Cruising the Blogs

Once again I would like to highlight some great stuff read and seen while cruising around the blogs.

Melissa over on Honey Bee’s Bliss has started a series of video tutorials on silk ribbon embroidery. Do Check them out as they are very valuable instructional material.

This tutorial and pattern for a Japanese knot bag had me very excited as I could see it being made up in retro material for the younger crafter set and for those of us who just like to stitch and embellish like crazy I could see these as crazy quilted items too.

TipNut has put together a list of 21 craft projects. Many of them look to be good stash busters or make good gifts.

Pam Kellog has once again been sharing vintage embroidery designs

This tip on the ‘no-join’ method of cutting fabric strips is very clever if you use fabric yarn. Thanks for Whip up for the link

Also found via Whip up is these vintage cut out paper dolls

This tutorial from Zephyrama on making button necklaces had me looking at my buttons. (I think I will try it only with fine cord not wire)

For those on stitchin fingers you might like to check out the Ning Blog as it highlights interesting social networks that are hosted by ning.

A blog I have recently discovered is Useful Books (for putting things in). Book binders and anyone interested in journals and hand bound books will enjoy this

 

Free sewing patterns

Over on Spool there is a free pattern for a lovely bird.

Made up in contemporary prints like the birds illustrated the design is a sure win with the crafters set but since it it a 3 piece pattern it would lend itself to being embellished. So hand embroiderers and crazy quilters would also find this pattern appealing.

These birds would make lovely gifts but I also saw these little birds as possible Christmas tree decorations either embellished or left plane depending on your taste. Yes I know its June but I start thinking of this sort of stuff early …

Down load the PDF file from Spools sidebar and thanks for link goes to Whip up

While we are talking about free sewing patterns available online over on Tipnut.com is a huge list of 56 free Apron patterns you can make

 

I Love Tree Decorations

Just look at what I received from Maureen of CrazyQStitcher !

Many readers will not know this but I collect Christmas decorations. In our family every year we add a few new Christmas decorations to the tree. We have been doing it for over 28 years so the tree is like a bit of family history. When ever we travel somewhere we look for Christmas decorations. I have a decoration from our trip this year to New Zealand when we went to China we found some lovely decorations. We always look for something special. Over time stitching friends have twigged to my delight in these and some have also started giving me decorations too!

I particularly like hand made decorations. So these will be hung on the tree, delighted in and treasured. Thank you Maureen!

While on the subject of Christmas decorations do you know of any good tutorials on making tree decorations? If any one has any good links to making your own leave a comment and the link. This year I have found a few things but I am sure there are lots of resources out there that people would be interested in so please share it. I would love it and I am sure others would too

 

More Gift Ideas

I am still poking round the net for gift ideas and have turned up this froggie heat pack which appealed to me.

Clover has a project gallery sections include embroidery, needlework, craft, felting, sewing and quilting.The projects are free and presented in PDF format. While on the site I discovered their technique tutorials which are presented in a video format so you can watch a demonstration. Links found with thanks via Lazy Girl

In fact take a look at the Lazy Girl as there are simply oodles of gift ideas and seasonal projects listed there.

Decorating the tree is always fun and making your own ornaments is even more so. Making these candy cane mice with children would be fun or perhaps you just need to be young at heart to enjoy them. The design is simple and easily manipulated by small fingers.

When Eve my daughter was young she had a thing for clowns and even though she is now 25 I still seem to notice them. This crazy clown doll is easy to make and would delight a child.

I liked these small purses/bags made from recycled mens ties.

 

Christmas gift ideas

OK since it is the start of December it’s that time of year when people are avidly browsing for project ideas that can be given as last minute gifts. I have been too.  Here is a few sites that house free projects. They have caught my eye because they are either better than the normal freebies or unusual in some way.

I really liked this scrooge doll designed by Lisa Juris. It is better than your regular freebie pattern. The pattern pieces are here

Over on the Cotton Spice Karen is running a Last minute gift countdown

Susan runs Craft at Home which houses directions to numerous sewing and craft projects

I think humbug bags look unusual but are really just a twisted square. They could be adapted to crazy quilting or made small enough to contain little gifts and hand on the tree. This tutorial on how to make a party bag is provided by One Hour Crafts for those who work with paper but it can be adapted easily for fabric.

Rather than using gift wrap and drawing on the worlds resources have you ever thought of making gift bags. They are great stash busters and they can be reused

 

Morning chatter

Here I am again with my morning chatter affliction. On my post about the charm quilt I started, yesterday Pam asked in a comment “how many stitchers work in a variety of mediums? Most of the cross stitchers I know just do cross stitch. But many of the CQer’s like to do a variety of things.”

I know I switch about and have never really been able to decide if this is good or bad. Some people would say if you explore too many things you never get good at anything but I disagree as the skills you learn in one area you can often apply in another area in an innovative way. I like to develop a level of skill and enjoy it, but I also like trying new things and exploring other areas of textiles. It does mean I can get sidetracked but then I am constantly learning. How do can you devalue that? Businesses spend time and money on research and development why not textile practitioners? I think it would be very dull indeed to just do the same type of stitching all the time but I do admire those that can perfect a skill to masters level which usually means they have stuck at the one thing for a long period of time. What do you think?

