Showing posts with label crafts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crafts. Show all posts

Monday, December 23, 2019

Picture Perfect by Kathy Schmitz: Small Stitcheries and Embroidered Niceties

Kathy Schmitz is back with sixteen more charming embroideries and perfect projects for gifting. Each is 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" and can be worked up in short order.

Picture Perfect includes designs with birds, a cottage, nature and garden scenes, a beehive, a cat and a bunny. I have a hard time deciding which are my favorites!
Mix and match the designs to make any number of small projects. The pillows are made with five designs.
Or, mat and frame your projects. I envision filling a small wall space with several!
 Imagine how pleased friends and family would be to get one of these as a gift!
 The matting images are available online to download and print.
I want to make these sachets and fill them with lavender from my garden next year!
Embroidery on a loose-woven fabric, mounted on blank cardstock or cards, creates custom notecards. I make my own cards and I love this idea!
I love Schmitz's designs and enjoy embroidery. Since these patterns are small I could take them with me to work anywhere--and complete them in short order!

I was given access to a free ebook by the publisher through Edelweiss. My review is fair and unbiased.

Picture Perfect
by Kathy Schmitz
That Patchwork Place
Publication: December 6, 2019
ISBN 9781683560401, 168356040X
Paperback $25.99 USD (-$8 less for ebook only)

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Creating Art Quilts with Panels by Joyce Hughes

The ladies in my weekly quilt group love to work with preprinted panels. I have never thought seriously about buying a panel, even though I have seen some nice ones.

Until now. Now I can't wait to get my hands on some panels!
Creating Art Quilts with Panels by Joyce Hughes showed me how marvelous preprinted panels can be as the basis for art quilts. She embellishes the fabric with thread painting, sometimes replacing backgrounds or rearranging the elements to create a new image.

A friend recently took a class in thread painting in which they used a photo printed on fabric. Why not use a printed panel?
typical preprinted panels from Creating Art Quilts with Panels

Joyce Hughes came to use panels while teaching as a time saver so students could jump into technique.

In her book, we learn how to select a good panel.  Joyce covers all the supplies needed including sewing machine needles and feet, threads, fusible, batting, rulers and marking tools. She shows us how to prepare the panel including rearranging elements with fusible applique.
details of thread painting from Creating Art Quilts
Then she shows us the techniques for free motion quilting and thread painting with detailed photos and complete instructions and hints.
using an overlay from Creating Art Quilts from Panels
creating a new background for a panel from Creating Art Quilts with Panels






























Other techniques covered include trapunto, use of an overlay, three-D effects, bobbin work, couching, and embellishments. Finally, she shows how to add a border, block and bind off the quilt, and add a sleeve.

landscape panel with quilting in colored threads from Creating Art Quilts with Panels
I was stunned by the finished quilts.
a finished panel art quilt from Creating Art Quilts with Panels
Joyce offers six projects: a flower, embellished tree, flag, a landscape, winter birds, and the heron seen above.

Last of all there is an inspiration gallery of art panel quilts of all types, from pillows to wall hangings.

The detail in the book is fantastic. Between the photos and instructions, I feel I could tackle my own project with success. What needle to use for different techniques, how to layer threads by color, how to fuse large pieces with less fusible--there are so many things I will take into my projects.

Now...its time to go shopping for panels!

I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Creating Art Quilts with Panels: Easy Thread Painting and Embellishing Techniques to Create Your Own Colorful Piece of Art From Panels
by Joyce Hughes
Fox Chapel Publishing
Pub Date 10 Dec 2018 
ISBN: 9781947163164
Paperback: $24.99 (USD)




Wednesday, October 31, 2018

My First Book of Sewing: Learn How to Sew by Hand and Machine

When I was a girl I dearly wanted to sew. I wanted to make doll clothes, and then I wanted to make clothes for myself. In junior high, I made an apron and an A-line skirt with a zipper during Home Ec. classes but it wasn't until I was an adult that I learned how to really sew.

Had I a book like My First Book of Sewing, I would have been able to teach myself! Starting with simple projects, like a bandana or scrunchie. I would have been so excited! 

The book starts at the very beginning: the tools needed, how to stitch by hand, the basics of the sewing machine, how to prepare and work with cotton fabrics, and decorating with embroidery and embellishments. Everything is illustrated and labeled with line drawings.
Stripped Scarf project from My First Book of Sewing
The 20 projects range from the simple to the easy to learning more advanced techniques such as how to install a zipper, gather fabric, and make linings.

I shared the book with quilt group members who have worked with teaching children how to sew. Everyone thought the projects were spot-on to interest young sewers. And they thought the instructions were thorough and easily understood. One lady gave it "Five stars".

My favorite projects for young girls included scrunchies and headbands; I can imagine kids would find making them addictive, creating a whole wardrobe of hair accessories! 
photo from My First Book of Sewing
The drawstring bags could interest boys who want to cart about their toys--or gaming dice for the 'bigger boys'! My grown-up Gamemaster son has me make individualized drawstring bags for all his gaming friends to carry their dice.

