Sewing - large hot pad with a removable washable cover with four different looks

I have been playing with this idea for a while and decided I would give it a try.  A hot pad that has a removable & washable cover.  This way you just wash the cover and with the four different fabrics included in the cover it can span several occasions and appeal to a wider audience.     The pad (13" x 16") is made up of two layers of cotton batting with a metallic insulated layer in between.  I laid two layers of cotton flannel cut to 14" x 17" right sides together and pinned them to the "inside" piece. I stitched all the way around leaving a gap to turn it inside out.  After turning it inside out I removed the pins.  I should have counted them because I missed one and had to undo my edge seam to remove it.  I restitched my gap by hand after removing the pin.  I added a line of stitching all the way around at about 1.25" or so.  It will not need much washing if it is always used with the cover.  The cover is made up of four pieces of cotton fabric pieces with an accent strip - two vertical - 2 horizontal.  Just the way the pieces worked out.  There is a winter scene with mountains and a starry sky, one with fun flowers in white vases, a beautiful batik in browns, yellow and orange flowers and a floral with a dark pink strip.  It should cover most seasons and occasions and certainly should provide some options for anyone who is looking for a certain colour or design.  I cut the pieces 14" x17" and sewed  3/8" seams when I was assembling it.  It makes a double sided tube with two fabrics on the outside and two on the inside.  By turning it inside out it features the other two fabrics.  I just folded the pad in half and lined up the two long edges with the seams in the cover and flattened it out inside.  It is a bit snug so will use 1/4" seams next time.  I used cotton thread as well to make it all cotton.  It is a flexible item that is perfect for your table when you have a large casserole dish or two smaller ones.  Protects your table and looks beautiful all the while.   Therese

Sewing - two table runner for merchandise for our Gramma Link Africa - Chili for a Cause on October 23rd

I worked on projects for our next event with Gramma Link Africa - Chili for a Cause.  A table runner (31.5 x 15") which turned out quite nice.  I have not made many table runners before but I really liked this colour combination and theme.  Christmas with white doves and silvery snowflakes and on the other side coffee!!!  For anyone who has red as a part of their kitchen/dining room will appreciate this table runner.  I added polyester batting and sewed it all around and turned in inside out and finished the outside edge with top stitching.  I used my walking foot and its guide to add some quilting about 3" apart at a 45 degree angle.  

 I made this Christmas table runner first!!  Doves on red on one side and a snowy mountain scene on the other side (30" x 15").  Again, polyester batting which I stitched to the red side before placing them back to back and stitching all the way around.  Once I turned it inside out I top stitched all the way around.  I added more straight lines of quilting between the ones I had put in to secure the batting.  I had not yet taken out my walking foot and it might have been a good idea.  

There is always a learning curve.  

These are both not too thick though they do have some dimension because of the fluffy batting.  

Therese

Cardmaking - Card #3 - inked glossy backgrounds with black embossed stamped images and a die cut frame

 For our last card I always create a quick and easy one!!!  These ones feature the backgrounds I was experimenting with before I came up with the technique for our first card.  It was a fun afternoon of playing with ink, water and alcohol!!!!  So I decided to use them for this set of cards.  I decided to stamp black images onto the backgrounds but wanted to highlight them in some way.  I eventually chose to die cut a long tall rectangle from a piece of white cardstock.  I then embossed them with a texture embossing folder (SU).  With this new element I was able to reasonably position my stamped images where the frame could easily be placed to have the image highlighted in the opening of the frame.  It is a little tricky to stamp with embossing ink on glossy cardstock - can easily slip and make a smudged background that cannot be rescued!!  So I chose to stamp all the images for these cards.  So the assembly was quite straight forward.  We embossed our background with a little dots strip embossing folder, highlighted them with contrasting ink and then adhered them to our card bases.  A bit of embellishment to the frame if we wanted to and adhered them to the front to highlight the stamped images!!  Quick and easy!!!  Therese

Cardmaking - Card #2 - fun backgrounds, layered cardstock and watercoloured and embossed images

 For our second card we added ribbon/seam binding to our scrapbook or collaged backgrounds using double sided tape.  Again, we tied the piece to trimmed off to the front using a single knot to simulate a bow before adding these to our card bases.  

The embossed images were ready to go - the black and white (laser printed) ones were watercoloured to coordinate with the backgrounds.  They were then embellished with paper piercing (pattern tracing wheel), and or distressed on the edges.  Their backgrounds were created by placing coordinating cardstock strips next to each other, taped on the back and then trimmed to size for each image.  We embossed our backgrounds and embellished with the pattern tracing wheel and/or the distress tool.  We adhered our images to their layers and then added 3D foam tape to the back and positioned them over the ribbon/seambinding on the front of our cards.  Lots of variations and colour combinations for this set of cards.   Therese

Cupcake - Cre8tive Hands, little flower (my doodle), fall wreath (Beccy's Place), flower wreath (Melonheadz Ilustration), embossed cup with a flower (Cuttlebug).  

