Even little scraps have a place.

Making the scrap fabric cards the other day, really got my fabric on..... here are some mini projects I made last night and this morning.

I started knitting and needlework from an early age. For many years I was a patchwork and embroidery teacher, also completing several commission works and selling at markets.  The call of new car and a holiday beckoned me back to the corporate world.  After 10 years I left to care for my father, teach English overseas and become a lover of papercraft and mixed media.
Recently my friend was given a card for her birthday by her aunt (I cannot post that image here) that was embellished with a small, 2" or thereabouts, of stitching.   This got my fingers itching to do some embroidery again.   So, off to the internet I went.  I found references to 'slow stitching', sashiko, and boro stitching that inspired me to get out the needles, embroidery threads, scraps of fabric, lace, beads, etc and get started. The following descriptions come from various sources on the net.
  • Slow stitching isn't to be perfect, or even to make a cohesive final piece (although many pieces are beautiful pieces of textile art).  The intention is to enjoy the process one stitch at a time, to relax, and not to stress about all the things were might worry about if we were trying to make a perfect quilt or sewing project.
  • Sashiko is a form of Japanese folk embroidery using a variation of a running stitch to create a patterned background.  Can be straight or curved.
  • Boro stitching is essentially the practice of using a simple running stitch (a sashiko stitch) to reinforce a textile item using spare or would-be-discarded scraps of fabric.  It is a practice that grew out of necessity in medieval Japan, and has evolved, four centuries later, into a distinctively gorgeous textile artform.
The first one I created last night was this one, that could be adhered to a card for a special person:
I found the ribbon with all the words on in my stash.  I suppose 'hope' was a good word as I had no idea how it would turn out!  This piece is about 4" square and I stitched direct on a piece of offcut thin quilt batting I had.  I used this on all of the pieces.  It did not take very long to finish this small piece.
Then, this morning happy by last nights effort I created another 4" piece again that could be adhered to a card.

I then bravely completed a 2" square.  This one I backed with a contrast fabric so that it could be used as a brooch.

I love them! They're not perfect but I had fun enjoying the process.  

Thank you for looking, Margaret

Updated 14th December - I made a couple of more yesterday - could say I am 'stitched in' to these little projects. Left is approx. 2" square and right is approx. 1.5" square and I will make it into a brooch.

Happiness is handmade.

Comments

Katherine said…
OH, these are so beautiful, Margaret! It always makes me happy to see precious bits like these buttons and trims repurposed. I whole heartedly agree that happiness is handmade!

December 15, 2020 at 9:36 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Budgerigar Card

Image
 This week I created the following card for the ladies at my two community groups that I lead: I used AALL&Create Budgie stamp.  The budgerigar stamp was on special and I think I have an idea why.  Look at the budgie on the right - looks in need of a feed - so I when I gave it a feed using my black marker he looked well fed!   I also used masking of the bird then applied paint 'dabbed on' and when dry a stencil with Black Soot Distress Ozide ink completes the card.  Such a happy card.  Thank you for looking. Margaret
Read more

Junk Journal

Image
It has been awhile since I last posted - where does time go?  I recently developed and run an introduction to junk journals and embellishments.  I donated part of the small cost to the Community group where I lead classes for their mission efforts. Here are some photos of what I prepared for the participants.  The journal cover was constructed from one 12" x 12" (30cm x 30cm) folded into a smaller size.  My sample shows cotton fabric I coloured with distress and alcohol inks.  Students received tea dyed ribbon. Cover plate features cheesecloth and lace behind the main image - bird from a magazine. The journal on the right was completed by one of the participants in the workshop. We started with a simple tag seen on the bottom.  Next was a simple to construct belly band.  Clusters can also be made along the band and then cut off later for clusters to be used in the journal.  I love the simplicity of these bands that are great for decorating book pages. Next onto collaged belly
Read more

Junk Journal Ideas and Inspiration - 20 day challenge

Image
I recently completed the April 20 Day challenge over at Junk Journal Ideas and Inspiration (JJII) on Facebook.  Challenge 12 was "It takes two to tango". In my case black gesso and texture paste are doing the Tango on tea bags. Here is what I created. Left is a greeting card (or page for my junk journal) and right is a small pocket and tag for my junk journal. I loved the idea of the pocket so went ahead and created 8 more as a table gift for a table I was hosting at a local fund-raising Afternoon High Tea.  I filled them with a tea bag (I found some that had a black top) and a roll of Mentos as a sweet treat. A small flower die cut (shortened to fit size of pocket) and a small adhesive word complete the pocket. Here is the process I followed.   I opened up used tea bags that I had dried and removed the tea leaves. Tea residue I put in the compost. Using a paint brush I coloured the tea bag with black gesso and allowed to dry, of course, I was impatient and got out my heat gu
Read more