Card - Slow Stitching - Flower

I created a yellow based free motion stitched background with brown thread.

I appliqued a yellow flower to the front of the background with brown thread and the running stitch.  I then added a dark brown center to the flower held in place with running stitch and French Knots.

I stitched the fabric art piece to the front of a dark brown A2 card base.

I used a bit of Inktense paint with a dry brush to add contrast to the edges of the petals and some color to the leaf.

I put a half sheet insert to cover the stitching on the inside.  An ivory envelope finished off the card.

It is off to a special person celebrating a big birthday.

Card - Painted Fabric

 I created this card on a piece of white cotton fabric which I invisible basted to a foundation layer of white cotton.  I drew the flower with the Pigma Micron Archival Pen in black nib size 08.

I heat set it with a hot dry iron before painting it.

I used my Inktense paint to color the background and the flower.  The color blending with the background adds charm and is unavoidable.

Once dry the Inktense painting was heat set with a hot dry iron.

I then stitched the painting to a Perfect Plum A2 card base with a half sheet insert and a white envelope.  

Sitting in my card box.

Note Cards - Slow Stitching

I forgot to take pictures before I packaged these cards. I placed a half sheet white insert in the cards to cover the stitching of the fabric art to the front of the card.  Each has a white envelope as well. I added a slip of paper with credits which I forgot last time.  These are blank note cards.

1. A beautiful watercolor print on linen where I stitched around the leaves, flowers and other shapes. I appliqued a piece of mustard fabric to the center of the flower to make it the focal element. The art piece was stitched to a Soft Sky A2 card base. 

2. A collection of olive green fabrics was free motion stitched to a layer of cotton batting and a foundation layer. I hand stitched a triangle of red, added a cream button and three vertical lines in cream thread.  This art layer was stitched to a warm green A2 card base.

3. I stitched a quilted square to a piece of black cotton fabric and foundation layer then embroidered a pink flower to the right of the quilted piece.  The art piece was stitched to a deep pink A2 card base.

4. I assembled a collection of blue cotton fabric scraps over a piece of cotton batting and a foundation layer.   Once I was happy with it I used free motion quilting to secure the top layer to the sandwich. I created a slow stitch accent with the yellow rectangles on the left hand side with a star in the middle. The art piece was stitched to a Brilliant Blue A2 card base.

5. A birthday present which I stitched to a piece of hand dyed cotton and a foundation layer using a square paper template.  I used a mix of blue and burgundy thread to make a purple stitch line.  I stitched a bow and some stars in the background. I stitched the art piece of a lavender A2 card base.

6. I sold the last birthday candle one the day I brought it to the gallery so I had to make another.  I used blue fabric scraps for this one.  I stitched the 5 candles to a plaid cotton with a foundation layer.  I added wicks with black thread.  I then stitched the outer orange then the inner yellow lines of the flames.  This art piece was stitched to a yellow Bazzil card stock in the A2 size.

7. I assembled a collage of turquoise cotton fabrics layered onto a piece of cotton batting and a foundation layer. I used free motion quilting to secure the pieces to the sandwich.  I placed a small piece of aqua batik fabric on the right hand side and stitched leaf branch in dark warm blue.  This art piece was stitched to a sea green A2 card base.

These note cards were delivered to the Spruce Grove Art Gallery today.

Sewing - Free Motion Stitching

I brought this box of sewing machine accessories home from the ReUse Ctr last week.

After a visit with my aunt on Saturday where she mentioned she would like to try free motion stitching I say I would check the box and see if there was a darning foot.

There was! 

Would it work? She had a Singer machine and some of the accessories were Singer. They connected differently than my Bernina machine.

I decided that I should at least try free motion stitching myself before I offered to help her.

I had a darning foot for my machine. So I watched a few videos. 

Then I dug into my box of scraps and prepared a sandwich of a foundation layer, a piece of cotton batting and then scraps on top to make something pretty.

I started with small pieces that if they worked out could be used for stitched cards.

It is very different.  It will take a bit of practice to make the stitching pretty.

I have enjoyed the process and the backgrounds have worked out well.  I learned I should start bigger and trim later as the stitching does shrink the piece.  Grippy gloves would really help.

