Autumn Purse Block Update

Just a quick post for today everyone.  Thought you would all enjoy seeing an update on my Autumn Purse block:

Bet you'll never guess what's going on that spider web?  LOL!!!  I may still hand-paint that lace piece on the top right.  I still haven't decided yet.  Stay tuned!  I'll be offering this in my Etsy shop when it's complete!

Elegant Lady Purses & Other Finishes

I spent Monday doing some finishing on my sewing machine. I confess, I've been pushing myself and feel today like I'm paying for it. It does however, feel good to have a few things out of my hair.

You may remember this piece from Sharon's 2008 Take It Further Challenge:



This was the January project. I really love this block and decided it would make a beautiful purse.

As you probably noticed, I backed out of the challenge in June of that year. At the time, I didn't realize it, but the depression was coming on. It's actually been coming on for years. I felt pressured by this project and just reached a point where I couldn't continue on with it.

I can now see that I'm really not a "joiner". I like to do my own thing, my own ideas and I like to leave myself open for creating just for the sake of creating, with no purpose intended whatsoever. Sharon really comes up with some great projects but I've since learned that I can't take on so much. My ADD tends to jump into things without thinking about everything else I do! And I really do like to do too many things!

I stitched the Sewing Machine Lady purse last January while I had lightening bolts and fireworks shooting off in my brain:



What a horrible experience! But it does show me that my creativity was still there. Even I'm amazed at what came from my "short circuiting brain".

I'm particularly fond of the Sewing Machine Lady purse because of my antique sewing machine. When I saw that picture, I had to use it on a bag.

Next, are my recent little doorhangers:





These are Christmas gifts and I'm happy to say that my Christmas gifts are complete now!

Well, it's not a great day today so mom and I are going to go and wander around Hobby Lobby for little while. Sometimes that helps.

Spider Purse & Flea Market Treasures

First, I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to email me. I believe we have my email working properly again. I kind of freak when this sort of thing happens because I don't know what to do! My friend Chris helped me with it and hopefully, it will continue to work for me!

I finished up my Spider Web purse:



There are 7 spiders on this bag. Can you find them all?

The ladies at the Post Office were drooling all over it yesterday. Everyone is fascinated by crazyquilting!

Next, I thought I would share my recent Flea Market treasures with you. I hit the jackpot this last Sunday! First, with a pair of cat figurines that I absolutely fell in love with:



I plan to repaint my guest room light pink and stencil cabbage roses around the room. I want it to have a very cottage vintage look and I thought these would be pretty sitting on the dresser.

Next I found yet another pile of vintage embroidery transfers:



Ya'll know how much I love these! I've done pretty good with the iron-on transfer finds this flea market season.

I know I've recently mentioned that I've been baking a lot. It's helped to take my mind off the terrible depression symptoms that I've been dealing with. I started a new collection (like I need another one) of vintage baking cookbooks:



I paid $2.00 for each of these. In fact, the Betty Crocker Cooky book is one that my mom has had since the 1960's and I maul it every time I'm at mom's house! I was thrilled to find my own copy at the flea market. Esp. for only $2.00! I think Borders bookstore offers it but it's around $15.00 or $20.00 now.

Anyway, the Christmas Cookie booklet is from the 1950's. Mom told me that the electric company used to send out cookbooks and other little things now and then. Interesting! Now we get the bill and pray it doesn't go up!

I also found this pile of vintage appliqués:



I'm sure they'll find their way onto one of my crazy quilts eventually.

Last but not least for today, a vintage hat and 2 spider pins:



I bought the vintage hat for the silk and velvet flowers. I can usually find these for about $4.00 or $5.00. I take the flowers off and use them on my stitching or on cards.

And where were those spider pins when I was working on my spider purse? I've never seen one on a web before.

I do have one other treasure that I bought but I had a hard time getting a good photo of it. It's a stitched framed piece with roses on it and a little verse. I'll try taking it outside on a sunny day and see if I can't get a decent photo. It's gorgeous and is also intended for my guest room when I get it repainted.

Little Girl With Doll Purse - Stitching Complete

I just finished up on this pretty project:



I'll sew this up as soon as I can and post a photo of the completed project when it's done.

In the meantime, I haven't decided on a new project yet. I'll post again as soon as I pick something.

Little Girl With Doll Purse Continued

I've been working on the beading on this project:



I'll be working on that lace applique next.

