Sewing - large shopping bag with flying geese border and scraps on the back and a zipper

I set aside the supplies for this bag last year and a few weeks ago I dug it out and got started.  The "flying geese" were already done and only needed to be framed with the brown strips.  I see from the photo that the geese are somewhat disguised with the strips in between being too much the same colour.  They read more like arrows but that works as well.  I used a blue green broadcloth inside and a flannel layer in between.  The two sides were sewn up as french seams so there are no raw edges inside.  I boxed the bottom and added handles when I finished the top edge.  I created a finished zipper assembly and added it to the top.  I ended up a bit wider than I expected so it filled the top opening.  

I ended up adding a twill loop and two buttons to allow the zipper to be opened conveniently.  I did add two stitches through the layers on the back end as well to secure the flaps for better closing and opening.  I added a braided thread pull to the zipper to make it easily accessible.  I may have been better in a brighter colour.  

It measures 20" wide and about 18" wide so has a lot of room for anything that needs being carried from one place to another in a very fashionable manner!!!  

Therese

 

Sewing - potholders with a front pocket in blues, browns and yellow

I have issued a challenge to the GLA Sewing group to make up a set of potholders.  We will have a really good selection for our first event in May.  I made these from the same fabrics I used to make an apron last year for our Gramma Link Africa events.  Several at the sewing group meeting preferred potholders with a pocket to protect their hands on both sides.  I did some research on line and found a tutorial and made it my own.  The pocket is made of the beautiful floral fabric and hemmed at the top.  The potholder base is made from cottons and flannels - top layer is yellow and blue below, 3 layers of cotton flannel, and a backer which is wider and taller in the speckled blue which comes over an is used to bind them all the way around.  I added a loop because several people hang theirs and there is no harm in adding one as they can just as easily be stored in a drawer or basket.  The loop lays flat on the potholder and therefore does not stick out from the side which I think is a better presentation.  I am really looking forward to seeing the potholders these wonderful sewers will be creating!!!  I did not set any limits so it will be great!!  Therese

 

Cardmaking - Birthday card featuring watercoloured candles, a decorative border and shimmery background

 So fun to be making cards!!!  The candles were stamped (SU) a while back and I watercoloured them and made a long strip of them.  I bordered punched a rectangle and mounted the candles piece to it then border punched the bottom edge.  I layered this piece over the shimmery background and added a folded circle over the edge, added an eyelet and tied on a gold thread.  I then adhered this large element to a purple card front!!!  Theres

Sewing - finished the mushroom bags and added embellisments

I have been working on these bags off and on for quite a while.  I finished them this week.  I finished the seams and added ties and buttons so the handle could be shortened for carrying at the end of the arm instead of over the shoulder.  You simply tie the twill tape to one of buttons to shorten the handle and it easily can be changed whenever you need.  I chose heart buttons and a flower one for my daughter in law who is such a wonderful gardener.  

I added a mushroom embellishment on the one for my youngest grand daughter so she could easily be able to see which one was hers.  I am sure they will get lots of use as they use the library services often.  It is so fun to create gifts for family!!

Therese

 

Crafting - shrink plastic embellishment for a bag featuring a cute mushroom image

I wanted a little embellishment for my youngest granddaughter's bag so I decided to create a fun mushroom embellishment with shrink plastic.  I found the mushrooms image (Pixabay), sized it and then printed it about 6" or so.  I laid a sheet of transparent rough textured shrink plastic over it and traced the outline with a fine tipped black permanent marker and then added colour using pencil crayons with various levels of pressure to provide different values of the colours.  It does not require too much colour to really get a very good result with pencil crayons.  Once I was finished colouring I cut the circle out with scissors and punched a 1.4" hole at the top so I could add a  hanger.  I heat it with my heat gun until it was flat though it did go through quite the convulsions getting there.  It finished up just over 2" around.  I am very happy with the finished piece!! She will be able to use it any way she wishes as she grows up.  Therese