Lined tote bags are so useful! Kids can carry their books in them, make them as gifts for family members, adults can use them for shopping. 
Fox Pillow from My First Book of Sewing
The tutu-style skirt would have been a girlhood favorite of mine! And our son as a child would have adored the Fox pillow.

Other projects include bandannas, triangle headscarves, and a scrappy scarf I want to make for myself. There are bookmarks, tissue pouches, a pillow cover, and fabric 'bins' for storage. A string of pennants could be made for every holiday. The lined pencil case and planner cover would be useful gifts, and also the apron.
Lucky Charms from My First Book of Sewing
Perhaps my favorite project is 'Funny Charms,' other-worldly creatures made with small scraps of fabrics, strings, and buttons: adorable little, stuffed creatures. Each can be individualized in so many ways! Small enough to be pocket pals, I would want to make a whole family.

My First Book of Sewing is an English translation from the original French book. Measurements are given in metric and English system. Illustrations are based on a mechanical sewing machine. 

The book suggests working with all cotton fabrics, noting they should be washed in hot water before use. Because some intense dyes (teal, dark red, magenta) do bleed it is good to wash fabrics before use. I use warm water myself and a Shout Color Catcher sheet to absorb the dye from the water.

My First Book of Sewing is a great resource for teaching children a love of sewing. It can be used in so many ways: in a home setting, homeschooling group, social organizations, after-school programs, and to create gifts for charities and fundraisers. 

I tried the Stipped Scarf project. It took under an hour to make it! I used fat quarters and scraps from my stash. 
Stipped scarf project from My First Book of Sewing

I received a free book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.


My First Book of Sewing
Author/Editor Catherine Guidicelli
Dover Publications
ISBN 10 048682909X
ISBN 13 9780486829098





Sunday, April 2, 2017

Stitching with Beatrix Potter by Michele Hill

Before my son was born my Mother bought a set of Beatrix Potter's little books, all in a slip case. Since 1902 these books have been nursery staples. A self-taught artist, amateur scientist and farmer, Beatrix Potter's legacy has enriched generations of readers.


Beatrix Potter's illustrations have also inspired generations of crafters who adopted her art for needlework, stuffed animals, embroidery, quilts, knitting patterns, fabric lines, and coloring books. To celebrate 150 years sine the birth of Beatrix Potter, The 2016 Tokyo Quilt Festival included The World of Beatrix Potter, amazing quilts from Yoko Saito and ten other quilters.

William Morris aficionado Michele Hill already loved Beatrix Potter when she learned that Beatrix and Morris shared connections. Beatrix sent her early stories to Edward Burne-Jones, William Morris's business partner and friend, and her photographer father was hired by Pre-Raphaelite artist Sir John Everett Millais.

Beatrix Potter applique baby quilt by Michele Hill
Hill's new book Stitching with Beatrix Potter offers ten projects inspired by Beatrix's life and art. Her wonderful characters appear in embroidered and appliqued projects, floral applique with a Morris flair, pieced quilts in various sizes, a Hexie quilt pattern, and a pattern to reproduce Beatrix's heirloom quilt from 1863.

Iron cover by Michele Hill
A brief biography of Beatrix Potter is illustrated with photographs from her Hill Top farm.
Embroidered Hexie table topper by Michele Hill
Hill was amazed to see the rarely displayed Potter heirloom quilt dated 1863, bearing her parent's initials. Her version is appliqued, as seen below.
Appliqued 1863 reproduction quilt by Michele Hill
Patterns include

  • P is for Pinwheels, appliqued and embroidered coasters
  • Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle iron cover, just adorable
  • Bubbles and Bunting baby quilt featuring popular Potter characters in applique
  • Let's Play wool felt ball
  • Handmade Hexies lap quilt icluding embroidered character hexies
  • Floral Frieze wall appliqued hanging with a William Morris flare
  • Cherry Twist Cushion featuring an appliqued bouquet
  • Hill Top wool felt box with handles
  • 1863- A Wedding Quilt, 78" x 95"
  • Serendipity quilt, 55 1/2" x 55 1/2", with embroidered characters

Floral Frieze by Michele Hill
General instructions includes machine applique tips, binding, hand embroidery, all well illustrated with photographs.
Hill Top box by Michele Hill
My quilt group friends are all excited about this book! I am too.

Read my book review of Over the Hill and Far Away:The Life of Beatrix Potter by Matthew Dennison here.

Read an excerpt from the book at http://www.ctpub.com/blog/excerpt-from-stitching-with-beatrix-potter/

Learn about Hill's William Morris Applique book at http://www.ctpub.com/more-william-morris-applique/

I received a free ebook from the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Stitching with Beatrix Potter
Michele Hill
C&T Publishing
64 pages + pattern pull out
$22.95 paperback, $15.99 ebook
ISBN: 978-1-61745-610-7