I was asked how I go about painting my lace. It's actually quite simple. I use Dyna-flow dye by Jacquard. I wet my lace, mix my colors (watering them down a bit) and then using a small paint brush, I pick up some color and dab the brush onto the lace allowing the wet lace to pull the color from the brush. I do this on some paper towels so they absorb the excess water.

Once I'm happy with how it looks, I dry my pieces in the microwave. Generally at 50% power for only 30 seconds at a time until it's dry.

Remember, that it will dry lighter than it appears when it's wet!

Hope this helps!

Little Girl With Doll Purse Continued....

I have the seams embroidered now and I've started on the beading:



I painted the lace and it looks like it blends in and gets a little lost. This issue will be resolved once I bead it. It's truly the beading that makes the stitching, lace and trim pop out!

I was asked what software I used to tint the photograph. I use Corel Photopaint 12. I made a custom brush with 97 % transparency. That adds color to the photo without covering the image with "paint".

Little Girl With Doll Purse

First, I sewed up my latest Button Block into a doorhanger pillow for my mom:



We took this over to mom's last night after dinner and mom loved it! I also took some cookies to my dad that I made during the day.

Once that project was completed, I started stitching on the Little Girl With The Doll purse:



Allie left a comment for me saying that she likes the lace as it is, white. But I really want to paint it. I'm going to do that now so stop by in another day or so to see how it looks.

Also, Part 3 of the Garden Fantasy Cross Stitch Mystery Stitch-Along will be released later this week. There's still time to join if anyone is interested. Click here for more information.

Little Girl With Doll Purse

First, I finally stitched up Button Block #35:



This one will be sewn into a little doorhanger pillow for my mom. I'll post a photo as soon as I get it sewn up.

My next project will be another purse:



I'd like to say a special "thank you" to Cheryl H. for sending me this lovely vintage photo of the little girl with the doll. It was a black/white photo and I tinted it myself with my graphic software.

I'll hand paint the lace pieces but I usually wait until I have some of the stitching done. That will give me a better feel for the right colors.

Poodle Purse Completed!

I got a bee in my bonnet yesterday afternoon and decided to sew up my poodle purse:



The trim on the bottom is a piece of a vintage dress that I bought at a flea market last Summer for $10.00. It was actually what inspired this purse. Be sure to click on the image to see the large version over at Flickr. That dress piece is silver lame with rhinestones and beads. It's quite heavy! The pearl beading on the very bottom was already there.

Most of the rhinestone buttons that I used are vintage as is the brooch on the top right-hand corner.

The seam treatments are my own technique. See my book for more details.

Poodle Purse Update

Just a quick update for today. My Poodle Purse is coming along nicely:



Notice how I softened the harsh corners with silver buttons! That really smoothed it out nicely.

I'd like to ask my readers for a bit of help. I need a pretty vintage photo of a little girl holding a porcelain doll. Preferably a photo that's hand tinted and early 1900's. If any one has a photo or knows where I can find one, please let me know. It's for an upcoming purse.

Thanks in advance!

Themed Crazy Quilt Purses

I spent most of my day yesterday doing some finishing. I still have quite a few stitched pieces that need to be sewn up. Finishing does not go quickly but I did accomplish quite a bit!

First is my Pink Lady Purse:



I stitched this one before Thanksgiving and wanted it for Valentine's Day so I got it together just in time!

The lace is antique and I hand-dyed it and the pin on the right-hand side is vintage.

The next purses have never been seen before. I made them quite awhile ago and had intended on submitting them to a magazine. I've since decided to keep them. First is the Yellow Rose Purse:



The yellow rose is from a vintage machine embroidered handkerchief. The crystals are from a vintage necklace that I took apart and the green bug is a vintage pin.

Last but not least is my Grapes Purse:



I found that bunch of grapes at Michaels and I knew I had to do something with it! Again, I hand dyed the lace at the bottom. The grapes on the lattice-work trim at the top right are from a vintage bracelet that I took apart.

All beads, sequins, lace and embellishments are sewn on by hand. The borders are my own charted borders from both my book and my own personal collection.

I do accept custom purse orders. More information can be found here.

Well, I thought my readers would enjoy some eye candy for today. I used my Pink Lady purse this morning and the ladies at the Post Office were in love with it!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!