Fabric Flower

Now that I had a vase maybe I needed a fabric flower to go into it.  Well, that was a rabbit hole.

There are all types of tutorials on line.

There have been 4 versions to get to this final flower. 

I have combined a die cut flower which was proportionally too small for the vase.  I am lucky to have a sister who attended design school who gives me feedback.

Okay, back to the drawing board.  The large flower is made with 12 circles of fabric. Four 4.5" circles red, four 4.00 circles in cream, and four 3.75" circles in red again.  These are folded in quarters and adhered to a base circle which measures about 3.75 inches.  They recommended hot glue which I followed but would not do it again. I will stitch the next ones.  I then made a hole through the large one and inserted the gold wire which attached the smaller flower's layers together through it.  I used a pop can tab to provide leverage to tighten the wire to the large flower.  I then stitched a backer piece of matching red fabric to cover the ugly bits.

The wire is four lengths of 24 gauge wire measuring 20" all twisted together to a final length of about 13 inches.  You can see how in this Wire Twisting video. 

Sewing Project - Fabric Collage Vase Cover/Wrap

My sister and I discovered vase wraps back in early February.  I was intrigued so I decided to give it a go.

I started with a piece of flannel 9" x 9" square to allow me to trim it after I had quilted it.

I then used Mom's Quilt as you Go method to sew strips of curated fabric and lace along the length of the flannel. I used 8 strips in varying widths.

There are many ways to finish it into a tube to go over the vase/bottle.

I decided that I wanted a flap to extend from the body of the wrap.  So, I added a strip of turquoise fabric to the lining piece so it would be exposed when I sewed the wrap closed.

I trimmed the fabric collage piece to 8.5" tall and extended it to 9.5" wide with my final piece on the collage. I trimmed my piece of lining to the same size.  I then placed right sides together and stitched all the way around leaving a gap in order to turn it right side out.  Once turned right side out I pressed it well and top stitched all the way around very near the edge with a decorative stitch. 

Then, I wrapped it around the bottle I was going to use as a vase and played with where the seam would be placed.  The option was a bit, none, or lots of turquoise showing. Once, I decided I pinned it as tight as I could and removed the bottle. I sewed the seam along the very edge of the pattern fabric edge. 

The beauty of the wrap is that it folds flat and stores away when not being used.

The bottle I chose is a sauce jar that measures 7.75" Tall, 2.25" in diameter and about 8" in circumference.

You can adjust this design any size bottle you have one hand.

Sewing Project - Tea Station Mat

I made another mat for the kitchen Tea Station because they need laundering and I like to have one on the counter all the time.

The piece of woodland fabric I got at the ReUse Center a couple of weeks ago.  I tea dyed it in black tea for a couple of hours. 

I added yellow embroidery on the flowers in the print to bring the yellow from the backing piece to the front. 

I put a couple of layers of flannel in the middle.  The back piece is a cotton poly in a golden yellow leopard print.

I cut the front and flannel 7.75" x 13.75" because that was the limit of the back print.

The back print was cut 1.25 inches larger in both directions (9.00 x 15") as I will be self binding the piece.

I pinned all the layers together. With yellow thread I sewed several seams along the length to hold all the layers together. 

I then fold the extra on the back layer to the front once and the again to frame the front piece. I used a fancy stitch to sew down the binding.  Trimmed all the threads and I am done!

2026 Slow Stitching Project - Page 7 - D2

I am following K3N Cloth Tales' slow stitching project for 2026. 

This week's community prompt was Disappearing 9 Patch.  I am not a fan of traditional quilting so I almost did something else but the options were few.

I persevered through the video and I liked one of the options K showed on how to reassemble the 9 patch once it is cut. I cut the 9 patch horizontally and vertically right through the center.

I re-appliqued the pieces to my piece of white linen.  When I rewatched the video I realized it may have been more effective to have my patterned pieces as the whole squares but it would have had to be assembled differently from the start.  I am not familiar with this technique at all.

I am happy with the final result.

Sylvia' Simple Shots

One of my sister's cooked turkey for supper and I was invited to join in. 

I brought buns from COBS which was a hit. 

I had the company of my sister, brother and a couple of cousins. We caught up on news and talked about our lives and current projects.

The weather was good and the roads excellent.  I came early in the afternoon so I could head home after supper.

It was dark but that was okay.

The next day holiday Monday - Family the snow came down and the wind blew!

The snow was drifted right up the the patio door.

