Penny Rugs and more

In January I started on the Fellowship of Flowers project.  (For information on that click on the link on the right hand side of this blog.) That got me interested in using wool and felt for other projects as well.

Since I have been working with it more and more I decided I should organize what I had.  I found it in several places in my craft room.  Now it is all together.  I added some too.  I found a picture for making what is called a penny rug and remembered that awhile back I had purchased a circle die for my die cut machine. (just for cutting "pennies" for this kind of project.)   Here is a picture of my machine.  I originally bought it to use for scrapbooking but now use it for lots of different craft projects.

If you have never tried a die cut machine and want to learn more about the Big Shot like I own or others  you can watch tutorials on You Tube.   Just go to You Tube and put Big Shot Tutorials in the search line.   Here is a link I used.....   Big Shot Tutorials .    There are other die cut machines and you can probably learn about them there too.
   Although it is really designed for paper for scrapbooking  and paper crafting I have had no trouble cutting fabric, wool,  or felt if it isn't too thick. 



  By using it to cut the little wool or felt circles I can do 4 different sizes at a time, easily.  I spent a couple of evenings (while watching the news) cutting out circles.  Then I found a pair of patterns from Shakerwood Woolens  and when they arrived I went crazy....

This first picture shows (using plain paper) the sizes of the circles I can cut.

The next picture is a box of circles precut.

and then here are the two projects I have started.  They are all put together.  I just have to finish off with the blanket stitch all the way around each circle.  That is best done while we are going for a drive somewhere or when I am sitting in a doctors office.... waiting....

I should mention here that the die I purchased came from a friend who sells or at least sold "Stampin UP" things.  The die itself was made by Sizzix.  Apparently this die has been retired but you can still find them on ebay.  Here is a picture of one I just found offered for sale there.  If you want to do an ebay search  you can probably find one available. 

 I looked up dies for the Accucut quilting die cutter and found them to be more expensive in comparison to the Sizzix.  I have no idea why.   Maybe someone out there knows why.  But if you have the Accucut die cut machine already you can get dies for it for penny rug circles.  You will just apparently pay  more!


I have done a few other things using the wool and felt and I will share those another time.

Fellowship of Flowers and the Wonders of the Internet

                             Ahh, the internet.... what would we do without it.
Today I stumbled on a blog telling how to manage your sewing machine bobbin threads.  And on reading that one I found another blog with more info and on and on it can go.
         I got this first site from a friend on Facebook....
http://www.schlosserdesigns.com/2012/02/tutorial-tuesday-diy-bobbin-clips/

              and on that site I was lead to this one........

https://missdelaney.com/blog/?p=105

And if that hadn't been enough information for me I am sure I could have kept on going.
I already have a couple of boxes for the bobbins but of course they were a mess!


Here is my "before" bobbin boxes.....  (I have two kinds of bobbins, one for my Janome and another for my Brother Embroidery (which also does embroidery) although actually they can be used on either one as it turns out.  But that is why I have two kinds showing here.)    AND I have SEVERAL boxes with bobbins.  Remember now I have been sewing for many, many years and NEVER seem to throw anything away that might have some usefulness left in it.   This grouping shown doesn't even show the several bags of pre-wound bobbins I have to use in my machine embroidery.  So yes, I have a LOT of bobbins.  You may have to look closely to see the "messiness."  But just try to get a bobbin out of one of the boxes and you will see what I mean!

  I bought myself the required tubing and plan to get it ready to use.  Next week I hope I will have had time to get my bobbins in order and will show you the finished product.

 On to FINISHED PROJECTS.......
Here is the third of the Fellowship of Flowers projects.  This time it is a pair of pillows.  I have them up on my bed now because they go nicely with my bedspread.

 I used a couple of "very" vintage buttons that I really like.  I got the trim from one of my favorite fabric shops....  Old Trail Fabrics in Shamokin Dam, PA . 
The rest of the fabric was from my stash!

I am really enjoying the Fellowship of Flowers projects.  Now I am waiting for the next project which we should receive info on next Wednesday.     

Hope you enjoyed my link to the bobbin tutorial.  And that you enjoyed seeing my pillows.   See you next week for what ever I manage to come up with to show you.  And be sure to check in on Tuesday  for tea parties and such on Tea Cup Tuesday.

More Fellowship of Flowers

Fellowship of Flowers continues but I have also had time to work on or finish up a few other projects lately.  Since it keeps on snowing and being awfully cold I stay inside and work on fun projects.

A month or more ago I showed you a scarf I was crocheting.

