Country Garden Stitchery

I enjoy making totes out of my needlework projects. So many cute quilting fabrics to accent the great hand dyed flosses. This is a very easy and quick project. It uses 1 yard of fabric, most of the time I select four different fat quarters that coordinate well. If you are using a needlework project as your focus piece trim it leaving a 1 inch border around. You can make the tote any size you want adding pieces to the sides and top/bottom until you like it. I put a 2 1/2" wide piece on each side first. Then add a 2 1/2" wide piece to bottom and top. You can make it even more patchwork-like with smaller pieces sewn together for each side, thin strips, etc. After you have the size of front you like cut a piece the same size for the back and two pieces for the lining. Right sides together sew the front to the back using a 1/4" seam. Sew the two lining pieces together using a 1/4" seam and leave a 4" opening on one side for turning. To square the bottom of the ba...

I'm just barely in time for Easter with my fancy eggs and blossoms embroidery. I loved the Gentle Art Sampler Flosses I used, their colors are so soft and blend very well with some of the quilting fabrics I like to use. I haven't decided if I want to make a pillow or wall hanging. Probably a pillow, I have an abundance of wall hangings now and need some color elsewhere. I'm very excited to be spreading the word of Create and Decorate Magazine's new blog. I love their magazine and still have their first issue. Full of fun things to do.

I decided to sew a little needlecase with some very bright pink fabric and stitch a little flower on it. I decided to put some inside pockets in it and then a piece of felt for keeping needles. It worked up very quickly and I was very happy until I turned it right side out and the pocket part was upside down! Oh, frustration. I think this is why I don't sew a whole lot, but now and then I like it. I did rip it out, dastardly deed, and make it right.

I decided to put my latest cross stitch creation into a tote using some bright green spring - spring green - fabrics. I like how it turned out, the flower really shows up nicely. I am now working on a swirly pansy - pansies are one of my favorites but they don't do well here in the hot Nevada sun - maybe that is why I stitch them so much. I will display that later.

I had a great time stitching this flower in shades of black using "Soot" from "The Gentle Art". I wanted a different combination of colors, something I never use and these were it. I am a flowery type person and like those colors. I am going to use some of these Market fabrics from Michael Miller to make a bag I think, but then I thought this frame might look good too.... Also a bit of progress on my Mirabilia design. She has a face and head now and her little slippers too! Getting close.