Play Date #5 Drawstring Bag

It’s time to play again. So get your creative energy flowing and see what you can make from those “false start and reject” patchwork pieces.

Five Patchwork Drawstring Bags

I have been sewing since I was six years old and have been collecting things since then, too. As the years went by my collecting became a challenge to find the best deal, the next new craft idea toys and tools, the antique quilt no one wanted…you get the idea. Among that collecting is a very large plastic tub containing every piece of patchwork I have ever created that did not get used in a project. Oh, and some of that patchwork someone else created and gave to me or I bought at a Quilt Guild Show. It seems other people are able to cast out their unused patchwork, but not I.

Use It Up

So let’s make something with that patchwork. What do you have? Get it all out. Sort through and find some things that look like they might work together in a color scheme. Here’s what I grouped together from technique samples when I taught wearables from my “Jacket Jazz” series. The color scheme components are purples and oranges.

Purple and Orange Components

Let’s Get Started

1. Start with your biggest patchwork piece. This Continuous Bias patchwork piece measures 13″ X 15″. Do I want it larger? How about that piece of Machine Grid Smocking? It fits, so I stitch it right sides together with a 1/4″ seam allowance and press it away from the main patchwork piece. I trim all the edges straight and it now measures 15″ X 17″. That’s a good size.

Side One Complete

2. Let’s see if I can create that same size with the remaining bits and pieces of patchwork and manipulations. It’s time to pull-in the lining fabric. After a few auditions I like this Kaffe Fassett sunflower cotton print. What do you think? The lining is also the binding and casing at the top of the bag.

Add the Lining Fabric

3. Let’s add strips on the side to make the Seminole Patchwork 15″ wide. Another strip of fabric above that will be the piece on which the lining will turn-on to the front. I don’t want the lining to cover the Seminole Patchwork. Again I stitch right sides together and press seam away from patchwork. The piece is now 6″ tall with another 11″ to go.

First Row Complete

4. Let’s introduce the lining fabric before adding another row of patchwork pieces. I cut it one and a half inches wide and stitch and flip that strip. Now there are 10″ to go for Side Two.

5. What’s next? What’s left? Let’s square-up some of those odd pieces. Now I sew 3 of them together and get a 15″ wide strip. Just what I need. I sew right sides together with larger piece, press seam to one side, trim even and contemplate again.

Second Row Complete

6. Let’s add another rest stop with a 1″ wide lining strip before adding more patchwork. Now let’s see if we can make a wider strip with the rest of the fabric manipulations. Yes, with a little piecing and adding on to those strangely cut pieces I think we have a 15″ wide piece. So it’s stitch and flip and press again. I use a steam iron and do not miss this step as it’s very important for keeping your piece flat and even.

7. One more strip of lining fabric will complete the second side of the bag to match the size of the first side.

Side Two Complete

Oh, dear there are a few pieces left from the purple and orange patchwork. They will go in my collage card making box. Waste not, want not.

Leftover “Leftovers”

Time out…I need to make a collage greeting cardwith the left-over “left-overs.”

Thank You Collage Greeting Card

Now it’s on to the lining and pockets.

1. Place the patchwork pieces right sides together. Trim if they aren’t the same size. Use a gridded mat to make sure all four sides are even. Place on top of lining fabric which is right sides together. Cut lining 2″ taller than the patchwork.

2. Make pockets from left-over lining fabric. They can be any size you like. Very often the amount of fabric I have left from the lining dictates the size of the pockets I make. Cut two pieces for each pocket you make. Sew pocket pieces right sides together using a 1/4″ seam allowance. Leave an opening for turning. Clip corners. Turn right side out. Press and turn the raw edge in. Center and pin pocket to right side of one of the lining pieces 4″ from top edge. Leaving top open stitch on 2 sides and bottom close to edge. Add a second pocket to the other side of the lining. If you prefer, stitch a seam in the middle of the pocket to make two smaller pockets.

3. Place lining right sides together with all edges even. Put patchwork right sides together and layered on top of the lining 2″ from top of lining. Other three edges should be even. Pin all 4 layers together. Stitch two sides and bottom together with a 3/8″ seam allowance. Leave 3/4″ free of stitching above patchwork on the lining.

