Slow Stitching project - May - Tiny Fabric Book

I wanted to add a small fabric book to my slow stitching project in which I would write my favorite authors.

I started with a dark blue piece of fabric paired with a bit thin blue fabric. I handstitched the outer edge and turned it right side out. I top stitched the outer edge to close the slot used for turning.

I cut a piece of white cotton for the pages on the inside. Finished it measures 2.75" x 2.25 inches.

I spent quite a bit of time thinking about how to get the words in the book.  I knew I was not stitching them.  I investigated adding sizing to the fabric allow me to hand write the words. Finally, I decide to use freezer paper on the back and a Micron black marker. That worked really well. I then hot ironed the white cotton to set the ink.

I added a small elastic closure on the right hand side and a tiny blue button on the front cover to hold the book closed. 

This book was stitched onto my books square for the May slow stitching project I am working on. 

Oil Diffusers - Travel Case - Set 1

Blue Bird of Happiness - This diffuser features a bluebird sitting on a branch applique with stitched flower in the upper left corner. The back is a light blue denim with a blue felt drop, a loop and hanger. 

Blanket stitched all the way around to kept both layers together.  All fits in a clear plastic travel case.

Embrace Life - This diffuser features layered felt flowers with a dark center which would work well for a spot to place the essential oil.  The flowers were appliqued to green felt using running stitch and long stitches. The leaf was stitched in place first with the flowers overlapping it.  The back on this one is light mustard linen fabric with a brown drop, green loop and a hanger.

Again, blanket stitch all the way around. All fits in a clear plastic travel case.

Be Happy - A happy face is always fun and uplifting. I used a white felt background for good contrast. I cut the yellow circle then used a hole lunch to create the eyes then filled them with black felt circles. These were stitched in place. The smile was stitched in stem stitch then a satin stitch on the outer edge.  That took a long time.  I used a piece of quilting cotton in coordination colors for the back.  The edge of the cotton is folded over before stitching to provide a finished edge. The back has a yellow loop and felt drop and a hanger.

Blanket stitched all the way around the perimeter with yellow embroidery cotton. All fits in a clear plastic travel case.

Wine O'Clock - I  hope that I have conveyed the message clearly enough with the clock in a wine glass. I chose a bright red felt for the background then cut a white circle for the clock. Black French Knots do for the numbers and then I stitched the hands.  I then stitched the wine glass in grey thread to represent glass but maybe black would have been better.   The back is a grey fabric to coordinate with the grey on the front.  A black loop,a red felt drop and a hanger on the back. 

Again, blanket stitched all the way around with red thread. All fits in a clear plastic travel case.

For overall information you can check  Oil Diffusers - Hand Stitched Original Designs with Travel Case.

Oil Diffusers - Hand Stitched Original Designs

I have been working on these diffusers all week.  These are all hand stitched with my original designs. They measure approximately 3.75" square. The fronts are felt with fabric as the backer.

I came up with this design to provide diffusers in a travel case. These cases are nice because they are transparent. 

The diffuser can rest in the slot and stand in your personal space to provide a relaxing scent based on the essential oil you have chosen.  The oil can be placed any where on the felt but depending on the ingredients of the oil it may discolor so I have provided a drop on the back for that situation.

I have added a loop above the drop with a small hanger so it can be hung in your personal space of horizontal space is at a premium.

They are very cute and appealing.

Sewing Project - Seat Belt Adjuster

This is a hand sewn project as the sewing machine had not yet been unearthed from the flooring project.

The width is 2" which is how wide a seat belt is.  Then enough fabric to overlap for the closure. 

I put a piece of stiff plastic in between the layers and stitched it in place on both sides.

I added the 2 sewn snaps and then grey squares on top flap so it was pretty.

It works really well.  I no longer have to fight to keep the seat belt from cutting me off at the neck. This brings the belt across my chest instead of higher.

Slow Stitching - No. 016 - Planet Earth

This piece of slow stitching for the challenge Kathryn is hosting on K3NClothTales.  The prompt for week 16 was Planet Earth.  Our home in the cosmos and the Blue Dot in the vastness of space.

I learned that the earth is approximately 1/3 land and 2/3 water hence the proportions of my colors patches this week.  

For the land I chose earth colors in brown, oranges, yellows and the fabric scraps are aligned vertically.  

For the bottom I chose blue for water and the pieces run horizontally.

I placed a line of green thread where these meet because generally on earth there is green near the water line.

I chose a simple running stitch going horizontally. This pieces was a little rushed with life happening here.

Lipstick Needle Case

 I found some of these empty lipstick cases and I saw a needle case.  During a visit with my sister earlier this week we brainstormed ideas and had determined that polyfill would be the best filler.

I came home and worked out what I saw in my head.

I created a red felt tube, stitched it by hand, filled with polyfill and sealed at the top with another felt circle. I used a medium Zot at the bottom to keep it in place in the lipstick case.  Now one can safely carry a few needles with our slow stitching projects and it looks really cool.

Binder Cover with Journaling Bookmark

I had a visit with my sister before the snow came down again.

We discussed a lot of creative ideas and I realized that I don't have a central place to document these.  

They may or may not become full fledged completed projects but it was great to have a creative discussion.  It is important, to document the details we discussed so that they are not lost when the idea becomes a possibility.  It may be a spring board to another idea. Who knows.  

That is when I decided I needed a creative ideas journal.  She had returned to me a small binder that I had passed to her a couple of years ago that she had not used yet.  I am glad she kept it.

She sent fabric as well that is headed to the ReUse Center but I thought I should see if there was something there that would work for this project.  The big yellow flower on this fabric spoke to me.  I decided that I would use this.  I chose some beige fabric from the box which was given to me for the lining.  I cut the pieces 22" long and 10" inches tall.  The binder is 9 1/8 tall but I need some room.  I chose a 3/8 inch seam to attach these two layers which was too generous.  I did not have any fabric sticking out to create the top stitch to keep the flaps in place which would slide over the sides of the binder.  I chose to hand stitch the flaps in place with thread.  

I had an extra set of dividers which I bought at the second hand store a while back.  It may be hard to categorize the ideas but I will see how it goes.

She had created a Journaling Bookmark which I just winged the construction of.  I did have to try twice to get at least something that worked.  This means I will always have a pencil to jot notes.