And the temperatures were nearing -20C.

It snowed again all day Tuesday which meant I cancelled my trip into the city to visit the bank.

The snow banks from December had disappeared and now have reappeared.

While the snow fell, I started reading the trilogy of the Fionavar Tapestry.  I read it 30 years ago and enjoying it again.

The map in the book is quite small so I searched the web for a better one.

I found this one which is great.  

I like to find myself on the map as I read the book. What is far north?  How close is the Summer Tree to the the castle?

I can refer to it regularly as the chapters move along.

I have been eating my Chia Seed Bites with Krema yogurt.

I bought the yogurt for Christmas and it was sitting in the fridge unopened.

It needs to be eaten right away so why not!

It is delicious.

It's been cold all week!

I tend to hibernate when it's this cold.

No walking outside, not much sunshine.

It is really the end of Feb so spring is coming.

We spring forward to Daylight Saving Time in a couple of weeks. March 8th

I had an appointment for blood work this week.

I had a call from my Dr. the next day.  A phone appointment has been booked for the news.

My cholesterol was elevated last year and I expect the that it will be again. What does one do?

Wait and see.

Getting the drill out and using it is getting easier.  My Dad's cordless - Thanks.

I have a power bar in the bedroom which powers the clock and the sparkly light and timer.

I am not sure how this did not become obvious till this week but I am still processing the move.

The bar had holes for it to be mounted to a wall. So I found 2 drywall screws, the drill and a screw driver and in 10 minutes job DONE!

I now have an extra outlet behind the wooden shelving unit I can use for something else.

I enjoyed turkey left overs this week as well.

My sister sent take away containers of turkey, gravy, rice stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and Caesar salad home with all of us.

It was delicious the second time as well.

Card Making - House Cards

I have been working on a House Card project.

When I bought a new to me place back in May and moved in June I was so grateful to my real estate agent.

I thought it would be nice as I was a card maker to make her some cards.  We discussed it and came up with some designs. The first samples were not quite right.  I am a bright colors person and she is a neutrals person.

I cut the houses with my Cricut machine and the Wrap It Up cartridge and some black card stock. She wanted a neutral background and I gave away much of the 12x12 DSP to my sister when I gave up classes after I retired.

So I made some up with ivory card stock and a bit of strong tea.

The gold heart was cut with a Sizzix multi sized thin lets set. I traced around it with a fine black marker to give it some definition. 

The banner was printed and then washed with tea as well so coordinate well with the card.  I cut the banner ends by hand with scissors.  They have a white quarter sheet insert and white envelope.

This set of cards includes red card bases and navy card bases to go with the logo.

The white layer was cut with a multi sized tag set.  I then cut the chimney with the end of a gift bow die in my collection.

I printed the sentiment then cut it with a smaller sized die from the same set.  The colored offset layer behind was cut by hand with scissors and the paper cutter. It is the other color from the card base. Blue on red card and red on blue card.

They have a white quarter sheet insert and white envelope.

I cut some with the chimney on the right hand side and some on the left hand side.

I am not used to doing production work since I have not offered classes for years.

I had to inject some variety and what limited way I had.

This is a panel card on white or off white A2 card bases.

I designed all the elements my self and inserted the logo she sent me.

I printed the rounded window topped frame and logo in color then I printed the scene in black so I could watercolor it with out the ink running.

I used my Stampin Up Watercolor Wonder Crayons.  I have 2 sets which I bought second hand. One set is mostly Subtles and the other Rich Regals but some colors have been swapped.

I used the Subtles for this project. 

I cut the tan window die cut with a QuicKutz die which is two pieces so it had to be aligned for every cut.  I quickly make a drawing on paper I put under the clear plate so that made aligning easier.

Once cut the die cut was adhered with double sided tape. These come with white envelopes.

So glad to show my appreciation.

2026 Slow Stitching Project - Page 7 - D1

I am following K3N Cloth Tales' slow stitch project for 2026.  This week's prompt was Drawn Thread Work.

I did not have a piece of fabric loose enough to do this technique effectively. At least it was a woven piece of fabric. I could have chosen something else but I pushed through.

One of the challenges is that the thread in one direction is quite heavy but the other way it is so fine that it was impossible to isolate them.

I pulled threads horizontally in three places.  I used some of the pulled threads to tie the thin threads on the light blue near the center of the piece. 

I did some stitching with the pulled threads but this piece was not a great experience but it is what it is.  I understand I was not alone struggling with the technique.

