Using up samples 1

What to do with some of the bits and pieces of samples that accumulate and you can't bring yourself to throw out. Make one into a little gift bag, of course:


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This has a bit of an "indian influence"


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A small piece of machine quilted fabric machine appliques to a larger piece of silk and bordered with trellis stitch on a buttonhole foundation. Further embellishment with straight stitch, french knots and beads.


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Back and front sections cut out, backed with felt and machined together with zigzag stitch, simultaneously attaching matching machine wrapped cord. Edges finished with trellis stitch on a buttonhole foundation in cotton perle thread. Measures around 7 x5 inches.

Catching up with the WIPs

I've cancelled all my committments to attend craft fairs with the Creative Co-op until after Christmas because I'm on a hospital waiting list for later this year. In the meantime, without the pressure of stocking a table, I can play around in the workshop when I am able to. Currently I'm catching up on some WIPs.

Starting with this:


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I backed the piece with thick cotton curtain interlining and added some running stitch for texture.


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Here I have machine stitched the piece to some natural linen, the original fabric that I hand dyed. I've fringed it back to the stitching line. Now I just have to decide how to finish it off.

The inspiration for this piece came partly from a fabric postcard internet challenge, 6 x 4 lives, started by Sharon Boggon. At the same time, Jo in New Zealand was getting us all fired up over paisley designs. I was following an internet course, Develop A Personal Library of Stitches (no longer available), also by Sharon Boggon and many of the stitches got incorporated in this piece, Paisley Postcards.

You can revisit previous posts on this piece by clicking on the label "paisley" in the right hand sidebar.

Same old song

I think this is about finished...........


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...although I'm not entirely sure about the pink in the border. I'm keeping it pinned up above the sewing machine in the workroom for now, while I think about it.