Stitching And Another Fabric Postcard

Well, I could just go crazy with these fabric postcards! What's really neat about them, is that they can be a basis for trying new techniques without getting into a huge project. They also serve as almost "instant gratification" since they work up pretty quickly depending on what you choose to do.

I had a dryer sheet pansy left over from a project I did over the Summer and I was saving it for a crazyquilt design but decided to use it on this instead:



I started with black cotton fabric. I marked my 4 inch X 6 inch stitching area with a white quilters pencil. Then, I cut up some of that gold metallic fluffy stuff that they use in gift baskets. I save anything that can be used in some way with fabric! Anyway, I cut it into little pieces and sprinkled that on and then using Heat & Bond, I added another of my painted dryer sheets.

To that, I added the lace and then the pansy. I did some feather stitching (I love that stitch) with metallic gold thread and sewed the beads on. I really think I love beading more than anything!

Again, I layered it with some cotton quilt batting, a piece of white cotton fabric for the back which I added a piece of iron-on interfacing too and then blanket stitched the edges. I did the "postcard" thing on the back with a fabric pen, titled it, signed it and dated it. It was so much fun and it's so pretty! And it's now available in my Etsy shop.

Speaking of Etsy, it's my understanding that the site will be down over the weekend while they upload the new version of the site. From what I've read, they've added alot of neat new features like the ability for shop owners to catagorize their items. I think that will be an excellent option!

When they have things up and running again early next week, I'll be adding some more Fractal Sheets. I had a little free time this past week and I worked up some new designs. I'll also be adding some Blackwork Kits with a new, never before seen design and they will include hand dyed fabric (by me!)

In other news, I started a new crazyquilt purse last night. This one will be another "Fish Under The Sea" themed design:



So far, I've covered all the seams with the simple feather stitch done in DMC Silver #5. Later today, I plan to add some of that funky fuzzy yarn. I hope I have some in pink! I'll post an update on that tomorrow when I've progressed a bit more on it.

Last but not least, I received the most wonderful surprise in my Post Office Box today! Cathy In Canada, found this Iron-On Transfer booklet in a box of cross stitch supplies that she recently purchased and she sent to me!!!



The designs are wonderful and I can't wait to stitch some of them. I can see these on crazyquilts!!!

Thank you so much Cathy, for thinking of me!

I'm off to my mom's now for a little while. When I get back, I'm parking myself on my sofa and I'm stitching!

Fabric Postcards

Ok, these were way more fun than they should have been! I had no clue what I was doing, although I just remembered that my Quilting Arts magazines have some photos and info on them. I'll have to pull those out and look through them.

In the meantime, here are the photos of the 2 I've made so far:





I started with a muslin foundation. I marked my 4 inch X 6 inch stitching area and then using Heat & Bond, I ironed on one of my painted dryer sheets. Then I ironed on the fractal and then the the trim.

The design with the black butterfly looks to me like frost on trees in Winter. I didn't want to lose the delicate look of this fractal so I kept the embroidery to simply highlighting the "stems" with some silver thread. I used 2 strands of machine embroidery thread to do that. I then sewed on the lace applique butterfly which I handpainted first and then lightly brushed with some Jaquard Lumier Paint. I beaded around the "trees" with clear seed beads, beaded the butterfly and then the black lace.

For the "In The Garden" design, I was actually kind of lost. That is one bright and busy fractal design. But I love it! I pulled out some metallic thread in hot pink, green, blue and gold and did a ton of feather stitching. Again, I sewed on the butterfly and then added the beads and sequins.

To finish, I layered these with some cotton quilt batting and a backing fabric. The fabric postcards I saw yesterday online were done by sane quilters and they just zig/zag the edges with their sewing machines. I didn't feel like getting my machine out so I did a simple blanket stitch around the outside to hold it together.

I added the "postcard" info on the back with a fabric pen and then signed and dated them with the title of the design.

I've added these to my Etsy shop. I hope someone wants them! They're so pretty!!!

BTW - To Jo in NZ: How could you do this to me? I already have more than enough on my "I wanna do list"!!! Ha, ha, ha!!! And thanks for pointing me in the direction of Maureen's site. Yes, that's where I saw them!

