Cross stitch bedspread in miniature

 When browsing the web, I came across a pattern for cross stitch that was just beautiful. It had a lovely border with some beautiful flowers inside. I thought this would be useful and unique as a bedspread. Instead of flowers I thought of a cat on a cresent moon. It took some charting and sizing, and more searches on the internet for the right size moon and cat, but I finally found and adapted a pattern to fit.

The Aida cloth was not spooky enough, so I dyed it a charcol colour. I love that it isn't a uniform colour, and looks hand dyed, with dark and lighter areas.

I made 2 of them for a halloween exchange. 

Using a window template to size the pattern. I did have to adjust the border and moon and cat a couple of times.

Not sure which I like better - the burgundy or bright red border.

The inside of the moon I used shiny white embroidery floss, and a variegated grey to white floss so the moon would appear lifelike. I enjoy using varigated floss as you get some intersting results that several different floss colours just can't do.

 In the end, my Aida cloth was too small, and I had to add some black fabric to finish off the dollhouse bedspread. 

 

Cutting and sewing a pice of black fabric for the back.

Here it is sewn and displayed on a modern bed I have made.

Very chuffed with the bedspreads. Hope my exchange recipients can use them.

Cross stitch Welcome mats in Miniature

 Years ago I had pulled from a magazine a life sized pattern for a Halloween welcome mat. Never did do it, as you needed to buy a mat with holes. The pattern however works great for cross stitch in miniature form! In my stash of craft supplies I had this aida like fabric in a beige/brown that will be perfect for a dollhouse welcome mat.

The first one I made was a little hard to do as the cloth was softer than regular aida cloth. The next one I tried to stiffen it up a bit and change the colour with fabric paint. It worked quite well, and did not plug up the holes. These were made for the halloween exchange I joined with the theme haunted halloween. Although I liked this pattern, I also made one to warn visitors that my cat bites!

Wasn't sure whether to have a frayed edge, or sew the sides under. Finally decided to make it with a rug edge. Although to make sure it doesn't fall apart, fray check was applied with a toothpick along the edges. The welcome mats were finished off with a thin piece of brown felt for the back.

Quite nice and although the cat and pumpkin mat 

took a long time, am very happy with the results.

Rag quilt shopping bag

 My community museum was doing workshops, and they advertised a rag quilt bag class. I could not attend, but asked if I could get a kit to try it at home. Luckily, there were a few materials left over from the class, and I got them! I used this opportunity to not only make a rag quilt bag, but make it reversible and embroidered too. It is important when learning a new craft to make it even more complicated. Go big or go home. 

Laying out the fabric squares and making a plan.

A lot of the squares are from my mom's fabric box. One square is from a co-worker that gave me some of her fabric. The ragging is quite interesting and I recommend you try it for a different look and feel.

The bag straps were just laying round and were perfect for this project.

Here is the reversible side, without the rag part.

The finished bag:

Just love it!

Memorial Embroidery and pillow case

When a person passes early because of cancer, it is important to remember and have something of theirs around.  In order to give my neices something to have of their mothers, I had originally thought of making a quilt of some of her clothes. But there wasn't enough. Through looking online, I thought of making a needle book with her clothes, but then I found this embroidery image that depicts 2 females from the back view, with the title sisters. You use embroidery floss to make the hair and clothes. So I practiced to get it right and picked the clothes that would look good.

I watched a lot of embroidery videos and decided to paint arms with fabric paint. The frames will be embroidery hoops. 

I tried to make the hair look like hers and her daughters, it was not easy, but thankfully I practised first.

Using one of her shirts for a dress for her. The top is embroidery floss.

It is hanging over the hoop on purpose.

I went with the title I am with you always. The angel wings are from one of her bras.  My neice's dress is also a shirt of her mother's.

The blue top is made with fabric paint, and a piece of bra material.

The finished piece.

Here is the message I wrote on the back.

The second one I did also was with her clothes and embroidery floss. It really helps to paint the arms and neck with fabric paint.

The finished piece.

Here is the message I put on the back.

This one I made for myself. I chose a hairstyle for her from her childhood, and my hairstyle is typical to how I tie back my hair. 

The title was hard to do and I had to learn a lot of different embroidery stitches and then decide on one I liked. My dress was material from one of my prom dresses that my mother made, and there was leftover material in her fabric box for me to use.

 

My Aunt had recently given me some craft rings and I so wanted her to have a halo. I cut the ring, painted it metallic gold, and glued it to the fabric.

I hope this inspires you to use material like this to make a memorial piece for your loved one.

For her son, I made a pillow cover in the rag quilt style, with the back of some pajama pants.

I personalized it for him.

Added an embroidery patch.

Pajama pants I used for the back of the pillow cover.

Memory Shadow box in honour of my father

 My dad died of Covid 19 complications in Oct of 2022. He was a mason, and his career was an integral part of his life. I wanted to have something all of us siblings would cherish. So I made 3 of them! I wanted to use shadow boxes that I already had, or make the shadowbox. 

 I made this one for my brother. I used the base of an old dollhouse to make the shadow box. The dollhouse was free, and home made. The wood base was wood that had a router lines to make to look like large bricks.

 I glued it to a base, and painted it with paint, sand, and glue mixture.

Then I started trying out lots of layout configurations.

Deciding is the hardest part.

The base is covered in blue material. The items are tied down withfishing line.

The finished shadow box.

My shadow box is an old serving tray.

The base was sanded to make it more level.

I lined it with a piece of foam board.

 I covered it with this rubber sheet of a mini brick wall.

Trying out various layouts.

The finished shadowbox.

The first one I made was for my sister. 

The final layout.

A few ornaments I wood burned and painted to remember my dad.