11.20.23 Junk Journals! Who knew???

by Uncategorized
Junk Journal 2023 (Cloth/Pink)
This is a soft -cover junk journal I created using a cereal box and scrape cloth attached and stitched down.

In the past couple of years I have been searching for a creative way to journal or record all kinds of things I am exploring,  learning, or processing.

I took an art journalling Community Education Class and read about smash journals.  I read a book on ‘dot’ journalling.  But then….

I discovered JUNK JOURNALS!  I am still not sure when this started or how.  There is a huge international community of makers who create beautiful junk journals.  Youtube videos are abundant.  There are robust Facebook groups to join and Instagram postings.  Esty sells the journals and all the items you can think of to enhance your journal making.

I have made over a dozen journals using a variety of materials.  They are various sizes and themes.  They all have space for writing and adding items that make the journal personal to the owner.  There are pockets, tucks, belly-bands, and fold out pages to explore.  They grow chubby after adding tags and ephemera.  I often include small photos and memorabilia from events or trips.

 I can tell you I have picked up all kinds of old books, dictionaries, maps, atlas and children’s books to use for the page.  More than I need!!  I’ve thrifted unused notebooks, journals, and ledger tablets.  I’ve dyed paper with coffee, tea, and avocado.  I have purchased an old manual typewriter to add vintage text to my journals.  I’ve expanded my stamps and inks and stencils.  I’ve learned about signatures and various ways to secure them to the book spines.  I save all cereal boxes, pizza boxes, and Amazon craft packing paper.  I’ve made faux leather to cover some journals or create leather ‘strips’.  I’ve used watercolor to decorate pages and tags.  And I’ve added brad and grommets to my tags.  I’ve got a quarterly order for glue from Amazon.  Etsy is my friend.  My Epson Ecotank printer allows me to print amazing themed and vintage tags and pages for my journals.  Yup, I am all in.

The problem is I know have about a dozen journals that are in my craft area that I will not use.  I have a few that I use…but I make more than I can possible use.  I am pondering what to do with these journals.

05.17.21 Small Chicken Pincushion 4U

by Misc SewingPaper-PiecingProjectsUncategorized

I am crazy about pincushions. I am especially crazy about chicken pincushions. This particular pincushion captured the heart of my four-year old grand-daughter. She hugged it, claimed it, and took it home. I am sure it will be special to her.

I love the cute look of chicken pincushions and I like the shape for easily getting needles and pins in and out of the cushion.

I use finely sifted washed sand from a local beach to fill my pincushions. I find that the fabric and stitching does hold the sand in without any leaks. I’ve used crushed nut shells (makes my pins gummy) and rice (attracts mice). Not only do I wash my sand until all the dirt is removed, I soak the sand in a weak bleach solution for a few minutes to remove any lake/fish smells.

In this post you will find a link to a simple paper-pieced pattern for two three-inch blocks that you can use to make a small striped chicken pincushion. With this project you can use up very small pieces of fabric from your stash. The pattern offers four 3-inch pp blocks to make two pincushions.

HINT: You can use any paper for your paper piecing foundation. I like velum paper that is light weight. It works in my ink jet and laser printers just fine. It is crisp and is easily removed from the blocks. AND best of all it is translucent so you can see your placement of fabric as you add new. This is especially helpful when sewing on irregular shapes (triangles or other angled pieces).

Link to the PDF pattern and directions to make your own chicken pincushion.

Have fun making your own pincushion.

Pincushion Chicken
Paper-pieced squares are used to make this small chicken pincushion.
Stash Scraps
Stash Scraps for a pincushion
Chicken Pincushion
Chicken Pincushion done and full of pins.

Simple Paper-piecing of two 3-inch blocks.

Pinning the beak and head feathers.

Baste the opening where the sand will be added stabilizes the fabric and the opening is easily stitched closed.

05.15.21 Hoffman Panel Dream Big

by ProjectsQuilting TechniquesUncategorized

I am working on my Hoffman Spectrum Digital print fabric panel that I received for a gift about four to five years ago. I have been so excited to do this and have so appreciated all the generous quilters who have posted photos of their amazing quilting of this panel. They have also offered information on the process they used and what materials they used.

I requested a black and white panel because I wasn’t sure where I might hang this when it was completed. I am using white thread at the center, a lighter gray, medium/dark gray and black as I work out from the center.

I’ve had to be patient with myself and let the quilting designs come to me.  I just want to look at the panel and know quickly how I will fill each pedal.  I am not able to do that, so I have to take time to seek ideas and audition designs.  Also, because I am using new quilting designs I am not happy with my first attempts and have found I need to practice them first.  This all slows down the process.

It is taking much longer than I anticipated.

Practice Quilting
Practice quilting for the center of the panel.
Hoffman Panel Center
Final quilting in the panel center.
Hoffman Panel
Slowly making progress.

12.2.19 I am finally ready.

by Uncategorized

It is about time I gave this website my attention.  I’ve had it half-way done for some time, but just haven’t given it the time its needed to be ‘perfect’, which I am trying to get over. (Notice…the site is not perfect. For me a daring step to publish this imperfect site.) And also I have been distracted. Life is good and full, so my attention wandered a bit.

Some of you may be returning after a long time while my website was missing from the internet. Welcome back. You won’t find much new here now, but I have some new ideas ready to be shared. Thanks for your patience and please return. I am slowing learning how to manage this new website. My efforts sometimes look like a disaster, but I really do enjoy the experience of learning and sharing.  For those of you new to the site, please enjoy.  I’ve tried to keep the site simple and clean so it is easy to navigate.

I have over many years learned and still continue to grow my skills from others’ generosity. My ability to set this site up is possible from amazing Youtube videos about WordPress and Elementor. My quilting, from piecing to free motion, has been nurtured and inspired by many, many sites on the internet. (I’ll share some of these later. Promise)

Please remember that what you see here is for your personal use. If you would like to use patterns for commercial efforts, including classes you teach, please ask my permission. I am very generous is granting permission. Like I have said, my skills and ideas have been inspired by others, so I understand that sharing my ideas helps others. I want to participate in that ‘give and take’ of ideas.

Enough for today. I have more work (play) to do on this website. I love feedback, so I hope to hear from you.