2026 Slow Stitching Project - Page 6 - C2

I am following K3N Cloth Tales challenge for 2026.

My fabric is white linen backed with white cotton invisible basted together.  Measures 7"T x 8"W.

This week the prompt was Community. I created Circles to represent Cobalt blue for family, Crimson red for neighbours, yellow for On-Line Community and the small Cobalt blue Circle because I forgot them the first time around. 

I added a large Circle done in Chain stitch to represent my world which included flowers.

I added 3 borders with Cross stitch. 

I placed a running stitch along the binding edge in white thread. I am caught up before K3N publishes on Monday. 

Sylvia's Simple Shots

It has been unseasonably warm the last few days and nature is responding.  

These black poplar buds are starting to emerge but it is only February in this northern climate so there is more cold to come.  I hope it does not destroy the new growth.

I found these on my morning walk which I am enjoying again with the better temperatures.

I had the fan out and the windows open because it was so nice out.

It is a very nice reprieve from the cold of Christmas.

I hope to get out an visit family while I can.

On the last day of my visit with my sister we came upon this idea of fabric vase covers.

I am very interested in this idea.

I am going to approach the idea with the slow stitching focus. 

The organic ones I find very appealing.

Some are made adjustable with buttons, velcro or elastic.

Many are machine embroidered.

I am inclined to make them for a glass bottle.  I have bent myself into a pretzel in the past trying to make a product super versatile and I am not sure most customers get it.

I have a couple of bottles in mind.

We shall see where this inspiration takes me.

I had my aunt over for coffee this week.

The Olympics were on so that kept her husband and many others close to the TV.

Our weekly coffee time has seen lower attendance due to the games.

I installed a small battery operated light above the printer so that I can see the page guides in the back.

Generally, natural light is enough but with dark evenings it was not.

Not good if you leave it on and forget about it for a few hours.  I need to replace the batteries.

Maybe a new strategy will need to be entertained.

West with the Night by Beryl Markham is a book I recently read.  It came from the small library in our building.

It is a memoir and features a series of stories from the author's life born 1902.  Early life living in the UK then moving to Kenya in Africa as a child. Growing up with many friends, playing with the neighbour boys, living a rough and tumble life.

When at eighteen, her father leaves Africa she decides to stay and train horses.  She reconnects with her childhood friend.  

One day she meets a pilot, Tom and her life changes.  She learns to fly a plane. She then provides air cargo services in East Africa for many years. Tom returns to the UK and she is scouting elephant herds for safaris.  A dangerous adventure.

She was an aviatrix―she became the first person to fly nonstop from Europe to America, and the first woman to fly solo east to west across the Atlantic. First published in 1942.

DIY Project - Tape Dispenser - Upgrade

After a visit with my sister and brother in law recently, I came home with a couple of used hacksaw blades which I hoped would be an upgrade to the the tape dispenser.  

I scrubbed the hacksaw blade to remove rust and stuff so it would be smooth for the tape to stick to it.

I removed the coping saw blade & wood support and went searching in the wood bits for a piece of wood wide enough to support the hacksaw blade.  I did find one.

I put the coping saw blade back in the saw to cut the piece of wood and used eye hooks to keep the hack saw blade in place on the piece of wood because they were tiny enough. 

Then, I decided to use nails to attached the wood to the frame as the screws I had seemed to big for the small piece of wood.  It was fortunate that the eye screws were further out and were not in the way for the nails.

I brought the support and blade up higher on the support from the last one. Now the tapes sticks to the blade and rips well. 

Thanks for the help!

2026 Slow Stitching Project - Page 5 - C1 Colors/Chain Stitch/Coil

I have been working on a big project so I am behind in my stitch book.

I am following K3N Cloth Tales Slow Stitch Project 2026.

She chose Couching for her C1.  I agreed and Couched a Coil of CottonTwine with Chartreuse thread on my page. Then I added a Circle of Corduroy in the middle. I chose scraps of Cotton in Colors that start with C. Cerise, Chocolate, Coral, Citron, Crimson and Cobalt. 

I added a frame in left hand corner with Chain Stitch in Crimson and Cobalt thread. 

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.

DIY - Tape Dispenser - Multiroll

I created myself a multi roll tape dispenser with some wood and repurposed plastic parts.

The wood in pine boards. The base is 3 3/8 inches deep, 3/4 inches tall and 9 1/4 inches wide.

