A view from a hill

This is my 4th and final page of the Collabor-ART circle fabric challenge.

My theme was architecture and for this page I dyed some of the fabric the familiar red/orange that the tobacco factory (large building on the right) and Cabots Tower (on the hill in the background) with pro markers (it is not going to be washed so does not need to be permanent) and thread sketched the outline of the hills.

I then used felt pieces to create the coloured houses that adorn several of Bristol's hills.

I was quite pleased how this one turned out and am tempted to frame it rather than bind it into the book I was originally going to make.

Happy crafting

Kyla

Beach huts and tumeric

 Over on the collaborART blog we are taking part in a Chinese Whispers circle journal-full details can be found in my previous posts here .

This month I was sent this parcel of goodies to try to incorporate some in the next make. The picture I was sent was of an autumnal quilt made of small rectangles so I used the inspiration of the colours and rectangles to create my next project.

 I used the dyed fabric as the background and added a piece of fabric I dyed with tumeric (from the colour inspiration) and some left over blue dyed fabric that I was practising stencilling and stamping on.

 Folded over the blue fabric just looked blue with a little faded black in parts-but turn it over and you can see my failed experiment!

 I then stapled it all to a frame to keep it taut

 adding stitching with the machine and some metallic thread for the sea. I also cut out some scraps for a beach hut (using the cardboard shapes as a template).  I painted up one of the brads I was sent and use it on the roof of the beach hut.

 I added  a couple more beach huts and some of the felt I was sent as a door.

 I then added lots of layers for the sea.  Everything from wool, string, silk throwers waste and net which I couched down with free machine embroidery.

So that's my 3rd make-half way through.  I have not received this month envelope yet so not sure what to make, but I am sure it will once again test my imagination-which is the purpose of me doing this, to get out of my crafting comfort zone!

Happy crafting

Kyla

 

Another archway!

 Over on the CollaborArt blog we are taking part in a six month chinese whispers fabric project.

Each month we use another participants previous project to inspire us and a small envelope of goodies are sent to try to use some of them in our next project (full details can be found on my previous blog post here).

  The lovely Chris sent me (a larger than expected!!) envelope of goodies 

(such lovely building fabric)

 

 and this fantastic card titled "The Socialites Boccee Tournament.  Friendly competition ensues on the course but it's no reason to put down the wine"  A sentiment I concur with!!

 The picture of the project I was sent had some stamped images on the fabric (a lovely art quilt representing a season) so I thought I would use that as my inspiration spring board.

I used some fabric I previously dyed in a tea bath and stamped an ornate archway and attached the printed fabric, batting and muslin.  I made a mask to ensure I was covering the archway with the patterned fabric.

 I then free machine embroidered around the stamped image and then with a deep breath cut through the top layer (being extra careful NOT to cut any deeper) to reveal the layers below

 I then added some of the decorative edging and a metal button Chris sent me and made 2 ribbon roses (thanks to Jill and Arlene at the Coven for their patience in teaching me how to do this!) and used some variegated thread to add a couple of hand stitched leaves

 I also added some hand stitching on some of the buildings to add to the quilted effect.

Month two down.  I have already had my photo for the next inspiration, but this project has taught me to hang fire on deciding what to make next as it can be difficult to incorporate some of the items you are sent (which is good as it stretches the imagination).  

So I await another visit from my postie

Kyla

CollaborART fabric project

 On the Collabor-ART blog I belong to we are doing a "Chinese Whispers" style circle journal.  

It involves choosing a theme (mine is Architecture) and making something with some fabric/stitching in it.  

You then email the picture to the next person on the list along with a small envelope of haberdashery goodies.  They then use your picture and maybe an item or two from the envelope to influence/make the next item and so on until it goes all the way round back to you.

  

Now the good thing about this is that you don't have to trust your precious handmade item to the post or take time off work to get to the post office as its done by email.

I have posted off my envelop so thought I would share with you my first 'make'.

I thought I would make a fabric journal on the architecture theme.  To make life easier I thought I would make the individual pages first and then think about bringing it all together in a journal once they are finished (NO idea how to go about that, but I am sure it cannot be that difficult!)

