Slow Stitching - April 2025 - Week 4

This is my April piece for K3N Cloth Tales - Comfort Coverlet 2025.

I added the tea branch this week as tea grows as a bush.  

I added colored leaves to represent the different varieties of tea. White, Green, Rooibos(red), Black and Yellow which can also represent herbal teas.

The branch fit in very well in the space I had left above the tea house.

Stem stitch was used with brown floss for the wood part and the leaves are hand cut fabric applique with a whip stitch.

This piece is coming together great.

Cards - Donation - Teachers Appreciation

I made a few cards for my niece who is working on a project for Teacher's Appreciation Day which is May 7th this year.

I dipped into my decorative paper stash and found a few pieces I could work with.

Top card is black A2 card base with a wide strip of gold card stock adhered to the card front. I then glued a black/gold decorative paper and then 2 diamond gold punchies.

Next, is black and grey marbled paper which I mounted on a Stampin Up Smoky Slate card base in the wide orientation. 

I afixed a narrow strip of the same card stock along the bottom edge of the decorative paper.

I then added 5 black round sequins onto the grey strip held in place with Bling Zots.

This card is a black card base onto which I mounted a piece of handmade decorative paper from India with silver leaf motifs.

I added a black strip of card stock along the top and then a SU Decorative Label punchie topped with a silver daisy punchie, sequin and black brad.

These were all given a white quarter sheet insert and envelope.

Tree Scent Ornaments - A few more

Colonial Candle Co. Angel Candle Hugger Vintage Made in Taiwan in the 1950s. Made of porcelain and measures 2.5" tall.

It holds an ivory felt candle which I fashion myself with a yellow flame at the top. It hangs from a warm toned ribbon gathered around her wings.

She is an oil diffuser where pure essential oil is placed on the felt and the scent is dispersed into the space.

Can be used with tree scented oils to provide a Christmas Tree scent to your artificial tree. She also stands so can be used in other spaces.

Use in any personal space to disperse a calming scent as you drink your favorite beverage and relax.

A wonderful clear glass heart ornament that features a frosted cupid playing its flute.

The felt diffuser is a small pink heart whose edge has been blanket stitched all the way around.  

A small E bead has been added to the front where it has been stitched to the pink satin ribbon hanger.

I can be given to a loved one as a token of affection and is practical.  It allows one to diffuse scent in a personal space and on the Christmas tree during the holiday season.

It measures 3.5 inches tall

The diffuser features a wooden kitty cat.  It has eyes and black whiskers.

Its tummy holds a black felt ball which is the diffuser.

Place a few drops of  pure essential oil of your choice onto the felt ball and the scent will fill your personal space.

It makes your morning tea or your afternoon snack break a time to relax.

It can be hung but it also stands on it own making it move with you as needed.

Another small frame turned into a tree scent ornament.

I chose a seasonal theme for this diffuser by stitching a bright green Christmas tree on green felt. I added a yellow star at the top and brown trunk at the bottom.

I used French Knots for the red ornaments along the branches.

I crocheted a hanger from cotton floss in the same red as the ornaments.  It was stitched directly to the felt oval to ensure it is secure.

The gold frame features enameled green decoration around the edge.

Drawing - Quick Doodle

A quick doodle with a graphite pencil after a day of packing more of the kitchen.

I used a Faber-Castell Ecco Pigment pen to add more details.

The washes were added with Payne's Grey and Deep Red watercolor pencils by Faber-Castell.  Got deeper color by letting it dry and doing it over again.

Like it!

 

Tree Scent Ornaments - Glass and Metal

I created a few unique Tree Scent ornaments but they can be used as oil diffusers in your personal space as well.

The first is a reindeer glass ornament to which I added a couple of glass beads and a grey felt ball.

The next is a snowflake ball to which I added a grey felt ball and a white bead.

The third one is a glass with gold accents snowflake.  I added a black felt ball with gold filligree accents.

The last is a fused glass star with a turquoise felt ball in the middle. Hung with metal wire.

