Sew Easy

Quick and Easy Sewing Project

Step #1

Start with a Pocket Pot Holder

Pretty Button

Needle and Thread 

Step #2

My Pot Holder Had a hook on the tab for purposes of hanging.  Find the right size button that will fit through a hook like this - no worries if you do not have one.  I will tell you what to do if you do not at the end of this project. Sew that chosen button in place. 

Step #3

Because my gray button was so plain and boring for me I decided to add some color with a smaller button that I sewed directly on top of the gray one using the same sewing holes.

Step 4

Check to make sure it actually works!  Yay, it does!

Step #5 

Put your chosen objects in the pocket!  Quick and Easy.

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A POTHOLDER WITH A HOOK - no problem.  Just find a pretty ribbon and sew the top of it where the tab (and hook) would be.  Wrap that piece of ribbon (once sewn on) around the button to close your pocket!  

Enjoy!

Needle Felting Book Cover Finished!

From my September 3rd post - here again it the front cover of my Needle Felting book cover.

I decided that before stitching a decorative edge around the front of the cover, maybe it would be nice to line the inside - let's see . . . 

I found this piece of beautiful wool at my local quilt shop.  I loved the color contrast, so I was willing to give it a try.  I measured, cut, and pinned the lining (wool piece) to the front cover.  

I then decided that I would prefer the blanket embroidery stitch.  I used multi-colored silk floss (3 strands for strength) and began my blanket stitching around all four edges.   Remember that you leave a long end of floss at the first stitch and then weave it into or knot to secure.

Here is a look at the finished cover.  Inside and outside.  I am very pleased with the appearance.  

Next, I will need to add the paper.  I have measure, cut, folded and punched holes with a book binding ale into my chosen paper.  I am ready with my waxed linen bookbinding thread and begin to sew the pieces into place.   Measure one inch for the tail of your thread and then measure three times the length of your paper page to determine how much thread you will need.   Once again, with the first stitch leave a tail so that you will be able to tie it off at the finish.

I then decided to add ribbon because I did not want the appearance of the sewn binding on my book cover on the inside or outside.  I attached the ribbon on the inside with some double sided tape just to keep it in place.  It's okey if late the tape releases itself (a break down of the glue) because the ribbon will be fixed on the outside of the binding.   On the outside side, I did a couple of random tack type stitches (ribbon to cover) to keep the ribbon in place. 

Here is the finished book cover.  I am pleased with this project.  I really like Needle Felting and I am going to start writing and sketching immediately into my new book!

Joy!

The Art of Natural Dye + Book Making - Another Finished Book!

Very happy with the end results of this art book.  The pictures are not in order as completion but I will label each.

Stitching on bric brack to fancy up the plain yellow (tumeric dye) cover.  Also added a flower shaped button and a green center bead, along with a chord.  

Finished the hand sewing of the bric brac.  Happy with the results. 

Decided to add some tiny beading for additional jazz!

Finished the beading and decided to add beads to the wrap around chording.

Just so you know, I stitched in four signatures (page groups) of three pages each!  A total of 48 pages to sketch on, write on, paint on, or just leave empty to enjoy the dyed paper appearance!

Here I am showing you a center page that has been sewed and knotted with the Japanese Stab Binding technique.

Here is a side view of the sewing technique.  Hopefully you can see this well. 

Textile Art; Needle Work - T-Shirt Quilt

Needlework is another term for the handicraft of decorative sewing and textile arts. Anything that uses a needle for construction can be called needlework. The definition is often expanded to include craft using a long and thin tool, such as crochet hook and tatting shuttles.

Before the free motion quilting was completed.  This was my first T-shirt quilt and I absolutely love the way it turned out!

Contemporary Art Works by Theresa - A Note to My Readers. . .

Note to my Readers

I haven't been posting for a while but will soon be back once I catch up with things.  Along with my travel and art work, I have returned to quilting and sewing and have been consumed with my love for all these creative enjoyments.   In 2015 I pieced and quilted SEVEN quilts!  Call me crazy!

And so enters another interest - a new one for me!  Photography!  I have made a major investment (well, for me and my budget that is) in a Nikon D7200 and I am in love!  I am in the process of taking an on-line course.  For my Houston area friends who are familiar with our landscape, I hope to find the time to go to Rice University in March for an 8 week course. 

So here's my promise - I will be catching up on all my posting real soon!  I will be adding more quilts and some photography!