Sewing Project - Every Day Carry Bag

I worked on bags today. I was looking for something I could add slow stitching to which I could sell.

Of course, I love Every Day Carry Bags. I have made a couple. Mine and one for a show.

I started with a piece of blue striped cotton fabric. It was cut to 8.75" W x 11.125" T.  

The flannel was cut just inside the seam allowances so it would not bulk up the seams.  It was quilted to the cotton with the curvy decorative stitch in vertical lines matching the lines in the pattern.  I used ivory thread.

The lining is good weight polyester fabric in medium grey.

It was cut the same size as the outer fabric.  I sewed the side and bottom seams on both outer and lining then boxed the corners to 2 inches wide.  I pressed the pieces then put the outer into the lining and sewed the top seam leaving a gap to turn it right side out. 

The zipper insert was assembled separately with 2 tabs on either side measuring 1.5" finished. I sewed the bottom tab to the zipper then top stitched the top tab on top on both sides. Now, I had to finish the ends. I trimmed the ends of the zipper insert to the width of the top of the bag which is 7.5" wide. I added a binding to both ends in the same fabric. With all the edges finished I sewed it to the top of the bag with the curvy decorative stitch. 

Note: My planning was not good because I could have added the pocket to the front panel before sewing that up but I had to do it after. Same with the handles - They should have been attached to the front and back panels before assembly.

A quick access pocket on the outside is always nice.

The top zipper provides full access to the bag.  I embroidered it with a paisley design in the blue and emerald.

A zipper pull is helpful because the zipper tab is small and it is pretty incorporating the emerald as an accent color.

It is fully lined which leaves no raw edges exposed.

The Clip Strip is handy for things you don't necessarily what to dig for in the bag. Keys, cart token, measuring tape, and who knows what else. Maybe even a pen could live there.

The boxed corners helps to give the bag body and space for larger items. Maybe a small book, post in notes, and whatever else.

The straps measure 12" long which gives enough room to sit on your wrist.

Finished size is 10" tall and 8" wide at the top with 5" wide at the boxed bottom.

Sewing Project - Tea Pot Mats

I made up some tea pot mats for my sister as the fabric did not speak to her.  If for sure did to met.

The fabric was square panels of these tea/coffee related images. The panels measured 11.5 inches square with a black border. 

The sandwich is 100% cotton. The panel on the top, then a layer of cotton batting, then a layer of cotton terry cloth and a bottom layer of cotton for the backing.

I used my walking foot to sew this project. With black thread in the machine I topped stitched around the image.  The backing was cut to 14" square to allow a self binding. The backing is black so that worked well with the black border around the image. I used clips to hold it all in place and then made my final top stitching seam all the way around.

For the red one I chose red cotton fabric for the back because I did not have enough black.  It would have been better but we can always have what is best.

On this one I quilted the square on the red with red thread in the machine which I think worked better. 

The self binding was folded once and then folded to encase the sandwich edge and the fold is on the front.  I decided to leave a small line of the black border to add contrast.

Same sandwich as described earlier in this post.

The blue one got black backer fabric as well.

The quilting was done just inside the center panel edge with black thread.

The black backer was brought forward to create a self binding on the mat.

On the corners I folded the sides first then the top and bottom and stitched a square on the corner.  With such small dimensions mitered corner would have been challenging.

Finished size is just a slight bit over the 11.5 inches I started with.

These are headed back to her.

Fabric Flower Bouquet - 03

I combined the organza flower and the green fern vase wrap into a bouquet.

I cut a bamboo skewer as tall as the inside of the bottle.  

I cut a circle of warm blue fabric and put a small hole in the center.  

I put a hole in the center of the metal lid with a nail and hammer.

I then pushed the stem wire through the fabric circle, then through the metal lid and then wrapped it tightly around the skewer.

Then I dropped the skewer/wire into the bottle and screwed on the lid to the bottle.

I placed the wrap onto the bottle from the bottom ensuring the flower was where I wanted it.  

I tucked the blue "water" fabric circle between the jar and the wrap.

And I have another bouquet ready to go.