 I have finally finished it.  I was trying to use up some yarn I bought a few years ago.  The basic scarf was regular wool yarn.  At the same time I had bought some decorative yarn, eyelash I think they call it, and I mixed that in a bit.  Also I am making the fringe with that yarn mixed with the last of the wool yarn

.  So when I say it is finished....  well I still want to add more fringe but basically it is done.  I will do that when I have some time watching TV.

On Wednesday of this week Michelle showed us the final flower of the month AND the Feb. project. Wow is all I can say.  It is a beautiful table topper.  I really want to do this one so have to get busy and finish up.  In addition to the flowers there will be 7 bumble bee motifs.


If you want to see the project you can click on the Fellowship of Flowers link.  Mine will be a bit different only because my colors are a bit different.  I hope to be able to show you my finished project in a couple of weeks.  I have gotten the bees and the final flower ready to start the embellishment.  I do hope I can get them well on their way over the weekend.

Here is the flower I finished this week.....

Come back next Tuesday for Tea Cup Tuesday and I hope to have more to show on the Fellowship of Flowers project either next Thursday or Friday.  See you then.

Happy Valentines Day to all my blogger friends.

 Snowy Days and Fellowship of Flowers

Since we can't seem to break the back of winter.....  it is getting sort of like the energizer bunny.... just coming and coming and coming.    So I am so thankful I can participate in Michelle's Fellowship of Flowers.

I did the third flower of the month  shown here at the top of  the first two, though I am not crazy about my work.  I am seriously considering changing the black yarn.  I have been trying to ONLY use items in my overwhelming stash so sometimes my choices aren't the greatest.  This time the yarn is too thick.  I will try something different I think, if I can find something I like better.  It won't be too hard to redo I don't think.

The next flower in this series is a daisy and what she has shown us is lovely.  So I will be working on that as soon as I get the felt cut out and supplies gathered.  I think she told us there were 6 flowers in this next set. So we are at the half way point.  I look forward to seeing what she had in mind for us to do with these.

If you are thinking you still might want to get involved with all this be sure to check her blog.  The patterns and instructions and all are just  $35 through Craftsy.  You can also buy supplies from her if you are not  "blessed" with an over abundance of "stuff" already like I am.  Click on the logo on the right side bar.  (no she didn't ask me to do this....  I just happen to believe this is a really good deal and FUN)

Snowy Stormy Days and February Fellowship of Flowers

 As our winter continues I keep getting opportunities to take interesting snow scene pictures.  This is a shot across the road from my house.  The "smoke" you see is what some call "sea smoke" along the Susquehanna River. The "smoke" is just beyond the line of trees.   It is caused, I think, when air temps are different from water temps.. Or something like that.....  One definition I found said  "Steam fog forms when cool air moves over and mixes with the relatively warm and moist air near the surface of the water. The moist air then cools and becomes saturated, causing fog to form."    What ever the cause,  it is pretty.                

This next picture was taken yesterday morning when the sun was coming up.  Quite a "Christmas Card" scene I thought.

         I have completed two of the flowers of the six we have been told will be part of this month's project.  AND the third one is cut out....  I should start embellishing this evening.  I felt like I was getting behind a bit while working on the bell pull, but by working diligently I think I am presently caught up.  If you haven't seen the bell pull I made you can check back a couple of posts.  And check out Michelle's blog from a week ago to see what she did.  We did very different projects.

Here are the two flowers I have finished do far.....

 

 I am continuing to use ONLY things from my stash of fabrics, felts and such.  I even found those cute little buttons in my button box.  I think they must have been from when I was making doll clothes.  They are tiny.  I don't have any more so they will only show up on these two flowers.


Keep checking back.  I should continue to have a post of some kind about the Fellowship of Flowers every week... sometime between Wed. and Fri.  AND of course be sure to check here on Tuesdays for   Tea Cup Tuesday posts.  (although I admit they sometimes show up on Mondays.)

A Three Flower Bell Pull

Last night I finally put the finishing touches on the first monthly project of the Fellowship Of Flowers.    I am pleased since last night was the last night of January.  I wonder if I will be so good in February.  I am already behind a tiny bit on making the flowers.  But I PLAN to catch up this coming weekend.

Here is my first project.  When Michelle showed us the firtst project I knew right off I would have to do mine a bit different than hers.  But I loved the idea of a bell pull......   (She used Downton Abbey as her inspiration.)     So here is mine.  If you visit her blog you will see hers is very different than mine.   But I like the idea of doing it my own way.

I should state that I don't have a bell in my stash, at the moment, to add to the bottom so may end up just putting a tassel.  We shall have to see.  But I am happy with what I have so far.

