Goth wedding

So long since I last posted, but I have been busy. I did get everything done in time for the wedding - pictures of the items and the bride and groom will follow! I've also been knitting - making baby jumpers and cardigans, and a number of quilt tops too. I've just finished a Very Hungry Caterpillar quilt for my great niece, and now just need to take pictures of it before sending it off. I've also done a couple of I Spy quilt tops, and a 'Bright Eyes' pattern made with fabric from a range called Little Blessings. Decided to add a post today before I get on and do the laundry and some tidying. I leave it until later to go into my room, as others in the house are probably still in bed. My thoughts on that shall remain with me for the time being!

This is the finished box for my stepson and daughter-in-law. Usually with my work I use a pre-printed label, one that you can buy in quilt shops - designed as a label. However, those labels would not have been in keeping with the theme of the wedding, so I created one just for the occasion. I used a metallic embroidery thread to do the stitching, and didn't use satin stitch (which I usually do), as working with the metallic thread is a pain in the whatsit.

Rather than lining the box with felt, you can see that I've lined it with purple crushed velvet; again - this is better in keeping with the theme of the wedding. Having made the box, I then had other jobs to do for the wedding. The bride had asked if I could do the alterations to her dress and a bridesmaid's dress. Fine - if you have a sewing machine and a sewing room, you can OBVIOUSLY do dress alterations (those who are not quilters just don't understand that it's not the same thing at all - it's like asking someone who speaks French to translate something in Spanish or Italian - or maybe Swahili). However - I did the alterations, and they didn't turn out too bad - especially considering that I was doing them the morning of the wedding. The photo here shows the latest Mr and Mrs Hutchins - and what a spectacle - and spetacular day it was! They made the front page, and page 3 of the local paper (it was available to be seen online), and they also got a mention in a national daily paper as well. Oh - and they don't have feathers coming out of their heads - it's the plumes on the horses. Speaking of plumes, I didn't have a hat for the wedding, and I thought that I should have some form of headwear - being the groom's stepmum, it seemed the thing to do. So, I put my skills to a new challenge, and after a bit of research, produced the following:

I was able to buy all the supplies in Barnstaple - and around the local area. I know it's a bit like something you might see at the Moulin Rouge, but I thought it was suitable to the occasion. I didn't want it to be all black, as that would have been a bit too sombre. I need a bit more practice at making them, but not a bad first attempt. Next time I'll use a thinner ribbon on the comb - or maybe I'll use a slide if I can find the right sort.

The thing about making the boxes is that I end up with lots of bits left over. In a previous post I showed a card I had made using some bits from a box. This time I really went to town on the bits left over. I made a lucky horseshoe, a ring box, and some brooches for the Hutchins ladies. The brooches I made the night before the wedding, and added some beads as well. The ring box was finished the day of the wedding - after a bit of stress from the best man; however, I stood my ground, and continued with the wedding dress - delivering the two dresses before coming back to finish the ring box.

The last thing that I made with the pieces left over was to make a card for the wedding. I tried to made an envelope - but that was not a great success. However, the card was not too bad, even if I say so myself! The trickiest part of it was cutting the aperture; no ordinary (square, oblong, circle, oval) shape would do. I selected a shape from my Crafter's Companion set. The embossing was fairly easy, but the cutting was a bit of a beggar.

I added some additional bits to the card, in silver - but unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of the finished article. I got DH to write the card - I thought he should do it, being the groom's father. I was quite pleased with the result, and I made another card for another occasion recently. However, that card will have to wait for another post! Now it is time to get on with the latest project - finishing the wallhanging that I started at the Free Cut Curves workshop last Saturday.

Rag Dolls

I realised yesterday that I need to have a bit more of a systematic approach to my blog and the posts! Reading through previous posts, I saw that I had given one a title including the word dolls - and nothing about dolls in it, so I'm going to rectify that right now!