Sewing Project - Fabric Vase Wrap - Green Fern

This wrap started with the fern embroidery which is machine stitched and was acquired as a left over from someone else project.  I chose a moss green linen for the base fabric and some green flannel as the middle layer.  I pinned the embroidery until I was happy but there was not much choice because I did not want the braid in the side seam.  I sewed the fern pieces on to the linen & flannel then placed it right side together with the lining fabric which is a leaf pattern polyester fabric. Stitched all the way around leave a gap to turn the piece right side out. I trimmed the 4 corners then turned it. I pressed it then sewed my curvy top stitching all the way around.  I then wrapped it around the bottle I had chosen and determined where the side seam would be.  Sewed the side seam creating the flap which in this case are the same size. This makes it identical either way it is placed on the vase/bottle. 

The bottle I used for this wrap is a bit shorter then the others and a bit bigger in circumference.

The fabric layers were cut 7" T x 12" W to give me a finished piece which is 6.5"T x 11.5" W using .25 inch seams.

Slow Stitching - Door Decor - First Robin

With more light these days, at least till Sunday, I have been inspired to update my Door Decor.

I created a slow stitch piece of art for spring.  The first robin reminds of my walks around the lake in the city.  The apple blossoms are out and the birds are singing and the sun is shining.  Definition of a great morning walk.

I chose a turquoise piece of the sky and deeper blue for the lake.  I created a tree trunk and branch for the apple blossom and a place for the robin to perch.

A bit of cloud in the sky and the sun in the upper right hand corner.  

I added running stitch to the water which represents simmer on the light. I put cattails/bulrushes in the bottom right hand corner. The path around the lake in tan.  Spring flowers in pink and yellow all over the grass area. The robin has several layers light grey body, dark grey wing and orange breast covered with running stitch.  A black bead for the eye. The flowers are French Knots, the cloud is a bit of cheesecloth, the sun stitched with concentric circles of running stitch.

I added a green backer with was brought to the front and stitched with the sewing machine. I added a twill tape hanger on the back which was stitched on by hand.

I am feeling hopeful today as the sun shines and the temperatures is above 0C.

Slow Stitching - Door Decor - Prairie Landscape

I am tired of seeing a snowman on my door so I made a new one.  I was thinking seasonal which nothing fell into that category so I decide not seasonal but just a bit of stitched art.

It is a prairie landscape with a canola field in the foreground with rolling hills in the background.  There is an agricultural building on the horizon with a big old sun shining.  A cloud and a few birds in the sky. 

Again, the art is 6x8 inches with a foundation layer of flannel. I did not invisible stitch because I did not want to change color of thread. I pinned it with applique pins and I put running stitch lines along all the top edges of the hills, the sun, and the small building.

I then started filling in the shapes with running stitch with same color embroidery floss to just create texture. A variety of green fabrics were used and cut with the rotary cutter. The yellow was placed in the front to which I added French Knots and Seed Stitches in yellow thread.  

I added a bit of bling to the sun with small metallic yellow E-Beads in a circle. I added a cloud and some birds in the sky.  

I cut the backer 8x10 inches from dark green cotton poly fabric.  Ironed the fabric to the front and folded it over to the inside to create the frame. Top stitched in dark green thread.  I hand stitched a hanger on the back.

Cardmaking - Houses

I made house cards today. 

I am meeting with a friend next week to discuss the type of cards she would like so I thought I should make a few more samples.

I bought a set of thin dies from the big arts & crafts store last week.  They are nested and there were 3 different sets in the one package.

The set I wanted was the one that cut a square with a point on top which looks like a basic house shape. House thinlits, yeah!

The challenge is how to translate that shape.

For this card I added a triangle for the roof with was cut at 2.75" on the sides.  I made the roof green.

The house is cut from teal textured card stock. I created the window with a 1" black punchie and a 5/8" yellow one and added lines with a black fine Sharpie.   The door is cut with a rectangle thin die, glue to the house and trim to the bottom of the house. I added dots and dashes on the roof and solid lines around the edge of the teal layer with the black marker.

The house mounted to 110 lb card stock base in white.  A quarter sheet insert and a white envelope.

Another option would be a still life composition I put together and photograph.  

Then, the image is printed on 4x6" photo paper and trimmed to the right size.  For the sample I just used the house still life I did for my digital Christmas card.

I added a bit of black paper to bring out the greeting on the image.