 I decided to make another reverse appliqué picture so I started with calico, black fabric (that I cut an archway out of the middle) and various green fabrics  for hills.  the whole lot was stuck with bondaweb and backed with cheap muslin.  I then drew a stone archway on parchment paper and pinned this to the fabric and machine stitched the design.  The cute pin cushion on the right was a gift a couple of years ago from fellow WOYWWer Lunchlady Jan and gets used for all my sewing sessions.

 

You then tear away all the paper to reveal the fabric underneath

 

 Then you need nerves of steel as you cut into the fabric, being really careful not to cut into the layers below!

 I then machine stitched the tree trunk and shading for the window ledge

 Then I hand embroidered the leaves using seed stitch and a variegated green thread

My first page of my new project finished (well, until assembly of the journal that is!).

Happy crafting

Kyla

Truly unique at 90

 Hello peeps.  I hope the weekend is treating you well.

The other week it was my Nan's 90th Birthday!!  I know, she is totally amazing.  She lives in New Zealand so I wanted to be 100% sure that she had opened the package before I blogged about it!

This is the card I made her, I used some vintage paper from an old finance book (in old money!) and stamped some butterflies.

I then mounted this on a patterned background and added a hand stamped and coloured butterfly.  I distressed the edges of the card adding some paper brads from craftworks which I coloured to match the card.

Finally I gold embossed the 90 twice and added them to the page.

Now the present was a real dilemma. I had NO idea what to make Nan.  It had to be something I made as I have been making gifts for my Nan since I was about 7 years old and made her a felt pincushion.  I made her a hand painted and stitched wall hanging for Christmas so that was no good, I made her jewelry recently too...what to do?

Then it hit me...I could cover a notebook with a felt and machine stitched embellished cover.

  So that is what I did.  I took a day off work and spent the day at the sewing machine, a fabulous day and I was really proud with what I achieved (as well as putting doing the ironing off again!!).

 

I layered different colour sheer fabrics, ribbon and hand dyed wool and first used a blue then gold thread to over stitch.

I also used a blue thread to edge the book cover so it was all nice and neat.

There you have it, a one off and truly unique gift for a one off and truly unique Nan.

Happy Crafting

Kyla

You are my sunshine

 Hello peeps, so this is the show and tell of the final Christmas pressie that I made.

This is the present that I made for my Nan.  She is 89 (90 in a couple of months) and lives in New Zealand.  I had NO idea what I could get Nan for Christmas then I remembered I had painted a piece of fabric with a lovely sunny design but had no idea what to do with it.

So I decided to do some free machine embroidery-I got a bit carried away and ended up embroidering over most of it!

 I used a variety of stitches and then backed the piece with felt and machine stitched a border all the way round.

 

I did a bit of hand stitching too and then added a couple of rings on the back and some ribbon.  That way Nan can either hang it on the wall or use it as a place mat on her bedside table.

Now I just need to think what I can make for her birthday in March!!!

Happy crafting

Kyla

 

3D embroidered picture

Hello everyone, I hope you were able to enjoy the sun (if you had it) yesterday...I certainly did.  My hubby, brother and I went around bedminster in Bristol in search of the large bugs (82 in total) that have been painted and erected around the area on shop fronts etc. A great few hours topped of with a sneaky pint in a local venue that used to be a tobacco factory.

It was a lovely day, we haven't had many of them over the past few weeks.  I will keep it short, but a couple of weeks ago my wonderful father sadly passed away.  So every waking minute has been organising and dealing with 'stuff'.  Thankfully my brother (and his lovely new wife) have been over from their home in Ecuador and they have been such a great help.

I was delaying posting my latest make as its was an anniversary present for my parents, dad passed away 2 days before their 44th anniversary but luckily they opened it a few days before whilst I was there-so I thought it was time to post it on here.

 This is the finished piece. 

 

 I scanned the newspaper article about their wedding and printed it on fabric (using the freezer paper technique...google it or message me if you want the deets).

I then added various pieces of fabric, organza, silk tops, lace etc and free machine embroidered it to secure.

I added some words, buttons, feathers, silk cocoons etc and a mixture of machine and hand embroidery.

I was so pleased that my mum and dad opened it before he died, he had a lovely smile on his face....a nice memory.

Right, enough woeful thinking for now, I just thought I should explain why I have not been on here as often as I would.

