Catching Up

It's been a busy few weeks of finishing objects that have been languishing in a box for far too long.

For example: putting hanging sleeves on wall hangings, creating cushion covers from experimental patchwork samples, stitching, binding, quilting, beading and so on.  A very satisfying but time consuming couple of weeks.

One of those unfinished objects has now become a small wall hanging.

It was initially just a piece of calico used to demonstrate a variety of different techniques roughly put together as a summer scene.

The fabric was coloured with soluble crayons and then embellished with applique, hand embroidery, machine embroidery and beads.

This first image shows flower and leaf shapes fussy-cut from fabric, bonded to the background and then embellished with hand embroidered buttonhole stitch, straight stitch and beads


This next photo shows a clip-art butterfly printed on to cotton fabric, cut out and then sewn to the background with sequins.  The butterfly's body was machine embroidered with metallic thread.

The appliqued cottage below has a rustic  appeal with its lack of symmetry and the simple looking buttonhole stitches.

Hand embroidered cross stitches and French knots hint at flowers and foliage. alongside the path.

A bugle bead forms the doorknob.

Simple shapes but they create a pleasing picture.

 Below is more hand embroidery in the huge flowers at the front of the garden.  Fly stitch,star stitch, French knots and straight stitch in a Perle cotton.

In all the images the coloured background has been produced using Neocolour II soluble crayons.

Emphasis on the landscape and other features such as tree trunks and branches is achieved with free machine embroidery.  Free machine embroidery also decorates the grass, the sky and the hills.

 This image shows trees drawn with fabric pencils and then free machine embroidered with metallic thread.

One tree has little beads for berries.


Below the plant pot with purple flowers is another clip-art image printed on to a cotton fabric sheet.
Then on top of this image are many purple French knots to represent unopened flowers.

Alongside the pot are some embroidered lazy daisy green shoots.

So picking up this sampler of techniques again, the colours were enhanced, a backing and binding and hanging sleeve were added to give it a lease of life never planned or expected.

The sun is a gold non-woven material placed on top of pale blue organza and then with the rays of metallic thread added by the sewing machine.

A relaxing and fun few hours for me - a happy project!