Sewing - removable and reversible cover for a large hot pad - GA

I made a cover for one of the large hot pads (insulbrite, knitted wool, cotton batting) I made a while back using four different fabrics.  It is removable for washing and also reversible with four different options.  The pad measured 11" x 17".  I cut my rectangles to 11.75" x 18.75" and sewed a 1/4" seam when I was putting it together.  I left an opening on one side and turned it right sides out and then hand stitched the opening closed.  I top stitched both edges and then added two more rows of stitching to keep the cover integral when washing it.  We have such beautiful fabrics available for sewing!!

Therese

 

Sewing - jar openers with an extra strip - GA

I made up five jar openers for our next Gramma Link Africa event.  I cut three pieces of shelf liner to six inches and had leftovers that allowed me to make two more if I pieced the shelf liner.  I decided to add a small strip of fabric that covered the joint and it also works as stabilization of the pieces to each other.  I cut 8" cotton squares for each square of shelf liner.  I started with the pieced ones so I laid the two shelf liner pieces to the wrong side of the fabric, laid the strip (both edges pressed to the middle) over where they joined and stitched both edges.  I was very happy to see that I did not have to use paper to protect my sewing foot from the rubbery shelf liner.  Excellent!!!  To finish used the self binding method I use for quilts and potholders.  I folded the raw edges in, then folded the edge over the shelf liner and stitched into place all the way around. This does not need any protection from the shelf liner.  So as I went on I cut strips for the full ones too and added them in the same way as I had for the ones that were pieces.  It worked perfectly!!  No need for paper!!  Works for me!!  I will make more now that I found a way to avoid using paper and having to tear it away from the stabilization stitches.  Therese
 

Sewing - a book bag with little embroidered flowers Gramma Africa

With the leftovers from my first bag I created a smaller book bag (15.5" x 16") with handles (21") and a lining similar to the other bag.  I used a strip of the embroidered flowers as the accent for this bag - love it!!  This one does not have boxed corners and is suitable for running errands, a trip to the library or book club!!!

 

Cardmaking - a few butterfly cards for IWIN and two more to my stash

 I was in cardmaking mode after finishing all the cards for donation and so when I found a few interesting backgrounds in the box I decided to use them to make up a few more cards.  I made three butterfly cards which I can add to my IWIN stash.  The floral cards I will add to my stash and they will come in handy later.  The blue butterfly has a wax resist background with watercolour, the pink one is a rose embossing folder (SU), the rainbow ones are background paper adhered to cardstock and embossed.  I simply added focal elements and embellishments and mounted them onto card fronts.  

Therese

Sewing - a large tote bag in blue and yellow blend fabric - Gramma Africa

I started the weekend of sewing with this project!!  I am using cotton poly blend which we received last year in our fabric sale donations.  We bagged these scraps for our sale last year and I am storing them at home for this year's sale.  I opened a bag of each colour  - blue and yellow - and started creating a large piece of fabric using the long scraps to their best advantage and created the main fabric for this bag.  I had in my stash a band of embroidered flowers which was the inspiration for this bag.  I cut them apart and added white cotton to the back of each one to give them opacity.  I added blue sashing all the way around to make the width of my bag (16").  I did have to add several more strips to my fabric to make it the same width.  I cut off a strip of about 4" and stitched my floral piece in between the two.  I cut my fabric to about 19"  (17" plus 2" for the bottom) to create the front.  I added wide strips to which I had stitched pockets on each end for my sides.  I cut another piece to 19" to make the back piece and stitched it to each side to make a cylinder.  I cut two strips of blue for the strap (49") and stitched them together to make the handle.  I trimmed a 3" or so piece for the inside of the bag to which I stitched my lining pieces.  I created a pocket with a zipper and a little loop and stitched it to my lining piece before I added the blue strip.  Nice neat finish for inside.  I pinned the strap ends in place and tucked them about 3.5" deep on each side and basted them in place along with another loop on the top edge.  I assembled the bag by sewing the top seam which joined the outer bag and the lining and secured the handles in place.   I stitched the boxed corners on the bag and the lining. I turned it inside out through an opening I left in the lining.  I did some topstitching on the top edge, secured my straps with a bit more stitching and did the same to the boxed corners to the bottom.

I added a length of twill tape (12")  on the front of the handle which allows the handle to be adjusted to a shorter length for carrying on your arm instead of over your shoulder.  To adjust, you simply untie the bow, loop the handle to the length you want and retie the twill tape really tight over the looped area!!

I stitched up the opening in the lining and the bag was done!!  Therese

 

Cardmaking - cards for donation - a few more

 I made a few more cards with a few supplies I found along the way.  The ones with handmade paper were samples I found in the box I was decluttering and were ready to go!!  The blue one is one my sister sent me and I refurbished it with a new insert and envelope.  The feather one was a background I found in the box and worked into a collage card.  These will be added to the previous collections and dropped of later today.  Therese

Sewing - a set of floral potholders for Gramma Africa

I brought these pieces home from sorting fabric last week and thought they worked well together.  I love the blue fabric with little fruit!!  I added a strip of the floral fabric to the blue and should have paid more attention when I added the loops. They should have been in the same corner. I think it still works!!  I used a layer of terry cloth and two layers of flannel for batting.  Another useful addition to our merchandise!! 

