Art Show - AAC - Redux Show 2024 - Upcycled Every Day Carry Bag

This my second piece in the Spruce Grove Gallery - Form Redux Show which opens today.

It is an Every Day Carry Bag which was made with upcycled fabrics from a box of fabric given to me by Michelle at ReImagined Fabrics. You can find her on Instagram #reimaginedfabrics  Other bits were chosen from my thrifted/reclaimed stash as well as pieces collected from the ReUse Center.

I made myself one of these bags several years ago.

Title: Upcycled Every Day Carry Bag

Size: 15.00 T x 13.00 W inches

Medium: Fabric Bag with embellishments

I started with the beige cotton fabric for the main part of the bag.  All the seams are finished inside so no raw edges anywhere.  I added a zipper insert made from a beautiful leaf patterned fabric from this box of scraps and squares with a teal zipper chosen from my stash of reclaimed zippers.

I chose a taupe microfiber for the handles which means they will last a long time.

The bag features 3 pockets. The front pocket was made with the accent fabric and I added a coordinating blue button that I found in my stash. The back pocket is a reused Carhartt pant pocket with a velcro closure. I sewed the pocket to the back of the bag which creates a pocket and added an accent fabric tag to the help with the opening the Velcro on the ginger colored pocket. I added some teal slow stitching to the flap of the pocket.

The ginger heavy weight fabric was added to the bottom to show less dirt and will wear much better than the beige cotton fabric. 

A few pieces of tomato red bias tape was added as an accent color which was again pulled from my thrifted supply.

I added a little bling on the zipper pull which was brought from a ReUse Center donation.  

Inside I added a clip for your keys which again was found at the ReUse Center.

It is on display at the gallery and is for sale.  The reception is Saturday April 27th at 1-3pm.

Art Show - AAC - Redux Show 2024 - Slow Stitch Scroll

The Form Redux Show at the Spruce Grove Gallery opens today.  I have submitted 2 pieces to this show.  I started my pieces after discussions with a couple of people at the December reception for the Christmas Store. At the time it was being referred to as the 3D show.  When the official call came out in mid March it had morphed a little and offered a wider range of options. 

It is meant to reuse materials from one state into a new one.  

The fabric used for the scroll is a white tie dyed cotton sheet which I dyed again with green acrylic ink. All the elements are created with bits of leftover scraps of fabric, felt, thrifted embroidery thread and lace, even the flower on the tie is recycled from old earrings. The beads come from my stash.  The spool was originally purchased with decorative ribbon and saved for 10 years until its time came to shine. 

Title: Summer

Size: 4.00 T x 58.00 W inches

Medium: Slow Stitch Fabric Scroll with embellishments

Support: Wooden Spool

It is a slow stitch fabric scroll titled "Summer".  I chose to stitch the new green leaves of May in early summer to the rain and tulips blooming moving along to the insects coming to life represented by the ladybug, the robin represents the birds and their song then we move to the ponds being full of life represented by the dragonfly in the cattails, then we move to the flowers which start to bloom in the beautiful days of middle summer, there are mushrooms and snails and butterflies, the chickadee has been here and will stay all year as summer winds down and finally we have the beautiful sunflowers of late September. 

The elements are all original designs I made up as I went along.  The stitching alone took all of January 2024 then I had to back the piece, prepared the wood spool with several coats of Tung Oil. I braided the string used for the tie and the hanger on the spool.  I chose a large shell button for the closure and a silver flower for the end of the tie.  There is a clear bead at the bottom of the spool which keeps the hanger in place. 

It is on display at the gallery and is for sale.  The reception is Saturday April 27th at 1-3pm.

Sewing Project - Wine Bottle Bag - Japanese 1

 I found a couple small pieces of this Japanese print fabric by Schwartz Liebmen Textiles Inc. in my stash. I believe it to be 100% cotton.

I chose to make the front of the bag be a panel of the gorgeous fabric.  I found some red that my sister gave to supplement to the size I needed. I sewed a piece to the one side but that made it tricky to figure out where to place the the handles.

I placed a row of brown twill tape along the top edge aligned so it would be centered for the purple accent. That was stitched with the wavy decorative stitch then several lines down vertically to quilt the flannel to the outer layer.

Now I would not have a back seam. I did manage the handles correctly but totally forgot about it for the box corners.  I did have to undo the box corners on the outer and lining pieces and then iron the piece well so I would know what was the front.  It had to be done.

