Matching Pegs

Last night I finished the “Multipetal Flower Cushion”.  Actually, it’s a terrible name, but I have not yet come up with a better one.  Having recently purchased some cushion forms, filled with feathers, (from IKEA) I decided to make the whole cushion cover bigger than I had planned.  This meant adding a border around the front.  I chose to use the same fabric, but made it a bit more spiffy by mitring the corners.

I am really happy and excited about the whole tile/grout look, but admit that Mr Matching Pegs is probably right, about the fact that the design itself doesn’t quite work.  The leaves need to be different, perhaps not so attached, or of a more uniform colour than the flower.  It was such a pleasure to make, I am sure I will try designing with this look again.

Luke, being much more Minimalist than me, prefers the back.

It was quite a struggle to get these pictures, it is exceedingly grey around, here, which is not surprising for winter in Melbourne.  I had to turn our arm chair around to face the window, which was not that bright because it faces south (like a north facing window if you live in the Northern Hemisphere – they get less light, and no direct sunlight, if they face directly south).  In “real life” the cushion is slightly warmer in colour.

If you would like to see a spectacular quilt which is similarly inspired by grout, check out Cathy’s delicious “Fassetted Mosaic Quilt top”, it will thrill you.

So, want to help me name this design?  Just don’t call it Rabbit, because it is a flower (he he he)!

I have finished the front of my cushion.  I am really pleased with it, and it was worth changing a few of the applique pieces for better contrast.

It is a flower with two leaves – but it seems most people can’t see it.

I am going to make it into the cushion cover as soon as I get a chance.

It seems I am repeating myself, because I am creating it again, as a painting.

Do you repeat yourself creatively?

Long time readers will have seen this flower, or ones like it, lots before.  It is somewhat of a signature motif.

With the other half of the world hurtling towards the end of the school year, I thought it would be a perfect time to offer the design as a free pdf download.  It makes a nice little gift for a teacher, coach, carer or similar special person.  Much of it is worked in back-stitch, which is pretty easy for kids to attempt, so perhaps your child can do some themselves, (you can see my childrens’ early sewing endeavors here).

To download the pdf of the design, click on this link…. ThankYouFlower.

It is designed to fit within a frame for a standard 4″ x 6″ photo, with or without the glass.

To create one for yourself you will need:

• Thanks You Flower.pdf.
• Approx. 7″x9″ of Background fabric – Quilters cotton, Homespun or Calico (known as Muslin in the US).
• 4 – 6 colours of stranded embroidery floss (the specific ones I have used are listed on the pdf.  You can work the background french-knots in 1 or 3 colours).
• Embroidery needle
• Marking pen (I use a very fine Pigma or Zig Millennium in brown, which is fine enough to cover with the 2 strands of thread)
• 4″ x 6″ photo frame
• Embroidery hoop (optional)
• Approx. 4 1/2″ x  6 1/2″ of thin, iron on Pellon, or  woven iron-on interfacing (optional),
• Slightly waxy pencils, or twist up style crayons (optional – I use Derwent Artists or Crayola “Twistables” Crayons).
• Iron
• Paper Towel (optional)

Trace the design onto fabric, using your favorite marking pen and a light box (or window, glass table, etc.).  If you are going to colour the flower, place it on top of a pad of paper, so the surface under it is slightly soft, otherwise your colouring lines will be too sharp and defined.  I also add little blobs of colour around the background spots surrounding the flower.

Heat-set the colour with a hot, dry iron, and a sheet of paper-towel between the iron and the stitchery.  This removes the wax in the crayon or pencil (the Artist Derwents or crayons I use are a little waxy). The colouring is set fast enough to handle hanging on a wall, but not on an item that requires repeat laundering.

At this point, I also like to adhere thin, iron-on Pellon to the back of my stitchery to hide the threads, and create a slight loft, because I like the look it gives to the finished work.  A stabilizer with no loft (such as Weaveline) is an alternative, but you don’t need to use anything if you don’t want to.  All stitching is done with 2 strands of floss.

