Flower in Vase - 07 - 08

I found this scrap of soft jewel toned fabric at the ReUse Center.

It reminded me of a special dress Mom had made for herself.

I thought that would make a special flower.

I made the classic 5 petal flower with 4.5" squares.  I cut a flower from mustard felt and added a yellow button for the center. 

I placed a wooden spacer in the center to accommodate the amount of fabric and provide support for the wire.

I stitched a royal blue felt circle on the back to hide the stitches, etc.

I placed it in a green vase which matches the green in the fabric. I chose a navy wire.  I placed some clear vase filler to hide the bottom of the wire.  I gave it a Thinking of You tag.

I made a 5 petal pink flower from thin cotton fabric in bright pink.  The five petals are a bit smaller about 3.75".  I cut a purple flower for the center and chose a facetted clear glass bead to coordinate with the vase.  I used a button to stabilize the wire then stitched on a purple circle backer to cover the ugly bits.

I wound the purple wire down a bit to fit the pressed glass ball vase.  I used a clear plastic straw to keep the stem in place.  I added some silver and pink crushed glass vase filler with a funnel.

The glass container used to be a bottle so it had screw threads at the top which I wanted to cover.

I cut a piece of the same fabric as the flower and placed it over the opening and tied it in place with purple thread. I pinked the edges to help with fraying. This will be helpful to keep the filler in as well. 

Inktober 2026 - Day 02

Inktober 2026 - Day 02

Canson Fluid Mixed Media 154lb paper with Staedtler super fine black marker and watercolor.

Flowers is one of my categories so I drew an Echinacea flower aka cone flower.

Generally, pink in color with a large center and petals facing downward.

I am happy with my background wash. 

 

Note Cards - Slow Stitching

I am so happy how this little lion turned out.

I was needing more cards for the AAC Gift Shop and remembered these backgrounds I had made during my experiments with free motion stitching.

Pink and blue by chance only but what about kid cards.

That is why I chose a lion with a bright mane on this medium blue background.

I cut the body from a bit of cotton and stitched it on with running stitch.  

I chose various colors in the mane and made it very full. 

I added a tail in same colors. I mounted on a Pacific Point A2 card base with a half sheet insert to hide the stitches on the inside.

I found this scrap of fabric with a red poppy on it - might work well for Remembrance Day.

I layered it with a foundation layer and added stitching to highlight areas in the print.

I added a strip of olive green flannel to the bottom of the poppy layer and topped it with a red satin ribbon which is held in place with tiny stitches.

I stitched the art piece to a Real Red A2 card base.  The insert is half sheet to cover the knots on the inside.

A white envelope is included.

 

On the pink background I decided to add an owl.

I had to color the light colored fabric using my Inktense colors.  I was wanting it to be a bit more chocolatey but it is what it is.

I cut my owl shape and added brown felt wings to the sides, eyes with felt and yellow buttons, a beak and feet in yellow felt. 

I bit of feathery shapes on it's front along with a brown branch to stand on.

The art piece was stitched to a pink A2 card base. Half sheet insert and a white envelope.

These were dropped off the to gallery today.

Sewing - Free Motion Backgrounds

I wanted to make more free motion stitching backgrounds for slow stitching cards before I moved onto bottle bags again.

Dipped into the scraps bin and created a pink and blue one.

I created a bottom layer of cotton fabric, layered on a piece of 100% cotton batting, then applied scraps of fabric collage style until I was happy with it.

Brought it to the machine with the darning foot and matching thread and stitched them up.  I think I did a better job of my swirls this time.

I think I will find some silicone tipped gloves.

Needle Minders - Set 4

Needle minders are a tool that allows you to park your needle when you stop working on your stitching and not have it go missing. We all have been there. They have a powerful rare earth magnet in them that it needs to be kept away from electronics, kids and pets.
I did try several approaches which involved placing the magnet in fabric but it lessened it's effectiveness to much for my liking. I then did a deep dive in my metal storage bins to see what was there. It yielded some goodies. Of course, some of the metal I had was not steel and was not attracted to the magnet at all.

