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

All occasion card featuring a cute little hedge hog holding flowers over a fun background

 I started with the little hedge hog which I watercoloured using the same technique as this card.  I added paper pierced on all four edges using my pattern tracing wheel.  I added three little ribbon flags and then mounted the image to a larger layer.  I found this fun paper that was the right colour.  I had tried an origami technique and so it had all sorts of fold lines.  I thought it looked cool so I embossed it with polka dots and trimmed it to size and mounted it on my purple card front.  Another fun card for a special person with a birthday!!  Therese

Card kits - Card #3 - embellished tags with ribbon over a large decorative paper background and coordinating card

For the third set of card kits I decided to embellish some tags!!!  The tags were die cut (SX) in a variety of colours and embellishments were added along with some ribbon.  Some were colour printed tags, trimmed and embellished with rhinestones and other fun elements.  

For this card I added faux stitching to the outside edge of the tag and them embossed with Swiss Dots (CB).  I added a double ribbon tied in the hole and secured them with double sided tape.  The leaf die cut was embellished with clear glitter (gel pen) and adhered to the tag with double sided tape.  This large focal element was added to the card front after the background was added.  The background was also embellished  with clear glitter.  

They will be a double blessing as I am sure she will have fun putting the cards together and they will bless family and friends as she sends them on their way.  Therese

 

Card kits - Card #2 - large coloured focal elements over a full background with strip of colour in between

For the second set of 8 card kits I embellished colour printed images and used them as focal elements.  They are all different so the cards will be fun to make up.  This one and three others are baby themed because there are babies coming in her extended family.  This baby boy one was made up as the sample so it would be ready for the weekend when she goes to see the new baby.  

For this card I added several lines of paper piercing to the hand decorated background (paste paper) using my pattern tracing wheel and added a strip of yellow to echo the yellow in the onsies on the clothesline (PIxabay) over the background on my card front.  I added some paper piercing to the colour printed image then adhered it to the card front using 3D foam tape.  

Therese

 

Card kits - Card #1 - embellishments layered onto a strip of paper over a fun background

 I have made up a set of card kits for a friend who is an avid cardmaker and is undeterred by a health condition that has reduced her eyesight.  I have made the kits with only a few layers and added 3D foam tape to the back of the embellishments with bright blue release paper which provides very good contrast which will make putting together the cards easier for her.  

For this set of 8 cards I have used a full background on a contrasting card front - already folded to make that step easier.  A strip of cardstock which spans the width or the height which can be adjusted if needed by trimming to the edge of the card if she wishes.  Fun layered embellishments to adhere to the strip as she wishes.  She is very creative so these are only guidelines and I am sure she will make them her own.  Therese

Slow Stitching - sock dryer balls embellished with wool scraps and decorative stitching

After finding a tutorial on how and why we should be making sock dryer balls I decided to make a few out of my collection of socks which needed mending on the toes or heels but otherwise were still in very good shape.  I folded one pair into a bundle and then went looking for what else I needed to make the dryer balls a little more decorative than described in the above tutorial.  I found a long needle, some mending wool yarn and some felted wool scraps which would do nicely!!  I stitched both of the openings on the folded sock bundles with the yarn keeping the seam as short and smooth as possible.  Next, I trimmed a few scraps of felted wool that would be big enough to cover the seams.  I pinned them in place and used blanket stitch with the black mending yarn to secure them to my dryer balls.  It was fun to pick colours and trim shapes to make them unique and interesting.  I did finish up my length of yarn by running stitching through the innards of the dryer ball as well to help keep them secure as they bounce their way through a new life.  I keep my current wool dryer balls in the dryer so they are always where I need them.  

NOTE:  I made a few more!!!!  Therese

 

All occasion card featuring a watercolured bee an blue strips over yellow lines

I used another of the images I watercoloured loosely when I was making this cardthis card. I features a cute little bee with shimmerly wings. I ran my pattern tracing wheel on all four sides and also to create a flight path for the bee.  I cut a large blue card to fit in the envelope from my stash.  I layered on some yellow striped paper and then added three blue strips of cardstock which I embellished with some paper piercing with my tracing wheel.  I added the faux stitching with a black sharpie marker.  

For a special person who likes these colours!!  

Therese
 

All occasion card featuring a stack of cups, some ribbon flags over a hand painted decorative paper background

I made this card for DH for Father's Day!!  I started with a large envelope and trimmed out an ivory card to fit.  I added the hand decorated background paper after adding several lines of paper piercing to it.  I watercoloured the stacked cups (Cre8tive Hands), added four lines of paper piercing with my pattern tracing wheel and then layered it onto a brown rectangle.  Added some little ribbon flags secured with double sided tape and then added this focal element to my card with 3D foam tape.  

I am very grateful that I shared child raising duties with him!!

Therese
 

Quiting Retreat in Goodridge

 My first quilting retreat!!!!!  I joined two of my sisters in Goodridge and another 18 or so quilters for a retreat this past weekend.  There was a lady there selling fabric, ironing stations and tables in the middle for layout quilts before starting the sewing.  Everyone came well prepared with all they needed - sewing machines and tools, meals prepped for the weekend, dishes for the potluck on Saturday evening and something for the snack table.  Coffee and hot dogs for Saturday were provided.  It was really nice to see so many beautiful projects being created and to share with others.  There were about half that were camping out - most sharing a trailer/RV with friends.  It was unfortunately, a rainy weekend so there was no campfire on Saturday.  Everything was taken in stride and the weekend was good.  I worked on several projects but did not get anything completed.  Happy with my weekend!!!  Therese

All occasion cards packaged in a reused box

 I have also packaged 10 all occasion cards from my stash as a prize for the family event this summer.  I used a box that previously held Christmas cards.  My sister has been picking up boxes that will hold A2 sized cards at the REUSE center for me.  I cut an opening on the sleeve large enough to remove the graphic and added a clear plastic (transparency) on the back of the opening to keep the cards clean.  This box perfectly holds 10 cards!!    Therese

Christmas cards packaged in a clear box (chocolates)

In my stash I found the perfect box to package my panel Christmas cards for my family event this summer - a beautiful clear box from chocolates!!!  They all fit very nicely and will be visible.  I put the message so it is visible on the back.  Perfect!!!!

Therese

 

Christmas cards with a tall tree, greeting and gold star - set 7

  Here is the next set of Christmas cards that I have included in my box.  It will be a prize

at a family event this summer.  

Here is the first set and the others follow along one day after the other.

Check tomorrow for the next set.  

Therese

Christmas cards with a tall tree, greeting and gold star - set 6

  Here is the next set of Christmas cards that I have included in my box.  It will be a prize

at a family event this summer.  

Here is the first set and the others follow along one day after the other.

Check tomorrow for the next set.  

Therese

Christmas cards with a tall tree, greeting and a gold star - set 5

  Here is the next set of Christmas cards that I have included in my box.  It will be a prize

at a family event this summer.  

Here is the first set and the others follow along one day after the other.

Check tomorrow for the next set.  

Therese