Leave Seam Open

4. Turn right sides out bringing the patchwork fronts to the outside. Lining will be inside bag with 2″ extending above patchwork bag. Fold lining/casing in half onto itself.

Fold Casing in Half

5. Fold casing down onto bag. Pin to bag. Top stitch casing through all layers. The 3/4″ on the lining that was left unstitched is where the ribbon will be inserted to make the drawstrings.

6. Choose ribbon or cording twice the width of the bag plus 4″. You need this length two times.

Ribbons for Casing

7. Using the opening on one side of casing run ribbon through with a bodkin or safety-pin. Leave tail outside of casing on one end. Run ribbon all the way back to where you started. Pull out small amount. Hold two ends together and tie ends in a knot. Pull tightly so knot doesn’t come out.

Knot in Ribbon

8. Do the same with the second ribbon starting on the opposite casing side. Put one knotted ribbon in each hand and pull. The bag closes tightly.

Drawstrings Pulled Tight

The drawstring bag is complete with lining and pockets and ready to fill.

Lining and Pockets

Now that was simple. Want to see a few more ideas? Here are a few others I have made. Go to my etsy shop to see details for each of them.

Wonder Wedge Drawstring Bag

Rayon Strip Pieced Drawstring Bag

Stripped Piece Drawstring Bag

China Red and Green Bag

I hope you will make a Drawstring Bag from your left-over patchwork pieces. We all would love to see your creation. If you have any questions on the directions I have given you here, don’t hesitate to ask. I’d love to help.

So here’s another challenge. This time there is no prize or deadline. It’s just a simple challenge for you to use some of your left-over patchwork to make a drawstring bag. Then send a picture to me so I can post it on this blog.

Friday I will announce the winner of the little sewing drawer full of vintage lace. Stay tuned and keep stitching. Judy

A Challenge For You

Last week my son, his wife and children were here from the Dallas area for a great visit. My daughter-in-law and granddaughter had been introduced to Pinterest by my daughter last Christmas and encouraged me to sign-up. I had heard about Pinterest from several people, but wasn’t convinced I needed another distraction.

Todd with Julie, Tyler, and Madison

Silly me, I did need this distraction because it is so much fun, plus I’ve learned so much and seen beautiful pictures of things I love. Also, I’ve  tapped into sites of friends and acquaintances. The most wonderful thing I found on my search is my former editor’s board which had a link to a blog FULL of vintage lace. Oh, my, my, my, my, my! I thought I had died and gone to heaven. This link led to other sites with vintage lace. I shouted, “There are people out there who love vintage lace as much as I do!” I have one closet in our home which is devoted almost exclusively to lace.

Closet Designated for Lace and Trims

Yes, I know you are saying that is way too neat and organized. I have been collecting vintage lace for 30 years. It would take over our house, if I didn’t organize it. But I cannot tell a lie. This is what my studio looks like right now when I start pulling out those boxes. I love to surround myself with all things that may possibly need inclusion in the project of the moment. I will eventually pick-up everything and put it in its place again so I can pull-out the next boxes of important sewing stuff.

Studio During Creative Stage

After looking at the vintage laces on Pinterest,  I knew that I had to blog about my collection and my love for vintage lace and vintage linens. About this same time, the manager of the Texas Quilt Museum asked me to make some pillows for the Museum Store using vintage lace. She did not need to ask me twice. I had been making collage greeting cards for the Store, and I could sew on those every day of my life and never tire of making them.  Making a pillow just added to my excitement.

A few days later I had my weekly call with  Art Coach, Lesley Riley, and she had a fun suggestion for me to do for my blog readers. It’s an on-line challenge! I hope you will join in the fun. Starting today, while the supplies last, you can sign up for my challenge to make an item using a packet of vintage lace I will send to you for $5.00. I promise you that what you receive will be well worth its cost. Each packet will be different, but will  include an assortment of four different pieces of vintage lace. Your challenge is to make something using the majority of the lace you receive from me. How you use the lace is up to you.

Here are pictures of several things I have made recently using vintage lace. You can also see more items in my etsy shop. If you don’t have an idea of what you would like to make, maybe these projects will trigger an idea for you.