This beautiful glass pine cone with iridescent sheen was paired with a pink felt ball and glass beads.

The metal dove carrying a peace tag was paired with a green felt ball with a green ribbon.

The cute glass snowman was paired with a turquoise felt ball and clear beads.

The white walnut was paired with a black felt ball and black beads.

Inktober - 21 Sunrise

Inktober 2024 Challenge

21 Sunset

I penciled my rough sketch.

I finished it with my dip pen and the black acrylic ink on the mixed media paper.

I used colored pencils for my color today.  The good old Laurentian pencils I used in school (some may be from that time but many are not).

Inktober 2024 - 12 Doodle Around

Inktober 2024 Challenge

12 - Doodle Around

Dip Pen with Black Daler-Rowney Acrylic Ink

on Canson Fluid Mixed Media 154lb paper.

I created the circle then just drew shapes leading out from it.

I then filled each shape with marks being careful to not touch wet areas with my hand.  Not easy but possible with patience.

Triangles, circles, straight lines, wavy lines, scallops all came into play on this piece.

 

Inktober 2024 - 10 Marks and Color

Inktober 2024 Challenge

10 Marks and Color

Black Watercolor and washes on Canson Fluid Mixed Media 154lb paper.

I chose a fine, medium and wide brush to make my black watercolor marks. I penciled a grid then filled in the spaces.

I made a variety of marks to create some texture.

I wanted a bit of color so I put in 2 washes.

I regret adding the spattering at the end.

Inktober 2024 - 02 House

Inktober 2024 Challenge

02 House 

I dug out my dip pen from last year and the black acrylic ink.

It took a while to draw it and then it was too fat for my 5x7 paper.

I traced digitally and stretched it to be taller.  It looks much better and fits on the paper.

Pencil, then inked with Black Acrylic ink. 

Watercolored with a yellow front door!

Stitching - Needle Cases

Over the last 4 months I have been working away at making a few more needle cases. I have used a variety of tins and several color combinations.  Some of the tins have been altered.

This case is a simple elegant box of silver toned metal in an oval shape.  I don't know what it's original contents were but now it has been repurposed.

It now holds a stitching needle with 3 applique pins on a felt holder.

I chose to make a black felt holder with an accent of red near the bottom.

This mint tin had advertising on the lid which I was not keen to leave there.  I sanded the lid to remove most of the writing.  I then decorated it with alcohol inks in yellow and blues.  Once it was dry I sealed it with a coat of Modge Podge.

The felt holder has a base of turquoise with a yellow accent on the left hand side.  It holds 1 embroidery needle and 3 applique pins.

A safe way to carry your stitching needles.

This tin had the same issue so I handled it the same way as the one above. 

I chose yellow and pink alcohol inks for this lid and again it was sealed once dry.

The felt holder has a flower stitched onto it and holds 1 embroidery needle and 3 applique pins.

This tin has the Vienna Opera House on the lid which needed to alteration.

I stitched a house felt holder in black and turquoise which holds 1 embroidery needle and 3 applique pins.

This is again a mint tin and I knew that alcohol inks would not completely cover the writing on the it but I think it altered it enough to work.

Again, it was sealed once the ink was dry.

This tin opens differently that the others so I had to alter the felt holder.  I added a ribbon at the top of the tin so it can be pull out of the tin to access the pins.

The felt holder is green with blue on the back.  Whip stitching around the edge with triangles and French knots as decoration.

It holds the same pins as the others.

This is a tall and slim metal tin similar in shape to the previous one. The bonus on this one is the lid is clear.  It closes very securely.

I made the felt holder from burgundy felt with a bit of a flower stitch along one side.

It hold 1 embroidery needle and 3 applique pins.

I spent quite a while thinking about how to package these. I did not want the pins to be touched, I wanted the felt holder to stay with the tin and I wanted the beauty of the tins to very visible.

Here's what I did.  I sealed the felt holder with the pins in a cellophane envelope.  The used a Zot to adhere the envelope to the inside of the tin.  This ensures the needles can not be removed nor can the envelope be removed from the tin.

