Hand-Sewn Balloon Shades

With boldly printed cotton fabric purchased in Spain...

...cording and ring tape...

                              ...I set out to replace an aging pair of kitchen shades.

                                 After stitching the tape to the edges of the fabric...

                          ...I fold the fabric into thirds (for help with tape placement).

                                Additional lengths of tape are pinned on and stitched...

                                           ...(all to the 'wrong' side of the fabric).

               The top of the shade is affixed to a wooden bar using glue and staples...

                     ...and the cord is threaded through the eye-hooks and tape rings.

                                                        One finished curtain...

                                                             ...fully installed...

                                                       ...and the other one...

                                                ...in situ over the kitchen sink.

                                      Next time: a felted hat class with Judit Pócs!

Christmas Sewing (Pillowcases)- Part 3

The finished pillowcases...

                                     ...some made from treasured 'stash' fabrics...

                                        ...and others from newly chosen pieces...

                                 ...are all either wending their way to new homes...

                     ...or are already installed under a Christmas tree, somewhere! :)

Re-Purposed 'Skirt Totes'- Part 4

By now...

                                         ...you probably already 'know the drill'. ;)

                                    The lining is fashioned and sewn to the bag...

                                                      ...then tucked inside...

                                                           ...and top-stitched...

                                     
                                                 ...and the straps are added.

                                             Because the tote was once a skirt...

                                ...the extant pockets (some with velcro closures)...

                                                         ...are pretty handy...

                                            ...for securely holding cash, tissues...

                                             ...or foam earplugs (on long flights).

                                           The three 'Skirt Totes' (back sides)...

                                                           ...and fronts!

"Rescued" Purse- Part 3 of 4

Removing the resist...

...mid-way through felting...

                                      ...and turning the project right-side out.

                                          
                                                 After a lot of rubbing, rolling...

                                                              ...and fulling...

                        ...the closely-woven cotton has still not really attached to the wool.

                                        The pre-felt sections felted-in, as expected...

                                    ...but the fabric areas look like elephant skin!

                                          After initial feelings of disappointment...

                                                        ...and deliberation...

            ...I decided to 'take the bull by the horns' and just remove the fabric altogether!

The newly denuded purse..

  ...with red felt 'side seams' and bottom...

                                        ...and their attendant 'hairy' fabric edges...

                                          ...(where bits of attached fabric remain).

                                              

                                                This is the point in the 'tale'...

                             ...when readers may throw up their hands in horror...

                                 ...wondering 'how on earth?' their scrappy heroine...

                                          ...will save the day this time?!! (Giggle)

                                            Next time: the 'rescued' purse...

                                           ...with leather appointments.

"Rescued" Purse- Part 2 of 4

Wrapping pre-felt squares (from the reverse side)...

...around the resist edge to the front, then wetting them out.

(The resist's 'flanged' bottom...

...will provide extra room in the finished purse.)

                               Adding the second layer of fabric (design-side down)...

                                       ...and covering it with layers of wool roving.

                                        Placing two layers of commercial pre-felt...

                                           ...onto the extended purse bottom...

                                                     ...and wetting them out.

                                     Flipping the project back to the original side...

                   ...and covering the whole shebang with layers of corriedale roving...

                                  ...from my friend, Cathy Bickell's lovely sheep.

                                          After flipping the project once again...

                                           ...I fold in the rays of brown wool...

                                ...and cover side two with corriedale roving, as well.

                                                    Mid-way through felting.            

                 (Note: a thin sheet of plastic was used to keep the extra bottom flap...

                                 ...from felting into the body of the bag as I worked.)          

                                        Next time: my nuno catastrophe is revealed...

                                       ...and I start to do something about it! :)