This one has the finishing touches done on the front. I finished the lettering, added a few red beads (handblown glass beads that I made myself, see the red dots?) and I added a silver accent at the middle of the big flower.
I'm excited to (finally) wrap this one up. I saw some handmade things at the Jax that might help me move forward with a new project. We'll see. I might try to do something from our China trip.
See? Things are moving along. I'll start to work on the flowers soon by adding some beads. Progress = good.
I can't believe this is my first post on this stocking. I've been "working" on this one for what feels like months. Let's be honest. Mostly stuck. I am using a design from an Indian beaded papoose in a really old sewing book as inspiration, but mine project is going to be (obviously) a stocking. I started by using fabric scraps to build the leaves, couched them with some leftover hand-dyed thread and then...waited.
Now, several months later, I found this fantastic dishrag thread with fringe-y stuff on it that I love for the vines, and I outlined the leaves in black (they were so washed out otherwise.) This project is on again.
I've yet to figure out which beads to add or how, but it's football season again, so something is bound to get done.
This one has been a bit of a medley of things. I wanted to use the pictures of the family printed on fabric, but they are surprisingly difficult to deal with. So, it's a bit mix-y. You can see leftover pieces of lace, old buttons, discarded ribbon, and pieces of upholstery fabric. Tonight I'll do a picot edge using beads I've been meaning to use. In the end, I hope it looks fun.
I've had creative block for a while now. But, I printed some pictures of kids onto fabric and picked out some beads and got started. Once I did, I thought I'd also add some of the kids' artwork to the piece, so the purple flower is a replica of one Ruth drew at school. Then, I used a leftover piece of pink lace underneath.
I think I'll start sewing on different things on this one. It will be mixed media. Who knows how it will turn out.
I'm enjoying watching the Walking Dead while doing this, though. That's good.
Now that I'm done with the brown grasses stocking, I returned to the R's. I decided to embellish just a few of the R's, not all of them, and I added a beaded border at the top, as well as a ribbon (saved from Fran's chocolates!)
I'm excited to finish this one. I've got some soft yellow flannel to line it and I'll start work on that tonight.
Finally. I'm nearing completion of this stocking. I liked the brown, but felt that some bright blues on top would be pretty, so there you go. I've picked out some lettering and will add "Rieken" to the top soon.
Then, maybe I'll be ready to return to the stocking with the "R's." Still having a bit of a block on that one.
Linen with grasses
I've always liked grasses and the way they look together in a field and how they move and sound, especially in the fall.
So. I got a vintage sewing book with some pictures of different types of grasses and plants, and I'm sewing my own (on a stocking) of course. It's a little laborious, because a single strand of thread from the skein makes sense to sew with and (I think) achieves the right delicate look, although a single strand can be tangly and thin and feels less satisfying when you pull it through the fabric. But, maybe that's the point when you're sewing a meadow.
I've had a hard time getting into this one for that reason. But, it just occurred to me to add some colorful elements, maybe on top of the brown. Really vibrant colors. Maybe I'll add bright red or electric blue - not sure yet. I think I'll do a lot of brown and then overlay with something dramatic, eventually. Whatever. We'll see.
It is always nice to be done, as is the case with the Onion Bag Bride & Groom.
Now, it's time to start something new. I have an old book on bead embroidery that is super cool. It has some ideas. I just need to take the first stitch. I've been putting it off. Once I get started...it will be good.
Sometimes it isn't easy to get started. Just one foot in front of the other, right?
I'm having a creative block with the R stocking. So, I decided to move on to Onion Bag People.
These aren't finished. When done, they will be a bride a groom. Or two brides. or two grooms. Whatever. A couple. I take a Costco onion bag and weave it with leftover fabric from other projects, which I iron into tri-folds that are about 1/2 thick at the end. I put tape on the end so it's easier to weave, and weave the whole bag with leftover scraps.
Then, I cut the bag in half (this is always hard, because cutting is scary.) Next, I take each half and fold it in half again, then sew the outline of the body, which will be necessarily skinny. The body gets stuffed with shredded scraps of fabric, very tightly. I want the doll to be heavy and not very bendable. At the bottom, I sew on some felt and close it up.
Last, I'll add details like a bridal veil, arms, a bouquet, etc. (These two will get their details soon.) Anyway, it's something to do and I think they turn out cool. I gave my first pair to my brother and his wife for their wedding. The dolls won't stand on their own but they can be placed somewhere or propped up. Maybe hung on a wall.
Each figure is about 2 feet high, so that's why they cannot stand independently.
Maybe working on these will get me through the R stocking creative block. Can't figure out if I want to embellish the R's or use the negative space, or weave something organic throughout. Who knows. It'll come some day, I hope.
Now that I have a bunch of R's, gotta think of something to do with them. I'm thinking of adding beads, somewhere, not sure. I think I'll just pick an R, do something to it (like embellish it with beads) then see what happens and if it looks good.
Also, I'll add "Rieken" at the top, probably using lots of different kinds of letters. I was thinking of making them all the same (the letters, making them uniform), but the singularity could divert from the chaos of the other R's, and I think the mixed-up-ed-ness of the design could be the attraction.
We'll see. The Blackhawks are playing the Lightning tonight in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals, so there'll be some TV time to work on this.
I'm working on a new project. It's an "R" stocking. I'm not sure how this one is going to turn out. I need to consider to add beads and layer things. At some point, maybe an idea will come out from wherever it is hiding.
I think this one is ready for the finishing touches! It's been fun to work with the Moroccan threads. I thought about adding beads to this one, but I think they'd take away from the design and the threads. So, I've decided to leave beads off of this one.
In case you are wondering, I deliberately made the cursive "rieken" a little organic. It seemed to add interest for me that way.
My cell phone takes crummy pictures. Once I've finished this stocking with the backing and everything, I'll try to get a photo that shows the coral fabric as it really looks. It's actually bright and not washed out. Also, some of the fabric in this picture looks stained. It isn't. It's just shadows.
I've added more designs and decided to add some fabric leaves. I'm liking the way it's turning out. The blue threads are more manageable when they are doubled up. Soon I'll have to decide how to date/name the stocking at the top.
There's a lot more design at the top under the roll. Sorry, I didn't want to unroll it all for the picture. I'll be done soon enough and you can see it in it's entirety.
These are the Moroccan threads my mom brought from Morocco. Aren't they amazing? See how they are wrapped around bamboo? It's going to take years to use them up.
Each "thread" is really four strands to be separated. I tried using multiple strands together for a heavier look, but the thread is fine and it frays and tangles. So, I tried to use a single strand, doubled over and knotted, and when I want a "heavier" line, I just satin stitch or do the row twice.
My Mom went to Morocco and brought back fabulous threads. I also had a piece of coral-colored wool from a trip to Santa Fe that I'd been waiting to use.
So, here's my latest project. It's just designs on wool. When I'm done with the pattern, I might overlay a design on top. Maybe leaves or something. We'll see how it looks as things move along.
I don't know what I'll do with the other threads from Morocco. They are like silk, but my mom doesn't think they are. They are wrapped around bamboo sticks and they are shiny. They fray.