Kyla

 

Days off is all sewn up

After such a hectic day yesterday I pre-planned a day off to play.....and so far I have finished my machine embroidery picture, adding silk rods, cocoons, wool, leather etc and burning back some areas.

The whole lot was stitched on felt, for stability, and I then used distress stains to colour pale fabric so that the main colour carried over the edges and then I stretched the whole thing over a pre bought canvass.

Off to play a bit more!!

Happy Crafting

Li'l Pidge 

A sunday quickie

Hello, only a quick post as Shelock is due to start soon!!!  Today I went to the Shepton Mallet Giant Flea Market and was VERY restrained!  (mainly because my version of a bargain is very different from the stall holders view of a bargain!!).  I did manage to get myself a cute cabinet to put in the craft room (I'll post a picture soon as its TOO dark now) for £5, 2 drawers, glass fronted shelves and a wee shelf-perfect for mica and sprays-and that was it!!!!  January is a lean month...hence the UIU (use it up) pledge.

Talking of 'the pledge', this card is actually made from wrapping paper that my hubby bought!  It was covered it LOTS of mini pictures which I cut up, mounted and stuck a random selection on the card.

I have also entered this fabric postcard in the December Cloth Paper Scissors challenge.  You had to make a postcard where there was at least 50% fabric and because I backed it with stiff pelmet vileen and calico I could actually write on it, just like a postcard.  You can check it out  here

Anyhoo-sherlock beckons....

Happy Crafting
Li'l pidge 

I'm back

I cannot believe its been almost a month since my last post...so much has happened: first we went on holiday to Porta Pollenca (Majorca), clear blue sky and sea....wonderful.  Then I was away with work and working, working, working......all work and no play makes me a very tired and cranky wife!!

So, I decided enough was enough and crack on with the crafting (what with the coven outing to the NEC craft show coming up I thought I'd best experiment with the goodies I bought last time in case I love them and need to buy some more!!) and try different things for me.

So, first up is an altered canvas.  I printed a photo I took of Exeter cathedral onto calico that I ironed onto freezer paper!  Now, I am LOVING this stuff.  Its from the states and is made to wrap food for the freezer, but you can iron fabric onto it and it become slightly adhesive and 'grabs' the fabric, then you simply feed it through the printer as though it was paper!!  Hey presto, printed fabric.  All that money I have spent on special fabrics and even thinking of buying digital grounding to 'key' fabric and all I ever needed was some freezer paper (if you have any other uses for this please let me know....I am a convert)!

Then I distressed it with some DI, I outlined some parts with a black micron pen and darkened some areas with oil pastels (these are new to me, thanks to Coven Jill for passing on some of her pre loved ones) then I used multi medium to glue it to the canvas.

I cut out the door (a horrible modern door with no entry signs on it,so not in keeping with the rest of the building) and used some old text and a picture of a knights visor, stamping over with DI.

 I then used some metal contact paper (metal sticky backed paper about 2" deep from the hardware store, I think its used for joining pipes) which I embossed by hand with a Ten Second Studio mould and coloured it with my new Snow Cap alcohol ink mixed with some other colours (see, I am trying to use SO much of my stash!) finishing it with a dyed style stone. 

Next (thanks to hubby for allowing me a WHOLE weekend to play...I am happy and VERY inky) I decided to get out the pelmet vilene I carted back from the NEC in March but still haven't used and made a postcard with it.  I dyed some plain fabric, sprinkling it with salt to remove some of the dye then stitched it to the vilene to make it nice and sturdy to do some free machine embroidery. I added sheer fabrics, stitching and burning back with the heat gun, added some foils, dyed scrim, wool and silk fibres. 

 I then made a wee fish by sandwiching some mini sequins between angelina fibres and ironing them to make fabric, then I encased it in dissolvable fabric, stitching the fish design then washing it to dissolve the fabric leaving the shimmering fish.

I made some wire spirals and added sequins to represent seaweed.  Finishing it off with a nice piece of clean calico for the back and stitching all around in metallic threads.

So, a couple of new things from me, a bit experimental (I think I will try the canvas again as I enjoyed making that) I just need to practise a bit more and think of ways of incorporating the techniques into cards and tags also (one question...when you have made all this stuff what do you do with it?  Its starting to fill up my craft room....and I need to space for more new stash!!).

Happy Crafting

Li'l Pidge x