the top and pinned it really well.  I added diagonal lines of wavy decorative stitching in white thread to quilt all the pieces together and trimmed it to the edges of the front.  I usually like to use the backer to bind but it was not large enough so I trimmed strips of the striped fabric to create a binding.  I bound the top and the bottom and then added the sides.  It took quite a bit of fiddling to get diagonal lines on the corners so I will be finding a better way next time.  I am happy with how it worked out (31.5" x 40.5").  It will be going into our inventory for the fall Gramma Link Africa events in the fall.  Therese

Sewing - cute chicken potholders

 I made these cute chicken potholders for my sister who just had a birthday.  The chicken fabric and the coordinating borders were scraps which I trimmed to 7.5" once they were sewn.  I backed them with d to flannel batting and the red backing (9.5") and added two lines of quilting.  They are self bound with the backing fabric.  I usually cut the front 7" and the backing 9.5" but they worked out fine.  

Therese

All occasion card featuring a hand decorated background, black embossed border, embossed flowers and hand drawn border and leaves

 One of my sister's is having her 65th birthday and I made this card for her.  I started with a hand decorated background that had a variety of paints on it.  I stamped it with a flower image from the set using Versamark clear ink which gave a bit of a darker look to the stamped images.  I embossed the swirly floral border twice and the little flourishes twice as well with black embossing powder.  I stamped the flower onto coordinating coloured cardstock scraps and embossed them with pearl embossing powder.  I fussy cut them and added a tiny brad in the center of each.  After positioning them I removed them and doodled flowers, stems and leaves of them before mounting them to the background with 3D foam tape.  I doodled a wavy border all the way around and then glued this large embellished background to a blue card.  One of my other sisters hosted family to celebrate!!!  A fun weekend!!   Therese

Cards - a cute little butterfly over some floral paper

 I made this fun heart card for my daughter and son in law's anniversary!!!  I always use hearts and this little butterfly (Cre8tive Hands) seemed the perfect thing for their card!! I watercoloured it to coordinate with the decorative paper, added paper piercing and then a bit of glitter with a clear glitter gel pen.  I layered it onto a light blue.  I added paper piercing to the background and then decided to add a flight path so I added a little line of paper piercing to the butterfly and then finished it off with a fine tip markers once I added the image to my card.  Totally fun!!  She is a sewist so she will appreciate the interesting way of using the pattern tracing wheel!!  Therese

GLA Sewing - a colourful jungle themed tote with bright stripes

I created a tote bag with some of the final scraps of the jungle fabric I committed to earlier this year!!  I have added some strips of cotton blend in coordinating colours to make the panel wide enough for a tote bag (13" x 18").  The back piece was pieced but you can hardly tell as the pattern lined up almost perfectly.  The handles, bottom and top edge are also from cotton blend fabric which is closer to a jade colour rather than the turquoise it seems to be in the photos.  I added a red broadcloth (cotton polyester blend) lining, a purple pocket inside and boxed the bottom corners.  I added an elastic and button closure in between the handles.  Totally fun project!!  Another item going to the GA merchandise inventory for our fall events.  

Therese

 

Quilting - disappearing 9 patch with mostly solid colours

I have accepted a donation of fabric for Gramma Link Africa this week.  It consisted of boxes of poly scraps from garment construction on a large scale - some cut 12 at a time.  There is red, jade - several shades, turquoise and navy.  To see if these scraps are worthy of being saved or passed on I decided to see how they would work for quilting.  I cut 6" squares - 48 red, 18 navy and 15 of jade and turquoise.  I needed a bright center square so I dug through several boxes of fabric and chose this one - leaves in similar colours to my fabrics. I cut 12 of those.  I stitched them into large nine patch squares then cut them in half both ways to make the squares for a disappearing nine patch.  I reassembled them to create red pinwheels and stitched them back together.  It is about 47" x 62".  I will have to have a conversation with the other sewers to see if this top to the standard we need for our merchandise table.  My first disappearing nine patch and I am happy with how it worked out.  It was good to be in the basement with such high temperatures outside.  Therese

 

Slow Stitching - a slow stitching project for my daughter in law - a floral fabric collage

 When my daughter in law was here a few weeks ago she asked if I could put together a hand stitching project for her.  She had been looking at a Needle Pulling Thread magazine and liked one of the examples of a fiber artist that had translated some of her photos into fabric collages.  I made two for her and she can choose to make the first using the sample from the magazine which I printed for her and the second one she can make her own and maybe replicate a flower that is growing in her yard.  I added two purples for the flowers and several greens for leaves and greenery.  I added a full black layer for the collage which will give lots of contrast.  I add batting bigger than needed and a green backer which will be big enough to wrap to the front and finish off the piece.  They should finish about 6" x 9" or so.  I sent along some embroidery threads as well.  She has made other stitching projects so will have needles on hand.  I look forward to seeing her creative work!!  Slow stitching is good for the soul!!! 

