Little purses

My kitchen is nearly finished, Steffen has left the house, and we just need to decide on which colour to paint the walls. I am slowly washing everything that needs to go back in the cupboards, because of the dust during the work. We managed to fill a few boxes with stuff for charity.

So I should be back to more sewing, finally.

I must say that it has been snowing here in the south of England, not much but it is very cold outside, so no running for me at the moment, that would be too dangerous.

Here you can see our back garden, with the swing and the trampoline, and the door of the rabbit hutch open. I think the rabbit is hiding somewhere under a bush, to keep warm. He is very good and follows us around outside, and is always eager to come back for his food at the end of the day.

I haven't got a camera as DH took it to immortalise the scenery today, but I can show you things done before, like these 2 little purses made for my Mum and my sister for Christmas, to match their bags from this summer, all Ikea fabric, I just used what was left.

I kept them flat so they take less space in a bag. Not lined so they are very simple to make.

Atelier rouge, a new block

This block was started some time ago, but I stopped and it lingered in my drawer. Finally after a last bit of applique, it is finished. I have sewn bands of fabric for the background, different greens to give the impression of a dense forest. The house on stilts is made in patchwork and applique. When I will be at the quilting stage I will add details to the water. It is all my own design.




















I have even managed to sew it to the next block, and as you can see there is only one more missing. If you have any idea leave me a word, the theme being red houses.
I suppose I could do a schoolhouse, or a houseboat...

And if you want to see what the other members of this challenge have managed, then check this link to the photos of the Atelier Rouge on Pascale's website, Au bout des doigts. It is in French, but you don't need a translation to see photos and if you want to leave a message, she does speak english.

Red tipee

While I was waiting for the end of the poll, I have been busy on a new block for my Atelier Rouge wallhanging. I kept with the theme of the houses from around the world, and designed a tipee, aided by my daughters ideas.

I used the technique of reverse paper applique to get the point of the tent perfect.

I embroidered the sticks at the top and the bits of wood holding the bottom.

Then I started adding some of the sashing around my blocks, to have a better idea of the finished effect, and to calculate the size of the missing ones. It is so easy to get confused with seam allowances.

I feel closer to the end of the project.

I started the next block, but it is not finished and might have to wait.

It was stopped by my log cabin needing some work done before wednesday. I have pieced the blocks together, and am thinking about the fabric for a border.

The earth is red...

I have finally finished my block for the earth in the Atelier Rouge led by Pascale in France. I still have some more to do.

She has finished her project and presented the results from other participants, you can see them there.

She is also starting another project over the course of one year in embroidery and ribbon embroidery, the explanations will be in French.

She does some lovely designs, and offers some advice. She even managed to get us a discount to buy the silk ribbon necessary.

The project is called "Nature et petits points", nature and small stitches, literally.

I am hoping to do it in time for a change, we will see.

I have ordered the necessary ribbons, but they may take 2 weeks to arrive. Am I late already ?

Atelier rouge - progress

I have made some progress on my blocks for the atelier rouge, started by Pascale in France. We have a deadline now of finishing by the middle of December. I am not sure I will make it.



I added the sky with the bird nests and the satellite dish over the houses.



I completely changed another block, just kept the size the same.





















Instead of a traditional village, I chose to do an african village. It was fun to do, although I first had to find a design for the house.


I have started working on the central block, the earth.


I have decided to change the blocks left to be done, maybe not all of them though.





















So wait and see...

Atelier rouge

About 2 months ago I started a project on the web I had found on a blog. It is run by Pascale (same name), in northern France.

I find her very inspirational. She started well before me and shows a lot of different things very interesting. Her blog is in French only, it is called

"Journal d'un Atelier"

She called her project "Atelier Rouge", the idea is to use fabric and thread, and the subject is houses, in red.

Her blog is visited more and more. When I started looking at it there were only references to a few other blogs, now there is a very long list. Well done Pascale.

She is very good on embroidery, from ribbon to Hardanger, with some photo demonstrations.

So far I have made a few blocks in the project. The first one is called "Birdhouses".

Following her advice I have used felt to do the roofs and openings.

All the fabric pieces were machine appliqued.

The second is the mushroom houses, in redwork for myself.

I remember very well doing this block as we were on holidays in Kent, and the weather was very nice. Little did we know that we wouldn't have much sun after Easter.

The third was supposed to be 3 houses but I changed and used one of my daughter's drawing to do modern terraced houses.

I used my artistic interpretation for the size and shape of the windows. That was quite fun. I still have to put some bird nests on the chimneys,

The fourth, is a scene with a windmill.

I am not sure about the sheep, it doesn't show much on the background.

Finally, I have made the igloo, just changed slightly the drawing from the original, and I did it in red work again, it seemed the easiest option considering the design.

I am thinking of adding my own block next, and it could be an african village, with mud walls, and a straw roof. That would be in keeping with the theme of different houses around the world.

Thanks for reading me and do leave a message, in French or English.