Cluster Necklace for Craftster swap

I signed up at the last minute last week for a swap taking part over on Craftster for 'friends of craftster'.

It should be interesting as the items are posted on the Gallery first. Then, one by one the names are drawn from a hat, a prize is drawn from a hat and the two are paired up.

Here is my contribution, a cluster of red beads which includes a mix of glass, plastic, ceramic and seed beads.

One of the participants in the swap said the beads reminded them of pomegranite seeds! And I think they're right.

The beads have a lovely golden hue to them. Just wish I could remember where I bought them now! Lol.

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Craftster journal swap, 2nd journal made

Check out the 2nd journal I made for the Craftster 'Make me a journal' swap. This was made especially for 'Karia' who didn't receive a journal from her spoiler. Hopefully it should have arrived by now and she will like it.

I also included an empty sweety box which I filled with ideas and journalling prompts for days when inspiration is lacking. I downloaded the ideas sheet from www.milliande.com and printed them out onto coloured paper. Milliande.com is a fun resource for art and writing stuff. Check it out if you get a mo.

I'm getting better at the coptic stitch binding and I used STR wool to bind this journal instead of embroidery thread. The stitch definition is much better with a thicker yarn or thread. There are more details about the journal on my Flickr page. Thanks for looking. x

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Swap: 'One Tiny Thing' on Craftster

I've just finished the 'One Tiny Thing' (OTT17) swap on Craftster. The swap is restricted to sending one item less than 4"x4" and no extras allowed. This was a tough remit to follow as I like to add little bits'n'bobs to my packages. Anyway, I restrained myself.

Firstly, here's the lovely coin purse that Sam sent me and I just love love love it.

Check out the embroidered fairy and her beautiful beaded wings! So simple yet so effective!


The outer is a lovely dark denim and the liner & zipper are a pink/lilac colour. Lovely! Thanks again Sam.

And this is what I sent Sam yesterday (which she received this morning - shock!). Introducing Hammy the Amigurumi Hamster!




Sam has posted some photos of him exploring the garden in his new home. They're on the first page of the OneTinyThing Gallery and they're definitely worth a gander.

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Sewing: Embroidery Patch Swap (Completed)

Here is a picture of the 4 patches I received from my swap pals. This has been the second Craftster swap that I've taken part in and I'm really pleased with the stunning patches!!!

I haven't given much thought to how I'll use them though - maybe on a quilt or a bag. Maybe. I'll just admire them for a little bit longer before I decide...

And one final shot of all the patches I sent to my swap pals.

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Sewing: Embroidery Patch Swap 3B

This patch is a little extra, to be included with the 'ducky' patch.

The design is another original of mine. The shoes were inspired by the 1920's and the swirls were traced from the lid of a now empty box of Thornton's chocolates!

Enjoy!

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Sewing - Embroidery Patch No 4

This is the 4th (and final) patch for the embroidered patch swap over on craftster. Here's a scan of my original drawing...

And here's the finished piece. I've left out the wings but there's enough space for my pal to add some if she wishes.

It's been a great swap and I'll post some piccies later today of the patches I received.

Hope you're all well - we're still struggling to exorcise the 'lurgy from the house.

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Sewing: Embroidery Swap Patch No 3

Embroidered Patch No3
Originally uploaded by craftybernie

Here's my tribute to A Warhol! It's the third patch for the Craftster swap (three down and only one more to go). For more info, check out my Flickr page.

TTFN

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Sewing: Embroidery Swap Patch No2

This is the 2nd patch I've made for the Embroidery Patch Swap on Craftster. After a quick rinse and a nice hot iron, she'll be winging her way to the US on Monday.


I've used mainly stem stitch for the outlines, satin stitch for the eyes and chain stitch for the body and shoes. I thought that the french knots would add a little interest to the bobble on her hat (I didn't want her looking like Santa Claus!)

Patches number 1 and 2 are for the US. I'll be working on patches 3 and 4 next week. They're destined for the UK and will be posted in time for the end of November deadline.

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Sewing: Embroidery Patch Swap on Craftster

I'm taking part in my second Craftster swap. This one is a swap of embroidered patches sized between 3" sq. and 10" sq. We're split into groups and each member sends one patch to the other members in their group. I've got four to make and this is the first one.

Here's a link to the Gallery if you fancy a gander at the other patches being made: Swap Gallery

Although the image looks quite green in colour, it is actually embroidered onto white fabric (Irish linen or something similar). I hope my pal likes it.

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Swap: first Craftster swap finished!

I've just finished my commitment on my first Craftster swap - the 'I want what I can't make' swap. It's been torture making things and not being able to share them on here for fear of being found out. It wasn't a secret swap so my pal knew everything about me and I had to keep my gifts on the DL.

So, here's the things I made for my pal. I had a really great time making them and learned some great new techniques in the process. Enjoy!!

BAGSKET: made in canvas and lined with calico. The drawstring top is part of a recycled linen blend fabric. The tutorial for making the bagsket are available on Foofangle with links to the original designer. The embroidery pattern is one of many that is available free on Knitting-And.com.

NEEDLE ROLL: made in canvas and lined in calico (as the bagsket), panel of Amy Butler's Lotus on the front and edged with blue grosgrain ribbon.

MINI QUILT: the flower fairy is a design taken in a book at home (title to follow). I embroidered the fairy onto a piece of recycled white fabric. I felt bad sending just the embroidered panel to my pal so I made it into this little quilt or wall hanging. I'm not entirely happy with it as a quilt but what the hey!

FABRIC POSTCARD: Fabric scraps, heavyweight interfacing, zig zag stitch on my trusty old Singer 507.

FABRIC FLOWER: made using my treasured & favourite fabrics - the tutorial is available on Mollychicken. It's a very simple concept but every scrap of fabric is used up - I even used the very last strip of fabric to make the flower fairy's skirt.

FLOWER FAIRY: made the same as all my other fairies, the hair is mohair that has been twisted around wooden skewers which were immersed in hot boiling water and then freezing cold water. Once the yarn was dry, unwind the yarn from the skewers and you'll have lovely curly doll hair! The skirt is made using the leftover fabric from the fabric flower above.

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Swaps: "I Want What I Can't Make" swap on Craftster

I signed up for my first Craftster Swap the other week - the "I want what I can't make" swap! Sign ups are closed now and we've just been allocated our swap pals.

It's such a cool idea for a swap. You get the opportunity to list crafts, techniques or items that you are unable to make or do, and your swap pall will make you something from that list. And so on for each person and their swap pal.

I'm itching to get started and will post some progress photos once taken (subtle hints and teasers to follow soon - I want to maintain some of the surprise for my pal)! Mwahahahahaha.

While we're on the subject of Craftster, check out these girlie dresses when you can. The first one is reconstructed from a mans shirt. And just to show that nothing goes to waste, the sleeves have been turned into matching pants! This is a cute overload.

This second dress is made up of patchwork squares, stitched together in rows, and then tiered on top of each other. Isn't it adorable! Similar twirly patchwork dresses are for sale on Etsy.

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