I've got to stop doing these!

I knew I'd find a use for that piece of 'verdigris' embellisher fabric I made a while ago.

I made this:


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To keep my nail file, scissors and tweezers in:


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Its a minimanicupadfolio! I'll soon need a bigger handbag, to keep this useful collection of mini-padfolios in!

Simple doll for a small person

After a lot of trial and error (oh, there always is!) what was in my head finally came out at the other end, and I made this for my youngest grandson, he's six months old now and I thought he should have his own doll too.


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For once, The Boss was impressed, and he thinks I should make some more and sell them on Ebay. Obviously it complies with safety regulations or I wouldn't be giving it to my grandson, although no doubt he will put it to the dribble test! It measures about 8 inches high, the body is fine poly/cotton, the head and arms are robe velour and the hair is the usual knitted 'hat'. Features are drawn in permanent marker, fabric paints and gouache mixed with fabric medium, all cured and heat set. Whaddya think?

And another....................

I decided I need a notepad and pen set:


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These little things are great for using up odd scraps. To fit a 5 x 3 inch notepad, they measure 12 x 6 opened out, and the linings and the pockets don't have to match, you can use contrasting fabric. The lining of this one is made from a small piece of glazed cotton sheeting I got at a remnant stall years ago.


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Not sure how many of these I really need, though!

Manogram

This is for Shirley Goodwin:



this is why:

Dyeing 2 Design

Blog flog........

Anyone who subscribes to Workshop on the Web, or has some of her books, will be delighted to know that Maggie Grey has started a blog. Go over and have a look:

Magstitch - Maggie Grey

Needlebook/mini padfolio

I made this one for me, to match a pincushion I made the other day.


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This is made from a sample piece of printed cotton furnishing fabric. I 'quilted' it onto a washing up cloth with programmed machine stitches to add texture and break up the pattern. The tie is just a torn strip of fabric with rows of zizag stitch to stop it fraying.


This is what the inside looks like:


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I put in a pocket for a notepad and pen and another for scissors. (I've buried the ones that fit in here somewhere in my work room). Then I added a couple of pieces of flannel, cut out with pinking shears, to hold a few needles.

By popular demand! Wheatear sample (and a blog flog)

I put the crossed buttonhole/wheatear sample through the needlepunch machine again.
Then I added a few more stitches.


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I was planning to cut this up to make a mini padfolio cover, but I've decided to keep it until I find something else I can use it on without losing too much becuase I like it now!

BLOG FLOG

Elizabeth at

Quieter Moments

gave Smockery a mention. Thank you Elizabeth. If you like counted thread work, you'll love Quieter Moments, but I warn you, get yourself a drink or a cup of coffee and make sure you are sitting comfortably first, because you will be there for quite a while. Elizabeth is a mistress of stitch variations and her blog is thoughtfully arranged so that the 'TASTers' among us can go there and find exactly the stitch we want to review.

What is TAST. It's the Take a Stitch Tuesday challenge run by Sharon B on her blog

In a Minute Ago

Take a look at the

Take a Stitch Tuesday Flickr Group

you'll find a variety of stitch techniques and styles and some amazing pieces of art!

and there is a Take a Stitch Tuesday webring, listing participants blogs. Click on the logo in the Sidebar on the right.

TAST Week 23 Wheatear Stitch

Caught up at last! I put my crossed buttonhole sample through the needlepunch machine and used it again for this week's stitch, Wheatear.


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I worked lines of wheatear stitch in 2 strands of crewel wool, and some single wheatear stitches, with an extra pair of 'ears', in a single strand. Then I added a few french knots.

This will probably go under the needlepunch machine again, to merge in the wheatear stripes, and then be used for something like a notepad cover.

Catching up - TAST 21 crossed buttonhole

Crossed buttonhole stitch in variegated stranded cotton used to couch down wool and knitting ribbon.


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The background fabric is scraps of silk and bits of fleece needlepunched onto a piece of black muslin. Then I 'quilted' it with a programmed machine stitch in alternate rows of black cotton and metallic thread, to give it some texture and sparkle. The shiny knitting ribbon is couched down with toning variegated stranded cotton.

Mini-padfolio

I've been meaning to try out Sue B's padfolio tutorial - I adapted it to make this very small one to use as a raffle prize at the local WI meeting.


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The fabric I used is a piece of dyed muslin from the reject bin. I needlepunched it to a pink washing up cloth to give it a bit of texture and machine stitched over it with a decorative stitch to break up the pattern.

Because this was so small, it takes a 5/3 inch notepad, instead of making the folding pieces separately I just zigzagged along the fold line and pressed it lightly to crease it.

I finished it off with a machine wrapped cord.

Here's a picture of the inside, showing the pockets. The lining is a scrap of printed glazed cotton.


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You can find Sue B's tutorial on her blog, here:

Sue Bleiweiss

Needlebook..........

Linda at Chloe's Place asked about our needlebooks.

Here's a picture of mine.



I've had it a long time, I made it years ago. It is made like a proper book, with fabric covered boards front and back and a cardboard spine. The colours used to be nice and bright and it's very dog-eared and bedraggled, but I like it because of the stiff covers.

Here's a picture of the inside:





The pages are made from scraps of dyed and felted wool blanket. That's a red wine stain on the first page - no further proof needed that I use it all the time!


You can find Linda's Blog at

Chloe's Place

A question for the 'American Cousins'

Our local branch of the WI has a meeting on 4th July, so an 'American Supper' is being planned. Is there anything special or traditional that you eat, drink or do on that we could include?

Replacing the "twins"

My grandaughter was pleased with her "twins" and lovely, generous little girl that she is, she immediately gave the boy one to her little brother! And the baby loves the peculiar puppet, it makes him laugh, coo and gurgle. So a success all round.

But now I haven't got any.........I'm still experimenting, so I made these.



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The one on the right is made from furnishing weight velour - it was much too stiff and thick and made stitching details difficult - but hey, if you don't try you don't find out!

The other one has a body made from wyncette (it's no good, I can't spell it and I'm too lazy to look it up) and the face is drawn in coloured pencil on a piece of cream coloured glazed cotton. (It was far too pale, and I've just given it a wash over with silk paint, but I haven't photo'd it).

Here's a close-up of the coloured pencil face:

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Getting back on track......................

after an uneventful hefty course of antibiotics, the GP has announced that the vengeful bacteria is in fact a vengeful virus. He told me to rest - I told him that if I rested any more I would start to get younger!!!** So, 'symptomatic treatment' and patience are his order of the day. My order of the day is 'it's a virus, you can't do anything about it, so ignore it and catch up on TAST.

Here is my butterfly chain sample. It isn't very exciting, and at first I forgot to twist the chain, but it was very relaxing to sit and stitch it, so I am sure it did me some good!



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