My Etsy shop finally got the deep Spring clean it was begging for. I am finally ready to launch my new range of homeware and will release new products between now and later this summer. First addition to my shop is this vibrant pillow cover. It is called Organic Love because it features this huge love heart made of organic like shapes. I am so glad I found a use for my manic doodling and absolutely delighted with the result.
Sorry but I think this is a case of fabric-gasm. Look at my fabric all neatly folded in stackable little bundles. And yes: they are all the same size. And do you love how the fabric colours match the scraps ones (card boxes on the second shelf)? Me too!
This is the official end to my fabric organisation project. It feels good because:
It took me a while to really get to it because I didn’t know how to proceed. Here I have to thank Pinterest and the quilting community: a common fabric storing system involves comic boards. These are board pieces initially meant to safely store comic books along with matching plastic bags. They are strong and archival safe. So I got a bunch of them (around 50) and used one for each piece of fabric larger than a fat quarter.
It is very easy to use. Depending on the width of the fabric, you need to fold the length into two or three. Then you just have to fold around your board and secure the end with a pin or two. I wish I had done this before, it feels so good!
What should I organise next? Ribbons, embroidery floss, buttons?
What an inspiring time I had on Saturday at the Constant Knitter (Dublin)! Maria Tapper was holding a Creative Embroidery course and the three hours were gone in a flash. She taught us 11 stitches which should give a good start to our embroidery lives. More than this: she shared with us some precious tips and let us flicker through her stock of embroidery books. I loved the relaxed atmosphere, the fact we could all pick whatever colour from the stock of cotton Maria had brought and learning so much in so little time.
Above is the sampler I made during the course. You’ll see I have some relationship issue with the chain stitch. And yes: I still love running stitch a lot, like an unhealthy lot. At first I struggled a bit with the French knot (even considered applying for a patent for a new stitch: the French blob) but I am now plain in love with it. Did you notice my sampler misses the cross stitch? I was so late trying to sort my chain stitch I preferred to skip the cross stitch which was one of the few I already knew.
Of course now I have half a dozen projects to add to my to-do list. I made an embroidered card on Sunday, and also started a series of cross stitch patterns found in a DMC book from 1969. Plus all the lovely stuff I could make with French knots and stem stitches! But the upside is: one item to cross from my crafty year list!
Embroidered card is something I have tried before (remember the birthday card?) but this time I wanted to move to the next level and went for a fully embroidered birdie. The original design by Geninne can be found on her blog (right side bar). I have simplified it a bit to allow for the thickness of the perlé cotton I used. Even my daughter thinks it turned out quite well, she has asked for one for her birthday. I have to say I love the result, the perlé cotton give a bold look mixing very well with the crisp white card. Want to know how it is done?
Posted in Embroidery, Make Monday, Tutorial, Uncategorized
Tagged bird, card, embroidery
Look at these bobbins above and tell me what you see. Exactly: three lovely and well behaved bobbins not prone to unravel and get all tangled. My sewing machine gear pouch used to be a nightmare. I came across this brilliant tip from Erin at SchlosserDesigns: slice some clear flexible tubing and fit on the bobbin. Isn’t it pure genius?