After stitching the design, press it (from the wrong side) and trim the backing to 4″ x 6″.  Slip it into the frame, and stand back to admire your work.  I like to leave the glass in, so the stitchery does not get dusty.  You may prefer to be able to see the texture more closely, and leave the glass out of the frame.  If you decide to remove the glass, take care to dispose of it carefully.

I would love to see a photo of your finished “Thank You Flower”, so drop me a line, if you have finished one…claire(at)matchingpegs(dot)com.

Please use this for personal use only, and do not reproduce it for sale.  Please seek my permission before using this design in any way, other than as a hand-sewn stitchery.

*Note there are two different versions of this stitchery in the photos.  The close-up image (2nd in the post) shows the exact thread colours specified on the pdf.

Happy Stitching.

I have slowly been working on my cushion front, which now has a completed leaf – just one more to go.

I have decided that I need to do a little unpicking before I continue though.  The lovely, bright, fresh purple segment you see there is not quite right.  The colour is a little too light, and lacks contrast with the “grout” so the leaf looses some of it’s crisp outline.  I am really in love with this fabric, but will have to use it elsewhere.  I have been auditioning deeper, jewel-toned scraps to replace it with.

I worked on this cushion at Sew It Together, which was weeks ago – I feel quite remiss not to have shared my wrap up with you.

This is the little name tag I whipped up the night before.  I was pretty pleased with it, and I managed to follow the aqua and red theme for the event (despite my stash being light-on in the aqua department – I have lots more duck-egg and peacock blues).

Here is the amazing haul of stuff from the generous sponsors of Sew It Together.

A Thea and Sami wire coat hanger cover kit,an Ernst and Pebble pattern from Jodie of Ricrac, a customised Moleskin from Cass, a Lark green journal, Chez Moi “Swanky” fabric prize from the Oz Material Girls, bamboo needles from Craft Junk, covered button sampler pack from Jackobindi, a fabric sampler pack from the Oz Material Girls, and a Retromummy little hexagon sampler pack to make a hexie flower.  Phew, what an amazing haul.  Thank you so much to the wonderful sponsors, I will be sure to blog more about you as I use your things to make other things.

Here is a closer look at the pack of “Swanky” fabric (designed by Chez Moi, whose collections I really love).  I was lucky enough to have my name called early, to pick a prize, and my eye was drawn straight to this.  The colours blend like water colours, which is how I believe this line started it’s life.  Each piece is a couple of inches smaller than a fat quarter.  This is crying out to be a lap quilt in the family room – the kids curl up with quilts most mornings, while the house gradually warms up, after the heating is turned back on.  Thanks so much Oz Material Girls!

One reason it has taken me ages to share pictures of my loot is because the weather here in Melbourne has been very grey.  This morning it started foggy, but when the fog lifted, we finally saw the sun.

The cooler weather has had me turn to my very basic knitting again.  Another scarf made with Bamboozle yarn – 70% bamboo, 30% cotton = 100% soft!  This one is for Amelia.  Speaking of Amelia, she did super well at the ABBA concert!  We were not allowed to take photos, but one of the staff members was given permission, and I am waiting to get a copy before I share my highlights of the day.

What is the weather in your area inspiring you to create?

Lots has been going on in my world that hasn’t made it onto the blog.  Some good and then some of the other kind.  Rather than bang on about my dramas, I thought I would cheer us all up, with a look at some sequined high-top sneakers – because what could be cuter or happier (don’t tell me they are not practical – I don’t care, they ooze happiness).

In fact, check out Amelia’s whole look, which I wish I could still pull off.  Sadly, what is cute on an almost-10-year-old is probably a little bit “mutton” on a mid-30’s-type.  Mutton or not, I would probably buy those shoes if I saw them in my size, but instead I will have to live vicariously through my daughter – because that is a healthy way to deal with life, no?

