What Happened to Tuesday?

I know I posted on Tuesday but it has disappeared! My post was about the Sewing Portfolio shown below. I made a point of posting everyday since January. That's very confusing. I'm sure you remember seeing this on Tuesday. In fact, I had comments about this from some readers.

View #1 was an exhibit piece.
View # 2 is part of my collection.
Don't you remember me telling you about the window screen I used for the inside pockets?
And the green Velcro strip along the inside left fold. The glue is attached with the Velcro. I am soooo not good with this deletion of my post!! Oh well, time to move on!!! You'll get two posts from me today! Cheers!!!

# 1 Exhibit piece, sold

# 1, inside, partly folded to show back flap

#1 fully opened showing inside

# 2, personal collection

#2 inside view.

Day 3 - Art Challenge

It's day 3 of the Art Challenge. Here's some 3 - D pieces I've made over the years. The Garden Sewing Box was the winner of Original Design, EAC - Embroiderers' Association of Canada, Inc., also winner of Award for Excellence in Craft for Technical Mastery (2005), Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador, and was published in the 2nd. edition of Needle Pulling Thread.
Next is my Under The Sea Sewing Portfolio. This is the 2nd one I've made. The 1st was in an exhibit and is in a private collection.
Treasures of the Sea, won the Award for Excellence in Craft for Innovation and Design (2003).
Pisci Fantasticus are stuffed fish made from batiks. They are at Devon House Craft Shop, Craft Council, St. John's.
Today, I challenge artist friend, Caroline Clarke to display her wonderful art pieces.

Each side is different.

Sewing Portifolio (2)

Sharon Boggon, from Pintangle, posted about What is a Hussif . I'm not going to rewrite what she has written as you can visit her blog to do that. She has made her own hussif in the crazy quilting / embroidery style. I, too have been interested in making sewing cases for carrying my stitching project supplies. A few years ago, I designed and created my very own and entered it in a show. It sold! Then, of course, I had to make another one for myself.

Closed, it measures 8" x 12" and when opened, it is 12" x 25". I used Bali Batiks for this project with nylon window screen used for the inside pockets. Some machine embroidery has been added to the pocket edges with variegated embroidery thread. I considered using fabric for the pockets but then I would never know what's inside them. As you can see, the front has been embellished with some of my Fantasy Fish. A magnetic bag clasp keeps it together. I added a length of green Velcro along one fold to hold small things such as a glue stick. The cotton threads are strung on a cord with a plastic toggle which keeps the threads from sliding off. There is a place for most of my small sewing / embroidery gadgets and supplies!

I did post about this same project in 2010. However, this post has more close up photos.
Enjoy!



The back of sewing portfolio with another pocket



Nylon window screen is used for inside pockets.

Note the clasp on cord to hold small pair of scissors and the
toggle on the cord beneath the threads,

The edges of the nylon window screen are embroidered

Velcro is used so needle case, pincushion and holder can be removed

Fold over pocket



Velcro stuck to the glue

Fabric Books

I have been asked where I come up with some of the various topics for my blog posts. Well, some ideas are directly from my own art while other ideas are the results of reading other blogs. Sometimes a word or picture will also trigger something. Today's post idea is the result of reading an email from Pin Tangle. Sharon Boggon found a great tutorial from Shade Tree Art with a step by step tutorial on how to make a basic fabric book. Take a look at it.

For the most part, we consider fabric books as those for young children. Consider making one for your sewing samples. Or make a Sewing To Go Book (that name just popped into my head) with pockets to hold floss, needles, scissors and other small supplies!

This is my sewing portfolio that I designed and made a couple of years ago. It has a magnetic bag closure and lots of pockets. I could have added take out pages using velcro strips -  maybe another time. However, the glue stick is kept in place with velcro. A strip of the soft side of velcro is stitched on the wide fold over section and the sticky piece is stuck on the glue container. It works quite nicely.

I think this book from Shade Tree Art, can also be made with children in mind. For example, each page could be a different colour with applique figures added. I found a couple of tutorials for children's books here and here (this one is made from scraps). Add this one about shapes. You get the idea!

Enjoy!

Cabot Quilt Guild - Program

Last evening was the monthly meeting of the Cabot Quilt Guild. I have to congratulate the program committee for a wonderful presentation. It's sometimes very difficult to come up with ideas for a large group of ladies but they managed to do it. Several quilters got together and found some simple projects on-line for the sewing room. They took photos of the steps in each of the projects and did a power point presention. Not only that, they were very generous and had draws for the projects they made. Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of the projects but I do have the links.

• Ironing Board Caddy with Thread Catcher
• Patchwork Pincushion
• Heart Needle Case

Here's a great site for freebies! Lots to see and if you are an eager beaver, lots to make. . .
Also, take a look at some previous posts on this site:
Sewing Portfolio
Sewing Stuff HERE and HERE

The photo is of a couple of my scissors holders made from 'fantasy' fabric. No two are ever the same.

Enjoy!

Sewing Portfolio

A couple of years ago, I designed and created a Sewing Portfolio (scroll down) which was exhibited at the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador Member's Exhibit, Devon House. That particular piece was sold at the gallery opening. The piece featured here is one I made for myself.

The flap has two magnetic purse closures to keep it closed. I put a full size pocket with flap on the back for note paper/patterns.

The pockets for the inside are made from vinyl window screen bought from the local hardware store. This product sews up very nicely. In fact, I've embroidered the edges of several pockets. This piece was a bit of a challenge as I wanted to have places for a small cutting mat, ruler, rotary cutter, scissors, thread, glue, pin cushion, needles, note pads etc. I'm pleased with the design however, after using it, I realized that I should have put flaps on all the pockets as things do occasionally fall out of them.

Here are some free sewing project patterns that I found while surfing the web:
Here's a needle book from the Crazy Quilt Studio
Sew, Mama, Sew has a nice pincushion organizer for your sewing room
Sewing Organizer tutorial from Tipnut
Sewing machine cover from About .com
Small sewing caddy from All People Quilt