January crazy quilting

For Xmas I was given some toiletries in a snowman shaped tin.  I thought the tin was an ideal shape to make into a matryoshka doll.  I wanted the embroidery to give the fabric a textured feel so for most of the pieces I used thread in a similar colour to the fabric.

The face took me about 3 attempts to embroider.  I did it on felt and then appliqued it.  Once embroidered I then mounted it on a piece of card, glued some lace around the top of the tin so the lace covers the sides of the tin and then glued the card to the top of the tin.

I'm using this to store my buttons.  It stands up nicely, just like a doll should.

I've also finished my January block for CQJP.  My them is the seasons, 4 blocks for each will be made into cushion covers.  This is spring.  It has a Hardanger centre, this was a freebie from the spring biscornu on the victoriasampler website

At the top right is a beaded daffodil.  I did the beaded flower on felt and then appliqued it to the block.  The leaf is filled with chain stitch and surrounded by coral stitch.

At the bottom sits a stumpwork spring rabbit in a basket and to his right is a bunch of tulips.

At the left is a fat bumblebee.  At the top left corner is black rick rack with interwoven chain stitch in gold on top.  In the corner is a needlewoven wheel in red and gold.



Below is a close up of the lace on the bottom right.  At the far right is black lace overlaid with red lace.  The photo doesn't show it very well but along the edge of the 2 laces is alternating chain stitch done in both black and red thread

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

More finishes

I've had some more finishes since my last post.  I made this tissue holder for my mother.  The back is embroidered with an R for her initial.

 

The colour in the photo looks grey, but is actually a pale green.

 

 

 

I finished the remaining 2 panels for the 5 sided box.  Wild strawberry

 

 

 



 

And clematis and bee.  The bee was tricky to stitch as was stitched onto wired petals.



   I was worried after all the stitching the assembly of the box wouldn't work out.  However it was pretty easy to put together.  The pieces of embroidery were mounted on cardboard (cereal packets), inner lining also mounted on cardboard then an outer and inner piece whip stitched together.  These were then sewn down the side seams, before the last side seam was sewn they were sewn to the base, then the final side sewn.  While the stitching on the sides wasn't too bad it definitely needed something to tidy it up, so I glued ric-rac down the side seams.   I was disappointed with the top, as I mounted the top embroidery on an inner piece made from the lining fabric.  This lining fabric just didn't look right with the rest of the outer box, so I added ricrac around the embroidery to conceal the lining fabric.

If anyone is interested in more information, I got the idea from Janet Grangers blog

A further update on HAED cross stitch Mini Intermission. Page 6 completed.

I bought a cheap "lucky dip" packet from my local fabric store.  It had lots of wonderful material and a huge piece of purple polka dots.  Luckily purple is my favourite colour.  As I'm setting up a craft room I'm using this purple fabric to decorate with.  I made this cute little owl and pincushion jar.  She has a little yellow apron on in front with pockets for storing sewing bits and bobs.  I stitched the wings together to create extra storage space.  She now sits on my sewing desk holding pens, scissors, etc.  I made a pincushion on top of an old coffee jar, trimmed with matching purple ribbon.

The pattern for the owl is here

I also made a sewing machine cover.  The front has an embellished picture that I found on the internet and printed.  A frame was made using a silver fabric covered in silver sequins from my mothers sewing box.  Its been in there for as long as I can remember.  I added a few silk ribbon flowers and a piece of green tulle in the top left corner.

 

 

The reverse of the sewing machine cover has an appliqued sewing machine in contrasting green fabric. When sewing this on I've sewn across the top horizontal part of the sewing machine but left the top open so it can be used as a pocket. The side panels are in the same green fabric.  The applique design is available here

I had an old corkboard.  To brighten it up I painted the frame in yellow and glued some of the polka dot fabric to it.  I added a trim of a thin purple ribbon.  I'm very pleased with it, it definitely brightens the room, instead of the drab old corkboard.  I forgot to take a photo.  Maybe next time.

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