Speaking of reliving my youth (we were), Amelia is in the choir at school, which is performing this weekend in an ABBA concert with an ABBA tribute band.  The event re-inacts ABBA’s last concert, which involved Swedish school children.  We have been listening to nothing but ABBA “Gold”, all week.  Did you know that Australia had a play list, on that album, that was different to everywhere else until 2008?  We had “Ring Ring”, “I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do” and “Rock Me” rather than “Super Trouper”, “I Have a Dream” and “Thank You For the Music”.  I know because I had to be careful which one I downloaded from iTunes – we needed “I Have a Dream”.

Some of my recent crafting has been for presents – here are a pair of the pin-cushion sized biscornu that I made for a friend.  I have just acquired some upholstery weight fabric to try making these up in a footstool size, so stay tuned for that – it is going to take a fair bit of stuffing, and a really long needle!

Now I am off to go sing some more ABBA at the top of my lungs – “I don’t want to talk……, about things we’ve gone through………..” What’s your favorite ABBA song?

(Mine’s “The Winner Takes It All” – today anyway).

There have been lots of stressful things that I don’t want to blog about, getting in the way of the things that I do want to blog about lately*.  I started this post almost a week ago, which is lucky in a way, because it has been too dark to take photos for days, and the ones below were at least taken in the sunshine.

These books are two recent acquisitions that I am pretty happy about.

All of blog land has been onto the Alabama Stitch Book for ages, but I just jumped on board – some of the projects in this book are honestly inspirational (a pretty overused word usually).  I was very keen to get it, to learn how to recycle old t-shirts into something beautiful, like the skirt above.  This was mainly to stop the conflict between my inner de-clutterer and my inner green-re-user.

Tile Quilt Revival is a timely purchase.  It echoes where I was already going with the cushion design I have been working on for some time.  I really like the idea of the background showing through, like grout, in between tiles.  The photo above is of some of the unusual historic quilts in the book that utilize this technique.  There are not many examples of these kinds of quilts out there, but they really “speak to me”, perhaps more than the modern quilts in the book do.

I have not learned anything new, technique-wise, from the book, but it is nice to add it to my bookshelf for inspiration.  You can see here my progress with the cushion-front.  I am taking it to Sew It Together (Crafty-Bloggers Convention in Melbourne) tomorrow, as it is the perfect project to sew and chat with – which is why I love needle-turn applique, even though it is time consuming.  I hope to have more to show you next time, unless I chat so much that I end up with no sewing to show for it.

If you are going tomorrow, please say Hi to me, I will be the one in the made-at-the-last-minute-name-tag, with the pegs on it.

*******************************************************************************

*Don’t worry Mum and Dad if you are reading this on your holiday on the other side of the world – there is nothing you don’t know already know about that I am hiding from you.

First, and most importantly, Happy Mothers’ Day Mum!  I hope you are reading this somewhere in Canada on your trip and feeling loved (and relaxed).  I miss you, but it makes me very pleased to imagine you and Dad having a much needed break (love you too Dad).

Mothers’ Day has felt more like a festival weekend, as I started it on Friday with a trip to the Stitches and Craft show on  my own.  What you see here is the haul.  The printed Aunty Cookie tote, and the Anna Maria Horner voile (Little Folks Baby Bouquet Dusk and the Little Folks Diamond Mine Pomegranate – 30cm of each – the larger folded pieces in the bottom right of the photo) were from Kelani Fabrics.  Cathy was working on the Kelani stand, so I had a little chat with her, and Lara who happened by.  I also said a shy hello to Auntie Cookie (Shannon) herself, before finalising my purchases!  I could have done much more damage at that stall if I stayed.

The road signs fabric (top left) is from the Amitie stall, the Make it Perfect pattern is from the Earthgirl Fabrics stall and the charming little fat quarter (Birch Forest in Robin’s Egg – bottom right) is from the girls at Ink and Spindle – I could not avoid bringing some of their loveliness home!

So here is the first thing I made with stuff from the show – a scarf using Anna Maria Horner’s Little Folks Diamond Mine in Pomegranate (which is the red patterned fabric) .  It went perfectly with a slightly wider piece of voile that I had bought previously from Spotlight.  I would have bought more of this floral fabric, but 1/2m was all that was left on the roll.  I simply bagged the two fabrics together, even though the floral was wider that the Diamond mine, and top stitched the join.  I like the effect with the “stripe” down the middle.