Mother's Day Quilt Card

Journal Cover

Special Order Pillow

Special Order Pillow

Postcard

Postcard

Bits and Pieces of Lace Pillow

Wedding Pillow

Are you willing and able now? Here are the particulars.

• Send $5.00 to me at 3815 Oakland Circle, Missouri City, TX 77459 by April 17. I will send your laces immediately to you. Be sure to include your address. If you would like, you can pay by paypal to your paypal ID.
• Email a picture of your finished project to my email address at judym@entouch.net by May 1.
• Post picture on your blog, if you have one, and link to my blog. I will post listings of all those who have a challenge photo on their blog.
• There are no restrictions to what you make, how you make it, or what you do with the lace. It does, however, need to be recognizable.
• There are two independent judges who are willing to choose the #1 entree.
• I will post the winner, along with other entree photos on my blog, on May 4. The winner will receive this 4″ X 8 ” by 3″ high vintage sewing drawer full of vintage lace.
  

  Laces from Drawer

  

  Laces in Sewing Drawer

  

  Sewing Drawer for Winner

I really hope you will join me. It will be so much fun. I can’t wait to see how you incorporate what I send to you into something wonderful.

In closing, here I am happy for another reason. Our son from LA was here for a day and night this past week. He’s our artist/musician whom we don’t see often enough.

Troy

Now you have seen all of my family. They make my heart sing as do you. Happy Creating to you, Judy

Play Date #4 Bunnies

It’s almost Easter Time and Spring has sprung in Houston, Texas. I want to show you what I’ve been making to bring in the season!

Here they are… funny bunnies and I can’t stop making them. They are multipying like real bunnies. They are made from hand- dyed vintage candlewick and chenille bedspreads and embroidered dresser scarves.

Five Friends Who Went Through a Dye Bath

I made a few from a child’s vintage chenille bedspread with its pink and blue chenille, but no dye for this pretty white bunny. She turned out so crisp and clean that I tried a bunny out of a vintage embroidered dresser scarf. Oh, she’s a cutie, too. Hmm…how about using springtime 1940′s fabric patched together for another bunny? Oh, yes. I like that one, too.

Embroidered Bunny, Patchwork Bunny and Chenille Bunny

Then it was back to dyeing  vintage embroidered dresser scarves in even more spring time Easter egg colors. Don’t you love the embroidery on his tummy?

Dyed Embroidered bunny

Before I dyed the vintage bedspread, I cut it into 13″ wide strips the width of the bedspread.  The bunny body pattern is slightly over 12″ tall, and the ears are shorter. By making smaller pieces of the bedspread, I could dye them several different colors. I used dyes made for home use following the instructions on the package for dyeing in a pot. I used very hot tap water, and dyed in a large pot not used for cooking.  My wooden spoon and a measuring cup reserved for dyeing purposes only helped.   I wore rubber gloves and old clothes. I did not wash the fabric after it was dyed, because these bunnies will not be washed  again.

Getting Ready to Dye Chenille

The bunny pattern consists of three pieces…a body, ear, and face.

Three Pattern Pieces

I cut the body and ears double from vintage bedspread and also the ears double from a cotton fabric plus iron-on backing for extra crispness. The brand I used is by Pellon and called Decor Bond. I also cut a 3″ square of muslin and a 3″ square of paper- backed fusible web.

Pieces Cut and Ready

Then I gathered together matching sewing thread,  pink and brown embroidery floss, size 8 ecru pearl cotton, two round black beads for eyes, two long pearl beads for teeth, narrow ribbon and gathered lace for neck, 2″ pom pom for tail, craft flower for between the ears, red colored pencil for cheeks, extra strength carpet thread, and stuffing. Once all of this was out, can you blame me for making more than one bunny?

Supplies Gathered

So I proceded with these instructions

1. Using pattern draw circle on muslin square. Trace bunny face in circle. Iron wrong side to paper backed fusible web.

Draw Face on Muslin

2. Cut on circle line. Remove paper. Iron to head of bunny centering about 1″ from top of head. I made the face lower in some of the bunnies to give them different personalities. Machine applique face in place using matching thread. Blush cheeks with colored pencil. Sew bead eyes in place. Use 2 strands brown floss for eyelashes, and make each eyelash a single straight stitch. Use 2 strands of pink floss and an outline stitch for mouth, and satin stitch the nose. Sew teeth (long pearl beads) in place. Use single strand pearl cotton to make the whiskers in a long stitch for each whisker. Don’t worry if you don’t follow the whisker lines exactly.