How to Use the Needle Minder: Placing the magnet against the front fabric of your project just place the other on the back of your fabric. When leaving your stitching for a bit just place your needle in the center of the minder and it will be there when you get back.

Packaged it in cellophane and stapled on a header.

For this needle minder I used a pewter colored metal circle brad.  I cut the prongs on the back just enough to leave a space for the 1/4' rare earth magnet. I glued the magnet in place.

I glued a dark button in the cup of the second brad once I removed the prongs. These were left to dry overnight.

I stitched a frame on the Aida cloth with green thread.

I added a green head pin.

For this needle minder I chose a house magnet from my collection.  It already had a magnet on the back.

I chose a silver disk for the back piece to which I added a string of pink E-beads to help the user remove it from the magnet if necessary.

I chose a bright pink fabric which I folded in half and stitched a frame around with pink thread which barely shows. 

I added a pink head pin.

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.

Vintage Spool Gift Items

I have decided to work with my collection of wooden spools to make gift items for the Christmas store.

Here is a cute little flower in a wrapped spool.

I added a bit of green yarn for leaves.

A brown circle on the top of the spool for dirt and a black one on the bottom to protect the surface it sits on.

I will be able to use some of my lighter twisted stems that did not work for the bigger flowers.

There is hints of raspberry in the flower so I used a scrap of fabric to wrap the middle of the spool.

I found a small jig in my wire box which I was grateful was still there after the decluttering before the move.

It was perfect to create a small flower from 26 gauge wire. I chose navy and wrapped and tightened. Pulling the 2 ends down into a twisted stem which I just did by hand with a skewer at the end.  I sewed 2 yellow buttons to the center.

I folded the twisted stem at the right height and then folded it again on itself to fit into the hole of the spool. I wrapped the middle with yellow cotton topped with a strip of navy cotton and stitched it in place.

Brown dirt circle on the top and black on the bottom.  I added a set of green yarn leaves to the stem. 

I used my purple wire pin jig again to create a pink flower from 26 gauge wire.

I created a twisted stem again. 

Folded the stem and pushed it into the center of the spool which made it quite secure.

I sewed small purple buttons on both sides of the center.

I added a piece of bright purple fabric folded in half leaving the fuzzy edges at the top.  It was stitched closed then wraps were added around to provide some highlight.

Brown dirt circle on the top and black on the bottom.  I added a set of green yarn leaves to the stem. 

This is copper wire from a motor or something.  It had crusty bits that had to be removed but easily flaked off.

I doubled it because it was thinner than the colored wire I used earlier.

I added olive green fabric scrap to the middle of the spool sewed closed with orange thread then some wraps to add interest.

I added orange buttons to the center back and front with embroidery floss.

Brown dirt circle on the top and black on the bottom.  I added a set of green yarn leaves to the stem. 

I chose to make a yarn flower for this little spool.

I used the same jig I used for the wire but made it a wee bit bigger because the strands will shrink when taken off pressure.

I chose some thin red yarn with sparkly accents in blue and gold.

I chose some yellow crochet cotton to bind the petals together and make the center of the flower at the same time.

I chose a scrap of navy linen to cover the middle of the spools stitched on with red thread.

Brown dirt circle on the top and black on the bottom.  I added a set of green yarn leaves to the stem.

Here we go!

Note Cards - Slow Stitching

I worked on slow stitching art for note cards today.  I have sold a few at the gallery so I will have to replenish my stock.

This is a mountain scene with yellow and grey/white. Is it winter? Maybe.

A strip of white with running stitch. A strip of grey flannel for a bit of puff to which I added trees and running stitches.

A narrow strip of dark grey and then the mountain in the same color.

I placed a piece of thin white cotton behind the mountain then a sun behind that.

The back layer is a grey white patterned piece with a white cotton foundation layer.

Added snow to the mountain peak so it is winter but the sun is shining bright.

I chose a yellow A2 card base to match the sun.  I tack stitched the piece to the front and taped down the ends on the inside.  I gave it a half sheet insert to cover the tacking stitches.

