A girl needs a shed

Christmas bag - and more beads......

I've just made this cute little Christmas gift bag.  The  pattern can be adapted to make a larger, for example a bottle bag.  It will make a change from the usual wrapping paper and bows.  Only took a couple of hours to run it up.

Starry box bag

 And this pretty set of jewellery is part of what we learned at the class on Monday.  I decided to make a necklace to go with the earrings.  I had some lovely violet Swarovski bicones which went just perfectly with the Miyuke seeds and bugles for this project.  It looks almost Roman to me.

Roman violet

.

Fibre in Form Online Workshop

I have just started the first lesson of an online workshop being run by Lynda Monk and Carol McFee.  I'm having great fun, but would be having more if both my sewing machines were not being repaired/serviced!  I'm being introduced to new products and techniques which are great to work with.  Here are a few pictures of my first use of Moulding Paste:

 

In the first one I just scraped some of the paste onto a piece of canvas backed calico and then used a wooden stamp.

 

 For the second one, I made a simple stencil from an interesting  photograph and applied the paste through the stencil.  Then scraped a little more through a flower stencil at the bottom. 

 

 

For the third one, I have used some scrim, moulding paste and another stamp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This piece is ready for stitching - when I get my machines back!  I have added scrim, lace and ribbons onto a piece of canvas backed calico.

 

 and here I have knotted some torn strips of  cotton fabric and added a piece of lace;

 

whilst this one is made up of hand couched yarns, French knots and Xpandaprint.

 

 

 

These are all ready for colouring and stitching.  I'm hoping to find time this week to carry on with the project.

 

In the meantime, I have been carrying on with my mosaic table top - here is a progress picture.  Nearly there!

 

Mosaic table WIP 3

Beads and Balls!

It's been a couple of weeks since I added any pictures of stuff I've been doing.  I did a class with Pat Dexter this week during which she taught us to make beaded beads.  They are so pretty and, as usual, when I got home I made some more.  I can't show you the first one I made - it was in a disgusting combination of pink and white and looked like a child's sweetie! - because I took it apart and went on to make the green ones.  I like these much better.

Beaded beads

I've also finished a couple of new Temari designs.  One of them is an all-over design, which I have to admit are not my favourites.  But that's just because I don't do enough of them, consequently I'm no expert.  However, I'm fairly happy with the way this one turned out.  I really must do more....

Mosaic

And here is the other one - I've shown all three 'faces'.  It reminds me of the sweet smelling jasmine which is flowering in the courtyard just now.