With the bottom seams and the box corners now in the right place I could do my 2 rows top stitching at the top of the bag.  

I hand stitched the purple crochet element at the top of panel on twill then added a red button in the center.

I chose red thread and an off white polycotton lining.

Slow Stitching - No. 016 - Planet Earth

This piece of slow stitching for the challenge Kathryn is hosting on K3NClothTales.  The prompt for week 16 was Planet Earth.  Our home in the cosmos and the Blue Dot in the vastness of space.

I learned that the earth is approximately 1/3 land and 2/3 water hence the proportions of my colors patches this week.  

For the land I chose earth colors in brown, oranges, yellows and the fabric scraps are aligned vertically.  

For the bottom I chose blue for water and the pieces run horizontally.

I placed a line of green thread where these meet because generally on earth there is green near the water line.

I chose a simple running stitch going horizontally. This pieces was a little rushed with life happening here.

Slow Stitching - Wool Brooches

I have acquired quite a few small pieces of wool or felted wool and decided to see if I could use my slow stitching to make brooches.

This blue one was my first one.  I chose to add a star in single thread where the 3 colors in the fabric met.  

Originally I had use white thread for the blanket stitch edging and that was not working.  I pulled it all out and started over.

It works much better to have dark blue edge stitching.

I like the uneven shape of this brooch.

 This brooch was stitched on a piece of felted wool which has various colors in it.  It was quite thick so I paired it with some grey fleece. I cut 2" circles from each fabric.  

I slow stitched my sunrise scene onto the felted wool circle. I then whipped stitched the 2 layers together.  I am not sure that whip stitching was the best choice as it has given the brooch an organic shape.

I hand stitched a pin back.

I chose some bright pink wool fabric for this brooch.  I had these iridescent flowers I had reclaimed from an old wedding item.

I stitched my stems on first then added my flowers with a frosted Ebead in the center.  I added some blue seed stitches to indicate sky.

I chose pink thread and used the blanket stitch to hold the 2 layers of pink together.  I chose to put running stitch along the bottom because I wanted to preserve the raw edge.

I then placed a piece of black felt on the back with whip stitch. 

I handstitched a pin back to the black then hid the stitching with a small piece of the same felt.

This is how all the brooch pins are attached  to make them as pretty as possible.

The small piece of fabric over the center the same as the back piece so it becomes quite invisible.

These may make it to the Christmas Store at the gallery in December.

Sewing Project - Wine Bottle Bag - Beau Chateau

This fabric was designed and sold through Stampin Up years ago.  This design is called Beau Chateau and the colors are Very Vanilla and Marina Mist.

This time I decided my accent ahead of time. I dug through my Stampin Up card making supplies and found some scallop edge ribbon in Maria Mist.  The wide grosgrain ribbon is ivory and was in my stash.

I laid the narrow blue ribbon on top of the ivory and ran a line of wavy decorative stitching across the width of the fabric with ivory thread.  This was my first line of stitching to quilt the flannel to the outer fabric. Then added 2 more lines of the same stitch above the ribbon running width wise.  I then ran 4 lines of the same stitching vertically going from the ivory ribbon to the base of the fabric. With that I had quilted the outer fabric.

I chose a thin ivory polyester fabric for the lining of this bag. Had to take it easy with the hot iron.

While the slit was still open in the lining I added the white button.  I tried to find a blue one that would match with no luck.

Sewing Project - Wine Bottle Bag - Gold Accents

I made a few more bags today.  This fabric came from my sister and we paired it with a pink cotton poly for the lining.

I was able to figure out how to sew this bag with the slit in the lining and still have the regular box corners. I will post a How To when I have it ready.

This fabric has some gold accents in it so that informed my accents.

I had not decided what my accent would be so I had to hand stitch the gold ribbon on afterward making sure that I did not go to deep.  I used gold thread which worked really well.  With my slow stitching experience I am more confident to pick up a needle and thread.

I found a green cloth button in my stash which worked out very well in size and color.

 
Here's the other bag from the same fabric but it was the other half and this one read blue instead of green.  That is a bonus.

I am learning that I should be deciding on my accent before I start sewing because accents machine sewn seams are better.

For this one, I stitched the blue grosgrain ribbon in the 2 top stitch seams then added a gold metal button.

I am happy with these as I could customized the color and make 2 different looking bags.

