Stamping Block.

I showed you the other day a stamping block that Id bought from the op-shop.

The braid glued on really well and this is the print it makes.

I just rolled on some gold acylic.

I really like how it turned out.

Meanwhile I also did some basic mark making on the star shapes using some 3D paint

Then did a rubbing using some dye sticks Ive had around for years.

I just used a scruched up brown paper bag

Rubbed the sticks over.

Then its just a heat set transfer onto fabric.

A fairly pale transfer as I didnt rub on the dye sticks very hard.

But not as pale as a try to get a second print.

This also shows the type of dye sticks I used.

A simple straight-forward exercise that I will definitely be repeating over time.

I wonder what others use for simple transferring.

Regards

Phillipa

Paper Collage

Good Morning all. :)

Over the last few days I've been

following the creative urge to get into my paper

collection and throw some glue around.

These 2 are straight ephemera pieces.

And this one is mixed media

with some stitching, of course.

I've had the little souvenir Poi brooch

for years.

I have many many pieces of art-work finished, in paper , and fabric.

But when it comes to mounting them for display or sale, I run into a brick wall.

Do I mount them onto a solid background (paper and small fabric pieces) or display "soft" like a quilt.(Fabric pieces).

I have trouble at this stage as I'm more interested in the process than the finished item.

How do others work thru this dilema. Thats if its your dilema at all..lol

Happy Creating

Til next time

Phillipa

(The procrastinating Finisher)



Charity Shop Finds

Went for a stroll down the road to the Charity Shop to drop off a few items, and you know me. I cant come home empty-handed..lol.

A yummy roll of very textured wallpaper.

A small blue box for storage.

A pile of student flash cards.

2 star wooden shapes.

A large handmade stamping block.

And 2 pieces of fabric with temari designs on them that

were in napkin rings.

A great haul for $6. :)

The stamping block is a good size

so I glued on some heavy braid that I had rescued off

a duvet.

Hopefully there is enough of a pattern to get a clear impression.

Happy Creating

till next time.

Phillipa

Vintage Linen For Sale

Hi all.
Have been having a tidy up and Ive had these domestic vintage pieces in
storage for a looooonnnggg time. 13 years to be exact.
I wont be adding/collecting any more so they are up for-sale on
trademe here.

Those teeth are scary

Hopefully they will find a nice new home :)

Happy stitching

Textured Purse

One of my contemporary pieces I made into a small zippered purse.
I just love the feel of it. :)

On a Calico base I laid out square cut scraps of silk,

machine basted, just to hold,

then covered with a fine tulle.

Some scrappy loose weave hessian was placed haphazardly,

and then I embroidered in random rows of running stitch.

Finished off with large circles in buttonhole stitch, with button centres.

then the whole piece was

made into a zippered purse.

I use it to take my sewing tools to Stitching Group. 

Beside my Chair.

I always have many different works beside my chair in the lounge.
So I thought I would share what is here at the moment
Its an eclectic mix which show that I'm not stuck on one particular style of embroidery. :)

First off My stitching area.

Then Tools and beads.

And the eclectic mix of projects that have actually got to the handstitching stage.

                                                             An Art doll, snuggle dolls,
                                                              a crazy quilt block, ready for beading
                                                                     and 2 contemporary pieces

Regards
Phillipa

Christchurch Cuties Snuggle Doll Group Shot

My family of Snuggle Dolls is growing.
This is the first Group Shot. :)

Snuggle Dolls for Knitting.

For those who would prefer to knit a doll, I came up with this very simple design made from 2 rectangles.

Either as 2 rectangles or 2 tapered rectangles.Stitch the face and the wording on and decorate as desired.
Stuff so its soft n squishy :)

Another Snuggle Doll Idea

Using fine tip pens I played with the design on the doll.
Would probably be better with the "normal" sized felt pen.

I also added The date. Another possibility. The fine tip pens wrote on the calico quite easily. :)
With a calico back there is heaps of space for messages.
Hugs n snuggles :)

Christchurch Cuties. Snuggle Doll. First are made..

Between the shakes Ive finished the first 2 of Snuggle dolls.
This photo is pre-stuffing.

This basic shape lends itself to many different decorations, but each will have the word

"hugs" on it.

I did a fairly soft stuffing so the are squishy and  Huggable. :)

The process of stitching is very soothing. The distraction of picking colours and trying to be neat.
I know this is something that others may help in making . Something tangible. Money is always needed in a disaster , but also a small gift made with love for each and every one ,
  Children could make them for fellow canterbury children ?..
Decorate using felt pens , paint, crayons, etc etc. The options are endless.
Glue, stitch paint, draw. Then a soft stuffing for the squishyness. :)

A small idea for Hugs to all.