Here it is......

I know the yarn trim looks a little funny in the picture but not in real life.  It is very thick yard but doesn't show it in the picture for some reason.  But you get the idea.

I am hopeful I will be able to show you the first two flowers for the next project by next Wed. or Thurs.  With some degree of luck and planning I should have them to show you then.  We shall see.

MEANWHILE.......don't forget to check in next Tuesday to see what I have in mind for my weekly tea party.

Fellowship of Flowers continues.............

The Fellowship of Flowers continues.  Here is a picture of my finished flower from last week.  Because I was using a fairly heavy cord for the couching of the yarn around the edges it took quite a while.  It is slow work pulling all that through the various layers.  BUT  I did it.  For my next set
I will probably use something different.  Be sure to click on the pictures to see them better.

And here the first three flowers completed.  Next Wednesday we will receive instructions on the project we will make using the first three flowers.

Meanwhile, this week our fearless leader Michelle started us on a new set of flowers.  The next one will include 6 flowers.  So at the end of Feb. or so we will have another project to begin.  The anticipation is fun.   I have to go through my stash of wool felt, fabric and fibers to select the theme of the next set.  I think I love the "planning" as much as I do the actual work.


We continue with winter here.  The snow comes.  Then it melts, then we get more.  We are presently in the COLD spell so the most recent snow didn't melt.  My husband keeps close tabs on the bird feeders to make sure our feathered friends have all the food they need and they reward us with lots of good birdwatching.    Yesterday we were visited by this Rose Breasted Woodpecker (on the Suet feeder.)  Isn't he beautiful. 

Today he was gone but lots of other birds include the usual amount of cardinals.  Here is a cardinal that is on the honeysuckle vine.  Another bird of some kind has joined him.

Now it is time to get to work on a quilt project I have going AND starting on the next set of flowers.  Please come back next week for Tea Cup Tuesday and The Fellowship of Flowers Thursday.

More flowers in January

            Another Wednesday, another Fellowship of the The Flowers project.    I worked very hard yesterday to finish up the first two flowers so I could be ready for the third one.

   Here are the first two, pretty much done unless I decided to add more but I don't think so....... You can click on them to see more detail.

 Here is a picture of the two finished with the third one that has just been cut out and bonded together.  I hope to start on the stitching of the third one later this evening.

  I am getting curious about the project Michelle has planned for us to use these flowers.  I have to say, working on these small things is very relaxing compared to working on a big quilt project.



Our weather here keeps on a changing.  We had the Polar Vortex with its VERY cold temps.  That was followed by a warming phase that was pretty much a January thaw.  At the moment we have no snow on the ground and unfortunately lots of clouds and gloom.  We NEED sunshine!  I don't mind the cold, especially in Winter because I like to stay inside and do indoor projects. But sunshine would help!

 Last week I went with my husband to visit a guy that sells antique cars and parts.  I took a couple of pictures of rusty old cars I liked.  Yard Art maybe................  well probably not....... but I thought they were were funky.

                                                  I bet this one could tell some stories.


UNTIL NEXT TIME.........................

The New Year always gets me organized! (for a short time anyway...)

My first project for the new year is a crocheted scarf.  I have quite a bit of unused yarn in my stash.  I determined I should slowly start using it and any not used by July 1st will be donated to a lady I know who makes afghans for sick folks.  I will see her in mid July at one of our Bluegrass Festivals and give her what I have then.  I am pretty sure it will be a lot with the extreme slowness of the way I work.  I found this pattern by searching All Free Crochet.com.    .    The scarf I chose to make is this one..... An Easy One Skein Beginner Scarf.                I made mine a little wider than the original.  I added two more shells per row. It isn't moving all that fast because I just pick it up when I have a moment.  But my goal is to finish it by the end of the month.  I imagine there will still be cold enough weather to use need it.
                                                          
                                                                   

Another thing I have done is to join an online group called Fellowship of The Flowers.  We will be making some type of felt flower every Wednesday all through the year.... and.... turn them into projects along the way.  Here is the link.... FELLOWSHIP OF THE FLOWERS ....       I bought my membership through Craftsy but I think you can link to it through the site as well.  

Here is a picture of the first flower I made....  I may or may not be finished.  I didn't make it exactly like the class example.....  I have to wait to see what happens with the next two to see if I need to add more.  What do you think??  There will be two more flowers added to this to make into a project which at the moment is not known.  I will show it when it is done.

So the new year begins with lots of projects.  I never plan to be bored!!!   I like to keep busy.  Can you tell?