Cardmaking - Card #1 - Distress ink background on glossy embossed and highlight with ribbon and black accents

 

It was so nice to see my cardmaking friends again!!!  This was the first card we made.  Glossy cardstock which has been dipped into puddles of Distress ink and water.  We dabbed the ink pads on plastic (packaging) and then spritz it with water one colour at a time cleaning our plastics in between.  It was a fun process of adding colour here and there, drying, and adding a different colour until we were happy with our creations.  Next, we embossed the colourful glossy background and applied a different colour of ink sparingly to highlight the embossed areas.  So fun!!  That was followed by choosing one of our first colours and dyeing our seam binding to coordinate.  Just dabbed the ink on our clean plastics, spritzed water and then placed our seam binding into the puddle and moved it around with a bamboo stick until it was completely dyed.  We carefully dried it with the heat gun.  After auditioning our accents we added a length of seam binding to our background using double sided tape on the back.  We tied the piece we trimmed off to the front using a single knot to simulate a bow.  

The embellishments were all die cut from black because I could not predict what colours each person would use when creating their backgrounds.  We slipped these under our ribbon and added dots of glue OR 3D foam tape depending on how delicate the embellishments were.  All the die cuts are from Tim Holtz.  

It is so great to be creating with others and we always learn from each other and each person follows their muse when they are creating.  It really is so wonderful how one kit with all the same supplies can be used to create such a diverse and interesting cards!!  Therese

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 

 

All occasion card featuring embellished bubble background, coloured transparency tulip and punched border

Another card created for upcoming occasions!!!  I started with a large green card.  I started with the tulip in a pot (?) which was printed on transparency so I coloured it on the back using makers and pens.  I border punched a piece of white cardstock, trimmed it to size and added my coloured image using little staples.  It needed a bit of bling so I added some little flower embellishments.  I layered this element onto a rectangle of pink with distressed edges.  I found this blue bubble background which I made quite a while back and thought I would use it for this card but it needed a bit of tweaking to work with the flower - I stamped several greens, then turquoise and then some pink and that worked quite well.  I added a paper pierced strip of blue (used a pattern tracing wheel) to the background and adhered this large element to my card front.  I added my tulip element with 3D foam tape.  I did add paper piercing to my background as well.  Therese
 

GA - It's a Wrap!! - card wallets which will easily wrap a gift card

 

I created these card wallets as part of my It's a Wrap collection - a way to wrap a gift in a gift - which provides no waste packaging!!!  They will be available at the Climate Change Fashion Show on September 6th.  

These are created with two large circles (11.75") which are sewn together, turned inside out and then top stitched.  This double sided circle is then folded in half and a line stitched 4"-4.5" from the folded line.  The two flaps on the outside of the circle are opened up and the stitched  middle line is aligned with the center line fold of the circle and ironed flat.  Next, this whole piece is flipped over and the bottom flipped up to the top creating the three pockets.   To secure the pockets two lines of stitching are added on each outside edge with the top of the stitching starting aligned with the V of the petals to the bottom folded edge.  I added metal snaps to the two outside pouches and then slow stitched a decorative circle over the stitches on the outside flap of  the outer pouches.  The inner pouch lies in between the two outer pockets.  Lots of room for cards of every king - credit cards, loyalty card, membership cards, etc!!  The outside pockets are secure so they could also be used for cash or coins.  The middle pocket would be perfect for post it notes!!!  

So to package a gift card it is a simple matter of adding a card to any of the pockets!!!  A cute and very fun way to package a gift card and no waste!!!  Great for any occasion!!  Therese

All occasion card featuring a cool bicycle, pieced background, bubble paper layer with ribbon flags

 I have had this bicycle in my stash for a while and today it just came together with this paper and I made this card!!  I chose a dark neutral for my large card and cut my background into four pieces before adhering them to my card.  I watercoloured the bicycle and added clear glitter to the chrome pieces like the spokes and rims, etc.  I added four lines of paper piercing ( pattern tracing wheel) and mounted it to a piece of blue bubble paper which matched perfectly.  I added four little fabric ribbon flags to this focal element before mounting it to my card front using 3D foam tape.  Totally fun to be making cards again!!

Therese

GA - It's a Wrap - card holders in which you can insert a gift card

 These are very fun gifts!!! They are created with circles of cotton and batting which cover a CD.  They are basted all the way around by hand and when the strong thread is pulled it tightens the fabric around the CD and is then tied off securely.  Two of these are the front and backs of these card holders and buttons are sewn on each side through the middle (hole in the CD) which holds both together and provides the friction necessary to keep the playing cards in place and yet allows them to be easily removed and replaced as the game goes on.  Really handy for those with sore or small hands which have a hard time holding a gad of playing cards all a one time!!  

