Being Crafty

Thanks to Carol, I now know that this is National Craft Month, and thanks to Laura I have crafts to share! Last Saturday (yes, I know that was still Feb, but don't get too particular) she hosted a Bitch and Stitch and Cheila, Natascha and I attended. There was wonderful food, conversation, and thanks to the sublime Jenny Hart at Sublime Stitching, we had some modern embroidery to do.

I don't really have a good history with finishing embroidery projects. I started a small table cloth while in Germany and it's still not finished. I bought some of the Sublime Stitching patterns way back when we lived on S. Grand, and I never used them. Fortunately, this occasion offered the opportunity and the time need to complete a project (I would have worked on the tablecloth, but it's packed away someplace). I used the woodland friends pattern and stitched up this hedgehog on a vintage handkerchief.


Although, I'm inspired by N's adding some toadstools to the hem of a skirt and next I think I might take on something like that because it was so adorable. I also finally got around to covering some buttons with scrap fabric to make some hair bobs for Nora (and Laura and myself as it turned out). I don't have pics of those, but I might post them later.

When I got home, I was so inspired that on Sunday (I know, still not March), I finally, after 30 years of using this sewing machine, I worked up the nerve to change out the stitching feet and play around with other stitches (zig zag, smocking, etc.). Then I jazzed up an old tote bag that was laying around the house with an obnoxious logo from some company. Here's the result. I think my Great Aunt Minnie had a dress made out of this material (getting into Mom's fabric stash as been a great deal of fun).

Yes, I know that pocket is a bit lopsided, but it's really hard to run a pre-made bag through the sewing machine without sewing the bag shut.
On the back, I appliqued some circles using some new stitches. Again, it's sloppy, but I'm fine with that.

This month is so crazy, I don't know that I'll get any more crafting done, but I'm hoping Laura will organize another night in April. I've got all sorts of things I want to try next.