Sewing Project - Wine Bottle Bag - Polka Dots

I made my third Wine Bottle Carry Bag yesterday.

I used some pale blue fabric with red dots which I believe was part of Stampin Up's fabric line when that was a thing.

It is lined with a solid red cotton poly fabric.

I used circles in white thread as my quilting pattern to attach the flannel to the outer fabric.

I chose to assemble the bag differently this time with starting with the top seam instead of that being the last seam.

It was easy to align the handles and the decorative ribbon along the edge and sew the top seam. Then the long side seam of the outer and lining is made leaving a hole to turn it right side out.

Then the box corners are achieved by tucking in the fabric into the center.  Check out this video for the full details.  I made sure that I alternated the corners so they would sit opposite each other on the bottom. Then you turn it right side out and sew up the hole in the lining.  Two top stitch seams and it was done.

I added the 2 different sized white buttons on the deep red ribbon by hand.

It seems to be as stable as the other method.

Here's how they look side by side.  The left is neater.  I really appreciated not having to fight to get handles straight in that small top seam at the end in the first design.

Slow Stitching - No. 015 - Eclipse and Stacking Running Stitch

This is my piece for week 15 of Kathryn's Slow Stitch challenge on K3N Cloth Tales. 

With the solar eclipse that took place on April 8th this was a great idea.  The technique was stacked running stitches which was used to create the rays of the sun. 

I chose a dark blue fabric which I had to patch to make big enough. I added a yellow layer between the blue and the white. I made my moon black.

I invisible stitched around the edges of the circles to start with.

I covered the moon with seed stitching. 

I had the same problem with my yellow layer so I added some stitches on it to have it lay flatter.

I added a running stitch in black to tack down the edges of the dark blue layer to the white.

Slow Stitching Fabric Collage

I finished my second Fabric Collage square with slow stitching last night.

I used a foundation layer of 100% cotton then created a collage and basted the pieces on. 

I then started the slow stitching of the individual pieces. I added a couple pieces of lace, a couple felt buttons, and created a simple star shape as a focal element in white thread.

This piece will likely end up on the front of a bag like my first one.

It is fun! 

 

Sewing Project - Wine Bottle Bag - Updated

When I visited my sister a while back we worked on a wine bottle bag design.

I brought the pieces to make one as we ran out of time to finish one for me.

We had decided to add some height to the bag so we could have 1.5 inches in the top band where we were top stitching. This would add strength and a bit of stifness.

The one on the left was the one I brought home so I cut the outer fabric and added the 1.5 inch blue strip.  That meant I had to add some to the lining as well.  We decided to leave the flannel so it would only reach the top of the bag with out being folded over in the seam.

Learning is challenging. I did add the pieces I needed but failed to remember to put the flannel in and to make the top seam 1.25 inches so there would be extra fabric in the top edge. You can see that it is higher than the other one. Made on Sunday.

The one on the left is the one I made on today which incorporated all the things we planned.  A cotton outer fabric, a flannel layer shorter than the cotton, and a poly-cotton lining the same size as the outer fabric.  The fabric measures 15.5" tall by 12.5" wide. Flannel is 14" T x 12.5" wide.

I quilted the flannel to the diagonal patterned fabric along those lines in black thread. Then I made the box corners on the outer and lining fabrics.  Then made the strap.  Pinned the strap first to ensure it was right with the same side facing the outer, that they were on the sides with the seam at the back, and that they were aligned with the edge of the fabric. I then added the lining ensuring that the box corners were sitting opposite the ones on the outer fabric.  I sewed the seam 1.25 inches wide along the top leaving a opening to turn everything inside out. 

Once the lining is pushed into the bag and aligned, then pressing the top edge flat I sewed the 2 top stitching seams. One really close to the edge to close the opening.  The other to capture the handles a second time to ensure strength.

Note: Maybe a bit of trimming of the flannel in the box corners would help balance out the bottom. They stand on their own without a bottle inside.

Updated:  I redid the one on the right to include flannel, the 1.5 inch top stitched edge and an accent on the blue strip.

I have added the accent for number 2 so this set is finally completed.

Slow Stitching - No. 014 - Layers and the Moon

Week 14 of the Slow Stitching challenge with K3N Cloth Tales.

The prompt was layers and the moon with the lunar eclipse coming soon. It was geared to experiencing stitching through several layers of fabric and how the stitching starts giving it structure and weight.