Face Embroidered

3. Fuse backing to wrong side of each bunny ear lining following manufacturer’s instructions. Place bedspread ear and lining ear right sides together. Stitch all around leaving the bottom of ear open for turning. Make a few clips into seam. Turn right side out. I used a doll turning tool to get turning started. Press ears flat from the lining side first and then the other side. Fold ears in half with bedspread side together. Pin in center of bunny head with ear folds away from center. Pin ear tips to body to keep them out of the way when you stitch the body front to back. Stitch ears across top of head.

Pin Ears to Top of Head

4. Pin and sew bodies right sides together with a 1/4″ seam. Leave bottom open for stuffing.  Pull tip of ear pins out so you can pull on ears to turn body right side out. Use fiberfill to stuff the bunny firmly. Make sure feet are packed tightly with stuffing. Stitch bottom closed.

Stuff through Bottom Opening

5. Starting from bunny back use heavy duty thread doubled to sew a running stitch around the neck. Pull up tightly and knot thread securely

Running Stitch to Gather for Neck

.

6. Add gathered lace around the neck and tack beginning and ending of lace at back. Tie ribbon on top of lace and finish with a bow. Glue a flower between the bunny ears.

In My Easter Finery

7. Glue a pom pom in place on the bunny’s backside.

See My Cotton Tail?

8. Now Miss Pinky is complete and she has joined her friends. Aren’t they all so happy together? I wonder if they hop out of that basket at night and run around and play.

Miss Pinky and Friends

After this little family of bunnies came together I knew I wanted you to see them.  But, I couldn’t show them to you without giving you a way to make them for yourself. So if you like these little guys, I have listed them in my etsy shop. You can order a pattern with instructions or a kit or an actual bunny finished. They will be so adorable in an Easter basket, as a hostess gift, sitting in a chair to welcome guests, as part of the Sunday Easter dinner center piece, etc. The possibilities are endless.

I just had to show you these whimsical bunnies and wish you a super spring and Happy Easter.

Until next time…Hugs, Judy

Play Date #3 Treasure Boxes

Last week was a busy week and now it’s Valentine’s Day. Happy Valentine’s Day everyone.

The first part of the week was spent in La Grange, Texas for Quilts, Inc. executive and leadership meetings for two days. Then it was home to prepare dinner for 16 for the following night.

All the decorating and preparation paid off when I hosted the February Bunko Club meeting for Gad-About-Girls on February 9th. It was a fun evening full of lots of  food, drink, prizes, laughter, and screams of “Bunko.” With four tables of happy ladies playing, the evening passed quickly. Soon, it was time to say good-bye until we meet again next month.

Bunko Party

The next morning came quickly.  It was time to drive an hour to pick-up our daughter’s three children for the week-end while she was skiing with her husband and friends. Ashton, who turns four in a couple of days, is all about rough and tumble and making the six and eight-year old girls laugh at his little boy humor. The girls were all about creating again in Grammy’s studio.

Studio

Lindsey, the almost nine-year old, had plans to make a tag blanket for her babysitter’s new grandson.

Lindsey and Tag Blanket

Sydney had plans to make a patchwork pillow for her pretend puppy. The pretend puppy is her little brother who will stay in dog character for long durations of time.

Sydney's Puppy Pillow and Ashton

As Sydney was pinning her patches together she noticed a long, red antique wooden box that sets on my sewing table. I’m not sure why she hasn’t opened it before, because she is very curious about everything in my studio.

She did open it this time and exclaimed, “Wow! It’s a treasure box!” I keep the box on my sewing table to pick things from when designing a collage of some type. There are other smaller button, trinket, and trim boxes on the back side of my sewing table, but the red one has an assortment of all kinds of embellishments.

Original Treasure Box

Sydney questioned how I would ever use all the “treasures”  before getting too old. I told her I hope she and my other granddaughters will take what I still have some day and use it themselves. Each time any of the three of them are here they do take “treasures” home from my sewing room.