I am pretty pleased with the result (apologies for the overexposed shot – even Photoshop couldn’t redeem it) and may have to wear it to “Sew It Together” next weekend, which has a red and aqua theme.

I think I am going to make a similar scarf with the other piece of Little Folks Voile (Baby Bouquet Dusk, another floral).  It will go nicely with a piece of cotton/linen blend fabric I have in a coral pink – it is kind of shot – The warp is pink and the weft is a butter colour.

I hope you had a lovely Mother’s day where ever you were.

almost as much as I love fabric.

Here is the beautiful card that Tania sent me, with my winning ticket to the Stitches and Craft show.  It was so lovely to receive real mail, with handwriting and a textured envelope and all.  Inside was one of Tania’s Goccoed cards – you can certainly tell that she is a graphic designer – such a spare design, so well balanced and beautiful.  I am off to the show for the day on Friday – say Hi if you see me!

In the background there is a paper handbag that I learnt to make last Friday night.  A group of us usually get together for a video and a chat (and sometimes both at the same time) once a month, but this month we got crafty.  The lovely Barbara taught 4 giggling, bubbly-sipping students how to create these little wonders.

As predicted by Barbara, I came home and spent the next day teaching the kids with some kindergarten squares we had lying around (the kinder squares are really too light, but easier for little hands to fold).  We still have to make 2 handles, but the kids were pretty pleased with themselves. BTW – the pink, spotty was from Barbara for Easter, filled with lovely chocs, and the Green one with the Star button was her sample she made – I am not that good yet.

I have since bought three pieces of double sided scrap-booking paper, to make a stronger one with each of the kids, but I am drawing a line in the sand – I am not going to take up any form of scrap-booking, or start buying loads of paper!

This is really the only type of paper I need.  These are sketches and Illustrator drawings inspired by the cushion in the previous post.  I am pleased with my design to a point – but that is the problem – the points.  I would like to make this motif up as a needle turn applique, and some of the points are too sharp.  The design I have come up with would work as a raw-edge fusible applique, but I am going to have to keep reworking it, if I want to needle turn it.  Watch this space.

What do you like to do with paper?

I have been obsessed with this image since I saw it on Design Sponge back in February.  More specifically, I am in love with the multi-coloured, multi-petal flower, on the cushion on the right.  For a while I tried to find out more about it from my stitchy friends…”Is this a traditional pattern?”….”Have you seen this before?”…to no avail.  About a month later, Anna Maria Horner had one peeking out, in one of her photos, and I emailed and asked if it was one of her patterns.

“Purchased at Anthropologie last year”, was the reply.  I have been thinking of a way to do something different, with a similar feel and multicoloured effect ever since.

I am working on a concept involving my art-deco-inspired, swirly flowers,

that pop up all over my work.

Other exciting news, that will no doubt result in inspiration, is that I won a giveaway over at murtle and eunice, which means I have a golden green ticket to go to The Stitches and Craft Show in Melbourne.  Thanks so much Tania! As an aside, I just wanted to point out that I was the first commenter on that giveaway, so contrary to popular opinion, the first person to comment does occasionally win!

I am currently studying the timetable for this and that at the show, and consulting the husband on the best day for me to go.  Are you going?

As her older brother and sister have done before her, a couple of days ago, Michaela tried her hand at stitching.  I have talked about teaching the kids how to stitch before – I think back-stitch is the easiest to lean if the shapes are simple.

I have drawn out the same design that the others started with, which borrows the elements from this quilt.  The blue one above is Amelia’s, stitched when she was 5 1/2 years old.  The Red one below is Rory’s, started at the same time when he was 3 1/2 years, but finished when he was almost 5 years old.

They hang together like so….

Eventually Michaela’s  will hang with the others, proudly on our wall.

Have you done any sewing with your kids?  What did you teach them?