Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Reawaken




RE- solution
RE- think
RE-balance
RE- charge
REnew
RE- set
RE- fresh

(photo taken at a coffee shop in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where we are celebrating the holidays together- all 6 of us.)


Happy New Year!

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Fabric Markets

The fabric markets I've seen in the past ten days have all been colourful!

Ribbons in Hong Kong

When there is so much choice I often can't buy!

Fabric Market in Ho Chi Minh City

Overwhelming.


Beads at the fabric market in Kowloon.
A fabric stall in Kowloon.





Friday, December 25, 2015

Christmas This Year

This is the only snow flake I will be seeing this Christmas.


This is all the ice I am going to see.


I am in Vietnam with my family.


Merry Christmas to all my friends.




Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Easy Piecing Christmas Stocking

Every year at this time, I post a quick project to make as a gift. To see past ideas, click here, here, here and here.

This year I have the instructions for a Christmas stocking.  the technique I used is between foundation piecing and quilt-as-you-go, which I L-O-V-E!! It is fast to make and easy!

Finished craft!

Step 1: Fold a piece of thin batting in half and cut out a stocking shape. You will have 2 halves that will make one stocking.

Step 2: Cover the batting with fabric. *place the batting stockings on a table in a mirror image and cover the top part.

In the spirit of reducing my landfill footprint, I have chosen to use selvage strips which normally get thrown out. I have been collecting them for a while. I keep a box near my cutting table and toss them in there for future use.

Start by putting a 2 1/2 inch strip to cover the toe.
It isn't necessary to worry about what angle to put it on.
Lay a selvage strip over the first strip (good side UP) and sew through
the three layers- in this case the green fabric, red fabric and batting.
Use your walking foot for this.
It helps all the layers feed into the machine at the same time.
If you are not sure if you caught the strip below
with your stitches
 simply lift the selvage edge and peek under. 
If you don't have enough selvage strips add a few regular fabric strips.
Here I used a striped fabric measuring 1 1/2 inches wide.
Place good sides facing and sew a regular 1/4 inch seam allowance.
Flip and iron and proceed with selvage strips.

The covered socks should be mirror images of each other 

I had fun choosing the red and green selvage strips and finding fun words from the selvage I wanted to highlight.

Step 3: When the batting is covered in fabric, turn the stocking over and trim the fabric ends that stick out.




Step 4: Use this stocking as a pattern for the lining. Fold a piece of lining fabric in half, good sides facing.


Step 5: Draw the outline of the stocking. Make the top end about 1/2 inch higher. (This piece will be turned over at the end and will show on the outside of the stocking.)

Step 6: Cut out the lining part of the stocking on the inside of the pencil line which will make it slightly smaller than the outside part of the stocking.

Step 7: For the lining, sew using a seam allowance of about 1/8th inch and over a measure of 3 inches  gradually move the stitch line to a generous 1/4 inch seam allowance. Continue sewing all around the sock using the generous 1/4 inch measure until you have 3 inch left on the other side. From there, start angling the seam allowance so it finishes at 1/8 th inch. Do not turn inside out.

Step 8: For the outside of the stocking: If you want a hook for hanging, use a piece of ribbon. Make a small loop and place it in between the stocking halves, about 1 1/2 inch from the top. Using a 1/4 inch seam allowance sew the 2 pieces of the stocking, good sides facing, catching the ribbon. Turn inside out.

This ribbon came tied on a gift from my favourite quilt store.
Step 9: Slip the lining as is inside the stocking.

Step 10: Roll the top of the lining to make a small hem and roll that over onto the front side.

Step 11: Sew the lining overhang by hand using the blind stitch.

And the best part of all.... Fill it with great stuff!!!



Happy Holidays to everyone!

Sunday, December 6, 2015

Lines

Lines made of light.


A garden suddenly redrawn with the flick of a switch.


Radha Chaddah and Tom Kuo are the artists.



A tree without leaves, a skeleton of sticks, brought to life with light.

Reflective Tree by Scott Eunson

All images from Nuit Blanche, 2015.