A beige cotton foundation layer onto which I layered a tea dyed cotton from a tablecloth.  It has nice patterned texture.

I chose a piece of warm patterned cotton with blues and greens and ripped to a square.  It is stitched on with green thread and running stitch.  I added a bit of blue stitching to the flowers in the top right hand corner.

I then added a strip of navy cotton just below the center line. A bit of stitching in greens and blues and an ivory button.

The stitched art was tack stitched to an A2 navy card base in the landscape orientation.  The stiches are taped down on the inside.

I gave it a half sheet white insert and an ivory envelope.

A baby pink stitched greeting card.

I layered a piece of light grey linen with a piece of white cotton foundation layer. 

I stitched a piece of white lace across the front with pink thread and an over cast stitch.

I used the threads from the dark grey crocheted piece to tie it onto the light grey layer.  I sewed a tiny pin button in the middle of the crochet square.

I chose a link pink A2 card base for this card in the portrait orientation. I tack stitched the fabric art to the card front and taped the stitches inside the card.

I gave it a half sheet insert and a white envelope.

2026 Slow Stitching Project - Page 31 - P1 - Pocket, Pink, Purple

A piece for the slow stitching challenge hosted by K3N Cloth Tales.  A to Z of slow stitch.

This week's prompt was Poetry and Pocket.

I chose Pocket into which I created a fabric Patch featuring Pink and Purple. 

I added some stitched Petals, and a bit of Persimmon /Pumpkin. 

There is a square of Polka Dots and a Pearl button.  There is a Pointed flap on the Patch.

I added blanket stitch around the edge of the Patch, a Pink button, 

I am finished the stitching for now. More may appear. 

Placemats with Zippered Pocket

 I made this pair of placemats for a prize at our family event. 

I chose a piece of cotton I purchased at the GA fabric sale a couple of weeks ago (pink floral with a black background).  I made that the front.  I chose a piece of black polka dot poly cotton for the back.  

I cut the back and flannel backing 12 " T x 17" W. 

The front I pieced because my cotton was not long enough.  I added a piece of raspberry polyester knit on the left and side of the zipper.  The solid color helps to direct the user to the zippered pocket on the left.  I added raspberry colored tabs on each end of the zipper to fill in the gaps. 

I added two 12" ties on the opposite side which will keep it closed when rolled up.

Once I had pieced my front with the zipper and the raspberry piece I placed right sides together onto the backer and sewed all the way around leaving a gap to turn it right side out.

I ironed it and then did a top stitch all the way around closing the gap I had left. 

I then made 2 seams across the height of the placement. 1 to define the pocket and another just to keep the backer, flannel and cotton together.

The pocket can hold utensils and a napkin, markers, crayons, or other crafty things.

The fabric is completely washable. The color helps to hide the dirt. 

When going on a picnic at a park it gives you a clean place to eat no matter the condition of the table.

Slow Stitching - Door Decor - Wild Rose

It is wild Alberta Rose time of the year.  I am blessed to have many in my area.  I was inspired to use it for another door decor for my front door.

I chose a piece of white cotton and used my outliner pencil to trace the image. I wet the Inktense pans with aloe vera gel to limit the spread of color in the fabric. I painted the rose with pink, the center with yellow and the leaves with a mixed green. 

I stitched the outline of the flower with 2 colors of pink thread. I added yellow thread to the center and outlined the leaves with green and added the veins in the center with darker green.

I added a thorny stem in dark brown thread.

The backer is nice blue flower with pink flowers.  I stitched the front with out a foundation layer ( not sure why?)  So, I added a piece of flannel to the back of the rose and trimmed the piece to 6x8 inches.

I cut the backer piece 8x10 inches and brought it to the front and sewed it down.  I added a clear ring to the back for a hanger.

Card - Birthday Card - Embossed Vellum

This is my first color embossed vellum on this printer.  It worked well.

I used vellum adhesive but I should have used brads. The vellum was curling from the humidity.