This photo on the left was taken last summer - during Cowes Week. I had made this rag doll for my niece - Maisie; this comes from another Step by Step workshop, this time the tutor was Julia Davis, one of the owners of the shop. The pattern was very easy to follow - and the bloomers extremely easy to make (so much so I've made lots of pairs, and adapted them to trousers). Julia suggested sewing the bloomers to the doll, but I knew that I wanted a rag doll who could be dressed and undressed - and then came the decision to make a rag doll for Maisie - and clothe it too! I've not made clothes before, so this was another new challenge for me. The clothes that the doll is wearing here is a dress that I invented - I changed the style of the skirt (it has a sort of kick-pleat affair at the back, but starting from the bodice), the sleeves were straight rather than being gathered. She has a pair of red bloomers, and a red petticoat under the dress. I also provided her with another pair of trousers and another petticoat. The additional petticoat has a waistband attached. I saw great potential in making dolls clothes, and so set about buying (yet more) fabric that would be suitable for clothes - making something a bit more glamourous. I've started on some ballgown / party dresses in satin - gold with holographic spots, pink with holographic spots, lilac / lavender, and lavender trousers in satin / silk type thing. I'd like to make a jacket with a chinese collar as well, but haven't got quite that far yet. This year for Maisie's birthday I sent down some more clothes for the doll:

I was particularly pleased with this dress. No, I didn't cut and sew all the strips onto black fabric - the fabric came like it already (thank goodness!). I used red broderie anglaise for the sleeves and bodice, and put shirring elastic round the edge of the sleeves. I added a belt, and both the belt and the bodice have press studs to do them up. I also made bloomers and trousers to go with the outfit (I think I sent them both down, although I could be wrong!):

With the bloomers I added shirring elastic around the bottom edge (but a little bit up), to give the appearance of old fashioned bloomers - all that is missing is a little mop cap! (or is it a mob cap? I'm too young to know!)

I love the look of broderie anglaise - it's so feminine and pretty.

The hair for the doll was made from wool, and it was chunky, with 2 'strands' of darker wool, and 1 of the lighter. I spent time unraveling the lighter wool, which gives the wavy appearance. The darker wool has not been wasted. I've used it on my own rag doll (the one made at the workshop), and her hair looks a bit like dreadlocks - it's quite thick.

Going through my photos of projects, deciding which pictures to upload and show on here, I have realised that I don't have any photos of my first rag doll - or any of the clothes I've made for her; I'll remedy that later.

Thanks to Kath for the comment on the last post - and Kath - I will CERTAINLY show pictures of the box I'm currently making, but you are going to have to wait about a month for the photos. It is a policy of mine not to show pictures of WIPs (works in progress) if they are being made as a gift for someone. I only post photos of such projects once the recipient has received the gift! I remember a pupil saying that he had seen my official wedding photos (he was the nephew of our photographer), and I was a bit put out by that; it didn't help that he shouted it out in a lesson!

I've posted a question on facebook - doing a bit of market reasearch, as to how much people would be prepared to pay for a handmade A4 memory box. Any followers or others reading the blog - I'd like to know what your view is on this. How much would you be prepared to pay for a memory box like the ones shown in my earlier posts? Each box is an original - no two will EVER be the same (even if I tried to make them so, I wouldn't manage it!)

Until next time, happy sewing / quilting / crafting

Branching out

Now that I have a bit more time on my hands, I'm taking advantage of my room. Nathan (stepson) is getting married 3 weeks today, and I'm making him and Vivika a memory box. The colour theme is black, purple and silver - our church won't know what has hit them - and I don't think Nathan and Viv were prepared for our church! Anyway, I've got 3 panels on the go for their box - a different colourway to those I've done previously, but great fun! I'm getting better at using the sewing machine as a pencil to write names, although the pesky rayon / metallic thread has been playing up.

A question was posed to my DH last night - how much would people pay for one of these boxes? I've posted this question on my facebook page, and wait with anticipation (and trepidation (is that actually a word?)) for the answers. Today I thought that I would share a couple of wedding projects with you, - but not projects that the recipients have not yet seen (fair's fair!). The first one is a book - hand made - put the papers together, sewed them together, made the cover as well. Th e cover is made using a technique I learned at a Step by Step workshop. The title of the workshop was 2 inches textured, and I did the workshop in February (I think) this year - I had to pull out of the workshop last year due to family bereavement; there was no way I was going to miss it this time around! The lady who runs the workshop is Vinnie Cable - a very talented lady; I believe she is an accountant by day, and textile artist the rest of the time. She doesn't just use fabric, she uses all sorts of materials in her work - including plastic, tyvek, sweet wrappers, foil from round wine bottles, the tough plastic that you find as pouches of chocolates (e.g. Roses). The technique is one that I love - I've made about 5 or 6 panels using the technique, in different colours. The great thing about it, is that you get such different effects and looks from the number of times and ways in which you cut, rearrange and sew the panel. This book used the panel I made at the workshop. Others used very different colours, but I had a specific idea in mind - something for my sister's wedding - so I wanted white, ivory, cream and gold. To look really effective and give it that 'zing' - you really need to have a way out colour in there - but I was quite happy with how mine turned out - and it gives a chance to use some of the more difficult fabrics (silks, stretchy, velvet, lace). I was also able to use some bits from the panels I made for my step-sister's memory box. I know that I am biased, but I think mine was the best looking one there!