The 2 upright sides are 4' tall, 2 3/8 in deep, and 3/4 inches wide.

The ends are attached to the base with screws from the bottom.

I nailed a thin piece of pine wood across the front to which I wired the hack saw blade which serves as the cutter.

I finished the wood with a rub of Tung Oil.

The holder measured 9.25" W x 4" T x 2.5 inches D.

The plastic tube that the rolls slide onto and plastic ends were taken from a Scotch Washi Tape dispenser.  That dispenser only accommodated washi tape sized rolls and I wanted all my tape in the same place.

I used my Dremel tool with a cutter blade to cut the tube holders from the dispenser.

I used a drill to make holes in the plastic ends to attach them to the uprights at either end. I used screws and washers to protect the holes.  

The length of the tube determined the width of the holder because it needed to fit in the circles on either end. 

Slow Stitching Project - Cushion Cover

I bought a scarf at the thrift store thinking of repurposing it.  I was not sure it was synthetic but it felt lovely.

Unfortunately, when I tested it a home it is polyester.

I am thinking of an upcoming show I thought I could create at piece with the scarf despite the fiber content.  Wrong!

I cut the fabric to 16x16 inches.  I placed a 12x12 piece of cotton at the back and invisible baste them together.

I then started my Organic Blanket stitch with my focal area offset from the center.

I chose green blue colors. I started a circle around a 2" shape.  I did several rows in a turquoise blue then did a circle of yellow then moved to a deeper blue, then another shade of deeper blue and ended with a dark blue around the last rows.  I stopped putting stitches whenever I reached the 12" mark.  The fabric passed the needle test but it is unravelling a lot.  I did place a sewing machine stitch line at the edge of the 16 inches.  That seems to be holding so far.

For the flower focal element I cut 2 flowers one from batik blue fabric and the other from turquoise cotton fabric.  I stitched all around the edge with running stitch to hold them together.  I then put concentric running stitches in the petals with the same blue embroidery thread. I cut a yellow flower from yellow cotton fabric and stitched this to the blue one.  When that was done, I stitched the flower and the magenta button to the center of the space I had left when I started the blanket stitch. 

I think I will create a cushion cover with this piece.  It will need to be lined with cotton in order to be sewn by machine.  It will just be a fold over envelope type cover. There should be enough fabric to finish the cushion cover.  Keep you posted.

2026 Slow Stitching Project - Page 4 - B2 Boro Stitching Visible Mending

Another page in my 2026 Stitch Book.  I am following K3N Cloth Tales slow stitch project for 2026. 

I wanted to do a Japanese Boro Stitching inspired piece.  My stitching is quite a bit all over the  place. I just had to add bit of red in the piece and a white circle for a focal element. Not traditional at all.

I did use my long Sashiko needle and some heavy cotton embroidery thread on the navy back layer which worked really well.

I added patches as I went along. I used some lighter weight white cotton embroidery thread for the red pieces with the Sashiko needle.

Some red embroidery floss at 3 strands for the light blue piece in the top right hand corner.

Some light blue embroidery floss at 3 strands on the white circle with seed stitch in the middle and white floss 2 strands and the Blanket stitch all the way around.   It looks way more like visible mending rather Boro stitching.  I enjoyed it.

I am tacking my pages together so I don't lose track of them which is the navy thread on the left hand side. 

Card Making - Donation - IWin

I made some butterfly cards today.  These cards will be donated to IWin who assist women in distress.

I started by printing a small butterfly graphic from Pixabay onto 110lb card stock. 

I watercolored the image with Stmampin Up Watercolor Wonder crayons.  The background is a toned down color with blue and purple in it.  The butterfly is Marina Mist and branch Old Olive.  

Once it was dry and back to being flat, I adhered it to a teal A2 card base. 

I added a white quarter sheet insert.

This card base is Tempting Turquoise with a coordinated designer paper layer on the front.  It is cut 4"x5.25 inches.  It was adhered to the card front.

I cut the butterfly from watercolor designer paper with the Serendipity Butterfly die.  I cut another from Daffodil Delight card stock and cut it in half, trimmed a few bits and layered it behind the diecut offsetting to see the yellow layer.  I added the body and antennea wit a black marker.

The greeting is the same yellow card stock punched with the Modern Label and topped with a Word Window punchie greeting in white.

I added a flight trail with the black marker. White quarter sheet insert.

The butterfly was cut with the Serendipity Floral Butterfly die both layers.  The floral and the solid back.

