Jan May

Today, I've put my sewing aside.  I've finished the top of my bed runner, and have to decide what to back it with.  Instead, I bravely grabbed my sketch book, and attempted to draw something.  I say bravely - as I can't remember the last time I actually did any proper drawing, and I get really cross with myself.  I always know exactly what I want to do, but getting my hand to co-ordinate with my brain is usually a big fail.  My finished doodle-like valentine girl is very simple and naive, but I rather like her.  Currently debating if it would work as an embroidery?  Or dare I try painting onto a canvas?  The result would be tragic, and probably death to the carpet, walls and anything else within splatter distance. 

If you have a pretty charm pack in your fabric stash that you're wondering what to do with...... Why not quickly make up a charming little Love pillow?  Extremely quick and simple to put together, you can run one up in next to no time.  The finished width is the perfect size to place on the bed in front of your pillow. To complete this project I used 28 squares from a charm pack.  (Curio by Moda).  Simply sew 10 together to form each side.  I then drew the letters onto bondaweb and ironed on to 4 of the squares.  These in turn were ironed onto 4 plain squares.  I then cut around leaving about a 1/4 inch border without going into the fiddly shapes of the letters. If I'd had enough bondaweb left I would have attached the letters to the pillow that way, and hand-stitched them in place.  I didn't, so instead I used spray adhesive to hold them in place whilst I stitched around the edges by machine.  I then did a quic...

Finished...... at last!   Phew - as a commercial venture this is surely one big flop, simply due to the time it's taken to do all the hand-stitching.  I must have spent at least 10 hours working on this one little pillow, so I can't see myself putting it in my Folksy shop anytime soon.  I'm rather pleased with it though, even if I don't know what I'm going to do with it now! I've done another little piece of reverse applique on the back, behind a small oval panel of wool.  This time a heart to go with the theme, and I've finished off the bottom of the envelope flap with a little row of cross stitch kisses.  After so much time hand-sewing, it was a matter of moments to whizz around the outside with the sewing machine to finish it. The only place I can think suitable for it would be on the bed, and it certainly doesn't go with any of my bedding.  Oh no.....  does this mean I now have to make a quilt to match?  Sobs quietly.

Today I've attempted something new! Until last evening, I had never heard of Reverse Applique.  I suppose I must have come across items made this way before, but let's just say they obviously hadn't registered.  Until whilst twittering last night I discovered this little gem tweeted by my twitter chum Helena,  (@microbionoar)  who had posted a Pinterest find.  I perked up a little when I saw this, as it is so my style.  This is a skirt by Gina Sekelsky and I love it!  You can find the original post by clicking on Dreamland: Alabama Love I can't see myself wearing a skirt quite as quirky as this (believe me, it would do me no favours!), but I have an image of a perfect apron forming in my mind.  Anyways, today I started thinking what I could make.  At the moment my sewing room looks as though it's been hit by a typhoon.  Whilst I was rummaging around trying to reach my fabric stash, I kept having to move a huge vintage wool bla...