I have created all my adult life using things I have bought at quilt shops, antique and junk shops, discount stores, garage sales, estate sales, quilt shows, etc. I was recycling long before that was a popular term, saving things that are too good to throw out, and I love it all. The question is a good one, “how will I ever use it all?” Our upstairs closets are full of old and new laces, ribbons, fabrics, buttons, beads, charms, started patchwork projects, cording, rick-rack, braid, vintage photographs, silk flowers, etc. The list of treasures goes on and on.

For Valentine gifts one year, I made trinket boxes from small jewelry gift boxes for special friends. I filled the boxes with charms, small silk flowers, lace appliques, buttons, ribbon, small photos, little quotes, etc.

Trinket Boxes

After Sydney’s comment, I decided to make “treasure boxes” from small and medium size gift boxes. You might like making them, too. Here’s how.

Treasure Boxes

You will need: sturdy gift box, image from greeting card or sturdy paper to cover box lid, Elmer’s glue or something similar, scissors, spray glitter, a tall bag in which to spray the glitter.

Remove lid from box. Squeeze glue on top side.

Place Glue on Outside of Box Lid

Spread glue evenly with finger. Make sure you get it out to the edges.

Place glue side down on wrong side of picture. You can hold it up to the light to see the image outline through the lid to position it. Smooth from inside of box lid.

Smooth Inside Box Lid

Turn over and smooth on image side. Cut extending paper away from box lid.

Trim Away Excess Paper

Turn lid face down on table and place object inside of lid while it dries.

After it dries, place box lid in tall, standing bag with image up. You may spray several at a time.

Spray Glitter Inside Tall Bag

Following manufacturer’s instructions, spray glitter on box lid image. Let dry.

Gather treasures for filling box.

Treasures Spread Out For Box

Fill box to the brim with treasures gathered.

Treasures in box

Place decorated lid on top. Tie with a pretty ribbon. Now it’s ready.

Treasure Box Completed and Filled to Brim

I made several of these today and put them in my etsy shop. The treasures are perfect for mixed-media artists, crazy quilters, and embellishers. Take a look for more ideas or pick one made especially for you.

I hope your Valentine’s Day is a treasure to behold. With love, Judy

Valentine Vignettes and Cookies

Last night, I finished the arduous task of Fall Quilt Festival faculty and curriculum selection. The file boxes are parked by the back door waiting for my husband to load them in my car to take to the Quilts, Inc. office tomorrow. My faithful assistants, Kim and Jill, will take them from there to get out the contracts this week.

Files Ready to Go to Office

So today is my day to invite you in for a visit. I’ve baked heart-shaped sugar cookies and decorated our home with multiple Valentine vignettes just for you. Want to come in?

Welcome

This morning, after going to my much loved and needed yoga class, I came home and started right in to make cookies for our visit. I turned on the Love Channel on our XM Satellite Radio, lit a vetiver and shaved vanilla soy candle, and got out all the ingredients.

All Ingredients Ready

The recipe I use is one I have had since early marriage and have given to many friends. There are a few things I do differently than most sugar cookie recipes. I’ll tell you about those as I make the cookies along with the recipe.

Grammy’s Sugar Cookies

Ingredients: 1 cup margarine or butter, 2 cups sugar, 2 whole eggs, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 4 cups flour, 1 tablespoon vanilla

Cream together margarine or butter and sugar.

Blend in eggs.

Sift together the salt, baking powder, and flour.  Then, gradually add to the mixture.

Add vanilla to mixture and beat until smooth.

Mix Dough Until Smooth

Do not refrigerate dough. Divide into 3 parts. Roll one part at a time. Put left-over dough from each rolling all together for fourth and last part.

Flour pastry cloth and sock by rolling pin on floured cloth. Take one part of dough and turn over a few times on cloth to coat with flour.

Turn Dough on Floured Cloth

Roll out 1/8″ thick on pastry cloth. Each time, you take another part of dough to roll out, you need to flour the pastry cloth again.

At Christmas, a friend of mine wanted to make my sugar cookie recipe, but she was stumped when I told her to use a pastry cloth and a sock on the rolling pin. She searched the internet and found these items.