The envelope can be removed and discarded to use the needles then the felt can be placed back in the tin.

I think this will work well.

Sewing Project - Pencil Case for Sketch Book

Now that the sketchbook is done What does one need with their sketch book? A pencil and eraser at least.

After researching pencil erasers which I could add to a journaling bookmark, I decided to save the expense. STAEDTLER erasers are readily available and low cost.

I decided my sketchbook needed a pencil case.  I started by finding a short zipper black will do. Then fabric to match the cover. Done!

I created a narrow zipper insert with tabs at both ends. Then I just pressed the seams in on the rust back piece and sewed the 2 side seams.  I then chose black elastic and determined how long it needed to be and stitched the ends into the ends of the pencil case.

It slips over the sketch book cover snugly and holds a pencil and eraser and likely a black marker during Inktober 2024. 

Very happy with that.  It is slap dash job and I may refine the construction at a later date.

Slow Stitching - No. 030 - Cloth Folding

This week's prompt for K3N Cloth Tale's slow stitching challenge is cloth folding.

I took a much different approach.  I found a rayon garment at the thrift store for a very good price.  It was soft and draped very nicely.  Now to the ReUse center for a piece of cotton.  I found a peachy piece of cotton.  Yes!

All washed up, I kept the hem on the piece of fabric and just cut it down to create a lovely draped piece. Think a curtain, a shirt, a skirt and much more.

I hemmed the piece of cotton first. I then placed my draped fabric and stitched it down.  I used a piece of black felt as a finish for the top raw edge of the drape. I stitched all the way around with black thread, now for decoration I added some daisy stitches in the deep burgundy and seed stitches in the aqua. 

It is a very different piece for me.  I am caught up and look forward to Monday's video.

Cards - All Occasion - Block Print Paper

I found this Indian Block Print Handmade Paper at the ReUse Center recently and loved it.  I knew that it would work with Stampin Up cardstock colors wonderfully.  The piece was about 9x12 inches so just a few cards.

I chose Baja Breeze and Ruby Red for the card bases in the A2 quarter sheet size.

I cut the decorative paper to leave just a small border.  

I chose a strip of matching card stock to go across the card and then a white scallop circle, with a grey coordinating smooth circle, a bird accent made with the Stampin Up Bird Builder Punch. I added a bit of black which helps to ground the design. A bit stitching around the circle with a fine black marker.

Quarter sheet insert and a white envelope and it is ready to go.

The next layout I used a daisy flower punch which I did one in each color. Then a smaller one in black.  A large white sequin and a coordinating mini brad to hold things together.

I added a strip of white card stock across the landscape card and glued it to the decorative paper leaving the ends hang over. 

I used a push pin to create a hole in each of the layers and mounted the flower accent through to the decorative paper.  Then adhered the whole layer to the card front.

I added black stitching to the white strip with a fine tip marker.

Added a quarter sheet insert and a white envelope.

This card has a Ruby Red card base with a layer of decorative paper adhered with double sided tape.

I created the bird accent with the above mentioned punch in the 3 colors.

With a marker I added the eye and lines to the beak and the stitching around the grey circle.

The accent was then adhered to the card front with double sided tape. 

A white quarter sheet insert and white envelope to finish things off.

Another flower accent card with the alternate color combo from the first one.

The daisy punch accent was assembled the same way with a coordinating warm red mini brad.

A fine black marker for the stitching and the flower adhered to the decorative paper.

This entire layer was then adhered to the landscape card front.

White insert and envelope.  These are now pressing under books overnight to allowing the glue to take a good hold.

I am almost ready to liquidate my designer paper as I very rarely use it and I could use the space for something else. 

Photo Cards - Abstract

I created these 2 cards with a print I produced for a art show earlier this year which just did not work.

It was a 4x10 photo print of ice broken in a puddle in the spring.

I decided to trim it to a size I could place on cards.  I then layered it with a piece of Lovely Lilac card stock.