Again, white insert and white envelope.

These are the innards of the Cricut frame houses I put on the next set of cards.

Once the frame had but used I had shapes that could be a house.

I glued the pieces to a green A2 card base. 

I outline the full house shape with the black marker which worked really well.

I used a fine black Sharpie marker to add the details to the top and bottom windows.  I added a chimney on the right hand side as well as a triangle tree.

I printed a few greetings on white cardstock in several fonts and trimmed them as needed to add to the cards. I added this one just above the door.

Another card using the innards. 

On this card I put a layer of designer paper behind the house.  

This time I put solid shapes in the windows cut from the same card stock.

Added a yellow sun in the left hand corner by trimming a yellow circle and then used the black marker to add rays.

The greeting was punched out with the Stampin Up Decorative Label and mounted above the door again.

Again, outlined the house with the black marker.

A white insert and white envelope.

These cards feature a Cricut die cut.  I spent a long time getting the shape I wanted.  Of course, I have not used the machine in at least 2 years. Fortunately, I packed everything in the box so I was not missing anything I needed. Tools, mats, and the machine.  The cartridges has been unpacked too.

Just browsing Cricut cartridges to see if there was a house shape I could use, took a while. I have been working on that for at least a month.

I chose the Wrap It Up cartridge. The image I selected is the School House. The card feature cuts this nice outline of the building.  It took about 5 test cuts from scrap paper to determine the size on the machine the get the die cut I wanted. Once, I had the size right I cut it from good black textured card stock. I cut it 6x12 inches which is the size of my mat.  I can tweak that later. 

I chose a teal card base in A2 size in the portrait orientation. I cut a piece of Stampin Up designer paper to leave a small border.  Yes, a die cut this skinny is fiddly to adhere. I used dry tape runner adhesive so I could just pick up the extra glue with my rubber erasure. Leaves no mess. 

I die cut a heart from a scrap of red card stock with the Sizzix nested thinlits. The smallest one.  I adhered that over the door.

I added a trimmed greeting along the top of the card.  A white insert and envelope for this one too.

With a change of designer paper and card base I can create a card with a totally different feel. 

This card features classic neutral colors with a hint of metallic.  An ivory A2 card base, the house outline die cut, a gold metallic heart punchie outlined with the black marker. 

The greeting banner cut the ends of the greeting and mounted it with 3D foam tape.

A white half sheet insert and white envelope.

This was a long day of fussing but I have made good notes so I should be able to recreate the Cricut cuts easily.

Tree Scent Ornaments - More

I had a silver metal angel in my stash.  It was customized for Mother's Day.  Not really what I wanted for a Christmas tree ornament.  It needed a diffuser. 

Rummaging through my stash I found a white crochet angel that was stiff and dirty. I had nothing to lose to see if the starch would dissolve.  It was just the right size to be a skirt for the metal angel.

I stitched the skirt on to the metal body of the angel with white thread.

I added a white and silver satin ribbon hanger.

This gold metal Christmas wreath had lost its dangle piece in the center.  

It needed a diffuser so I decided that a wood bead would work well.  I chose this raw wood oval bead with wonderful wood grain.

I used a jewelery flat head pin onto which I placed a gold EBead, then a small wood bead, then the oval wood bead. I topped the stack with a gold sequin.  I did add eBeads in the middle of the large bead to keep it straight.  I then formed a eyelet at the top of the pin.

I then added a jump ring to give the bead some movement in the center of the wreath.

I added some gold eBeads onto the gold thread hanger and knotted it.

This red wood ornament needed a diffuser.

I cut a round circle the size of the ornament. I used hot glue to adhere it to the back of the ornament.

I gave it a gold metallic ribbon bow and hanger at the top.

The green felt is the diffuser.

This gold metal wreath ornament is vintage with a Hong Kong mark on the back. It needed a diffuser and a bit of bling.

I cut a green felt circle that fit the back of the ornament.  I sewed red glass beads to the front which served as well to hold the green diffuser onto the back of the ornament.

I added a ivory and gold hanger and bow at the top.

I think this is the end of the tree scent ornaments for this year.  I need to move on to other products as the delivery is on this coming Wednesday.

Cardmaking

These are cards for my family members who contributed to my house warming gift.

