Slow Stitching - potholders with the holes embellished with embroidery

 I finished another potholder.  I added stab stitches to the yellow fabric in brown and added small blue french knots in between.  On the edge of the blue fabric I added blanket stitching in yellow and added another line of blanket stitch facing the other way with the long stitch in between those of the yellow line of stitching.  On the brown fabric I added a line of back stitch and the whipped it with yellow once around.  Glad to have one more done.  Two more to go!!  Therese

Slow Stitching - a set of potholders with slow stitched circles

We were going camping last week and I needed a new slow stitching project as I had finished up the little birds the previous week.  I choose some coordinating fabrics and decided to do circles!!  I worked out the size I would need for the circles for the 7" potholders I will be making.  I decided to use the circle and the hole I cut to get the circle so there will two views of these to make a set.  After cutting the circles I cut out a backer for the circles and the stitched the circle to the backer with my sewing machine to keep them in the proper alignment and ensure I don't misplace any.  I started this set with a running stitch which follows the sewing  machine stitching line in the colours of the two other circles - so blue and yellow will be used on the brown circle.  I did a double whipped stitch on the running stitch to get this cool looking stitched line.  It was really easy to do.  I got the idea from my sister, Sylvia, who is following K3N Cloth Tales on her 2025 year long slow stitching project.  Katherine was talking about this technique in one of her videos and after Sylvia description I was able to stitch this line.  I will have to check and see if this ones is similar to Katherine's.  It is a start on this four piece project  - two sets of potholders!!!  Therese

 

Quilting - pink, green and yellow pinwheel quilt pieces with hand stitched stars

 I have been working on this project for a while.  I hand stitched the stars, chose the fabric and it sat for quite a while.  The other day I had a bit of time so I cut the strips I needed from each colour and stitched up the squares.  They are now sitting and waiting for me to have a bit more time.  I will have more time once the garden is harvested and the fall cleaning up is done!!  Therese

All occasion card featuring a napkin layer, punched border, flagged strip with embellished brads and a cute daisy

 I worked up another card using part of the daisy napkin!!! For this card I added a green border to the bottom edge of my card which I had bordered punched with this leafy pattern.   I trimmed a piece of white cardstock and added the daisy napkin (top layer only) by gluing it to the front and then the edges over to the back.  I added some paper piercing (pattern tracing wheel) and then adhered it to my card front on the left.  I watercoloured the little daisy yellow and added paper piercing to it as well.  It fit just perfectly in the bottom right hand corner with the daisy element to the left.  I needed a bit of something to add above the daisy.  I finally decided on a piece of green cardstock paper pierced, flagged on the end with three little embellished brads inserted near the flagged end.  Perfect!!!  I adhered all my elements to my card and added the daisy with 3D foam tape.  Really happy with the way it turned out!!  Therese

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