 

Sewing - mushrooms sewn into book bags with an inside zippered pocket

 

I started by cutting strips of red fabric to frame the mushrooms which will finish at 16".  I created a square with an enclosed zipper the same size as the embroidery which will be sewn in at the same time as I sew the bag and create a zippered pocket on the inside of the bag.  I stitched on the two sides, pressed the seam allowance towards the red fabric and then top stitched the seam at about 1/8" to secure the seam allowance and protect the seam.  Next I stitched on the top and bottom pieces.  The bottom section and the back are one large piece with a fold at the bottom. I top stitched those two seams as well after pressing them towards the red.  This securely creates the pocket with a zipper.   I stitched the two sides and top stitched both of those seams as close as I could to the bottom corner.  I cut a handle  - 25"x 4.5" - folded a seam allowance on both sides to the middle and pressed them.  I then folded the two edge to each other and top stitched both edges at about 1/8".  I created inside facings, pinned my handles into place and stitched the top edge.  After pressing it down I top stitched this seam twice - 1/4" and then again at 1/2" which captures the handle twice.  I then folded and pressed another seam allowance and stitched the bottom edge of the facing to the bag.  Gives a neat finish inside the bag.  My next blog post will show the finishing touches!!  Therese

Sewing - Gramma Link Africa Fabulous Fabric Sale at Gaetz United in Red Deer

 You are all invited to come and enjoy a great shopping experience at our Fabric Sale. 

We have fabric  - quilting cotton $4/m, all other fabric is $2m.  

There are $1 rolls and you can stuff a bag for $5.

You can stuff a bag of scraps for $1 - two bins - cottons and everything else!!

There is a whole room dedicated to sewing, crafts & knitting supplies and notions!!!

Admission is $2 and come early to get the best selection!!

Therese

Sewing - jar openers with fabric scraps and shelf liner

I brought home some shelf liner from our sorting session for the fabric sale last week.  I cut the piece of liner into 9 pieces and then dug into my scraps to find some fun fabrics to make up some jar openers.  I enclosed the shelf liner on the edges just like I do potholders - fold over the edge and then fold over onto the liner and stitched it in place.  I added two lines of stitching in the middle to keep the layers together when it is being used.  I used a piece of scrap paper on top of the shelf liner so that my presser foot would travel well when sewing.  It is easy to remove the paper because it has been pierced by the needle.  Just simply press a finger near the seam and pull on the paper on the other side and it separates easily.  These will be dropped off to be added to our inventory of merchandise for our next event.  

Therese

 

Cardmaking - birthday card featuring a cute cake with lots of Chinese greeting stickers

A fun birthday card for a little girl who will enjoy it!!!  I adhered the red polka dot layer to a red card and then added the watercoloured birthday cake (Melonheadz) layer using 3D foam tape.  I added some paper piercing around the cake, some glitter to the flames and then mounted it all to a yellow rectangle which I distressed around the edges.  Finally, I added some fun stickers!!!  

Therese
 

Cardmaking - all occasion card featuring floral doodle, gold foil layer and sanded and embossed background

Cards for family!!!  I started this one with an embossed background which I sanded to reveal the white core.  I rounded the corners and mounted it to a large white card.  The flowers are one of my doodles which I watercoloured to coordinate, paper pierced four lines with my pattern tracing wheel and then mounted onto gold foil.  I added this layer to my card front and added some fibers with a fun sticker.  

Therese
 

Cardmaking - anniversary card featuring fussy cut hearts and a hand decorated background

Working on cards for family  and made up this fun card with hearts (Melondheadz).  I modified a hand decorated piece of paper using an embossing folder and then inked it to create highlights.  I printed the hearts, fussy cut them and then tied on coloured raffia.  I mounted them to the background with 3D foam tape, folded the raffia to the back and secured the end and then mounted this large element to a blue card!!!  

Therese