From other comments left on this post as many are interesting topics to ponder while cutting out hundreds of diamonds. I will post it later in the week.
Eventually I am sure this chattery phase of mine will pass and I will get back to my usual link of the day but in the meantime… here are some links to side track the curious

Racaire of Racaire’s Embroidery and Needlework has written another handout on an historical embroidery technique. This time it is  is on Klosterstich and you can find other handouts in her sidebar.

Leslie has published a tutorial on how to make loop flowers in silk ribbon on the Hand Embroidery Group Projects  which is a collaborative blog run by the Hand embroidery yahoo group

Dawn of On the banks of Bay Creek dropped me an email to point me to Andrea Jaques who is a doll dresser who makes very good use of her visual journal. If you are interested in visual journals this is an excellent example of using a visual journal to develop design ideas check it out!

Noreen writes lots of tutorials on her blog Hankering for Yarn. This tutorial on making a bead doll made me think many readers here would like it or adapt it for a tree decoration. or you could adorn gifts with it.

 

Owl Pendants

Over on Moonstitches there is a delightful pattern for some owl pendants. Found via Cotton Spice Karen regularly publishes links to great gift ideas as part of her Last Minute Gift Countdown series.

 

What Has been Happening?

Early this morning I was to be found at my computer coffee in hand waving in the forum of my Develop a Personal Library of Stitches class which has just started. I am really looking forward to this class as I get a heck of buzz watching the penny drop for many students.

In the meanwhile I have been catching up on my blog reading so today’s post is a bit round up of what I have noticed online lately.

Firstly it’s time to vote for the $100,000 Quilting Challenge as all the entries are now in. Voting is open October 30 through December 10, 2007. Allison Aller’s Crazy for Flowers is in the competition and the ballot is here. It is really unfortunate that is not an international competition as I would love to see quilts from around the globe in this.

What really annoyed me however was that when I went to vote because I had an Australian zip code it would not accept my vote. I was spitting chips and I promptly dropped the editor an email about it. I had an email waiting for me this morning and they are looking into it and I am pleased to say the editor accepted my vote by email. As quilting is international and quilters everywhere watch this competition I was pleased with their response.

I know that many readers are interested in blogging and tips and tricks. Blogging basics 101 is a place where there are ‘no stupid questions’ and simply loaded with information on all aspects of blogging.

WetCanvas has recently reorganized theirReference Image Library Members upload photos that can be used as reference for artwork. This means that for members of WetCanvas there are thousands of copyright-free photos to choose from, making this part of their site a great resource for designers.

I have been following Lisa Lams blog titled Craft Boom which is aimed at “crafters” interested in developing a home business. Content covers how to market and sell products online to interviews with successful “crafters”, day to day business advice, tips on getting started and hints on craft blogging are all covered. Recently Lisa Lam wrote a piece 10 Ways to Diversify Your Income as a Crafter or Artist which is worth checking out if you are interested in earning income from your textile activities.

It’s that time of year when people start poking around for resources and inspirational ideas for sewing gifts. Sew Mama Sew is running a series during November Handmade Holidays: 30 Days of Gifts to Sew!. Each day a new tutorial link is published.

While on the subject of tutorials Melissa of Honey Bees Bliss has written a tutorial on how to stitch a Spider Web Rose. Not only is the tutorial well written but a video is also available on YouTube. While you are on her blog check out all her past tutorials that are listed in her sidebar.

Also over on Camille’s place a tutorial on how to make a Wired ribbon Pansy has been published. Also check out the past tutorials that are listed in her sidebar.

While on the subject of ribbon How To Ruche has been online a while but is an oldie but goodie because it is a step by step tutorial on ruching ribbon. This technique is often used in contemporary crazy quilting or if you are interested in more regular sewing or costuming this technique can be used as embellishment on garments and items.

Over on Calidore there are two tutorials. The first is on how to make a crazy quilted fabric postcard and the second is on How to make a thread holder for hand embroidery threads

Purple Missus also has a lot of tutorials on using an embellisher on her site and on her fiber in-form site houses tutorials on using foil as well as information on how to use bondaweb, bonding powder and glue etc

Linda of Chloes Place has written a tutorial on how the make faces for comfort dolls and recently has put the whole Melba Needlework Book up on flickr

Over on Needlen’thread, Mary Corbet has published a pattern for a simple flower which is ideal for crazy quilters.

Pam Kellog has also made some vintage patterns finds and reproduced a harvest basket motif which is also ideal for crazy quilters.

Well I am no where near catching up on email and the reading put on hold while I was away but I am sure these links will keep you busy for hours. Enjoy!

 

Temari balls

I have always delighted in temari balls particularly as Christmas draws near as many crafters here in OZ make them as Christmas decorations for the tree. They are a great way to use up scrap yarn and they make great gifts too! Japanese Temari explains a little about the history of the craft in Japan, and if you want to try this folk craft provided free instructions on how to wrap a temari ball. The site also houses a glossary and don’t miss the gallery

 

A Bracelet of Buttons

Button crafts are becoming more and more popular. Threads Magazine has a useful quick gift idea on using your old but interesting buttons to make a Button Bangles.

Christmas is not far away and these would make ideal stocking fillers!