It arrived at my partners!

I posted a parcel, yesterday.I had some wrapping paper, but as I know my partner will be doing some 'interesting' block making shortly, I thought, I could give her an interesting trim, rather than just 'normal' parcel ribbon. so I tied her parcel, with this rainbow organza ribbon.




Now, you know what was inside,




 There was this frame purse. And the little butterfly brooch which was attached on the outside. And, thank goodness, my partner seems to like the purse. Phew! As she hadn't commented I was rather nervous!



The instructions dictated that there had to be a little something for the inside. But I was not sure what. So my initial thought was 'machine needles'.  As a sewer, these have to be useful, and welcomed. So a couple of packs lurked inside the purse. But I had a thought about a little something, which I really really wanted to make. But I needed an excuse. Sorry, Partner, you were my excuse. So I made this,



Oh, I forgot, you can't see through the wrapper. And yes there are some other ribbons there for her to use, Because they are pretty!

Now, I said at the time this was for someone special, so here it is again,

A little etui, in pretty fabrics.



My daughter does occasional swaps of what are called, 'Crappy Day presents'

And I thought, this lovely lady has had one or two less than wonderful days lately, so, let us try to put a smile on her face, So this fitted into the purse neatly.


And no 'Crappy Day present' is complete without chocolate- so a small amount of chocolate went into the parcel too!

 

And Then I made her a card. It is a dead simple card, and I made several at the same time- I forgot to take a photo of her one, but this is similar. Quick and fun, I think!

And I only posted yesterday, but she received it today! Yeay! and I am so glad she was my partner!

Comma,

 Have you ever had this happen to you? The little lever that snaps the blade back into shelter has broken off.
My daughter was just putting together a signature block when, ping, the lever broke off. I suppose these things do not last forever, and I suspect this cutter is over twenty years old, but still!

 I have a different make, but this cutter gives such a satisfactory click as it hides the blade away, and my friends lovely son, who has sewn with me for about three years, very quickly grasped the safety aspects of this, despite being severely autistic. He was very particular about the blade being safely stowed away each time it was used. He might threaten to burn my fingers with the iron, but that blade? away!

 Today we found an invader in my 'pop up fruit cage' It is the second one, and I think it must have emerged in there - I do not think it got in there under it's own steam.

It was playing hard to get as far as photographs were concerned, and in the end we decided to release it, so I carefully captured it in my hands, and, daughter at the ready with the camera, slowly opened up.

The butterfly decided it liked the warmth of my hand and quietly sat and posed for its portrait to be taken. 















It is a comma, and sat for several minutes just enjoying the attention. Then the battery on the camera ran out, DD said, I will have to get the spare, and comma decided that it was time to go!

 This little cyclamen is slightly ahead of itself, flowering just a few weeks early,














and a bud about to break beside it.

and these rudbeckia continuing on from last year.



Hemerocallis,





and there is a path under that ladies mantle!


















And Genny, decided that, beautiful as she knows she is, she is not posing for the camera. She is not a butterfly, and is quite disdainful of the process!

Coals to Newcastle

Whilst up in Stirling, staying with my daughter, I purloined scraps of fabric from her, and started hand stitching a pincushion. I also purloined the paper and EPP'd it, using diamond shapes. I just got very frustrated with having nothing constructive to do, for a couple of evenings.
However, we weren't there quite long enough for me to finish it, so I brought it home with me, with a promise to complete it, and send it back.

And now it is complete, (I watched some rubbish on TV- well listened to) and stuffed and the buttons sewn on. It is a twin humoured pincushion, so she can choose her humour!


Just do not look too closely at my hand sewing!






I am just very quietly mentioning, while I am there, Kiki is having a mega giveaway, she has been having a clear out, and there is a lot of stuff being given to one person- to whom? maybe you, if you go enter?

Moulin Rouge- or something

 In our Quilt Around the world set there is someone who is asking for black and white Paris blocks for her daughter. A tiny touch of turquoise is also permitted. Several people had already used the Tour Eiffel, but I decided to try to get some cancan dancing going on, and the Moulin Rouge.


And this is what emerged from the sewing machine, between yesterday evening, and this evening after work.I really hope that dancer works better than I think she does!

 I have added a garter, and a feather in her head-dress, in the turquoise, and just done a line of the same round the sails of the windmill.

Well, if they really do not like it, I may have to use it as a cushion front and do something else!











I am joining up with Sew happy geek  again, for manic Monday!

more butterfly

 Brooch backs are really not that expensive, I go to a funny little fabric and craft shop in a small local town, and she tends to have something you want any time you go in. So a dozen brooch backs are not too costly, and judicious use of a hot glue gun ( would this work for the frame purse? Possibly not, as the glue goes off too quickly), and you have a brooch.

I think this will make an acceptable extra? and my partner can always dispose of it if it is surplus to requirement!

I can see myself making more of these, and various other variations come to mind!
hmm.







This brooch pin is secured with a fabric band stitched to backing, and then glued to stop it slipping- hot glue guns are wonderful-

And it sits up proud, a bit like a real butterfly!

The other one I glued directly onto  the butterfly, so this feels less secure to me. I don't think it really is less secure, but feels it!





















 I think this is the better version to go on this bag, I am sure I will find another home for the other one!The back of this has the pin attached with some fabric. I think this is because some of the colours in the lower wing echo the bag fabric.

butterfly

 Ok, I cannot just leave well enough alone. Sad.
So, I got this soluble film at a craft fair, which you can use to mould a result. The idea is that you can just embroider straight onto it, or you can make a fabric sandwich and embroider on that, and then cut out whatever, and dissolve away the film, but set the result as you wish, and it will roughly set into place.

Now earlier I tried making a flower, which does work, but I also wanted to do this butterfly, which was in my head. So I needed to find some fairly sheer fabric, Knew I had some rolls of voile, but where are they? I know I have a roll of purple, which I have seen very lately, but it has done the thin air trick. 

 However, I came across these, a black with a sort of sequin-y thing on, and a deep teal colour voile, so I used these to make my sandwich, with the film between. I drew out some random butterflies, and did that free embroidery thing. Outlined the butterflies in black, first, and then started work on the actual butterflies. It is easier the faster you stitch, and the slower you move the hoop. and you can build up a good texture as you go. I tried to go round the sparkles, and then carefully cut out the end result. I shall trim these a little closer, and then go and drop them into water, and get them moulded into shape.

And what then?

Well, I am not quite sure. Are these good enough to make into a brooch? What do you think? Anybody? Your penn'orth would be appreciated at this point!

vote for Beth's quilt, if you can!

My younger daughter made her first quilt, all by herself, for her best friend, when the best friend went off to University. Beth researched methods, and bought everything herself, and learnt how to prepare fabric for printing, she collected photos, including bribing some from friend's Mum, printed them planned out the quilt and made it across a summer holiday.

Quilting gallery is holding a memory quilt contest this weekend, so please go and have a look, and if you like Beths quilt, please give her a vote! She put an awful lot of work into it, she was eighteen years old, and it was a first for her in so many ways.
( the 'wife' bit is an ongoing joke from facebook)

Thank you!