UFO Weekend Away - Ballan

I really hope everyone has had the experience of a girls UFO weekend away like the one I have just had to Mill Rose Cottage in Ballan

Wonderful weather, beautiful setting, delicious food, inspiring craft and best of all lovely friends.

As this was a UFO we all took those numerous projects that were gathering dust just waiting to be finished.

I accomplished two complete finishes, so I was chuffed (my stash is getting smaller now)

Quite a while ago, I had done a class with Sue Weeks to make an embroidered bag.  Of course I had finished the embroidery (finally) but it took some extra coaching to turn it into a lovely tote bag

A visit to the AQC earlier last month saw me purchase a kit for a modern hexi table runner from Hugs N Kisses.  All material and iron-on hexis were included and this was another achievement on the weekend.

A tiring but exciting fun weekend, cant wait to do it all again soon

xxx

SAL 2016

Hooray .......joining the Sunshine Quilting Patchwork and Stitchery SAL 2016' has pushed me to finish a project that I had started in December.

Adding color to embroidery adds that extra zing to the finished project, and Jo from Gemelli Girls (check them out on Facebook) showed us how to combine coloring pencils and embroidery to achieve a beautiful result permanently!

First of all, we painted a small section of our printed embroidery pattern with a fabric medium

Then we colored that section in using Derwent Inktense pencils which actually have ink in the leads

Once the whole embroidery is colored and stitched, you iron the piece which sets the color permanently. You have the option to embroider first then color in or vice versa.

Add the border and hanging sleeve and it's ready to display

This ones ready for next Christmas and I'm thinking I might go over some of my old embroideries and color them too.

HANNAH'S GARDEN

One of my UFO's is Hannah's Garden by One Day in May.  Its a 7-part pattern and I'm almost finished putting it together.

 Here are a few of my finished blocks

Most of the blocks have a combination of embroidery, needle-turn applique and 3D work.

Can you see the two rows of ecru stitching top and bottom?  This was new to me but gives it a beautiful finish.  You do a running stitch to the end, and then weave the embroidery thread back through the stitching line.  

I think the original design had different material, but when I went to buy the kit, there was a substitute piece.  I am still very happy with the colours and am eager to put it all together with the borders.

I must admit, I cheat a little on the needle-turn as I just can't seem to master the art.  I make the shapes first using applique paper which is water soluble and should partly dissolve when washed.  Then I applique the shapes directly onto my block.

Stay tuned for the full wall-hanging, I'll post the picture as soon as its done (dont hold your breathe, it could be a little while, there are quite a few UFO's......... LOL)

Happy sewing

PATCHWORK LOVES EMBROIDERY S.A.L. - Project #2 Sewing Folder

There is nothing nicer than just sitting down in front of the television with a needle and thread, and Gail Pan's new book makes it even better with so many lovely projects to make.

I still had enough material left over from my first project to make my second and as I loved the colours so much, I thought why not !

The sewing folder is just perfect to transport all of my hand sewing requirements around without losing anything.  I can pop in my trusty glasses, small scissors, threads, needles and now even my embroidery hoop, simply tie it all up and off I go.

Front of Sewing Folder

 

Holds all my goodies

 

 

I did change a few little instructions and I attached the round appliques with satin stitch because I knew my needle turn technique is not that good. 

 

Also, I used bag wadding instead of normal wadding and this has given the folder a really sturdy feel, more like a book and it holds its shape much better. 

 

Just loved the embroidery and cant wait to get onto the next project.

 

See you all soon xxx  

 

 

 

 



 



PATCHWORK LOVES EMBROIDERY S.A.L. - Project #1 Home Pillow

Its always exciting to start a new project and I'm like a bull at a gate, charging full steam ahead.  Dont worry I will slow down as I usually do but I am determined to finish everything I start for this Sew A Long.

Deciding on which project to begin with, that a hard one.....ummmm let me see, I will do the Home Pillow first:-

I picked up some coordinating material whilst on holidays in Queensland earlier this year and I think it will be perfect.



Finished....Project #1

I especially love the quilting detail that Gail puts on her projects.  I used a candlewicking thread that I had from a previous quilt and it adds the finishing detail.



Embroidery Section

Looking forward to the next project, which for me, will be the Stitch With Love sewing folder.

EMBROIDERED CHAIR CADDIE

This coming weekend, I am going on my first Sewing Weekend Away with Kates Sewing Class girls.

Speaking to others who have been on the weekends before, it sounds like a lot of work but heaps of fun. We take our sewing machines and a list of supplies and  Kate has organised a heap of sewing projects to make.  I can't wait.  Our theme this year is Halloween so for the Saturday night dinner, we need to dress up and supply a little gift that we can all swap around.

 

As this is my first weekend away, I was a litle unsure about the gift that had to be handmade (no food items).  I thought long and hard about what to take and I decided anyone who likes to sew could always do with a Chair Caddie to hang next to them whilst watching TV and sewing.

Chair Caddie with embroidery

I found the shape of one from Pinterest and using plain homespun, quilted the main piece in diamonds.  Then I wanted to do something special, so I downloaded some embroidery patterns from www.needlecrafters.com and shrunk them to the size I needed.  My embroidery skills aren't great but I do think they came up quite nice with the matching blue edging.

Its true what they say - you learn something every day because initally I tried to bind using a normal strip of material.....big mistake - there was no way it was going to lay down flat so, thanks to google, I realised that I needed to use Bias Binding on curves and viola.....it worked :)

Hopefully the person who receives my gift will enjoy it as much as I did making it.  Now I need to do one for myself!!!



Small posy on centre pin cushion.



 

Bird on fountain



Bluebirds on branch