The floral one is a but of a pain to remove from the die and not tear it.  Then gluing is another challenge.  It looks great when glued down.

I chose a blue card base to match the floral layer. I chose some vellum from the Stampin Up Botanical Gardens pack.  Cut it to leave a small border. I adhered the greeting and the butterfly to the front then could place double sided tape to the back to it would not show to the front.

The greeting was mounted with 3D foam tape.

A white quarter sheet insert was added.

The butterfly was cut with the Serendipty Stamps Floral Butterfly solid die from floral designer paper.

I chose an orange A2 card base to which I adhered a kraft and gold dot designer card stock. 

I then added a teal card stock strip on the left hand side.

I added a kraft body to the butterfly and glued it down to the card front and added antennae and flight path with a black marker.

I colored the Modern Label punchie greeting with a bit of watercolor to tone down the white.   It is adhered with 3D foam tape. A white quarter sheet insert.

The bright colors in this card.  I chose a Pacific Point A2 card base.

I layered a piece of green DSP from the Oh So Ombre DSP Pack cut to leave a small border.

The butterfly has both of those colors in the paster paper.  Cut with the Serendipity Floral Butterfly solid die.  

I added the body, antennae and flight path with a black marker.

I added white quarter sheet insert.

This A2 card is placed in the wide orientation.

The card matches well with the butterfly in a blue green card base.

The butterfly was cut from commercial decorative paper. Black marker to add antennae and body lines.

I punched a scalloped and smooth oval with Stampin Up punches.

Stamped the greeting with a small SU Stamp.

A quarter sheet insert added.

An A2 Marina Mist card base.

A layer of vellum from the Botanical Garden pack.  Cut to size to leave a small border.

A butterfly cut with the Serendipity Stamps Floral Butterfly solid die from watercolor paper.

Adhered the Modern Label Greeting and the butterfly to the vellum.  Then placed double sided tape to back where the elements would hide it.  Adhered to the card front.

I added the antennea and flight path with black marker.

A white quarter sheet insert.  Press overnight and these will be ready to go.

2026 Slow Stitching Project - Page 3 - B1 Organic Blanket Stitch

Another page for my stitch book project based on K3NCloth Tales slow stitch challenge for 2026.

K3N chose Organic Blanket stitch for B1 and I am so glad.  I love this stich. She had done this stitch before and this weeks video clarified for me when to go through the legs with my needle eye.

I started with a shell shank Button in the center of my stitching. I chose Blue thread in several shades for the organic blanket stitch. I need to make longer legs but my piece of fabric is 7" x 8" big so not a lot of room. K3N has several great examples on her channel.

I cut a bird from blue fabric to applique on my piece.  I was looking for a Border stitch and chose Bosnian. Done in deep blue along the binding edge. I added a line of Back stitch in Turquoise Blue just for fun. I added some seed stitches below the bird to ground it.

Sewing Project - Musical/Blue Dots Blanket

I am back to sewing!

I finished this blanket this week.

Music Squares with Blue Dots

Final Size: 41W x 67.00T inches

Technique: Front QAYG Mom Style onto foundation layer which is poly cotton.  Quilted the front to the backing traditionally.

Colors: Yellow, Khaki and Navy

Squares: 10.5 inches 

The squares came from the ReUse Center. Nice quilting cotton.

The yellow sashing is cotton poly fabric.

The backing is army green 100% cotton flannel.

It took 3 days to complete but after almost a 2 year break from sewing I am happy with that.

I added blue dots to fix a problem where the sashing seam had missed the fabric. I put heat and bond behind a blue batik fabric and cut 5 circles with my SB smooth round thinlets.  I adhered them to the quilt then applied hand stitching which was crazy hard because of the glue.

The flannel backing is dark and will be useful for needing less laundering.

You can see the quilting in the shape of squares.

The quilting was done with a thread that matched the flannel so they are not very visible and the same on the front. 

I used yellow thread when I sewed the sashing.

I had to pin it very well with my quilting pins as it had to go through the throat of the sewing machine.

I cut a 6 inch square of paper which I used for the quilting of the front to the flannel back. I angled the template so they are wonky and do not track the edges of the yellow sashing.

I followed the edge of the paper with my sewing machine foot which worked very well.

I did a variety of hand stitching on the blue dots but it was very difficult for 2 reasons.

I had to make holes in the glue with a large pin so I could get my embroidery needle through.