I'm off to make another one! I'm out of inkjet fabric until tomorrow but I have another cool idea!

Grab A Cuppa

As Sharon would say, "grab a cuppa" because I have a bunch of fun stuff to share with you today!

First, I completed my mom's Christmas gift last night in between answering door for the all the cute little kids:



I'm very pleased with it and feel that I did justice to my grandfather's beautiful photograph, despite my lack of "antique" looking beads and do-dads!

I'm going to pick up some more dark brown velvet to border the stitched piece with and I'll make it into a pillow. When it's completely complete, I'll post another photo.

Today, I feel like playing! Jo in NZ suggested that my fractal designs would make cool fabric postcards so my plan for the day is to work with one of these:



or maybe both depending on how long the first one takes. I have no idea what I'm doing. I've never made a fabric postcard and I know I saw some gorgeous ones somewhere on someone's blog but I can't remember who's! I've looked at Sharon's postcards but I know I saw more. So, stayed tuned to see what I come up with! BTW - If you've seen fabric postcards on someone's blog, would you please point me in the right direction?

I know I have alot of readers who love my blackwork patterns. I'm still missing Sharon's 100 Details In 100 Days project so I thought I would offer you a new design to stitch. Click on the photo to go to my Flickr site where you can download the large version of my Blackwork Quilt design.



Ok, I'm off to do a fabric postcard! Wish me luck!!!

Happy Halloween!

Fractal 31
Originally uploaded by Kitty And Me.

Before the doorbell starts ringing, I thought I'd say Happy Halloween to everyone and give you something for your projects.

Click on the photo to go to my Flickr site where you can download a large version of the design.

Print this on an inkjet fabric sheet and use in your crazyquilts, fabric postcards, scrapbooking projects, ATC's or print on paper and use as a greeting card.

I can't say that I love Halloween, but I do love all the happy little pumpkin faces and I love seeing the little kids in their costumes.

Have a great and spooky evening everyone! I'm off to stitch before the Trick Or Treaters start gathering their goodies!

Update on Mom's Block and Cross-stitch Stitchable Grab Bag

I made some more progress on my mom's Christmas gift yesterday. I did some more beading and I added some silk ribbon spider web roses to the circles on the right:



This is really looking nice now, very antique although extremely embellished with do-dads which was not the norm for traditional Victorian crazyquilts.

I want to finish this into a pillow with more of the dark brown velvet around the outside with possibly some vintage lace. I hope my WalMart still has some of the brown velvet or I'll be driving up to the fabric store in the next town for it!

Anyway, today I want to hand-paint a small lace butterfly for it and I'll see what else I have to fill those spaces to the right of the photo. I'll have to take it out of the hoop soon so I can embellish the corners and add my cat. I don't know why I made this a 10 inch block. I usually do 9 inch blocks so the whole piece fits in this hoop. I really don't care for having to stitch "in hand". But it's only the corners so I'll deal with it!

On another note, I went through some of my cross-stitch things. Geez, I have more cross-stitch fabric in my personal stash than I know what to do with! But I have a cool idea for some of it which I will reveal when I have things ready!

In the meantime, I've put together a nice goodie grab-bag and listed it in my shop. There's alot of stuff here to stitch on:



The description is below. If anyone can use this stuff, click here to order it.

A grab bag full of great stitchables for counted cross stitch! I had some good intentions for alot of projects that I never got around to doing.

This lot consists of:

*** 4 pieces of 28 count linen and evenweaves. About 26 inches X 18 inches.

*** 3 pieces of 14 count Aida Damask in pastel colors. They're about 9 inches X 11 inches.

*** 30 pieces of hand-dyed fabrics in various counts. They're about 6 inches X 4 inches. Only big enough for small ornaments or maybe fabric postcards. These were a sample pack that I got from a company that has since gone out of business.

*** 5 brass bookmarks & 10 brass ornaments. Again, items that I received as samples several years back for a design project that I did. I will never use these and it's a shame for them to just sit here. They're 14 count and require 3 strands of floss for cross stitch.

This lot is rather heavy so it's probably more economical to put them in a Flat Rate Priority Mail envelope and ship them that way rather than shipping 1st Class.