My email is stitchingalways@gmail.com if you would like to join me. :)

Rust Cloth

On the morning before the quake struck I had put this cloth outside to have a go at my own cloth.
Id found the 2 pieces of metal down the block at a good old fasihioned junk-shop.
So over the past week while we have been rattlin and a rollin I have printed this piece.
I'm really pleased with it.

The darkest areas are the ones that were left for the 3 days while the quake did its thing.Then I just moved the metal whenever I remembered.

Has anyone else had a try. What results did you get?

Regards Phillipa

Christchurch Cutie Snuggle Doll

Ive stitched up a couple of fronts for the dolls and added the word "HUGS".

Its not the clearest. Sorry. Hopefully will look better once I've stitched them up.

Christchurch Cuties. Pattern ideas

I made a cardboard

template and drew around on an appropriate sized piece of calico that could be folded to fit the back as well.

A different fabric could be used for the back to make it more colourful.

I then drew around the cardboard on the doubled fabric creating a stitching line in pencil.

Then freehand drew very simple eyes and a smile. :)

Randomly put dots across the body which will be the centre of some flowers.

I wont cut it till its decorated as it will be easier to handle.

Come join me. :)

My email addy is in a previous post if youd like to say hello.

Happy Stitching in these wobbly times.

Phillipa

Christchurch Cuties.

OOps...Add a half inch seam allowance to the pattern. :)

Christchurch Cuties. Snuggle Dolls

Have been thinking bout construction . The doll could be Drawn on with felt pen or bright crayon on calico, if kids would like to get creative.And stitched up. Right-side out. Leave the seam allowance showing and therefore would need less stuffing.
Will post pix when I have made a couple. :)

Christchurch Cutie

The thread on Trademe to follow now is "Christchurch Cuties or here, if you would like.
Next thing I will need eventually is some stuffing. As I said on trademe, i cleaned out all extra fabric linen and clothes before i moved down to Christchurch. I have heaps of laces and embroidery thread and beads as those who know mew can confirm.  ;)  lol. Its the fabric Im short of.Im sure theres some around the city .

I can be contacted at my email
freeone@inspire.net.nz

Regards Phillipa

Scan of the Doll. " Christchurch Cutie "

I had written a thread in http://www.trademe.co.nz/  to get my brain kick started. And I mentioned this doll for me to make. here is an image of my sketch.Im not sure if yu can print it out or not but it is fairly straight forward. A circle and and an oval joined. So if anyone wants to join me. :).

I did find a similar doll on the internet a couple of years ago that I drew this from and I cant find/remember where I found it, to ask permission from the original designer. If anyone know who that is, please let me know.

Regards Phillipa

New Crazy Quilt magazine

Ive jus downloaded this new magazine called Crzy Quilt Gatherings.
Perfectly easy to download and now to settle in for a jolly good read between aftershocks.There are 40 pages so this is just what the doctor ordered. :)
The author Pat Winter has a blog that is well worth following

Regards Phillipa

Wearable Art pre-earthquake by Jenny Gillies

Hello all from Christchurch.

When we went for a walk thru the central city of the Sunday evening before the quake, We found all these outfits on display in the Ballantynes windows.
I dont think they have survived.???
They had been created by Jenny Gillies, a local Fabric artist.And were on display until a fashion show was to be held in early march.
Many many hours of work went into these.

Hope all is well with others here in Christchurch.

Christchurch Earthquake.

Reporting in. We are fine. Our house is fine. Most of our street is fine, even tho we are in the liqufaction area.
We had a mess inside the house but only lost a couple of ornaments and the Tv set.All in all we got off lightly.Just have to learn to live with no water supply for awhile.

The aftershocks are very nerve racking as some are quite large.

Phillipa

Playing with fabric and stitch

Hello to all.

I had a play with fabrics and quilting stitches and I came up with this. This was made before we moved to Christchurch.

The surface is quite ripply as I quilted it with a DMC perle cotton. Using a large piece for the background, I collaged pieces over the top in a random manner. I'm not sure if I like it or not, BUT it did get made into a larger cushion.

Til next time.

Phillipa

Quilt top. Big Diamond

Hello all.

A few more things I have been up to over the past couple of months. Of course. Unfinished.

For Xmas I was given a Kaffe fassett Book. Caravan Of Quilts
And in it was the pattern called Big Diamond.Its a scrappy pattern and for years and years I have had a box of triangles cut out waiting for the inspiration to use them.And here it was. Sorting into light and dark I made the quilt top. Im quite pleased in how it turned out. If we have a very cold winter it might even get quilted.

