October projects

I had a couple of major finishes this month.  My goldwork stumpwork embroidery and my first crazy quilting project.

For my crazy quilt project I wanted to make a case for my tablet.  I had a peacock theme as you can see. The case is held with a Velcro strap with a brass peacock that I got from a place that sells supplies for paper crafts.  It is lined in a green peacock fabric, padded and the back fabric is a purple peacock fabric, the same as you can see on the closure.

The two peacocks on either side were done using the tutorial on Pamela Kellogs blog
I'm proud of this peacock feather, I found a photo of a feather online and then tried to imitate it in embroidery.

The left peacock is framed by wisteria.

A beaded peacock, with sequins feathers.  My mother reckons this looks more like a kiwi, and every time I look at it now I'm seeing a kiwi.

 

A little ladybird hiding on a leaf underneath the white peacock.

 

I finally finished this goldwork and stumpwork project.   I started this years ago but it became a UFO.  I picked it up again earlier this year.  I'm glad I did as I love how it turned out.  Below are close ups and the framed picture.

Stumpwork pansies

 

Goldwork

 Completed picture

Framed

 

Spider and web

I am wanting to try different seam treatments and also wanting to make some Christmas gifts for my girlfriends.  I thought a way of combining the two would be to create monogrammed tissue holders, like the one I made for my mother last month (see September post).
 Before embroidering the monogram I wanted to practice the pieces so ran up a quick crazy quilting block made from a pack of charm squares.  They aren't normally colours that would draw me, but pieced together like this I quite like them.

Below is the crazy quilt block and seam treatments.

Block.  Flowers are lazy daisy (detached chain) filled with French knots with chain stitches for leaves and more French knots scattered.  To the right of daisys are bullion roses with fly stitch stems.  At top left you can just make out twisted chain stitch with oyster stitch flowers.

 

Interlaced chain stitch, to the left is woven chain stitch

The left seam is buttonholed chain stitch with French knots, at bottom is wheat stich in yellow with an orange straight stitch down the centre and French knots.  The right seam is raised stem stitch.

I've completed 3 monograms so far.

C.  Stitches are raised stem stitch, detached chain, French knots, twisted chain, oyster stitch and beads

E:  Stitches are  Interwoven Chain stitch, wheat stitch, French knot, oyster stitch, twisted chain, straight stitch, detached chain

M:  Stitches are detached chain, plaited braid, oyster, bullion rose, fly stitch, French knot, twisted chain

Sewing finishes

After my visit to the craft fair the sewing bug seems to have hit me.  I got a new Brother sewing machine. A basic model but it can still do a lot more than the old one of my mothers that I was using.
In the post below I had started my first crazy quilting.  Here is the finished result - a cellphone pouch.  I've picked the gold of the fan with gold braid and added gold beads, added  a bead fan and a cute ladybird

This is the other side

I've been intent  on doing more accessories for my handbag.  A coin purse

A card case to hold loyalty cards etc.  It has slots for 38 cards.

Inside the card holder

 

Middle page of the card holder

Back page

 

 

This is the bag I made from the kit I bought at the fair.  The cover can be changed so you can change the mood.  I used the fabric in the kit, but then found this lovely fan fabric and made another cover.  I also used the fan fabric to make all the accessories.   Since this photo I decided I don't really like a "hand"bag and would prefer a shoulder bag and wanted to be able to close the top, so I have added long handles and a button closure, covering the button with the fan fabric.    I haven't taken a photo yet though.

I wanted a wallet that will hold coins, notes and cards, so made this.

I also made a tissue holder.  Below is a photo of the tissue holder and the wallet

 

I also had a go at making a cat. I fancy trying to make a crazy quilt cat, but wanted to test the pattern first.  I think this should work well for crazy quilting.  I have some purple and bright green fabric to try.

 

Apart from the bag, all the other pieces are from free patterns and tutorials found on the internet.  Many thanks to the talented ladies who make these available.

I am still working on the 5sided box. Here is what is done so far

3 needlepainted flowers from Trish Burr's Needlepainting for Beginners book.

Stumpwork nasturtium from Sachiko Morimoto's Stumpwork flowers book.  Side view and front view.







 

Progress on Rajmahal Goldwork kit.  If the pineapple in the top left appears unfinished, its because it is!   I still have to finish the lattice work.

 

Another page is finished on Heaven and Earth Design of Spirit of Winter by Josphine Wall



July wip update

A bit more done on Extravaganza. This uses Rajmahal art silk and gold work

June Update

Time to post what I've been working on for the last month.

Completed page 14 of Spirit of Winter

 

 

 

Did a little bit more on this, not much done since last update:

 

This is my most creative project ever attempted.  My own design of a hussif.  Below shows what the inside will look like.  From left to right, first pocket is a double pocket, very proud I managed to figure how to do this.  I have crochet hooks in the part of the pocket that opens at the top and a pinwheel in the part that opens at the side.
 Next to it is a pocket for pens/pencils for transferring patterns.  I've also just taught myself to crochet, so have made a crocheted thimble holder.  I've not yet attached this, but this will be attached above the pen pocket.
 Next to this is a pincushion with Silk Ribbon embroidery on it, below the pincushion is a felted needlebook.  Both the pincushion and needlebook are attached to the hussif with Velcro so I can remove these and use them separately when required.
 At the far right is a pocket for scissors and below that a pocket for a pencil sharpener (for transferring pencils) or Thread Heaven.

 

 

Close up of the pincushion

 

 

 

This will be the front of the hussif, still have a couple more leaves and remainder of stems to embroider.



 



New Hardanger finish and other past finishes

I've just finished this Hardanger doily.

These are older Hardanger pieces.  This pincushion was my first Hardanger piece, learnt at a class.

Hardanger coaster

Hardanger table runner, in cream and pink

Hardanger runner in pinks

 

Here are some older embroidery finishes.  This is a thimblepip.  It opens up so you can store something small like a thimble.

 

My first stumpwork piece, an Anchor kit.

Sideview of stumpwork

 My first goldwork piece.

Finally a progress pic on cross stitch piece Mini Intermission.  Page 5 completed