More Studio Frenzy II

Thinking back to my childhood brought memories of my grandmother and great aunt sitting in front of the fire quilting, and I couldn’t help but think she might be smiling at my crazy quilt stocking.    With that in mind, I decided to explore another technique, a simple one that would combine handwoven and purchased fabric.

Remembering Grandma  sewing strips of random fabrics together for what she called a string quilt was my influence.

The stitched strips were layered with a piece of batting and the shape cut from a template made to fit the styrofoam cone around which the strips would be wrapped.

To embellish the seam lines, once again I relied on the embroidery stitches found on the sewing machine.  It is such fun to try all the patterns, and it doesn’t take long to find that some work better than other.

Finally, the pattern piece is wrapped around the cone and hand stitched where the sides join.  A little sparkle is added at the top, a twig became a trunk which is mounted on a scrap piece of board cut into a small square.  Scraps really do come in handy!

Hmmm, now that I look at the trees I see the makings of a centerpiece for my nontraditional holiday table.  Come back tomorrow to see how it turns out.

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More Studio Frenzy

Having an organized place to work is a treat, but I must confess that it’s hard to keep it that way.  Putting things back as they are used is a challenge, and the vacuum cleaner is running almost as much as the sewing machine!

What has been great fun is pulling out the scraps, finding pieces that work together and using them in creative ways.  Here’s what’s happening today.

Christmas stockings made from a collection of handwoven fabrics, cut and stitched on to a piece of muslin in a crazy quilt pattern.   When completed, it was laid atop quilt batting and a lining fabric and cut into a stocking, which can be any shape you desire.

Rather than hand embroidery, I tried a variety of sewing machine stitches and for embellishment added zippers and hem tape.

The back of the stocking is nothing more than a piece of complementary fabric.

The same is also used to bind the top edge.

Now, the stockings are hung by the chimney with care hoping that St. Nicholas will soon be there.

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Joining Seasonal Sundays, Just Something I Whipped Up, Marvelously Mess Monday, Made By You Mondays

Sewing Small

It’s been a long time since I sewed anything small, like really small.  In fact, the last time was when I made Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls for each of my girls.  (Hmm, wonder why they are still here.)  After a long absence, the pain of sewing small is but a dim memory , so  the time is right for another try.

The impetus for this craziness is the granddaughters’  collection of American Girl dolls that are referred to as the girls and with whom they share many activities.  FYI, this photo from their 8 year old friend is for the girls’ Christmas card!

Clothes for the girls are always important, so surely a new outfit is a good idea for a Christmas gift, so it’s off to the pattern store to see what is fashionable in the world of dolls.  Patterns for these gals are readily available, some quite fancy and surprisingly pricey.  I chose this one not only because of its variations but because it lends itself to being made from material that is in my studio.  Using what I have, you may recall, is one of my goals.

Cutting the pattern…..no difficulty, but once again I found the sewing to be challenging.  Now, these aren’t complicated pieces, but I found myself ripping out almost every seam which made me wonder if I’ve lost my touch at the machine!  

I think I could have made a full sized garment in the time it took to complete two outfits.  Please let them fit!  I’m not sure I have it in me to make an outfit for each girl, so I hope they don’t mind sharing.

And for the big girls?  Outfits are out of the question, but they will have headbands to match the girls’ new clothes.  Oh what fun!

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Joining Wow Us Wednesday, Show and Tell Wednesday, Linky Launch Party, Show and Tell Friday

Art is Where You Find It

You never know what you are going to find when you are exploring back roads, and I have learned you should never pass any place by.

A faded old sign, antiques it said so maybe there’s some treasure waiting inside.

The shop appeared as old as the sign and was tended by an old, 93 to be exact, woman who was glad to have a visitor.  Her wares were kitchy and looked to have been around for a long time.

Hanging on the back wall, however, was one of the most stunning creations I have ever seen, a quilt made with WW II military insignia and woven labels. Those are something we don’t see any more!  This dear lady made it in the early 50′s, and there’s no telling how much time it took to stitch all these little pieces together.

