Crazyquilt Heart Kits and Cellphone Pouches

I spent the majority of yesterday running my sewing machine. That's one of my favorite things to do! I sewed up some 6 inch crazyquilt hearts and have put them together into kits with some lace, beads and a button and added them to my Etsy shop. I had a great time putting those kits together and can't wait until I have time to do some more! The foundation piecing is such an enjoyable process for me.

After straightening up, I spent the late afternoon and evening stitching. I finished my little Spiderweb Cellphone Pouch:



This is so pretty and I'm so pleased with it considering that when I started stitching on it, I wasn't sure what direction it should go in!

My next piece will be this little cellphone pouch:



This is an experiment piece for me. I have a purse block sewn up with the exact same fabrics. I mentioned a few weeks back that I wanted to do a block in light neutral colors and then do all the stitching in black. I decided that I would do that on this small piece first to see how it looks before working the purse block. I'm visualizing this as having a "Blackwork" feeling to it but I won't know for sure until I actually start stitching on it. I just thought it would be best to experiment on a small piece first. If I don't like it or it doesn't work out as planned, then I can do something else with the large piece and not feel that my fabrics are wasted.

On the TAST front, Sharon has chosen the Cretan Stitch for this week's focus. Hmmmm......this is a stitch that I have never done. My grandmother never taught it to me and I never found it attractive enough to want to try it. But, try it I will! First I'll have to hop over to Sharon's Stitch Dictionary to see how it's done and then I'll figure out my own take on it.

Ok, I'm off now to assemble these latest 3 cellphone pouches. I really enjoying doing these little projects in between my purses. It's fun to see something work up quickly even though crazyquilting for me, isn't about the destination but rather the journey!

Lots To Share Today!

I did absolutely nothing yesterday but watch TV and stitch! I completed my little Sunflower Cellphone Pouch:



The scanner lid kind of smooshed the little sunflowers. Those are little silk sunflowers that I took off of a garland that I bought awhile back. They were kind of boring so I decided to put a bit of glitter on them. Only, my glitter was in a box at the bottom of my craft closet. I didn't feel like taking everything out to get to it but then I remembered that I had some glitter glue for making cards and that was easy to get to so I decided to try using that and it worked! Thank goodness I have so many craft supplies!

This was a bit challenging as I normally don't work with yellow and orange. The blue is quite complimentary and I am really pleased with how it came out. I even strayed from my comfort zone and used a silver tone butterfly instead of a gold one! When I get it assembled, I will post a better photo of it.

When I completed the sunflower pouch, I started on this one:



Sorry, I forgot to scan it for you before I started on it. Anyway, there will be a spider in the web. Carol Samples has a lovely pattern for a spiderweb and vine in her Treasury Of Crazyquilt Stitches book and I've been taken with it since I bought my copy. I wasn't sure what to do with this block when I started but then I remembered Carol's book and decided it might be fun to do a spiderweb as a focal point! I should have this one completed later today.

Last but not least, I completed all of my purses except for the White Peacock purse which I hope to finish later this week. The first one to be listed in my Etsy shop is the Purple Painted Lady Purse:



I put this on a silver purse frame and made the chain detachable. I really love working the frames! They work nice and look great!

That's it for today's news. I'm off to run my sewing machine for a few hours.

Cellphone Pouches

I completed this little one yesterday:



I added a few more beads, some sequins and a little gold fish. Can you find my signature cat? He's there, but quite obsure on this one!

A design like this, with larger embellishments will require using a zipper foot when assembling on the sewing machine. The zipper foot will allow for getting right up against the embellishments. When I sew this together, I'll document the process with my digi so you can see how it's done.

My next project will be this little cellphone pouch:



I mentioned a few weeks ago, that one of my goals for this year is to work more with colors that I don't like. Well, here's another yellow project! I think it'll be fun though, as the theme will be sunflowers! Check back tomorrow for an update on this piece.

Seascape Cellphone Pouch

I had alot of stitching time yesterday! I started working on this little cellphone pouch:



As you can see, it has a Seascape theme. I started with one of my painted dryer sheets ironed on to the foundation with Heat & Bond. I then did the Buttonhole Wheels in the center. Using a dime, I traced on the circles, stitched them and then added some Stem stitching.

Then I took a piece of metallic gold mesh fabric and tacked that across the bottom of the pouch. I did some Feather stitching to the left and tacked on some fancy fibers to the right. I did a bit of Twisted Tatting with cream & gold crochet thread and added that to the fibers to the right and then went onto adding the seashells and beads.

I left some excess of the gold mesh fabric at the bottom. When this is completed, I will pull that up a bit to make a poofy edge at the bottom of the pouch.

This a wonderful little project for someone who doesn't have a clue about foundation piecing. Knowing how to make a crazyquilt is not necessary to create a fun little work of art like this. Any piece of fabric laying around, basic embroidery stitches and a few different threads & beads are all that's needed.

I'm sure I'll have this completed later today. I plan to add a few more beads, a couple of sequins and a little fishy or two and it will be ready to assemble.

The White Peacock Purse and More!

Well, as planned, I completed the stitching on this last night:



I added my spider to the bottom left-hand corner and then highlighted the peacock's wing with a bit of metallic silver thread. That seems to bring it out a bit more and I must say, this so pretty!

I do think we need to take a moment when looking at our work and give ourselves a pat on the back sometimes. I'm still amazed with what comes out of my head and through my needle! And I don't think there's anything wrong with congradulating ourselves for our accomplishments! I love this piece and will have a hard time parting with it.

Susan asked me what the little flowers are that I used on the vine to the right of the peaocock. Those are just lavender colored flower sequins held in place with a few petite delica beads.

My next project will be a cellphone pouch:



It doesn't look like much now. It's simply a painted dryer sheet ironed on to the foundation using Heat & Bond. Notice the transparent quality that it has! Wait till you see what I'm going to do with this. I plan to start on it later today.

In the meantime, today is another finishing day. At least the machine finishing. On Wednesday, I assembled the Purple Painted Lady purse and the Green & Yellow Rose purse. Oh, did they come out nice! I used purse frames for them and only have the hand finishing left to do. I should have photos in the next couple of days.

Today, I'll be doing the machine finishing on the Pansy Purse. Again, I'll be putting it on a purse frame. I also need to finish my little Valentine Cupid Doorknocker.

Last of the news for today, I recently came accross a huge batch of beautiful upholstry fabric samples. There was way more there than I will ever use so I put some in my Etsy shop.



I hope someone can use them. Beautiful colors and textures! I can see these worked into crazyquilts or used for contempory embroidered pieces. Perfect too for the background on fabric postcards! I'm itching to do some more of those!

Ok everyone, I'm off to run my sewing machine. See ya tomorrow!