Plum's card

In the BQLPC group, in our ongoing Birthday card exchanges this is my offering to Plum for her Special day.

Each letter was drawn in reverse on some double sided interfacing ( on the paper side), then ironed on the wrong side of the fabric, cut and free motion quilted on the white fabric.

Here are some photos of the process.

I wrote my message with different coloured pencils. 5 colours. Then I knew which fabrics for each letter.

Don't forget to reverse the writing! I drew them freehand, but you could use Word. I thought it would take too long. The glue side of the paper is ironed on the back of the fabric. Then you cut each letter on the line, take off the paper and iron them on your base fabric, glue down. This means they are easier to sew at the next stage.

Here you can see that I just lift my needle when i travel from one letter to the next. I come back at the end to cut the threads.

There is also some polyester wadding under the fabric.

This is after I iron the fabric plus wadding ondo the piece of pelmet stiffener, and back fabric.

The only stage left is sewing around.

I have been around my shape with a zigzag stitch and can now cut the extra fabric.

I went around the card a second time to finish off the edges.

It's finished. Ta-daa!

I know that she received it so can publish it without spoiling the surprise.

I enjoy this challenge, it forces me to follow a deadline, although at the beginning I thought that I would be able to make all my cards in advance. That didn't happen.

I believe there is more diversity as a result .

Enjoy your sewing .

Pascale.

A washing bag for University

Tomorrow I'm driving my first born to Glasgow University. She is packing her stuff, there is a lot of it... And between the other things, i had to make her a wash bag.

She chose this lovely print with the typewriters, I kept half of it. So completed with some cotton fabric I had. Pink gingham ribbon to finish.

I will miss her, but am grateful for modern ways of communication. Between emails, texts, Skype and Facebook I should be able to keep well in touch.

She is the last one to go back to school, the summer is over. I have several projects that need to be done around the house, but there should be some sewing as well.

Yesterday I led a workshop in Boutis for the ladies from my quilting group, the Golden Lion Quilters. They liked it and I will help them again at our next meeting in 2 weeks. I still have to finish a project started 2 years ago. It will happen.

A bientot.

Pascale.

A new birthday card

I'm still making cards for our birthday swap on BQLPC. This one is obviously for Helen.

The free motion embroidery was done on my machine with some metallic thread, which shines a bit but it doesn't show much on the photo. I think I might use this model again.

Enjoy your sewing.

Pascale.

Yarn bombing in Rosslyn near Washington DC

We were on holidays and happened on this as we were leaving the subway to go back to our hotel.

We crossed the road to take better photos.

They were at the corner of Lynn Street and Wilson Boulevard in Rosslyn, Virginia.

Enjoy your sewing, knitting,crochet, and the summer.

Pascale

A new school pencil case

My second daughter, who is soon to turn 18, asked me to make her a new pencil case to go back to college tomorrow morning. I am very proud.

She chose the Asian inspired fabric. The lining is a lovely purple, and I had the zip in stock.

Job done.

Yesterday was a great day as we had a party at home to celebrate our 20 years wedding anniversary. Lots of friends came but I was so busy that I forgot to take photos. Such a shame.

We had about 40 people, spent the day cooking. I brought some wine back from France last week, and we have some left as we were offered some.

I know that 20 years is not that much, but there were so many changes. We had 4 girls of course, we also changed country. We bought our first house, worked on it and sold it. We are still working on our new house to make it properly ours. And now our first born is going to leave for University.

Let's see what the next few years will bring.

Enjoy your sewing.

Pascale.