This green card stock is quite heavy and came from my sister when she would visit the USA many years ago. I call it my PeaGreen card stock.

I paired it with kraft card stock with gold foil dots on it.  That was placed at the top of the card.  

I added a length of kraft and metallic gold ribbon placed below the dots layer. 

I added a green silk flower with a gold sequin and held with a gold mini brad.

White quarter sheet insert and envelope.

Same cards design but in the tall or portrait orientation.

If it works it works and why change it.

I started with a book page that I crunched up a couple of times then flattened.   I rubbed the high points with a copper ink pad.  I let that dry completely.

I chose dark brown card base in SU Chocolate Chip.

Then a layer of brown kraft paper.

Then my book page with a silk flower accent (2 silk flowers, a copper sequin)  held in place with a copper mini brad.

I added leaves with a fine black Sharpie marker.

A quarter sheet insert in white and a white envelope.

Again, the same ingredients put into a portrait card.

This time I gave the flower a long stem and long leaves as well with the black marker.

The flower layer has a mustard velvety silk flower, then an orange one then a bright yellow handmade paper flowr with a copper mini brad.

I recycled a commercial card front.

I cut the butterfly into a 3 inch square.

I added a purple layer to a SU Gumball Green card base.

The greeting is stamped in black, punched with SU Oval then punched the scallop over from the card leftover so it matches well.  It is mounted with 3D tape.

I added stitching around the square with the fine black Sharpie marker.

We are always making cards for IWin so when they need cards we are ready.

Sewing Project - Fold Over Wallets

 

I had a piece of RFID fabric to make 3 more wallets so I just used the scrappy fabric I made this morning and cut it up into 3 pieces.

I am happy to have gotten 3 different colored wallets.

I found some bright green cotton polyester broadcloth for the lining for the 2 on the right hand side.  The blue one on the left got a white and blue polyester fabric lining.

All of them got blue elastic.

These will be available in the Christmas Store at the Spruce Grove Art Gallery at Heavy Metal Place in December 2025.

Sewing Project - Card Wallets

 The next set of wallets I made this morning. These are made with a circle of fabric.

What cards do you put in these wallets? All kinds - credit cards, transit cards, library cards, loyalty cards, business cards (yours or those you need to access regularly) and a few I am sure I have not thought of.

Top Left: I love this feather fabric.  This time I paired it with a teal green solid fabric.  

Top Right: I tight plaid in white and navy.  I did not want to stick with those colors so I chose a yellow fabric.

Bottom Left:  This rust colored patterned fabric is really nice.  I paired it with the yellow subtle patterned fabric.

Bottom Right: This is gorgeous floral fabric with pinks, green, yellow and some deep read. I chose a sage green solid for the petals on this wallet.  The piece was a bit short so the tabs at the top are straight instead of curved.

A very productive morning. 

Sewing Project - Fold Over Wallet

This is another version of a card wallet. 

This one has 2 pockets with an elastic closure.

The special thing about this one is that I put a piece of RFID fabric covering the full back of the wallet.  So when it is closed the cards inside are protected.

The RFID fabric I purchased at Marshall's Fabrics in the city.

The piece of fabric for this one was 5 inches wide and  10.5 inches tall (front and lining).  I think I will make it longer next time. The RFID fabric measures 4.25 x 5.5 inches.  That is wide enough to be captured in the side seams without extra bulk. It is quite stiff. I added the elastic in the side seams so 3 seams and you are done.  This one looks very lack lustre.   

I am working on making more interesting fabric from scraps.

Thank You Cards - Finally Set 2

The card base is SU Taken with Teal in the A2 size in portrait orientation.

Trimmed the rough edges off this piece and ripped the bottom edge.

I saw flowers in the salt marks in this piece so I took my fine black marker and drew them in.

Added stems and leaves reaching to the bottom of the paper with additional grassy strokes.

It pays to save bits of ephemera.  The green yarn came in really handy.

The A2 card base is SU Pumpkin Pie with a watecolor panel marked with saran wrap on wet color and left to dry.

I punched 4 holes with the 1/8 inch punch. Two on the right and 2 on the left.  I taped the end of the green yarn found in the stash and was able string it through the holes and knot both ends.

