Japanese Rice Bag

I have been taking part in a few sewing swaps recently – and one of my makes was a Japanese rice bag which I thought you might like to see. It was my first attempt and of course I did not read the instructions until it was too late.

By the time I had read the instructions I realised that my blocks were too large for the pattern base – but hey ho – I carried on and improvised a new base.

The bag was for someone interested in quilting and quilting blocks, so I had a go at making a few of these too! I found a lovely rainbow and tulip pattern that were very popular on instagram and, after much unpicking, managed to get them to look quite reasonable.

So here is the finished bag in all it’s glory!

Front rainbow block

Back tulip block

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Appliqued side panel

Appliqued side panel

I just hope that my partner likes my make. Next time I will read the pattern first (well, maybe that is a little too optimistic!)

SAL 46: Sew close…..

Another three weeks has shot past and I have managed to get all the elements of my little mossy bank, for my blue wren to sit on, finished – but not mounted.

This is where I was up to last time…

I have now managed to make up the little pincushion, finish off the French knots, incorporate the needle lace fungi and add a few more beads and spangles. It is still very green, but now it looks like this…..

Mossy Hillock

I have cut out the green circle and now need to mount it onto a block. Maybe next time it will be completely finished!

Many thanks for popping in and look forward to catching up in three weeks time.

Happy stitching.

We are a small group of crafters using a variety of different techniques. Please check out the fabulous stitching by all the other members of the SAL. If you are interested in joining us you can contact Avis for details.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, MaryMargaret, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, AJ, Jenny, Laura, Cathie, Linda, Helen

SAL 45 – Hmm, not much going on here!

Hi everyone, I am really sorry but, apart from adding a few French knots to my project, I have done very little over the last three weeks as I have been trying to finish off a number of swap packages. I will leave you with the picture I posted last week and a promise to try and finish it off in the next 3 weeks!

Many thanks for popping in and look forward to catching up in three weeks time.

Happy stitching.

We are a small group of crafters using a variety of different techniques. Please check out the fabulous stitching by all the other members of the SAL. If you are interested in joining us you can contact Avis for details.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, MaryMargaret, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, Connie, AJ, Jenny, Laura, Cathie, Linda, Helen

SAL 44 – A little more green on green!

Hi everyone, posting later today as I have been trying (all day!) to get my photos to upload from the phone. Since last time I have managed to spend a little time getting more texture onto my little mossy hillock. As you can see I have sewn down eyelets and ruched rayon tape around the edges of the design. The rayon tape is a lovely material to work with and is simply held down with a few stab stitches. I have also added little ribbon wheels made with variegated silk ribbon.

Mossy Hillock under construction.

All I have to do now is add some French knots, make up the little pincushion and add the needle lace fungi that I was working on last time we met.

Many thanks for popping in and look forward to catching up in three weeks time.

Happy stitching.

We are a small group of crafters using a variety of different techniques. Please check out the fabulous stitching by all the other members of the SAL. If you are interested in joining us you can contact Avis for details.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, Connie, AJ, Jenny, Laura, Cathie, Linda, Helen

Turtle Power

I have managed to do a little stitching on my goldwork turtle (designed by Georgina Bellamy of ‘That Embroidery Girl’) , The design was published in a new book called ‘Passion for Needlework’ published by @inspirationsstudios if you would also like to have a go. Last time I had managed to complete the shell of the turtle and the padding for the base.

The base to the turtle

The entire body was then outlined in gold pearl purl and then the next job was to add the metal threads over the padding. The flippers were covered in bright check chippings in three main colours – gold, purple and brown – with circles of green added as an accent colour.

The base of the turtle covered in metal threads

The sides of the turtle were a mixture of bright check and smooth purl, as was the head which had been pulled upwards. The eyes were black beads defined with gold pearl purl around them. Finally a black felt was sewn onto the base of each piece before assembling.

And here is my completed little turtle. I think he looks lovely and I have attached a hanging ribbon to him so that he can be hung up.

My finished turtle

I really enjoyed making this little fellow and now have quite a menagerie!

Thank you for popping in. Happy stitching.

SAL 43 – A little progress

Hi all, well I promised myself some time to work on my Blue Wren Etui by Jenny Adin Christie and so spent the whole day on a piece of needle lace which will be turned into a fungus that sits around the hole where a pair of scissors will live.

Unfortunately it doesn’t look like very much, so I hope you are not too disappointed!

Ooh, while you are here – I have been gifted some cross stitch kits and to be quite honest I do not have the patience for them. I do know that some of you ladies enjoy cross stitching and wondered if anyone was interested in them. Please let me know if you would like them.