Til next time.
stitching always.
Phillipa

Crazy Crumb Piecing

Back in October i posted about Crazy Crumb piecing.
So I just had to try it out for myself. As you know I try not to waste anything and recycle as much as possible, so this was a small project just perfect for me.
This is how my block turned out. :)

It was fun to do and  will be added to my pile of "what the heck am I going to do with this" Pile.
lol. Im sure we all have these types of works. Making for the sake of making with no idea of what we will use it for.
As my blog name suggests, its the stitching I'm interested in. When it comes to making my work up into something, a whole lota procrastinating goes on. ;).

Are you a gatherer of finished items or like me, a gatherer of UFO's. (unfinished objects.)

Bye for now.
UFO expert.
Phillipa

Craft Site for Kids

Do you have younger children or grandkids. This site Kaboose .com  has a fabulous array of craft ideas for the young,
but some of the simple designs would also be great for applique or stitching.

 Isnt he the cutest. Part of the Valentines day images to colour.
This site is a "must" for all creative families. :)

Bye for now.

Early Easter Idea.

Good Morning all. What a scorcher yesterday.

It was still 35 degrees after 11 last night. TG it was just for the one day. I was melting.

I know that Eeaster is still miles away but I saw this posting by Cathe and thought that its a delightful idea.

Till next time.

Etsy Find

I get several types of emails from Etsy and today I spotted this.

The seller is Szuszanna . Worth a quick nosy :)

Im getting "Welcomes to Christchurch"

People are alot friendlier in this neck of the woods, From the ladies at my stitching group to fellow bloggers, just like hannah  who has a blog called The Artsy RedIsn"t her dog just the cutest. Hannah I DO love your style so I will be a regular follower

Moved to the Shakey Garden City.Christchurch.NZ

The last couple of months have been hectic to say the least. We have moved Islands.
a new and more exciting job for (my gorgeous one :) ) MGO.
So a hasty pack to beat the Christmas sailings deadlines to get across the ditch.
Found a tenant, rehomed the animals and away we went.
  Finally have settled into our new home in Christchurch and getting into a new routine.
Weve each taken over a bedroom for our hobbies. He's into miniature Rail. Predominantly NZR. Used to do the big stuff but a change of scene and a change of hobby size for him.
Me..Im still stitching.
Stitching and now more blogging.
Ive started another blog  I may have mentioned it before.This will get updates from my life outside stitching.
Back to my stitching news.
A new city and heaps of shops to check out.
My favourite is The Stitch Playroom. Owned by a delightful young lady, Fenella
who has stocked the shop with contemporary fabrics. And since Im going thru a "modern" stage
and she has a super collection of Kaffe Fasset fabrics, needless to say I cant stay away..hehe
Ive joined her Thursday morning stitching group where about a dozen or so ladies meet to stitch and chat. Im thoroughly enjoying it.
She also runs some extra yummy classes
Ive visted quite a few art n craft stores and will comment on others over time.

This is enough of my domestic stuff. :).

Onto the more interesting stitching stuff, which I will start shortly.

Ta Ta for now
Phillipa

Tulips with Amazing colours

Mother nature always comes up with fabulous colour combinations

Op-Shop/Charity Shop Finds

I Just love the thrill of the hunt in the charity shops I as never know what I will find

to add to my stash.

This week is this collection of braided tasseling and some black netting.

Made in heavy cotton and some rayon. In short lengths that might be used as an edging to one of my small purses.Who knows. Sometimes its just having my collection around me is all thats necessary.:)

Do you have any favourite shops or markets you love to browse or hunt ;)

Regards

Phillipa

On Sella I have heaps of sewing patterns and various Art n Craft books and patterns for sale. http://www.sella.co.nz/store/4qsvxx/freeone

Allies in stitches Blog

A wonderfully informative and attractive blog is Allie's in stitches. With some fun tutorials along with great photos.Ive just enjoyed a browse and thoroughly recommend a look.

This photo shows the end product of what Allie calls Crazy Crumb piecing.
I will definately be trying out this technique to use all the little leftover bits that I cant bear to throw away.



Happy Stitching.

Textile Collections Online

For those of you who just love seeing textiles in all forms , here;s a fabulous online collection in Canada.
Well worth a browse. :).

On Sella I have heaps of sewing patterns and various Art n Craft books and patterns for sale. http://www.sella.co.nz/store/4qsvxx/freeone

Crewel Embroidery Site

In todays post from The Unbroken Thread, she gave us a link to a delicious embroidery site by the name of crewelwork.com.


If you are into crewelwork or just love to see delicious embroidery, then this is well worth a looksee.

And what a beautiful house to work from.
Regards
Phillipa


On Sella I have heaps of sewing patterns and various Art n Craft books and patterns for sale. http://www.sella.co.nz/store/4qsvxx/freeone

The Pastel Crazy Quilt.

Ive added a Flickr link to my blog and uploaded all 14 photos of the Pastel crazy quilt. Please have a browse.