I’ve had mine since I was married many years ago. I’d since worn out the sock, but used the top of one of my husband’s tube socks…washed of course. Now I have a new pastry sock thanks to Willie. She bought a set for me when she got hers. I use the pastry sock, but still using the old pastry cloth as it hasn’t worn out yet. I also roll out pie dough using the pastry sock and cloth. Wash and dry these by machine after each use before putting away.

When dough is rolled out, cut with cookie cutters. If the dough does not come up with the cutter, use a spatula to lift it off the pastry cloth.

Use spatula to Remove from Pastry Cloth

Place on cookie sheet. Sprinkle with sugar.

Sprinkle Cookies with Sugar

I have a large assortment of heart-shaped cookie cutters and can’t begin to use them all each time I make Valentine cookies. I have a friend who loves these cookies and likes nothing better than to receive them at Christmas and Valentine’s Day. Recently her sugar intake has been cut back drastically, so she loves the little cookies that are just bite size. Then, she’s able to still have bits of sugar cookies. So all sizes come in handy.

Heart-shaped Cookie Cutters

Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. I find I have better luck if I bake only one cookie sheet in the oven at a time. Cool single layer on waxed paper. I bake different sizes on a single cookie sheet because some friends and family like their cookies cooked crispy while others prefer theirs barely brown. This way everyone is happy and that’s a good thing.

Crispy or Barely Browned

Cookies are finished, and tea is ready. Would you come for tea now?

Please come for tea.

Now would you like to see the Valentine vignettes I did for you? As the quote goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words.”

At My Kitchen Window

Hearts with Covered Basket

Table Runner on Coffee Table

Friendship Heart Quilt

Table in Entrance

Valentine Collage

Handmade Valentine

Vintage Valentine Hankies

Things for Little Hands to Touch

Vignette with Granddaughter Pictures

Hanging hearts can also be pillows on chairs

Happy February and Valentine’s Day from my home to yours with love,

Judy

Play Date #2 Heart Pillow

Each of the holidays throughout the year is special to me for one reason or another. I decorate our home for each of these holidays or seasons, and many of the decorations are things I have created over the years. This past week I decorated for Valentine’s Day so my husband and I and any guests or family who visit can enjoy the decorations, too. In a later blog, I will show you little Valentine vignettes, but today I want to show you how to make another kind of Valentine.

The instructions for how to make this Heart Pillow are much the same as those I showed you in Play Date #1 on making Valentine Cards. You will gather some of the same supplies. My studio work table is covered with things to use for making both Valentine Cards and Heart Pillows. The pillow starts with a batting foundation, and the card starts with a paper foundation. Today let’s make the pillow.

Embellished Hanging Heart

Here’s a list of things you will need: batting (I use Warm and Natural because of its firmness.), stuffing, ribbon, fabric scraps, lace, photos, sayings/quotes, buttons, beads, trinkets, patchwork pieces, mixed media samples, ephemera, glue stick, basic sewing supplies and sewing machine.

Are you ready? Let’s get started:

1. Make a heart shape pattern. The largest heart pattern I use starts with a 10″ square of paper. Fold a square of paper in half and cut half of a heart. Open. If you are pleased with the shape and size, cut a foundation using this pattern from batting.
   

   Cut heart pattern from batting

2. You can cover the entire foundation with one piece of painted fabric, vintage embroidery, tea towel or quilt piece, etc.  Or, you can use bits and pieces of a combination of fabrics to patchwork the foundation. If you choose the patchwork method, start by pinning a piece of fabric right side up in the center of the heart foundation. With right sides together, stitch and flip fabric pieces out from the center until you have covered the foundation heart shape. Stitch the outside close to the edge and trim fabric even with the foundation heart.
3. Embellish the patchwork with ribbons and laces or other trim. Add the photo, quote, and any other elements you have gathered to create an interesting and pleasing design. Pin and/or use a tiny amount of glue stick to hold the objects in place until you have stitched them to the covered foundation. When you are pleased with your design, straight stitch and/or zig zag the elements to the fabric covered foundation. Embellish further with machine or hand stitching or trinkets, buttons, beads, etc.
   

