rubykittyruby

  This is a quick 'make' for anyone who wants a pincushion that's so bright you can't possibly mislay it!  It's a simple triangular shape, and you can make it any size you like.  I'd previously sewn this larger purple one.   Proving you can leave off the sequinned trim and metallic thread if you really want to.  Anyway, let's get started.  You need two squares of equal size in a non-stretchy fabric.  I used calico which gives a good strong base for you to stitch into.  My squares were slightly over 4 inches.  Pick out lots of fabric scraps, and if you're aiming for a boho style then choose lively colours and patterns.   Arrange your scraps so you can't see any of the calico base.  Use regular sewing thread or strands of embroidery thread to anchor your scraps down, adding decorative stitching and beads wherever you fancy.  I know metallic thread can be a pain in the neck to sew with, but it does add a lovely sparkle....

 I really don't need to start yet another project as I've so many works-in-progress.  But here I go again ...  Seeing a scrappy quilt on a YouTube channel set me off with this.  I cut 6 inch squares of calico, and arranged on them little pieces of fabric, odd leftovers, small lengths of ribbon.  I've sewn them down with lines of simple running stitch.   These might look too raggedy edged to be squares, but if I turned them over you'd see the 6 inch square of calico underneath.   My running stitches are as straight as a dog's hind leg, but they do the job.  I intend to embroider into these blocks, using both matching and contrasting embroidery threads as I'm going for the more-is-more effect, rather than something minimalist.  I've no idea how many blocks I'll eventually make, and this might end up as a cushion cover or a lap quilt, or maybe even - possibly? - a bed sized quilt.  Or is that being wildly optimistic?  Perhaps...

  Hello, and I hope your weekend's going well.  I've got my feet up on the sofa, a cup of tea to hand and a packet of chocolate buttons, so I'm all fine 'n' dandy.  I finished the little birds I made the other day, but wasn't exactly thrilled with them.  They're okay, but not quite ... they're just 'not quite'.  So I'm giving up on making birdies for now, and these two will be wrapped in tissue paper and lobbed into the Christmas Decorations box.  They'll reappear next December and can hang on the tree, adding extra sparkle (along with the eleventy thousand baubles and shiny glittery things I already have squirrelled away.)  I've rummaged around on my dedicated crafting space (a.k.a. the dining table) and from under mounds of creative clutter bought out the bunting I began making.  After my mini bunting turned out so well I'd decided to sew a larger version, and have three triangles already completed.   Two more are underway.  I...

After all the cold weather recently it's been a ridiculously mild day, though I'm not complaining.  I actually managed an hour in the back garden.  Clearing away dried up stalks and brown crispy looking leaves, the remains of last year's Michaelmas daisies, Cosmos, crocosmia, verbena and so on.  The garden looks slightly neater, and it was pleasing to see spring bulbs popping up, as well as snowdrops that're already flowering, so pretty and delicate.   On the crafty side of things, I finished off a little collection of boho style beads as I'd wanted some to give away.  Previous beads had been longer, but  I reckon these dinky little uns look just as good, if not better.  I love the way making these beads uses up even the tiniest scraps of fabric, pieces that'd otherwise be relegated to cushion-filling.  It makes sense to squeeze every bit of value out of our fabric purchases, don't you think?  By the way, the tins you can see in the phot...

Over the last couple of days I've been sewing a fabric roll, using as a base this painted fabric.  These were scraps of mainly cotton that I painted and stenciled with acrylic paint, then machine sewed together.  It took me a while to figure out what I could make with this fabric rectangle, but I liked the idea of slow-stitching into it.  Because the paint had stiffened up the material I didn't need any interfacing, but just added a backing fabric and began sewing lines of running stitch up and down to give the quilted effect I wanted.   The only drawback was that, as I noted earlier, the painted fabric had stiffened due to the painted effects, so pushing a needle into it was harder than it'd be with fabric in its natural state.  I've never got to grips to using a thimble, so ended up with sore fingertips and some nicely developing callouses.  However, after a few muttered curses, I eventually quilted the entire piece.  Next I folded over roughly ...

My smartphone's working again!  Repaired.  New SIM card inserted.  Scratch on the screen but we'll ignore that.  Honestly, I really don't want to become someone who's wedded to their phone, but it's sooo handy.  Checking the weather report before you head outdoors (hello Storm Isha), doing a quick bit of online banking, seeing if your bus in running on time, taking photos of a pretty view or something you're making or doing.  Everyday life is perfectly possible without a smartphone, but the truth is everylife's simply easier with one.   Anyway, let's show you what I've been up to.  Friday was fun as I'd signed up for a two hour lino cutting class.  As with the session I went to last year, this was at Leeds Art Gallery, and loosely themed around 'fantasy', with special regard to Angela Carter and her re-telling of traditional folk and fairy tales.   We'd to draw an image of our choice, so I went for a wolf running through a snow...