Many thanks for popping in and look forward to catching up in three weeks time.

Happy stitching.

We are a small group of crafters using a variety of different techniques. Please check out the fabulous stitching by all the other members of the SAL. If you are interested in joining us you can contact Avis for details.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, Connie, AJ, Jenny, Laura, Cathie, Linda, Helen

Goldwork Turtle

Just loved this design by Georgina Bellamy of  @thatembroiderygirl . The pattern and instructions can be found in a lovely book called ‘Passion for Needlework’ published by @inspirationsstudios . They are a good introduction to anyone interested in 3D goldwork embroidery and there are lots of diagrams included, which I find very helpful when trying to envisage each process along the way.

As with all goldwork – the main work is in the padding. I started first on making the shell which consisted of at least 6 layers of thick felt covered with a thin white felt. Onto this I drew the shapes that were to be filled with chippings and outlined them in gold pearl purl.

As you can see in the picture above I have began to add the chippings to the segments on the shell. Once the shell had been completed it was back to padding work. The turtle is constructed in two parts – the shell and the base.

Now that the base is completed I can start adding the metal threads – which is the fun part. I will keep you all posted as I progress.

Happy stitching everyone.

SAL 42: Slow progress, but a little in the right direction…

Hello everyone, another three weeks have shot past and life is still as chaotic as ever but I did managed to find a couple of hours today to work on my little blue wren etui, designed by Jenny Adin-Christie.

I have been adding a little texture to the base and managed to create a few fluffy, mossy hillocks out of embroidery thread.

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Since the picture was taken, I have added 4 more tufts – I think I might have gone a little overboard! At least it is a little progress in the right direction!

Many thanks for popping in and look forward to catching up in three weeks time.

Happy stitching.

We are a small group of crafters using a variety of different techniques. Please check out the fabulous stitching by all the other members of the SAL. If you are interested in joining us you can contact Avis for details.

Avis, Claire,  Gun,  Carol , Sue,Constanze, Christina,  Kathy,  Margaret,  Cindy, Heidi, Jacky , Sunny ,  Hayley,   Megan,   MaryMargaret , Renee ,  Carmella ,  Jocelyn, Sharon,  Daisy,   Anne,  A.J. ,  Jenny , Laura ,   Cathie,  Linda,   Sherrie,  Helen

SAL 41: No progress here…

Hello everyone, the last three weeks have shot past haven’t they? I am afraid that I have made no progress what so ever on my SAL – as school life has been very hectic and hasn’t allowed any down time to sew. I will leave you with my little blue hen….

I look forward to seeing everyone elses progress – it might cheer me up!!

We are a small group of crafters using a variety of different techniques. Please check out the fabulous stitching by all the other members of the SAL. If you are interested in joining us you can contact Avis for details.

Avis, Claire,  Gun,  Carol , Sue,Constanze, Christina,  Kathy,  Margaret,  Cindy, Heidi, Jacky , Sunny ,  Hayley,   Megan,   MaryMargaret , Renee ,  Carmella ,  Jocelyn, Sharon,  Daisy,   Anne,  A.J. ,  Jenny , Laura ,   Cathie,  Linda,   Sherrie,  Helen

SAL 40: Mossy bank

Hello everyone, I do hope you have all managed to enjoy Christmas. Ours was very quiet – just the two of us (and dog), but it was also quite relaxing as there was no pressure to entertain or get in the car to make the numerous visits we normally do.

Now that I have finally finished my little blue wren etui, designed by Jenny Adin-Christie – he needs a base to sit on, which also provides a place to put a pair of embroidery scissors and a little pin cushion.

The first job is to cut out and mount the velvet base onto a white cotton backing using herringbone stitch. Then mark out where the pin cushion will sit and the embroidery will go.

Applying the velvet base.

Once in place I made a start on trapping spangles in a green organza. These will create texture over the base.

Capturing spangles in organza

So that is what I have managed to achieve in the last few weeks – not much I know, but a step in the right direction. Many thanks for popping in and look forward to catching up in three weeks time.

Happy stitching.

We are a small group of crafters using a variety of different techniques. Please check out the fabulous stitching by all the other members of the SAL. If you are interested in joining us you can contact Avis for details.

Avis, Claire,  Gun,  Carol , Sue,Constanze, Christina,  Kathy,  Margaret,  Cindy, Heidi, Jacky , Sunny ,  Hayley,   Megan,   MaryMargaret , Renee ,  Carmella ,  Jocelyn, Sharon,  Daisy,   Anne,  A.J. ,  Jenny , Laura ,   Cathie,  Linda,   Sherrie,  Helen