It was already all finished so I could not use a stab stitch and go through right to the back. I had to stay between the foundation layer and the flannel.  I did have to undo quite a few stitches because I caught the flannel.

Note: I was aware of the issue and did not think it through before finishing the quilt.  Would have been much easier to fix then it was just the front and foundation layer.

Sashing measured 2.50 inches between the squares.  I cut the sashing strips (3"x11") for in between the squares and sewed those in between to create 3 columns of squares. Then, I cut the tall vertical sashing strips 3 by 70" to go in between the square columns. Then I sewed the columns to the foundation layer.  My front was too small because I had missed the outside sashing.

Note:  When I started sewing the columns to the foundation layer I started with a musical square column but it should have been a sashing column.  I should have cut the side sashing strips as well and maybe I would not have missed them.

Now I had a blanket with no outside sashes at all.   After a think overnight, I decided the only choice was to cut the foundation layer to the edge of the sandwich I had and add strips of foundation layer and yellow sashing to top, bottom, left and right sides. The flannel layer was the size I needed for the final blanket so I just left that the size it was.

I sewed the extra yellow sash/foundation layer to the top and bottom then cut the side pieces to the 70 inches.  Then sewed those in place right and left sides.

Fortunately, I decided to fold the sashing from the front to the back for a binding before I cut the outside strips. Now the strips needed to be 5 inches wide instead of just 3 inches. 

Learnings: 

I have to reacquaint myself with Quilt As You Go so I get it right next time.  Pushing the bulk through the the throat of the machine was no fun.

Addressing the sash issue right away would have saved me a lot of headache.

This blanket will be donated to Project Linus. 

2026 Slow Stitching Project - Page 2 - A2 Arrowhead Stitch

This is my second piece of K3N Cloth Tales Slow Stitch Project for 2026. I invisible basted my linen and cotton together that measure 7 in T x 8 in W.

I chose the Arrowhead Stitch for my second "A" page.  The two A pages will be stitched together to make the first page in my stitch book. The pin on the right hand side indicates the binding edge.

The bottom line was my first line of Arrowhead Stitch done with aqua floss. Then going up I made them very close together which is the Stacked Arrowhead Stitch. It could be used as a fill in stitch. I love the pyramid of the stitch that migrates into the center of the square. The only example I found in my stitch book - Elegant Stitches by Judith Baker Montano pg 25. I mixed 2 shades of the blue green thread.

I moved onto the top line of the square with making arrowheads then just a small cross stitch coming down the left hand side.

I cut 4 diamond shaped pieces of fabric and placed them in an Argyll pattern and appliqued them with running stitch then added the thin diamond with aqua thread. 

I chose a green thread for the Algerian Eye Stitch placed at the center bottom of the square.  The bit above that is supposed to be a leaf done with Stacked Arrowhead Stitch but it did not worked out so well.

Cardmaking - Houses

Another house card.

I removed some of the elements from my printed house so that I could change those on each house.  I can hand draw them in with my fine Sharpie marker.

I put full frames around the windows, clad the gable end and the bottom of the house with live edge boards. I put straight boards on the rest of the house.

I added pink flowers in the front of the house.  A stone pathway to the front door.  A hedge at the back and lawn around the house.

Added texture to the sky by dropping clean water drops in a wet sky.

It was printed on 110lb paper instead of watercolor paper. Trimmed and mounted to Not Quite Navy A2 card base. White insert.

Another house photo card.

I created a small still life with a small ceramic house, bottle brush trees, and a watercolor background.  I processed it with a art filter which is AI generated. Not fussy about that.

For the time being I am printing the photos on my home printer. Printed 3.5x5 on a glossy 4x6 paper then trimmed as needed.

I mounted the photo onto purple card stock with a small border then onto a sage green A2 card base.

It's easier to add greeting to this type of card but it is hard coded and cannot be changed once printed.  White quarter sheet insert and envelope.

After my visit to the ReUse Center this week I brought home a blender pencil for colored pencils.  That prompted me to pull out the box of colored pencils.   I have a nice collection of Prismacolor pencils so I printed another house onto 110lb card stock and added a few customizations with marker and colored it.

This was a quick sketch with the Sharpie marker so it is a bit slap dash. Love the vibrant colors.

Once I added a couple of colors to the house, the bushes and the grass I used the Lyra Rembrandt Splender pencil to blend the colors.  It worked well. It does add a sheen to the piece.

White quarter sheet insert and envelope.