Old Olive A2 card base in portrait orientation. I used my own daisy with dirt design with purple flower and greeting. I printed it on quarter sheet vellum and quickly covered it with clear embossing powder and heated it.

I added a pink circle behind and a Bling Zot between the vellum and circle right under the center circle. The pink turned the yellow center orange.

Delivered it in person and we had pizza for supper after the art sale.

 

Card - Birthday - Fabric Collage

A card for a special sister and a special birthday.

I created the fabric collage piece first with strips of fabric, a circle and a heart on a linen base. Mostly running stitch with a bit of seed stitch and cross stitches. Pink and green color scheme. Card base is Sage Shadow.

I adhered a ripped piece of vellum aligned with the bottom. I used double sided tape to adhere the fabric element.

Placed a SU Modern Label with a Word Window greeting in the top right hand corner with 3D foam tape. True Thyme label.

Loving my slow stitching pieces.

Sewing Project - Shopping Bag - Pink Floral

Another shopping bag from project bags which I unpacked this week.  This collection has been put away for at least 2 years with the flood and the move I was not sewing much. 

The pink floral fabric is 100% polyester and therefore quite thin.  I decided to supplement it with some flannel. Both were cut to 20"W x 36" T which will be folded in half.  I put some curvy decorative stitch seams through out the piece to hold those layers together.

The lining is good quality white microfiber fabric. 

I created 2 pockets for the inside with some of the dark pink pieces in the print.  I put on both the front and and the back of the lining.  They measure about 5:00"W x 6.5"T and are lined with the same white fabric. I stitched the layers together, turned it right side out, added top stitch to the top edge then top stitched it to the lining on the center line.  Making sure that the opening was facing the top of the bag.

I created a narrow strip for the key clip and strung it onto the black support.  I connected the 2 ends to give me a loop on the outside of the bag while the clip was on the inside of the bag.

The straps were 1" wide by 31" long.  They were placed between the outside fabric and the lining leaving about 4" on the inside of the bag to allow me to reinforce them to the bag later.

I created the sandwich of front floral/flannel layer and the back white lining and stitched all the way around leaving a gap for turning it right side out.  That done, I ironed it carefully. I folded it right side out. I then topstitched the top edge and followed the strap extra between the layers to reinforce the straps to the bag and closing the gap I had left earlier. I placed the key clip between the layers with the key on the inside and loop on the outside.  I then topstitched both side seams. 

The bag measures 17.25 T  x 18" W.  It is quite a large bag.

Fabric Flowers - Singles

The pink lace was found in my stash. I ran a row of stitching along the bottom edge of the lace and tugged until it formed a circle about 5" in diameter and tied off the gathering thread.  I then stitched the 2 ends together.  

I created the flower center with a 2.5"circle of pink linen fabric, a circle of batting, two 1.75" cardstock circles, a brad paper fastener and a pink felt circle backer.

I added 10 four inch circles of white tulle behind the lace to add some dimension.

The pink wire stem is 6 strands of 24 gauge wire which is held in place between the 2 cardstock circles and the fastener going through a circle at the top end. The linen and batting in front and tulle in the back. The felt backer is stitched on to hide the brad.

I got a ball of natural jute cording from the ReUse Ctr recently.  I cut the jute to 5 inches long and attached to a 1.75" metal ring with half hitch knots.  It took 27 pieces to fill it in nicely.

I cut 3" circles of black plaid fabric. In one I wrapped a pompom which fit in the hole of the jute ring.  The other was placed behind the jute ring. All these layers were handstitched together.

The wire stem is 8 strands of bronze 24 gauge wire to hold this heavy flower.

The same system of 2 card stock circles with the fastener was used in this flower.

A 2" black felt circle was used as the backer to hide the brad and stitching.

I used 2 colors of organza ribbon for this flower.  The loops of ribbon were hand stitched to a circle of ivory canvas fabric.

The outside ivory ones measured 4.5 inches long with 8 around the outside edge. The second ivory row the length was 4 inches long and placed inside the outer ring. The gold ribbon measured 3" long and forms the 3 row.

