WIP Wednesday #12

I'm linking up with Lee at Freshley Pieced - thanks Lee - this weekly summary really helps in identifying what I've actually done (and still to do) - although the last time I linked up was 16th November last year..............so there's some progress to report!

I also love having a look at what others are doing - it provides so much inspiration - there is a seriously large group of very clever people out there.

I did some sewing for Christmas..

pj's x 3, boardies, a pincushion, a cushion cover, 2 stuffed dollies, a matching bag, journal cover and a little drawstring bag, and a frock for my ma-in-law

Made a skirt for me..

7 bags and pouches (other than christmas ones)

2 do.Good stitches blocks...

a Quilting Australia Bee block...

2 baby quilts with matching soft baskets...

14 Farmers wife blocks....

total finished is now 72, so 39 to go

put the hexy quilt together and am now working on the 2nd border...

loaded and started quilting the batik medallion...

made a journal cover for me...

started knitting a pair of socks..

and completed the first 4 of the QAYGFMQQA blocks...

I've decided to review my list of stuff I'm reporting on to keep it more in line with the winter/summer stitching lit - but not tonight - I'll do that when I post my progress against that list, maybe tomorrow...

Jump into Lee's blog (button on the right) and see what everyone else is up to...

Vintage - who me??

One my do.Good Stitches circle has a really inspirational blog - always seems to be trying something new and creating, and sharing, her gorgeous items.  So I was having a read of Jo's blog before Christmas and immediately thought about the vintage linens my ma-in-law has given me - I don't use them at all and they sit in the linen press patiently waiting for an airing - I can't throw them out as most of them my ma-in-law actually made and the work(wo)manship is just amazing.

So I retreived one - and made a journal cover - I love having journal covers on all my notebooks - I've got a few, all for different reasons, and I use them on a daily basis.  Usually I play around with fabric, stitches and bits for a new cover but this time, I shamelessly copied Jo's idea...

front - the strawberry motif is machine appliqued and then stuffed a la trapunto - the colours scream 1950's!

back

This journal is what I'm using to jot down thoughts, action plans and business plans for the new ventures this year - so it's already well used!

If you have a go, make sure you link back so we can see how clever you are.....

WIP Wednesday #5

I've hardly blogged this week - we've had a few family celebrations on and I've had a few deadlines - but I've got lots done.........

Finished:

These have been blogged about here

I also made these.....



A new journal cover for me (it's opened out) - free motion quilting as well as some playing on an embroidery module - i'm testing a 2nd hand sewing machine with a view to buy and there's lots of features...




Boxy pouch prototype - it's a bit wonky so now houses some of my perle threads




A birthday gift for my ma-in-law - a (non-wonky) boxy pouch and a pair of house slippers to match





Quilts in progress:

Made 1 more hexagon:



No action at all:
Farmers wife
Double wedding ring
UFOUFN's:
Psychedelic tartan
Double diamonds
Which way to go
Dancing with the stars
Kimon mini
Sashiko qayg
Red and white challenge
Whirleygig II
Please click on Lee's "Freshley Pieced WIP wednesday" button on the right to see what others are up to

Going over all psychedelic.....

Some days, you just need to finish something the same day you start it - and I needed a new journal cover as my current journal is almost full (I know it's a little bit nerdy to have a journal, but I have the memory keeping capability of a goldfish, so the journal works for me!).

I made one for my bff's birthday which was specific to her and her tastes (blogged earlier) but I wanted mine to be a bit more unfinished.

So, out with scraps of fabrics I'd hand dyed - especially the selvedges - and in a salute to my Scottish heritage, I wove a psychedelic tartan.  This was stitched down onto a piece of scrap wadding, using variegated thread and then the real farty stuff started:

First of all, I used some of my stamps (Extreme Elements from Stampin' Up - one of my favourite stamp sets) and with a black 'stayzon' stamp pad, stamped here and there.  Then, I remembered I could also use bleach as a stamping solution, so out with the White King and a bit more stamping - the dye came out of the fabric but not the black stamped images - guess that's why they call it 'stayzon' !  I really enjoyed this part - except for the fumes - it was amazing to actually watch the dye leach out.

Once the bleach had all dried, I got a nail brush out and vigourously scrubbed to further distress the fabric - and the result is a super soft, very distressed, psychadelic tartan.  Perfect!

I added a couple of pieces of fabric to hold the notebook, left all the edges unbound and then added a little brad on the front - I love it - it's soooooo tactile - here's hoping it inspires me to bigger and better things......

Notebook is opened out so you can see the entire piece (rotten photo - it was taken at night)

Here's a close up of the front:

It's very different to the one I made my bff, but some of the elements are the same - my hand dyed fabric, stampin', variegated thread - love, love, love how a similar set of components can provide the stimulation for ideas at either end of the spectrum.....chaos/order, rough/smooth etc etc

My bff's journal opened out - my hand dyed fabric, stamped, hand quilted, foundation pieced circular flying geese, buttons, sweetwater fabric line and a piece of ribbon taken off a beautifully packaged cake!