Therese

 

Cardmaking - cards for donation featuring images on paper coloured with coloured pencils and layered

 I have been working at decluttering my creative space and in the process of cleaning out a box I found these images printed on bond paper.  They were likely found unsuitable for the project at the time and were stowed away for later use.  Unfortunately, the location was not conducive for me finding them again.  I will work on that!!  Because they were printed on bond I was hesitant to watercolour them so decided to use a dry medium  - pencil crayons  - instead.  I don't use them very often but they worked very well in this case.  

Before starting the colouring I had cut white cardstock bases, trimmed decorative papers and layers for the images so it was fairly easy to pick at colour for the flowers. It was fun to pick colours and layer them to get some shading and variation. My fingers got a workout so fortunately I did not do all the images in one day. I added paper piercing to the images, adhered them to the layers, added the backgrounds to the card fronts and then added the focal elements. I am happy with how they turned out!!!

Therese

Cardmaking - map hexagons, a torn and distressed car collage and a ribbon banner

 Another card for a grandson!! He is old enough to have his driver's license!!  I cut the hexagon paper with maps (Melstampz) for the background for my large warm blue card.  I tore around the car collage and distressed the edge before adding a bit of blue watercolour to tone down the white background.  I added 5 pewter eyelets to add some texture.  I created a coordinating banner using cording and short pieces of ribbon.  I punched holes on each side near the fold and secured the end of the cording inside the card front using regular tape.  I secured the collage with 3D foam tape and added two pieces of cording - one on each side - that goes through an eyelet and to the back of the card front.  I secured them with tape as well.  I will put a fun insert in order to hide the ends.  He has been reading car magazines for quite a few years now and I am sure is looking forward to getting a car!!!  Therese

Cardmaking - cards for donation reusing card fronts

I had a request for more cards from the admin person at our church so I got started on making some . These cards are made reusing card fronts and matching them with envelopes I have on hand.  It was fun to work with these image and add elements to make them to fit into the envelopes.  I like the one of a wharf  where I added an embossed piece of red cardstock with a circle embossing folder on the bottom and punched out a few holes before adding it to the card.  Most have paper piercing, embossed layers, embossing on the image, etc.  

Therese

 

Sewing - three pet bowl mats for Gramma Africa merchandise

I worked on sewing projects over the Family Day weekend.  I managed to make good use of this dog fabric which I have had in my GA bin for a while.  For this first one I added the last strip of dog fabric to the back of a brown denim rectangle using a decorative stitch which I am hoping to use for raw edge fabric applique in the future.  I added a cotton terry cloth as the batting and then a layer of the bone fabric.  I turned over the edges and stitched them down with the same stitch and double stitched the corners as I went.  I then added some quilting lines to get all the layers nicely secured to each other.  If I had anticipated where the edge stitching would be I could have trimmed my dog fabric a little more but that is the way it goes sometimes!! 

For this mat I used dog fabric and bone fabric sandwiching a layer of terry cloth in between.  I did a self binding with the dog fabric which worked really well.  This one is a  little lighter because it does not have any denim.  Maybe someone will like a mat that is a little lighter in weight.  I stitched quilting lines between the dogs to secure all the layers together.  

For this last one I  added the last of the bone fabric to the denim layer and stitched it down with the decorative stitching.  I added terry cloth and then brought the dog fabric forward to self bind the mat.  I added lines of stitching to quilt all the layers together.  

These are about 12" x 16".  It was good to finish off some fabric from the bin and make three useful items for our next sale.  

Therese

 

Cardmaking - three butterfly cards for IWIN from a scraps

 Another three cards for IWIN.  I had a bit of time so I just dug out the leftovers from previous cards and thought I would see what I could make up from them.  I managed three cards!!  I used the butterfly paper strips to make two cards. That paper is now all gone!! I layered the first cut of the strips onto shimmery plum paper, embossed the center with a floral border and added several paper pierced circles and a tag onto which I had secured two layered butterflies (one punched and a sequin) with a brad.  I mounted this large element to my card front and then added the little Word Window greeting.  

I added the remainder of the butterfly paper to a panel of the plum shimmery paper and mounted it to a purple card front.  I added another couple of circles in coordinating colours and mounted two butterflies to them with a brad.  I mounted the little window greeting to a decorative label and added it over the bottom edge.  For my third card I mounted a red strip between the two scraps and mounted that to a blue card.  I embossed a green square and added a small square scrap of the decorative paper which I paper pierced.  I set this element as a diamond over the background and added a little layered greeting to the bottom.  Three more done - several more to go!!!  Therese