   Cover foundation with fabric and embellishments

4. Cut a backing fabric using the finished heart design as a pattern. It’s possible your original heart may have shrunk slightly with the stitching and embellishing.
5. Cut a ribbon for hanging the heart approximately 12″ long. Pin right sides together to the very top of the patchwork heart. Pin old or new lace straight edge to the outside edge of the heart, right sides together. Some lace needs to be gathered to hang nicely while other lace, usually hand crochet, needs only a slight amount of gathering to the heart front. Stitch lace and ribbon to the heart.
   

   Pin ribbon and lace right sides together to pillow edge

6. Pin backing heart shape right sides together with embellished heart. Stitch leaving an opening on one side large enough for you to put your hand in to stuff it. Clip top center and curves to stitching. Turn right side out. Tug gently on ribbon and lace to get the edges out. Fill  heart with stuffing and potpourri, if you like, until firm. Pin and stitch opening closed.
7. If you want to decorate the pillow further with keys, small bottles, buttons, flowers, stickers, etc. use a glue gun to adhere to outside of heart.
   

   Be Mine Heart Pillow Complete

8. Enjoy hanging in your home, or give away to someone special.

You can see other samples of these heart pillows in my etsy shop. Just click the etsy link on the right side of this post to go there. I will have these heart pillows, Valentines and some heart designs on canvas at my nephew’s art party and sale on February 4th. If you are interested in attending, let me know and I’ll email you an invitation.

It’s been fun showing you another way I use lots of my embellishments. I hope you will express your creativity and make some of these memorable, treasured greetings for youself or someone special. Please let me hear from you and send pictures to my email address. I’d love to show them on my blog before the end of February. Happy crafting until we meet again.

Bright Pink Heart from paper and fabric

Play Date #1 Valentines

Do you remember making Valentines when you were a child? Didn’t you love pasting the doilies and red hearts to a piece of construction paper and then writing your heartfelt message in crayola? The real excitement came when someone special opened the card you made especially for them. Remember?

Happy Valentine's Day!

Let’s have that fun again making fabric and paper Valentines. All you need is cardstock, envelopes, glue stick, ribbon, fabric scraps, lace, photos and messages on paper or fabric, buttons, trinkets and your sewing machine. After you get the hang of creating cards you will want to make a personal Valentine for all those who are special to you.

Patchwork background for Friend Valentine

I have made Valentine cards as small as 3″ x 4″ and as large as 7″ x 9″. The samples here measure 5″ x 8″. First select envelopes and then cut cardstock 1/4″ smaller on top and one side so card will fit nicely in envelope when complete. You will need two pieces of identical size cardstock for each card you make.

Cover one side of one piece of cardstock with bits and pieces of fabric. Sometimes I cover the whole piece of cardstock with a fabric I have painted. No need to turn under edges. Glue stick fabric to cardstock. Stitch down all edges including the outside edges.

Cardstock blank and covered with bits of fabric

Play with the assortment of materials you have gathered and place them on the stitched fabric. You can follow the lines of the patchwork to place ribbons, lace, and trims.

Add photos and other materials to make your composition. When you are pleased with the results remove the foreground pieces and glue the background materials to the fabric and stitch through cardstock. There may be larger elements you may want to fuse to the foundation fabric before stitching.

Attach ribbons, lace, and trims.

Next stitch with a straight stitch or zig zag stitch or a combination of stitches to anchor the components in the foreground. I use the same color of thread throughout the entire card. Do not make stitches too close together or your needle and thread will cut through the paper.

Your Heart Valentine complete

Add trinkets, buttons, stickers, etc. for a finishing touch. I sometimes use a glue gun for adhering buttons and charms.

When your stitching is complete use a glue stick to attach a second piece of cardstock to the back of the Valentine. This will cover your random stitching on the back of the Valentine. Stitch around outside edges only. Trim any fabric or embellishments that extend from the cardstock. The backside is now a blank space to write a personal message.

Valentine with one piece of fabric for background.

After you have made several Valentines you will find you have favorites. Pay attention to what you liked about your favorites and repeat that in your next card. The small pieces set aside from one Valentine may be just what you want for the next one. I can hardly wait to finish one card before I start on an idea I have for another one. I plan to make lots of special Valentines for family, friends, my etsy shop and an Art Party on February 4th. How about you?

Painted fabric with elements on top

Hope you have lots of fun and a Happy Valentine’s Day!