 They are perfect for packaging a gift card!!  Simply place the gift card between two playing cards and insert into the holder. A gift in a gift with no waste!!!   It's a Wrap!!!  Therese

GA - It's a Wrap - mug rugs with a pocket to hold a gift card

 I made up these mug rugs with some of my supply of fabric scraps collected over the years!!! Some were scraps from a quilting group and had some sewn pieces - the little squares on the top left, the half square triangles on the top and bottom right and the bottom left.  It was fun to play and come up with coordinating pieces to finish these up.  I added a pocket on the left hand side where a gift card can be inserted to make this a "gift in a gift".  After inserting the gift card you would simply roll it up and tie with a ribbon or cording and your packaging would be done and look beautiful.  No waste!!  The pocket can then be used to store tea bags, sweetener or inspirational quotes!!! These are a bit on the larger size as mug rug go - about 6" x 11" but they would keep your desk area clean of crumbs, etc and easily washable if they get dirty.  Therese

GA merchandise - a strip pieced table runner in coordinating ivory and maroon fabric scraps

I created this table runner with the pieced backing I was working on for the other table runner.  I had no plan other than wanting diagonal lines.  I trimmed some of my scraps to 2.5".  The thinner strips I added to each side of the red square and then started adding strips to each side - piecing if needed to make the length I needed.  I had cut 3 large squares and 2 little ones but found that adding that many interspersed would make the table runner too long so I did the large red square and two smaller red squares added to the 2.5" strips.  I added some strips at both ends that go perpendicular to the strips.  I like the way they work together and it was easy enough to add what I needed to finish the ends square.  I added polyester batting and a cotton backing in an ivory colour.  I laid the pieces over each other and stitched all the way around leaving a gap so I could turn it inside out.  I hand stitched the opening, top stitched around the edge and then followed the stitching lines (stitch in the ditch) to add quilting to the runner.  It finished at 45" x 11".  I will bring it to the church when I go to town next.  

Therese
 

GA merchandise - table runner

I took this table runner flimsy home after the fabric sale and just this week decided to get it finished.  I had previously pulled fabrics which I thought would work well for the back.  I did not  have enough of any to make the whole back so I thought I would piece one.  As I worked with the fabrics it occurred to me that the quilting on the front would not compliment the back so I abandoned the idea and found cotton fabric in my stash to back this one.  I added polyester batting and stitched all the way around leaving an opening so I could turn it inside out.  Worked out really well!!  I hand stitched the opening, top stitched all the way around and then added lines of quilting that followed the outline of the squares.  It finished 11" x 42" to the tips of the points.  Glad to have it finished.  I will return it to the bin when I am in town next time.  It has been very nice to be sewing again.  

Therese

 

A red, white and blue plaid tote bag

Another tote bag I created on the weekend.  I had some scraps of the plaid fabric which were quite triangular so I sewed them together to make a square for the front of the bag.  I covered the diagonal seams with dark blue strips of denim which I sewed on raw edged with decorative stitching.   I added strips of red fabric all the way around to finish this side and then stitched on a loop which I created using scraps of denim and red.  For the others side I used the larger triangles and covered the diagonal seams with strips of red fabric again raw edged with decorative stitching.  I used a  scrap of fabric to make the pocket including a jeans zipper near the top. I folded over the edges and topstitched it in place.  I used red and plaid to make the handles.  This one measures 17.5" wide, 16" tall and has 2.5" bottom and 24" handles.  Therese

 

All occasion card featuring a beautiful decorative paper background and a gold embossed butterfly

A card for my sister who lost her husband a few weeks ago.  It is always hard to lose a loved one!!! 

I found this beautiful decorative paper in my stash and thought it was perfect for the card I was making for her.  I trimmed it to fit on my large blue card, paper pierced the four sides and then added a tiny strip of the same cardstock just below the butterfly.  I gold embossed the butterfly, fussy cut it and then painted the edges with gold watercolour to remove the white edge.  I watercoloured it to coordinate with the background!!  I love the way it turned out!!!

Therese
 

All occasion card featuring a gold embossed fussy cut butterfly over grosgrain ribbon with brads

 A card for a family who has lost their Dad.  It is always hard to lose a loved one!!!

I started with a large dark brown card and then trimmed the leafy background.  I added a piece of coordinating grosgrain ribbon with double sided tape to it and then added the three copper brads on the left hand side.  I adhered this large element to the card front and then added the focal element with 3D foam tape.  The focal element is a gold embossed butterfly (Magenta) which I fussy cut and then painted the edges with gold watercolour to remove any white edge.  I watercoloured the different areas to coordinate with the background.    Therese

Think of you cards featuring beautiful butterfly paper, embossed strips and layered oval greetings

I spent a few hours this afternoon making up the last 14 cards I have committed to making for IWIN for the fall.   I found this wonderful butterfly decorative paper in my stash a few months ago I thought it would make such great cards for this program.  I had printed the oval greetings a while back so I punched them out with the oval punch (SU).  I trimmed the paper so I made the best use of the butterflies and allowed some to be prominent though it was fairly easy and there was very little waste!! I chose to have some be landscape and others portrait but in the end some pieces that worked both ways.   I chose cardstock which highlighted the largest butterflies, then picked colours for the strips which I embossed to reflect other colours in the paper.  Finally, I punched out the scallop ovals (SU) to coordinate with all the elements.  I did a bit of paper piercing with my pattern tracing tool, punched holes in some of the scallops, used my clear gel pen to highlight some areas and generally just had a calm and relaxed afternoon making cards.  I appreciate being able to make cards for this program which is so instrumental in helping people who are vulnerable find their way forward in the world.  

Therese