Looking at her creation, I knew it had to be mine.  The labels, the satin backing, the intricacy of the construction, its history made my heart beat with desire, so I asked how much, afraid to breathe until I heard the answer.

“Oh, everyone wants to buy this quilt,” she said, ” but it is not for sale.  When I am gone it will go to Colby College.”

I do hope the college appreciates this unique and precious gift.

And then she chuckled and asked if I would like to buy one of the Christmas items sitting beneath it.  ”I tried to have Christmas in July, but it didn’t go over too well.  I guess next year I will have to try something different,” she said.  Now, that’s what I call optimistic!

I hope you found something special this fall Sunday.

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Finds for Friends

If they are nothing else, antique shows are fun to browse.  While I don’t always find something I have to have, I see lots of things that remind me of friends.  Just take a look at all these wonderful finds for them.For Pam, this folk art thread organizer that would be a smash hit at her sewing group.

For Carol,  figurals to add to her already wonderful collection.

For Judy P, this nearly perfect flow blue tea set, a real beauty.

For Danni, Quimper caught my eye.

For Judy B, a whimsical lobster collage and

a trout that she so enthusiastically fishes for.

For Elaine, these heart shaped cookie cutters that she could surely find some interesting way to display.

For Caleb, this wonderful old set of blocks that he could strew all over the floor.

For Holly, an old set of paintbrushes and

a much used artist’s pallette.

Finally, for Linsey, this old violin mold which just maybe I wouldn’t mind having.

Sure hope friends like what I found , and if I didn’t find just the right thing for you this time around, well, there’s always the next show.

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Poor Little Softie!

Taking a page from my daughter’s book, I thought to make a little softie for her baby boy of material left from the tag blanket described on the March 6 post.  She likes, loves in fact, elephants so that seemed a good place to start.  Now, keep in mind that my drawing skills stopped when I was 3, so my intent was to make the simplest pattern possible.  It couldn’t be a very big one because the scrap of fabric was pretty small.  Anyway, I drew a little elephant shape and some ears to attach and started cutting, sewing and stuffing.  Here is the result.

As you can see, he is slightly flawed with a too long trunk, too small ears and uneven sized legs,  but that makes him all the more loveable.  In fact, he could become the subject for a children’s story which we could all have a part in.  Here goes.

Sampson is an elephant or so he thinks.  His parents are big and gray with gigantic feet and long, floppy ears.  Their trunks, too, were long but not too long, just right for spraying water on Sampson in a playful way.  Sampson’s parents loved him a lot and were very protective of him, never letting him wander far from their sides or play with the other young elephants.  That didn’t bother Sampson too much at first because  he liked being with them, but as he grew older he wanted to be with elephants and other jungle creatures nearer his own age.  He wanted to have friends and romp and play and roll in the mud as he saw other elephants doing.

OK, now it’s your turn.  Won’t you add to Sampson’s tale and maybe we can end up with a book for Holly’s Caleb.

It Started Here

This is a dog toy.

This is Maizy (Be still so I can take the picture!) carrying it around which made me think of young children and the favorite blankie/toy they drag around until it is threadbare.

I wondered why the concept of the dog toy couldn’t be incorporated into a kid’s favorite blankie, and, by golly, it can.  All you need is a sewing machine, two pieces of complementary fabric and some ribbon lengths.   The blankie doesn’t have to be big, just the right size for a child to hold close or drag around easily.  I would say the dimensions could range from a square, 15″x15″ at the smallest, to  a rectangle about 18″x22″.  Easy enough.

Here I cut two 18″ squares from complementary fabrics, one a cotton and one a very soft fleece both of which first were washed  to take care of any shrinkage.  Then I cut 4″ lengths of ribbon, folded them in half and stitched them with the folded edge facing in around the edges of  one piece of cloth. Then the two pieces were sewn together.  Approximately 3″ on one side were left open so the blankie could be turned inside out.   Where the seam is open, the seam allowance, about 1/2″, was pressed under and  then handstitched closed.  The opening could also be machine stitched.

Once the blankie was sewn, it was given a good steam pressing, and, VOILA, a super easy project which may well become my favorite baby gift.