Sewing - four more teacup coasters in soft peachy and rosy florals

 We are having a Grandparents Tea in September and our coordinator has been looking for few prizes for the event.  I suggested that the fabric teacup coasters might be appropriate and she agreed so I made up four from floral fabric and beautiful lace for the prize.  I tied them to a piece of cardstock so they would be all visible and would stay neat.  The pattern is one that my sister saved a while back and is no longer online so glad for that.  They are about 4.25" x 4.75" with a handle that is 4.5" x 1/2" wide. I just one piece and folded both edges to the middle and then again so it used a piece 4.5" x 2" wide.  I found so nice lace to embellish them with and put a length on both sides.  I added a white cotton layer in the middle.  Therese

Slow stitching - card holders - upcycled CDs, scraps of cute fabric and buttons

I have made a few more playing card holders for a friend.  She really liked the hummingbird one I made for her last week and thought a few more would be good!!!  She requested more hummingbirds and I managed after some piecing to make one more.  She wanted ladybugs and sunflowers and I had enough scraps to make them up.  These take two 6.5" circles of fabric (they can be different), two 6.25" thin batting, two buttons and strong thread.  They are really a slow stitching so I will be making a few more this week.  You can see the others I made here.   

I am linking to Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching.  Always lots of inspiration there from the wonderful makers that come and share what they are slow stitching. 

Therese

 

Cards - a birthday card featuring a fun plane over a hand decorated background

 Working on cards for family!!  I started with this fun airplane (Pixabay) which I colour printed a while back with a few others.  Once trimmed out I added paper piercing with my pattern tracing tool to all four edges.  I looked in my stash of decorated papers and found this one that was the perfect colour combo for the plane!!  I added some embossed strips over the paper which I had adhered to my maroon card and then added eyelets and some fiber to the plane image before adhering it to my card front using 3D foam tape.  

Therese

Sewing - utility apron with lots of pockets - perfect a teacher, daycare worker, crafter or a gardener

I have had this apron cut out for quite a while as I was working on my other one.  I finally had time to sew it up and find some coordinating fabric for the ties.  This one has lots of pockets which makes it perfect for anyone who needs to have things close to hand.  There is room for your phone, post it notes, scissors, glue, seeds, etc!!!!!!!!!!  The main fabric is beautiful cotton and the brown backing is poly cotton which will help it wear well.  It is 19" x 12" or so and the 36" ties are long enough to wrap back to the front which is often people's preference.  I added little tags on the ends of the ties to finish them off nicely.  Another piece to add to the Gramma Link Africa inventory for the fall.  Therese

 

Sewing - Vendors' apron with one zippered pocket, lot of others and some long ties

 I have been working on this apron for quite a while.  I did quite a bit of unraveling because I had not planned out all the steps and when you are sewing pockets what you do to one affects the others!!  It took several stabs to get the zipper in for that front pocket.  Got it done!!  The ties go through the body of the apron. I ended up leaving openings and adding it after sewing the apron together because I could not figure out if it could be done any other way.  Everything is top stitched and it has a brown poly cotton backing.  The ties are poly cotton as well so they will take the wear that comes with being tied so often.  

The zippered pocket is perfect for cash, the little tab is a great place for your keys, small pockets for pens and others perfect for your phone/calculator.  A perfect apron for any maker who is selling their wares at farmer's markets, craft sales or shows!!!  Therese

Sewing - cross body messenger bag with fun jungle fabric and coordinating adjustable strap

Working on merchandise for our next Gramma Link Africa event in the fall.  I volunteered to make a bag with this fabric and this is my first one.  It is a cross body messenger bag - about 9" x 12" with a fold in the bottom to created a bit more capacity, an upcycled zipper to which I added ends to make it long enough and a long adjustable strap to suit most anyone.  The strap is from my poly cotton scraps and there was enough to make it long it.  I added a D ring to the front so I could make the strap adjustable.  You simple loosen the knot and pull through the strap and then tighten it back up when it is where you want it to be.  I stitched one end to the back and the other to the front - a bit different but it worked for this one.  I used a rectangle of corduroy as a base and stitched my pieces to it.  Because my fabric was directional I knew that I had to cut the bottom so I could flip it for the back.  I did forget that I was putting the zipper about two inches down which affected the direction of that area and also meant that my line for the bottom was not in the right place.  Fortunately, with the added fold on the bottom it is barely noticeable but I have made notes for next time.  This jungle fabric is beautiful and so bright and colourful!!!  Therese

 

Cardmaking - new paper and embellishments for this set of baby cards

 One of the girls at church has been recognizing all the new babies in our parish with a card and a little gift.  She needed a new set of cards so I made up these card kits for her today.  I loved the paper and though it is not traditional I thought it would easily make gender neutral cards.  I used the same background paper and yellow cardstock (matched perfectly!!) for all of them and changed up the colour of the card bases and the ribbon to give a bit of variety!!  Always enjoying cardmaking!!