Then this was adhered to a black A2 card base.

A white quarter sheet insert and white envelope finished the card.

It is pressing under books overnight.

This is the other half of the print.

I used the same light purple card stock layer.

I mounted this one on a Basic Grey A2 card base.

A white quarter sheet insert and white envelope finished the card.

Glad to have another 2 cards into the card box.

Slow Stitching - No. 022 - Comfort Blanket

Slow stitching with K3N Cloth Tales Challenge.

Week 22 - Comfort Cloth and Blanket Stitch.

I created a small blanket.

I chose the flannel which defined the colors for the project.

I found my top layer and then cut some rectangles in red and black.  Some stitched with white or red.

I then used the blanket stitch again to assemble my small blanket to the flannel plaid backer.

It could have used a layer of batting as well but I only came to that conclusion once I was done the outside edge.

It is what it is.

I really like this one.

Card - Sympathy - Watercolor Cattails

While repairs were taking place in the laundry area I decided to make some cards.

My aunt's husband lost his older brother recently so I decided to make a card.

I started with a panel of Mixed Media paper.  I lightly sketched the cattails/bulrushes with a 4H pencil.  I watercolored the background first with blues on top and greens on the bottom.

I then painted the cattails, their stems and the leaves of the plants. 

Once that was dry, I outlined in permanent marker the cattails, stems and a few leaves.

I added a bit of spatter in blue and green.

I used a Stampin Up stamp from the Simply Sketched set with my VersaFine Black ink pad to add the sentiment.  

I then mounted the panel to a brown A2 card base and added some embossed lines on the right hand side with my paper score tool.

Sewing Project - Picnic Placemats - QAYG - Red,Yellow and Blue

This is the last one for a while as I have to get ready for contractors on Monday.

The deep floral fabric in this placemat was the inspiration.  It came in the box of free fabric I received back in February.

I chose the main colors in it and added coordinating strips in the quilt as you go method. I used flannel as my foundation layer.

The zipper is upcycled and it had been cut along the way so I was able to make it longer.

I chose black for the zipper insert/pocket as well as the backing.

These ties are about 11 inches long.   These will be donated to Grandma Africa sale in June.

Slow Stitching - No. 017 - Back Story

It`s week 17 with K3N.  This week`s challenge is Back Story.

We slow stitch a piece of fabric then look at the back.

I chose a floral piece in yellow, black, grey and a bit of mint green.

It is very interesting how you can see the leaves and the flower outlines. The mint green was small berries.

I put white seed stitches in the open spaces of the pattern.

Another great evening of stitching.

Sewing Project - Wine Bottle Bag - Batik Phoenix

Another wine bag today. 

This is batik fabric from a shirt. I used one of the sleeves which featured a phoenix bird motif so I cut the fabric to ensure the birds were on the front.

I was short on the length so I added a strip of black on the bottom. I also added a twill tape accent at the top edge.

It was quilted to the flannel with the same wavy stitch as before.

The lining is beautifully soft yellow cotton fabric.

The handle is double sided with black on top and yellow lining fabric on the underside.

I had decided to place the "My Bag" tag along the top of these wine bags just left of the handle.

This is my current model of tag and stitching them with white thread is working well.

Looking forward to making a few more of these bags. I am finally able to sew them with out mistakes but designing accents is taking time out of the sewing process.

For information on "My Bag" line:

Slow Stitching - No. 015 - Eclipse and Stacking Running Stitch

This is my piece for week 15 of Kathryn's Slow Stitch challenge on K3N Cloth Tales. 

With the solar eclipse that took place on April 8th this was a great idea.  The technique was stacked running stitches which was used to create the rays of the sun. 

I chose a dark blue fabric which I had to patch to make big enough. I added a yellow layer between the blue and the white. I made my moon black.

I invisible stitched around the edges of the circles to start with.

I covered the moon with seed stitching. 

I had the same problem with my yellow layer so I added some stitches on it to have it lay flatter.

I added a running stitch in black to tack down the edges of the dark blue layer to the white.