Us quilters are a versatile lot, and having made a memory box for my sister, I used part of the panels for something else. This has now prompted me to seriously think about expanding my crafting repertoire further, and I've made the necessary steps and bought some (most) of the tools and materials necessary. I'm extremely reluctant to throw anything away - and I keep the 'remnants' of the box panels - for use in something else in the future. Caro and Stu's wedding (my sister and her DH) provided an ideal opportunity: cards. I was really quite impressed with how this turned out, and it is special because it is a link with the memory box I've made them. It's also a form of recycling - reducing waste, re-using materials. I now want to start creating a line of wedding cards, and general purpose cards. All I need now is a stamp to show who made it - either that, or I need to create some sticky labels. I have started to look into marketing these things - cost of materials, where to sell, how much to charge, - and the website www.etsy.com is one of the places to go to find similar things, and get ideas.

Having bought some card making materials, I had an idea about how I could use the stampers. I know that I can ink them, and print the design on paper; browsing TV channels brought me to Create and Craft tv - and I saw how the stamps are used with angelina and fusible film. That is really what prompted me to buy the stamps, but the other day I had a flash of inspiration: I have some pebeo setacolour paints, and I could use them to colour the stamps, and stamp onto fabric. Create and Craft channel - one of the best and worst channels I could have found; best because you see people creating and using the items they are selling, answering questions that people ask about how to use the tools and materials; worst - because there are so many items that you think you would quite like to have....seeing the Cuttlebug machines makes me wonder whether they would work with fabric as well....? Also makes me think that the Accuquilt system might be required!

Before I go to continue with my box making, a couple more things to share; two quilts (wallhangings) I made last summer for my classroom - great thanks go to Block Party Studios for their wonderful hand printed panels. These hangings seemed to go largely ignored by the pupils in my classroom, but when they came up to my desk, the hanging was handled, and they were suitably impressed when I told them that I had made them both!

Thanks again Marlene!

It's been a long time - getting from there to here....oh dear - I've started watching Star Trek: Enterprise, and the theme tune is stuck in my head! However - the sentiment holds true. I finish work on Friday and will be a housewife for a bit, which will allow me to spend more time being creative. So much has happened since last September. I went to Funky Daisy Flowers workshop yesterday, and the picture below shows Marlene's creation. I didn't take my camaera with me this time, so I don't have details or pictures of the other quilts. The beauty and joy of this workshop was that we all created something different, because we didn't have a pattern - we created our own patterns, we free-hand drew the flowers and the gentle curves, and from the same instructions, we all created something very different.

This has given me other ideas of how to adapt this pattern - first I really should finish this version, together with the narrow border and the and piping! However, I've been inspired to consider other fabrics (rainbow fabric to make the flowers - as someone did at the workshop), using shot fabric to create the flowers, and with the rainbow fabric as flowers - how about combining the flower blocks with some reveleation burning? The possibilities are endless!

What else have I been up to that has stopped me updating the blog? Well - work has been very busy, and we've had a bit of a year really - it's been extremely hard work, and we're now looking forward to better things. I've made another memory box - this time for my sister who got married in a castle in Scotland, in April, and also created a guest book for the wedding too. I made the card for the happy couple too, using some of the remainder of panels I'd made up for the wedding box. As I'll have a bit of time on my hands in 5 days time, it's made me think about creating and selling cards, doing a bit of recycling (the remainder of memory box panels). I've done a couple of workshops, and have had to cancel one so that I can attend my step-son's wedding. I'd booked the workshop in August last year - March this year he tells us that the date of the wedding had changed from December this year, to June this year! I did leave it a week or two (possibly longer) before cancelling the workshop, just in case he phoned one day to tell us the date had changed again - and that they were already married!

I'll get on and post more of my projects over the next few weeks - right now though, it's time to get on and do things, so that I'll have pictures to post!