Therese

Sewing - a tote bag with a rainbow and some bright colourful jungle fabric

I volunteered to make a bag with this jungle fabric earlier this year and I am finally getting to it!!  I created a wonderful rainbow using scraps of fabric and then stitched all the pieces to a piece of corduroy - 20"x 16".  With the directional nature of the fabric I trimmed the pieces to fit.  I stitched the top and bottom front over the edge of the rainbow and flipped them up and down. I used rainbow embroidery thread to quilt all my pieces to corduroy.  I added two inside pieces so the jungle would be seen at the top instead of the lining fabric.  The teal lining worked really well and I left an opening in the seam between the lining and the jungle fabric to allow it to be turned inside out once I had stitched both sides and boxed the corners of the bag and lining.  It worked really well and I just hand stitched it closed once everything was well pressed.  I made up the strap and stitched it to the outside and I also added a snap to the middle of the bag's front and back at the top which keeps it closed.  I added a black tie to the strap which allows it to be adjusted for time when a person would prefer to carry it at the end of their arm instead of over their shoulder.  You simply undo the tie (sewn in place) fold up the strap and retie very tightly to secure the handle at a shorter length.  The bag has turned out very well.  I realized afterwards that if I had the strap ready earlier I could have added to the top seam which I top stitched.  Another time!!  Love the fabric and it makes a great bag for the library, a quick shopping trip, a class/seminar or even snacks for the kids when going to the park!!

Therese

 

Sewing - potholders with raw edge applique - chickens, stars, mushrooms, leaves and butterflies

I made up some potholders to add to the merchandise for our next Gramma Link Africa event in the fall.  These were the neck cut outs from the shirt savers Diane and I made last year.  They worked out quite well.  I simply added two layers of flannel in between and loops for hanging.  I stitched all the way around leaving an opening for turning  them inside out.  I hand stitched the opening closed and them top stitched the outside edge with a 1/4" seam.  I have been wanting to make raw edge applique for a while and decided to give it a try with these potholders.  I used a red half circle to create a chicken adding a brown beak and a yellow wing.  I used coordinating thread for all the pieces and then black for the tail feathers and the legs.  I used a decorative stitch for around the edges of the pieces and straight stitch for the details.  It was fun and I will be doing it again!!  

 A primitive start in yellow for the blue and red checkerboard ones.  Mushrooms, leaves and butterflies in a light yellow cotton fabric for the three brown ones.  I used my Inktense watercolours to embellish my white cotton twill tape so it would coordinate.  Love being able to customize white fabric.  

Therese

 

Sewing - playing card holder - beautiful birds, a bit of batting and some buttons

How fun is this!!!!!  One of the sewers talked about making some playing card holders for her grandchildren earlier this year and I have finally make one!!  We had several for sale at the Rhubarb tea a few weeks ago and they were popular so I thought I would make a few for a family get together this summer.  It makes it much easier to hold playing cards for little kids and any adult with arthritis or less strength in their hands.  

You will need:

** Two CDs - we have a few hanging around.  

** Two circles of fabric - 6.5" 

I found a plate the right size, traced around it and cut them with scissors

** Two circles of batting - 6.25"

I traced the same plate on the batting and cut inside of the line. 

** Two buttons larger than the hole in the CDs

** Two yards of very strong thread - heavy quilting or upholstery

A needle

Lay the batting on the wrong side of the fabric and pin in place.  Thread your needle and sew

a line of running stitch all the way around the outside edge of the circle.  Place the CD over the batting and pull one end of the thread while holding the other end.  This will draw the edge of the fabric/batting over the edge of the CD.  Pull really tight and tie off with several knots.  Trim thread leaving a couple of inches. Repeat with the second set of fabric/batting/ CD. 

Put the two sections with CD's facing each other.  Feel for the holes in the CDs and pull your threaded needle through all the layers and add your button.  Stitch through the second hole and back through all the layers.  Add several more stitches and then pull the thread tight to cinch the centers together.  Tie them off and trim the threads close.  Other tutorials bring the thread up under the button.   I found this very hard to do but on second thought if I did it before I tightened the thread that would work and gives a better finish because you tie the thread ends under the button.  Next time!!  Done!!!  You can see in the bottom photo that there is a nice space there between the two layers where you can insert your cards and the fabric provides enough friction that they stay in place but they are easily removed and rearranged.  Perfect!!!  

NOTE:  I made a few more!!!!!!!!!  Some fun kids ones!!  They don't have to be the same on both sides so there could be a "adult" side and "kids" side but what you don't see everyone else can see so it is fun either way!!  This would be a fun fabric scrap buster - 2 - 6.5" squares and some batting!!!

Therese

 

All occasion card with a embossed heart background and a doodled heart

 Our anniversary is coming up! I made this card for DH to let him know how much I appreciate our years together!!  

I cut a decorative background from a scrapbooking piece of paper.  I embossed the area to the right of the border with a heart embossing folder (CB) and then highlighted with ink. I added some cording and tied it in place.  I trimmed a square of ivory textured cardstock and used a paintbrush with water to create a heart shape in the middle of it.  I started adding colour slowly with little taps of colour - green, yellow and blue.  They all ran into each other and with the water roamed all around inside the shape.  Being too exuberant with the moving of the colour/water mixture I ended up with a drop running off the edge.  So be it!!  After it was dry I added little hearts inside the heart with a fine tipped black marker.  I added paper piercing with my tracing wheel, layered it onto a pieced backer and then distressed the edges.  Mounted it to my card using 3D foam tape.  Therese