I chose an owl for my animal.  I started with a 4.25" square of deep purple linen, then a striped layer for horizon line, then my yellow full moon and topped with  my Owl. This is a smaller version of this one I created for Inktober.

I stitched the horizon layer to the linen in several lines of stitching. Then I stitched the moon with running stitch in circles, then I stitched my Owl on with black thread. I added yellow accents with felt eyes, beak and feet. I used the stem stitch for the branch is sitting on in brown thread. I added stars to the night sky and voila another square done.

Art Show - AAC - Juried Member Show 2024

I dropped off these 2 pieces at the Art Gallery on Saturday morning to have them accepted or rejected for our Allied Arts Council - Juried Member Show.

Title: Tar Brush Strokes

Size: 13.00 x 17.00 inches

Medium: Photography

Print: 09 x 13 inches

Mat: 13x17 Dark grey with white second mat

Frame: 13x17 Metal Dark Grey 

This print is a triptych of 3 sections of tar brush strokes made by a tradesman at the end of the job of coating a cement parkade.  I expect the brush was 12-18 inches wide and the brush strokes covered an area of 8 x 12 feet or so. 

I chose the most dynamic sections.  I framed them with black lines and inserted it into an opening in a double mat of white and dark grey.  

                                     ________________________________________

Title: Patchwork Fields

Size: 11.00 x 14.00 inches

Medium: Mixed Media - Watercolor and Pen and Ink

Art Size: 04 x 10 inches mixed media paper

Mat: 11x14 white with a wide narrow opening

Frame: 11x14 Black Metal Frame with non glare glass

I was inspired by aerial shots of dry stone walled fields in the United Kingdom. Featuring a river running through them with a long red roofed farm building.

                                          ____________________________________

I returned at 3:00 pm to find that both pieces had been accepted into the show.  Looking forward to the reception.

Happy Easter

 

I am so thrilled with my African Violet blooms.  

Wishing you all a very Happy Easter|

Slow Stitching - No. 013 - Friendship Star

The prompt for week 13 of the slow stitch challenge 2024 at K3N Cloth Tales was  Friendship with a nine patch square as the technique hence a Friendship Star.

I am not a traditional quilter so nine patch is something I have not done before. Then to make on a small scale and hand stitch it was another level of challenge.

I started with 2 inch squares but somewhere along the way I ended up with extra fabric I had to cut off the the center square was a bit too big.  Math is not my strong point.

Friends are important.

I chose to put the print on the star and the aqua on the surrounding squares. I then added the yellow and teal strips around the square to make it work better when I put these squares into a project at the end of the year.  Once the nine patch was done, I added a white cotton layer on the back and id the top stitching.  Really happy with this piece.

Slow Stitching - No. 012 - Bundle Book

This is my first piece for week 12 of the slow stitching challenge with K3N Cloth Tales.  

This challenge was to stitch one piece which will stay with me and one which will be exposed to nature for 3 months.

The poem Kathryn shared is the one where if you love something let it go if it comes back its yours if not it never was.  That was too much letter stitching for me so I just Free for my word on the the piece which will stay with me.

I put down the blue circle then the yellow word then the purple butterfly and then the seed stitching all the way around in green.  A final frame of yellow invisible stitch. I chose white cotton on a blue and white gingham fabric.

I chose Came Back for the piece which will be put outside for 3 months.  Mine has not gone far so I know I will be able to retrieve it. 

Those with more nature available in the form of yard, garden and or woods will have many nooks and crannys to place their bundle.

I made a book with four pages.  I ripped my 2 pieces of cotton and stitched down the center. I stitched in white cotton thread the circle and the words.

I had gathered a pinecone, some pine needles, a leaf from unknown bush, some green cedar leaves on my walk yesterday which was glorious.  I was able to wear my spring jacket.  I added a bit of rusty wire as well.

Here are my ingredients for the bundle. 

On the left handside the pages were not stitched together so I put pine needles in between the cloths.

The rusty wire was stood up so I could roll it.  

I found some jute to tie the bundle.

There is a pine cone as well but forgot to include it in the photo.

I did investigate nooks and crannys on my walk yesterday and decided that with the number of people and dogs around I may lose my bundle so I chose my balcony instead.

Today, we are back to the snow.

I will water my bundle regularly so the rust and decomposition can take place.

We will retrieve our bundles in 3 months time for the solstice in June.