The wire was placed behind the canvas and stitched on at the center. The large pearl button was stitched in the center of the flower.

A 3 inch of cotton was stitched on as a backer to make it pretty.

The wire is 6 strands of 24 gauge gold wire twisted to a length of about 12" long.

The blue tulle and denim flower features a beautiful seeded button in the center.

The white fine tulle was cut to 4.5 inches round.  I layered several layers of a coarser navy tulle cut to be a bit smaller than the white tulle.

The denim circle was cut to be a bit smaller than the navy and I stitched a row of vertical long stitches all the way around in navy thread.  The edge of the circle was cut to a wavy pattern.

The navy wire stem was stitched to the back of the flower through the hole at the top. 

The seed button in navy with a shank back was stitched in the center.

These flowers headed for the Art Gallery Gift shop.

Fabric Flower Bouquet - 04

I combined my Hot Pink Vase Wrap with my Tulle flower into a Fabric Flower Bouquet.

I cut a blue circle of fabric for the water. The glass I am using for the bouquet is a drinking glass so it has no lid. I cut a piece of chipboard bigger than the opening of the glass.  I made some slits from the outer edge to the size of the opening. I tacked the blue "water" fabric to the chip board and made a hole in the center. I pushed the wire from the flower through the hole then I twisted the wire stem onto a piece of bamboo skewer which measured just under the height of the glass.  Then I placed it inside the glass making sure the fabric was pressed between the chipboard edge and the side of the glass.  This keeps the flower in the center of the vase.

A very bright and cheery color for spring.

Fabric Flower - White Tulle with Hot Pink Accents

I made a flower to coordinate with my Hot Pink Vase Wrap.

The white tulle was cut to .75 wide and 4.5 inches long.  I put 65 of them onto a 1.75" metal ring with half hitch knots. Then I added 5 hot pink lengths of frilly yarn. That took a long time.

I punched a 2" heavy cardstock circle to create the support for the wire stem.  I stitched the gold twisted wire onto the card stock.  

I then placed a layer of batting and the hot pink cotton fabric to create the center of the flower.  I stitched these layers from the back with heavy thread over the covered ring. 

I then stitched a hot pink fabric circle on the back to cover the wire and stitching. 

Sewing Project - Fabric Vase Wrap - Hot Pink Sparkly

During my visit at my sister's on the weekend we sorted through fabric scraps.  We found a piece of stretchy white sparkly fabric which was no doubt part of a fancy evening dress at one point in its life.

I had been thinking of making adjustable vase wraps and this fabric was the ticket!  I brought it home.

I wanted to change the color so I checked the fabric dye I had and it indicated it would not dye polyester fabric.  So I headed into my paper dye inks.  I chose Ranger Alcohol Ink because that is sticks to shiny surfaces.

Into a yogurt container with tap hot water and several drops of Plum alcohol ink and I set the timer for 20 minutes.  My hopes were not high.

Well, once I pulled it out it was dyed!  It was pretty bright and I added some blue to change the color but it was not alcohol ink and did nothing at all to change the color.  I rinsed it thoroughly and dried it.  It is what it is!

I wanted clean edges so I decided to overlap the raw edges (which don't ravel) over each other flat against the glass. I pinned it well. Now, I needed something to over the one raw edge visible. I chose a piece of white double edged lace. I was not sure I could sew it with the machine because of the small diameter of the wrap. After at lot of hemming and hawing, I just took action.  It went better when I turned it inside out.  I chose a curvy stitch on my machine which is not really a stretch stitch but it's all I have. The stress will be horizontal so it should be okay.  

The embellishments could not be placed horizontally on the wrap because that would limit its ability to expand to larger sizes.  I added French Knots in the open spaces of the lace to repeat the color in the flower.

The fabric measured 12" tall and 9.75" wide.  I realized that I would have to double up the fabric with the join in the middle to have nice smooth edges on the top and bottom.  With about 3/8 inch overlap the final wrap measured 4.5" across folded in half.  It measures 5.75" tall.

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.

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.