I added a SU Artisan Label punchie colored with pencils and held on the yarn with a orange clip.

With the yarn still on my table I used in this card.

I trimmed the waterolor to crisp straight edges.

I layed a strip of double sided tape to the back of the watercolor piece.  Layed my pieces of green yarn then added another piece of ds tape and adhered it to the SU Dusty Durango card base.

Once adhered, I picked apart the strands of the yarn to create this wavy row of goodness.

I added an 2 inch oval punchie greeting below the yarn frill.

The A2 card base is SU Island Indigo.

I added a piece of SU ribbon in So Saffron and flagged the bottom end.  Trimmed the top edge to the top of the card.

I mounted the piece of rough edge watercolor panel over the ribbon aligned along the top.

Each card has a white quarter sheet insert with a white envelope.

Thank You Cards - Finally!

I finally have most of my craft room set up so I could get some cards made. With seeing family tomorrow I pushed through to get quite a few done.

I created watercolor abstract art on a sheet of 12x18 inch Strathmore Cold Press 140lb paper.  I added salt in some areas.  I ripped my masking tape which held down my edges which gave wonderful irregular edges to my watercolor art.  Great idea. 

Left: SU Pear Pizazz green card stock in A2 size because I know where those envelopes are.

I ripped the bottom edge and added a sequin star in the top right hand corner with half of the one piece of 3D foam tape I could find.

Still stuff to unpack.

I chose blues - Prussian Blue, Ultramarine, and Turquoise along with some Sap Green and Cadmiium Yellow Hue.

Of course not all pieces have the same colors.

The card base is SU Night of Navy with a landscape orientation.  The right hand side ripped with an oval punchie greeting overlapping the ripped edge.

The A2 card base is SU Bermuda Bay.

I ripped the top edge of the watercolor and aligned the right hand edge to the card edge.

I chose to create a flower with watercolor and metallic watercolor around the dot of color left by a grain of coarse salt.

I added a line of pearl watercolor along the top and mounted a greeting over it.

Greeting is SU Modern Label punchie with a Word Window greeting.

Slow Stitching - June 2025 - Week 3

I continue with my Homes theme for June in this slow stitching project hosted my K3N Cloth Tales. 

I used the running stitch in blue thread along the western coast line to represent the Pacific Ocean. It would have been nice to have waves represented for the water but I found that was too complicated for me.

I added more trees in the north of the westerly province.

I added the log cabin in which I lived the first 4 years of my life. Dad worked in a sawmill and my Mom chose to be with him. Several kids were born during that time.

I am enjoying this piece.

Slow Stitching - June 2025 - Week 2

I added the green triangle stitches for the forest in the north.  

I used the sheaf stitch with a dark yellow floss for the wheat fields my current province is known for. Lower down I used a brighter yellow floss and the button hole stitch layered very close together to represent canola fields in our province.

In the central city of this province I have lived in several homes. I created a zoom in circle in the base of the province to the west where I can add representations for these homes. This was done in blue thread.

I added purple peaks to represent the Rocky Mountains which span both provinces.

Slow Stitching - April 2025 - Week 5

My April piece of slow stitching following K3N Cloth Tales - Comfort Coverlet 2025.

I added a few finishing details to this piece.

Brown seed stitch in the tea bag to represent the tea.

I added grass with green floss in a variety of long stitches to ground my tea house.

This piece has turned out so well.

Cards - I Win - Glitter Butterflies

I continued with the glitter butterflies today.

I chose a Stampin Up Glorious Green A2 card base.

I added 3 blocks of striped glitter designer paper and adhered them with double sided tape.

I added ribbon antennae and mounted it with 3D foam tape. 

I mounted the circle greeting just below the butterfly creating a cohesive focal element.

Added a white quarter sheet insert.

I created this card with similar supplies as the card above.

I adhered a strip of glitter striped designer paper to the top of the landscape (wide) orientated A2 card.

The glitter butterfly received its antennae of satin ribbon then was mounted with 3D foam tape along the bottom edge of the striped paper.

I punched a Stamping Up Decorative Label punchie from the striped paper then cut it in half to mounted the halves offset on the left and right.  Those were glued to the greeting punchie then the full element was mounted to the card front with 3D foam tape.

A white insert was added.