Sewing Project - ReUsable Bag - Quilted Swirl

 

I made another ReUsable Shopping Bag today.  

I started with the 12.5 inch quilted square I picked up at the ReUse Center this week.   I backed the square with a 14" square of white 100% cotton. I chose to do this because the yellow fabric was thin and showed the pattern of the turquoise fabric through and with a finished layer I could create a pocket. I top stitched the swirl to the white cotton by following 2 of the diamond shapes in the quilting.  I then, used the technique of self binding to finish the edges.  That means bringing the white to the front and folding over and again and top stitching down. I mitered the corner with a technique I research a while back for napkins. Perfect Mitered Corners Tutorial. 

I then chose a turquoise microfiber cloth which matched well and created it with finished seams on the inside to a final width of fourteen inches. I sewed the quilted swirl to the front of the bag (should have done it before the sides).  I left a piece of the top edge open and created a pocket by top stitching are tall rectangle following the quilted pieces.

I created the handles by hemming the ends, pressing in half then in half again and top stitching the ope and folded sides. They were 19" long by .75" wide. I folded the top edge of the bag 1" then again another inch and sewed it down with the wavy decorative stitch. I placed the handles 4" from the edges and sewed them down the 2 inches they overlapped the bag. 

I created a skirt for the top of the bag with a double layer of white cotton and a double layer of turquoise microfiber. I serged the cut edges.  I folded over the serged edge about 1" along the finished top edge of the bag and top stitched in on.  I then folded in the serged short ends in and top stitched the 2 of them together on the side seam of each bag. 

I used white thread for this project.

Lipstick Needle Case

 I found some of these empty lipstick cases and I saw a needle case.  During a visit with my sister earlier this week we brainstormed ideas and had determined that polyfill would be the best filler.

I came home and worked out what I saw in my head.

I created a red felt tube, stitched it by hand, filled with polyfill and sealed at the top with another felt circle. I used a medium Zot at the bottom to keep it in place in the lipstick case.  Now one can safely carry a few needles with our slow stitching projects and it looks really cool.

Binder Cover with Journaling Bookmark

I had a visit with my sister before the snow came down again.

We discussed a lot of creative ideas and I realized that I don't have a central place to document these.  

They may or may not become full fledged completed projects but it was great to have a creative discussion.  It is important, to document the details we discussed so that they are not lost when the idea becomes a possibility.  It may be a spring board to another idea. Who knows.  

That is when I decided I needed a creative ideas journal.  She had returned to me a small binder that I had passed to her a couple of years ago that she had not used yet.  I am glad she kept it.

She sent fabric as well that is headed to the ReUse Center but I thought I should see if there was something there that would work for this project.  The big yellow flower on this fabric spoke to me.  I decided that I would use this.  I chose some beige fabric from the box which was given to me for the lining.  I cut the pieces 22" long and 10" inches tall.  The binder is 9 1/8 tall but I need some room.  I chose a 3/8 inch seam to attach these two layers which was too generous.  I did not have any fabric sticking out to create the top stitch to keep the flaps in place which would slide over the sides of the binder.  I chose to hand stitch the flaps in place with thread.  

I had an extra set of dividers which I bought at the second hand store a while back.  It may be hard to categorize the ideas but I will see how it goes.

She had created a Journaling Bookmark which I just winged the construction of.  I did have to try twice to get at least something that worked.  This means I will always have a pencil to jot notes.

sewing Project - Book Bag - Navy Calico

I made another book bag/sleeve.  This time I chose a navy calico fabric from my stash.  I believe I was given this piece from a quilter that was de-stashing. 

I found the beautiful cotton lace at the ReUse Center in the last couple of weeks.  The blue bias tape is a leftover from making these ReUsable Bags. 

This was a smaller piece of fabric so I had to stick to the 12x19 inches to get handles as well.  I cut my flannel padding layer the same.  I then used the stitching of the bias tape then the lace for my first 2 quilting seams.  I then made them every 3 inches with the wavy decorative stitch width wise across the bag.

I used a piece of white microfiber cloth to make the lining.  I added a large inside pocket using a piece of striped cotton poly as I had no calico big enough.

The handles were cut 2x12 inches then just a 1/4 fold over on each side and then down the middle again making them 1/2 inch wide.  I would like more but it is what it is.

I found a beautiful vintage button and used white flat elastic for the closure.