Fabric Flower Bouquet - O2

I chose to make a yellow flower for this fabric vase wrap because I like the color combo and one of the strips of fabric had yellow in it.  That helps marry the 2 pieces together. 

I wanted to cover the inner parts in the bottle so cut a 5 inch circle of teal fabric. I placed a hole in the center of the water circle and passed the wire stem through it then the stem also through the hole in the metal lid.  It will sit on the lid the bottle.  Then I wrapped the wire stem around a wooden skewer which is cut to the height of the bottle and now provides stability to the flower. The skewer is then placed inside the bottle and the lid is screwed onto the bottle.  

The wrap is then placed onto the bottle from the bottom and the water circle is tucked into the vase wrap.

The fabric flower can be removed and real flowers can be placed in the bottle vase.

Fabric Flower Bouquet - 01

After weeks of working on this idea I finally have something I am happy with.

It has brought together a Fabric Collage Vase Wrap which uses scraps of fabric into something pretty, an empty sauce bottle that was headed to the recycle bin, and scrap fabric to make the Fabric Flower on bendable wire stem.

The challenges were:

1. Make the flower proportional to the vase.

2. Make a stem strong enough to hold the flower.

3. Will I build adjustability into the wrap?  I decide in the end no.

4. Will I have a strip extend from the body? Yes, this makes sewing the flat piece into a tube much easier.

5. How deep will I make the strip? Do I want to make it a feature?  If it is a feature then you need to put a piece of fabric on the lining side or chose your lining fabric carefully.

6. How do I hide the jar lid?  Put a piece of blue fabric to represent water.

I plan on make some of these bouquet for the gift shop at the Art Gallery.  They will all be unique which will make a perfect gift for a special person.

The fabric flower can be removed and real flowers placed in the bottle vase.

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 - Fabric Vase Wrap -The Blues

On this vase wrap I used blue printed fabric scraps.  For a change I sewed them on the diagonal to my flannel foundation fabric using the Quilt As You Go method.  This takes more fabric so I had to find longer strips of fabric. 

I trimmed the piece to 8.5" T x 11"W to allow more of a flap extending from the body of the wrap.  I added a teal cotton poly fabric as the lining which is visible behind the lace.  I sewed the collage piece and the lining right sides together leaving an opening, trimmed the corners and turned it right side out. I then used a curvy decorative stitch to top stitch all around the edge closing the opening at the same time.

Then, it was time to consider how to embellish this piece. I stitched a piece of lace on the lining edge folding the ends top and bottom and used the same curvy decorative stitch.  I then place the wrap around the bottle vase, pinned it and then stitched it closed.

2026 Slow Stitching Project - Page 9 - E1

I am following K3N Cloth Tales' slow stitch project for 2026.  Her prompt this week prompt was Earth, English Paper Piecing and Ermine Stitch.

I loved the Earth and skipped the EPP. 

I prepared a navy blue piece to fit my book (7"T x 8"W) and invisible basted to my foundation layer.

I did some research and decide to loosely represent the land mass of the continents. I then drew a circle with space to expand.  I divided the circle based on land mass.  Cut the paper apart and dug into my scrap bin to find colors that represented the continents. 

The orange top left is Asia, top right is Africa, the next green is tropical South America, the purple is Australia, the blue is North America, the paisley is Europe and the blue ellipse at the bottom is Antarctica.  I stitched my pieces down with running stitch in coordinated thread. I spread the piece apart because the continents are all surrounded by water. I liked the white stitched row around the earth for atmosphere that K3N used.  I put my stars beyond the line in space using the Ermine Stitch. 

Fabric Flower - Yellow Fluffy

I am trying different techniques to ensure all my flowers are unique.

For this flower I used yellow cotton fabric which I ripped into .5 inch strips.  I cut the strips to 4.5 inches long and wrapped them onto a metal ring that measured 1.75 inches in diameter. I used 25 strips to fill the flower. 

Once, I had that done, I cut a piece of cotton in yellow gingham about 2 inches square double and added a bit of batting in between the layers and a 2 inch circle of card stock to provide support. I placed it on the back of the flower and stitched all the way around through the yellow cotton petals. I then secured the metal wire (4 lengths of 24 gauge wire twisted together) stem through its circle at the top to the center of the flower back. I cut a 2.5 inch circle from the same yellow fabric and hand stitched over the wire to hide that connection.

Fabric Flower - Red and White

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 8 - 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.