Fish Under The Sea 2 Purse Completed

This is one weighty purse! DH took it off the frame for me last night and told me that it exceeds the weight limit! Honestly, it's not that heavy considering all the seashells and other do-dads that I have on it:



I added a few sequins for bubbles, did a ton of french knots at the bottom with some tan crochet cotton to simulate sand and then I added a few tiny star sequins for a bit more sparkle. I plan to assemble it later this week.

I think unless someone emails me and tells me that they want it, I'll probably keep it for myself. I'm assuming now that I'm one of the few women out there who would carry a purse like this, esp. during the day.

To me, a purse like this is what a beautiful hat was to a women in the early part of the 20th century. I feel great carrying these gorgeous purses. And since I don't go out much at night, I use them during the day. And yes, where I live (not the fashion capital of the US), I get weird looks. But I don't care. I feel really great using these so that's what I do.

Before I start on another larger project, I decided to start another fabric postcard:



I worked up a little red tatted Christmas tree yesterday afternoon and this morning, took a piece of 28 count linen, tore one of my Fiber Sheets and ironed it onto the linen using some Heat & Bond. I want to do some eyelet snowflakes and then bead the tree. I'm sure this one will be done later today.

First, I need to run to Michael's and WalMart for a few things!

Fish And Fiber Sheets

Yesterday I mentioned that I was going to paint some dryer sheets:



Well, I went a little crazy with them! So I've packaged some up and added a few to my shop:



I enjoy painting these and I love using them in my projects but I didn't need so many at the moment! I put some music on to drown out the sound of the football game that Scott was watching and I guess I really got into it!

These Fiber Sheets are wonderful to use on crazyquilts, fabric postcards, altered art and other mixed media projects. They can be cut, torn, stretched and applied to other fabric or paper with fusable web, fabric glue or household craft glue.

When I finally ran out of sheets to paint, I worked some more on this:



Oh, this has just been such an enjoyable project! Peaceful and quiet, almost like watching the fish in my aquarium! As you can see, I added alot more do-dads and the fishies are there now! All that's left is to add a few bubbles (sequins) and some french knots to the bottom for sand and then it'll be ready to assemble. Although I honestly don't know how I'm going to sew this together with all the 3-dimensional do-dads on it! I know I'll be quite thankful for my zipper foot when I get that far. I should have the stitching complete for you to see tomorrow so stay tuned!

More Progress On Fish Under The Sea 2

Fish Under The Sea 2
Originally uploaded by Kitty And Me.

Well, I never did get to painting my cupboard yesterday. So that's on the agenda for this afternoon. It was a cloudy, cold and dreary-raining day yesterday so I parked myself in the middle of my sofa and worked on this.

The scan came out a little dark because of all the 3-dimensional items on here. As you can see, I added some real seashells. In fact, I want to add a couple more so DH just drilled holes in them for me. The round do-dads on the pinky/purply ribbon yarn are some kind of mutalated pailettes that mom bought for me at a yarn store in Michigan. She paid alot for them but thought they were so pretty. I've been saving them for something special. I'll bet I could do the same thing with my heatgun! I'll have to give that try.

Anyway, I'll be working more on this later today. But first I have to get that cupboard painted and I want to do some painted dryer sheets which are time consuming but I like the effect!

Stay tuned!

New Crazyquilt Purse Update and Etsy

First, I wanted to share with you my progress on this new "Fish Under The Sea" block which I'll making into a purse:



I started by covering all of the seams with a feather stitch worked in DMC #5 Silver. I then added some of that fuzzy yarn (no I didn't have any pink) in shades of blue and purple. Then I added some pinky/purply ribbon yarn. I've also done some tatted tendrils which I'll be adding to this later today. I should have another update for you to see tomorrow.

As for Etsy, it's my understanding that they've decided to wait until next weekend to launch the new version of their website. So, while things are still up and running, I've added some more Fractal Fabric Sheets including a bunch of new ones:



I've also added another counted cross stitch grab bag of booklets and kits:



My mom asked me if I would sell them for her. So if you're interested in, hop over to my shop and check out what's new!

I so much want to make some more fabric postcards but I have a cupboard that I have to paint today so I doubt I'll have time for too much fun other than stitching on my purse later. Sometimes I wish I had a magic Harry Potter wand!

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!