Category Archives: projects

‘Not a Happy Patcher!

‘Not a Happy Patcher!
‘Not a Happy Patcher!

I started my red & gold project using “flip and sew” piecing. I am not happy with it. It’s too angular and, apparently, I can’t sew a straight seam anymore. Look how it puckered, despite my efforts to iron it into submission! I’ve taken two patches off and may disassemble the whole thing and start over.

I am dragging out my copy of J. Marsha Michler’s, Crazy Quilting, the Complete Guide, and consulting her, “Ten Ways to Patch a Crazy Quilt.” I think, since I have a foundation, I’m going to try the antique method. I’m back to Charlotte to babysit tomorrow, and I won’t have to lug my sewing machine. We’ll see what happens with that!

Cross stitching with beads on waste canvas

Cross stitching with beads on waste canvas
Cross stitching with beads on waste canvas

This didn’t scan too well, either, but I’m pretty pleased with it. I tacked a piece of waste canvas on this scrap of what looks like dupioni silk. Then I followed a cross stitch pattern with seed beads. The fabric is actually an antique gold, and I didn’t have much of a selection of bead colors, so it looks like Christmas. I enjoyed the stitching and pulling the threads out of the waste canvas, too. I’ll be trying this on velveteen, soon.

My Latest Experiment!

My Latest Experiment!
My Latest Experiment!

I wish I could show you how delicate this came out, the scan just doesn’t show it. I bought sheets of crepe de chine from Dharma Trading. I downloaded free images from antiqueclipart.com and printed them. I didn’t think I’d ever get the backing off the fabric, but oooh when I did. I’m very excited. Something worked for once! Now I have reproduction antique silks to use in my crazy quilting.

Cute Cap!

Cute Cap!
Cute Cap!

Look what a cute cap this yarn created! I am so thrilled with how it turned out! I wonder what it would do if I used circular needles? It’s Bertnat Baby Jacquards in “Boo Berries!”

That’s my model, Petula, by the way. I think she’s a La Baby. (Amazon.com has an amazing offering of La Baby dolls.) Her head is 14″ in circumference. According to my internet research, that’s the average for a newborn.

The ladies in the craft department at Walmart got a big kick out of me when I carried her back there to measure her head. They’re kind of used to me, though. Walmart is the only source of craft supplies in town right now. I’m a frequent visitor.

Something Fishy!

Something Fishy!

I tied to make toy goldfish in a bag of clear soap to give the neighbors kids for Christmas. (See Dec. 20.) They came out pretty murky, and I didn’t finish them in time. I got the idea from the Martha Stewart show. http://www.marthastewart.com/article/fish-in-a-bag-soap?
They were so adorable, and since I make glycerin soaps, I had almost everything on hand. I ordered my fish from eBay.
I’m not giving up on them, though. Murky, or not, they’re still pretty cute. Maybe I’ll give them to the kids on the Epiphany.

Christmas is a lot of work!

Christmas is a lot of work!

Whew! So much to do in so little time! I am working on a new project I saw on the Martha Stewart Show last week. You fill a clear plastic bag half full of clear glycerine soap. When it begins to set, you add a tiny toy fish. Later, you spray the first layer with rubbing alcohol and add another layer. When the soap has set, you tie the bag with a string, and it looks just like a goldfish you’ve brought home from the pet store!