I chose SU Island Indigo as the card base for this set of cards.  Cut to A2 sized card.

I mounted a SU designer paper from the Adventure Bound DSP pad.  Trimmed to leave a small border and mounted to the card front.

I put a strip of Whisper White card stock through the Big Shot with the Swiss Dots folder and mounted that to the DSP.

The butterfly got white cotton thread antennae and was mounted with 3D foam tape.

The SU Small Oval punchie greeting was adhered with DS tape.

A white insert was added.

Another Island Indigo card base with the Adventure Bound designer paper in beautiful blue tones.

I used a SU script folder with the writing going horizontally for this card as it was in the landscape (wide) orientation.

I glitter butterfly has white cotton thread antennae and is mounted with 3D foam tape.

The SU Small Oval punchie greeting coordinating color was adhered with double sided tape.  A white insert was added.

This will be headed to my sister's this weekend and will be in then next batch of cards for IWin charity.

Cards - I Win - Acetate Butterflies

I make some cards for the I Win charity.

 I was at ReUse Center yesterday and found a 12x12" sheet of acetate with pink butterflies on it.

I cut the sheet into 4 pieces I could use. The one corner had butterflies too big for my A2 cards.

Then I dug in my stash to find paintable 12x12 card stock.  I used some of my alcohol inks to stain the paper in 4 different colors.

On this card I chose a scallop patterned paintable card stock and added green alcohol ink diluted with rubbing alcohol applied with a sponge.

I mounted the acetate and green paper to the Kiwi Kiss card base.  Greeting and white insert was added.

For this card I chose a heavy 110lb white card base.

I trimmed the acetate to be a bit smaller than the purple paintable card stock layer.  These are held together with black tiny brads. Then this layer was adhered to the card base with double sided tape.

I added a SU Word Window punchie greeting in black to coordinate with the brads.  It is mounted to the acetate with 3D foam tape.

A white insert was added.

Love this one!

The A2 card base is SU Crushed Curry.

I added a paintable card stock layer which has script on it.  It has been painted with yellow alcohol ink diluted with rubbing alcohol and applied with a sponge.

The paintable layer and the acetate had held together with yellow mini brads in each corner.  This is adhered with double sided tape.

I added a SU Word Window punchie greeting in pink.

A white insert and we are good do go.

I will press these over night.

The card base for this cards is Stampin Up Taken with Teal.  

The paintable layer has a script pattern. It was colored with alcohol ink diluted with rubbing alchol and applied with a sponge.

I attached the acetate and the blue painted layer with white tiny brads in each corner.   This was then adhered to the card base with double sided tape.

I added a blue SU Word Window punchie greeting in the top left hand corner.  It is attached with 3D foam tape.

A white insert and we are good to go.

Cards - Watercolor Abstract

I wanted to add some cards to my stash so I chose to reuse the bright watercolors I created in this post.

I cut the watercolor art into pieces.  In this card 4x5.25 inches.  I then used a Micron fine black marker and outlined the shapes in the watercolor.

I followed the idea of neurographic art and rounded the intersections of the black lines.  I added a border all the way around. Added circles to some of the white dots.

I used a black marker to darken the edge of the watercolor paper.

Mounted on Stampin Up Island Indigo card stock with a quarter sheet insert on the inside paired with a white envelopee.

For this card I cut the watercolor art to 3.5 inches square.

Again, added black marker lines around the shapes in the watercolor.  Soften the intersections and circled some of the dots in the art.

Added a black border all the way around.

I mounted it leaving even edges around 2 side onto a SU Gumball Green A2 card base.

Added a white insert and envelope.

This one had a good variety of colors so there was a good choice of colors for card base.

In this card, I chose SU Pacific Point in the A2 size.  These I did mount all in the portrait orientation but they could be landscape (wide) as well.

I love the bright spot of pink in this piece of watercolor. 

Again, black marker to outline the shapes in the watercolor with a border all the way around.

A white quarter sheet insert and envelope.

The card base on this card is an A2 in the SU Kiwi Kiss color.

The watercolor was cut to 3.5 inches square.

Mounted to the card front with double sided tape.  I added white quarter sheet insert and an envelope.

Pressed under books over night and is now sitting in the box.

These were fun to do and allowed my art to shine again.