Well, here are the four pieces I managed over several days.

I have trimmed the pieces to card front size and added slow stitching elements and they will become cards.

The color coordinating of the scraps is a very time consuming process.

It was very exciting to do something new.

I did spend a morning with my aunt and we did get the darning foot from the box onto her machine and she did a bit of testing to see if it would work.

She is happy and looking forward to experimenting.

Bottle Bag V2 - 05

I continue to make my bottle bags in order to be ready for the Christmas season.

On this bag I started with a piece of beautiful African 100% cotton fabric. Dutch veritable wax Hollandais African fabric printed by Vlisco in Holland. Both sides were very good like batiks. I got the piece from RU and it was just the right size to get a bag from it.

I wanted the dark band at the top of each side of the bag. I could have cut the pieces 15.00 inches and stitched them together to make my 29" pieces but I forgot.  I then had to cut a piece of border 4.5 inches wide and sew it onto the other end of both pieces. Now I have edge banding at the top all the way around the bag.

I quilted the bag to the flannel layer along the dark brown diagonal lines with brown thread so it does not show at all but helps to keep the layers together.

Outer - African 100% cotton fabric

Batting - Grey flannel 100% cotton

Lining - Ivory polyester lining fabric

The strap is cut 12" x 4". The left and right ends are folded in then the strip is ironed in half lengthwise. It is opened and the long edges are folded into the center and ironed. Then I top stitch all the way around.

I laid my finished strips perpendicular to each other perfectly centered and sewed my bottom closing the spaces in the seam which I used to turn it right side out. I then top stitched my side seams. 

The strap/handle is attached with a secure Z stitching on the sides of the bag.

I added "My Bag" tag sewn on with yellow thread.  

I added a yellow and brown button accent on the right hand side on the edge band.

Vintage Spool Gift Items - Key Chains

I made a few key chains with vintage wood thread spools this week.

I decided to give them a bit of color so I used my Nick Bantock inks with a QTip to apply the color.

I then applied Tung Oil to them and let that dry.

I then added metal fixings (a hook for your belt loop and a split ring for the keys) and beads to sturdy cord with the spool in the middle.

I am happy with these.

I may make some with just Tung Oil for a classic look and shape.

2026 Slow Stitching Project - Page 35 - R1 - Raw Edges

I did my piece for K3NCloth Tales' slow stitching project.

This week R1 was Raw Edge and I expanded to include Red, Raven, and Raffia.

I chose the piece in the middle with these colors then appliqued raw edge pieces in those colors all the way around one piece at a time.  I left my binding edge clear on the left hand side.

I used my new to me applique needles but it was a bit of a challenge where the layers were thicker.

I used Running Stitch in the matching colors.

Slow Stitching - Door Decor - Sunflower

I finally got my sunflower for the front door done.  It has been on the to do list for weeks.

I painted the background with Inktense about a week ago but decided this morning it needed to be darker so painted it again.  I should look into a few more colors.  Once dry and set with heat I invisible basted it to a foundation layer.  

I cut a bunch of petals from various yellow fabrics and in 3 sizes. I laid the first layer and stitched those on with running stitch and yellow thread.  Making sure that I did not get too close to the edge to leave space for my binding fabric. Then I added the second layer of petals and stitched again in yellow thread.  

I remembered in time to leave the petal where the stem was originating open until I had that worked out.  I chose a deep olive colored flannel fabric which I cut my hand. The stem and the leaves.  I stitched the stem on then I could finish the last petal.   I added the leaves and the stems for the leaves. I added some texture to the leaves with some brown thread.

It took a while to find a scrap of brown fabric as I would not pick that in the wild because it really does not speak to me. I did managed to find a piece and decided how big it should be.  I cut my brown center. I added 5 rows of running stitch in yellow thread around the outer edge.  Then I created a mix of brown threads and did a bunch of French Knots in the middle.  It is quite textural and heavily stitched.

I had cut some leaves from this yellow fabric and after some consideration of blues and greens decided to use the yellow cotton.  I cut it 1" bigger than the front and ironed over the binding from the back.  I stitched it on with the sewing machine.  I hand stitched a hanger and it's hanging on the door!