Slow-Stitching. Paints and stitching. An easy Take with-you project.

Along with my collage and stitching on paper,

I have played with a piece of pellum.

Coloured it using watered down acrylic paint  and beetroot juice. :)

 

I just dropped the first colours on and then sorta squished the fabric to make the liquids move and blend.

 

 

Then I used a couple of old jars to create the circles.

 

Just dipped them in the paint/liquid and stamped

randomly.

 

Lots of delicious circles on a mottled background.and some splattering as well.

 

Hang to dry but watch what's underneath it as you will get drips.

 

I decided to stitch the fabric doubled as this was firmer to the touch. Pellum can tear easily at the thickness I have used.

 

(I'm not sure what the fabric is called in other countrys.

This is a thin, pressed type of batting?.)

 

 Half a metre then folded. 

 

Next onto the stitching preparation.

This is a great way to use up the odds n ends from your other projects.

I've gathered the small lots of threads I have rescued from the Charity shops. These have unintentionally ended up in Earthy tones.

 

And now I have my Slow-Stitch project ready and

the running stitch is the stitch of choice.

Something slow and quiet to do while I binge watch movies online :)

Perfect as a project to take along wherever you need a moment to decompress. ;)
 

I'm still working on the paper and stitch collages between.

 So

you are very welcome to follow along and get an update on my progress.

Wander around my blog for many inspirational ideas.

The easiest way is to join the email list on this blog and/or my facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/stitchingalways/

Happily Creating.
Phillipa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Tutorial. Turn a Skirt into a Shabby-Chic Heart Wreath

Upcycle a skirt into a wreath.

 

From this

 

To This

 

And this

 

to this

 

Turn a pretty skirt into a shabby-chic heart wreath.

 

These 2 skirts I found at a charity shop.

The fabrics were too nice to leave behind, and

are perfect for this project.

 

You need.

 

A skirt or large shirt could be used too.

Cut apart and all bits saved.

 

 

 

a wire coathanger

Strips of wadding

a long necklace (upcycled of course)

 

Firstly. Push,pull,bend and generally manipulate the wire coathanger into a heart shape. Try to find the lighter metal ones.

And a pair of pliers is very handy to help.

 

Then using strips of wadding, wrap the heart.

Ive been upcycling the inner from a duvet.A new one that I rescued second-hand.

 

If the strips arn't long enough then just stab stitch

thru all the layers with needle n thread when adding a new strip. Same when we get to the fabric wrapping.

 

The Beige skirt is a lacey fabric, so I wrapped the wreath with the lining fabric first and then the lacey fabric,

For the blue wreath, the one layer was fine.

 

The cat just HAD to help.:)

 

Righto,

next wrap with the top layer of fabric.

 

Next I've wrapped the flowery ruffle from the skirt.

And then added bunches of rolled roses and a bow.

The roses are from strips of the skirt and the bow

is plaited from the offcuts of all the seams.

 



Pearly beads were stitched here n there.

On the blue wreath I wrapped a long vintage blue -glass necklace and tacked into place.

 

 

 I hope you have fun with this project too :)

 

Lots of Happy Shabby Stitching

 

Phillipa

 

 

 

 







Velvet Flower

Hello to all my fellow stitchers :)

This is the simple tutorial of mine that was published in

Crazy Quilt Gatherings.

Velvet ribbon and a vintage brooch

which appeared on my spring hat.

Fold, stitch and trim the velvet ribbon into

a neat circle.

Then stitch a vintage brooch in the centre.

This brooch has a curved hollow back which is perfect to sit over the ribbon.

Has anyone created any spring items yet??

Happy Stitching

Phillipa





Lace Reels. A Tutorial for my Etsy Shop

Lace reels using my own images. :)

I know there a lots of tutorials out there for Lace reels BUT

my tutorial that Ive put up on Etsy here,

has images from my own projects.

They have a really nice shabby-chic feel to them so

I've stitched-up my tutorial with heaps of how-to photos and written instructions as well.

Hopefully Etsy shoppers will find them as pleasing to the eye as I do :)

Perfect presents in a set for a lucky stitching friend.

Happy Stitching

Phillipa





Stitching on Paper

While coffee dying a while ago, I also splotched some of the liquid thru an old novel I had.

Pages are just the perfect weight to stitch on.

 I stitched a line of poetry and glued it to a journal page.

Perfect as a stash builder for your journalling or even just frame the page.

Just print in your own handwriting and backstitch.

Be gentle as you stitch, and I used 3 strands of embroidery thread.

Happy Stitching

Phillipa





Coffee Dying for my Stash

Things on the go all the time.

Coffee dying.

Half a bucket of Hotwater.

About 6 tablespoons af that really cheap coffee.

Dunk n swirl for 24 hours.

Then a very quick rinse. drip dry. then hot iron to set.

If you dont mind the coffee smell you can skip the rinse part and get a darker colour.

Happy Dunking n swirling

Phillipa

Felt Rose

As if I dont need any more little projects. :)

How about a Felt Rose.

I have this gorgeous reddy pink felt and its a perfect colour for a rose.

I cut 2 circles of felt.The backing one is green.

Approx 2.5" diameter (7cms-ish)

A couple of leaf shapes as well.

Then I just back-stitched a spiral, starting from the centre.

Make a sandwich with the leaves in between.

Pin to hold and then a running stitch around the outside.

And Voila!!

Do I NEED a reason to make these little projects.??

Of course not. hehe.

I can imagine these on all sorts of things.

A bunch on a tote, or a single on a hairband or clip.

As a brooch.

Perfect for that little gift or stocking stuffer.Even as an embellishment on a gift.

If you make some I'd love to see your versions.

Happy happy stitching.

Phillipa

PS. OOhhh noo. Different colours of felt are demanding to be made into other flowers. Will keep you posted ;)

Playtime continued

2 photos of the same thing.

These could become rather addictive ;)

Happy stitching

Phillipa

Playtime

A variety of yummy fabrics and laces.

Different textures.Different sizes.

Dollops of beads on top.

Great fun with a heap more to do.

Another great stash building group of flowers.

Happy stitching

Phillipa

Shabby Chic Lacey Collage Part 2

I hardly ever do One thing at a time and playing with the lacey doilys was no exception.

Collage #2

 

On a base of coffee dyed calico,

I played around till I was happy with the placement.

Then I machine stitched just to hold everything together

and to make handling easier as I add embroidery

and beading.

I thoroughly enjoyed this part of the process

and will be doing alot more I'm sure.

Happy Stitching

Phillipa

Eco-dying Playtime

My first little foray into eco-dye.

Another process Im quite interested in.

I found these delightful bunches of berries on a huge tree at one of the local cemeteries.

B and I are having a wonderful time researching our family trees and hence the visits to local cemetarys.

Many have wonderful old trees, so while strolling around I keep an eye out for potential dye sources.

I have no idea what the tree is called tho.

So into the pot.

                                        Cover with water

Boil n Simmer for an hour.

Strain off the liquid when cool.

This is actually a pinky colour.

Dunk and soak fabric and lacey bits for a

couple of days.

Drip dry.

And Voila!

Yet to be ironed, to set the colour, but the lovely pinky colour is a

shabby chic romantic colouring.

Added to my stash waiting for my next inspiration :)

Till next time

Phillipa

 

Using up leftovers. Heavily Embellished Beads

The scraps of background left over from projects has been

rolled up, wound with a strong thread and randomly stitched with beads. These are from an inch long up to about 2.5" long.

I havn't a suitable project to use them on yet, But you know me,

I dont need a project idea just to create. I have them sitting in the bowl on my work table and they are just pretty to look at.