Irish Patchwork Society….30th Birthday National Exhibition

By on 4-09-2011 in Original photos

Irish Patchwork Society Anniversary Postcards

These are the postcards I have sent to Ireland for the Irish Patchwork Society 30th Birthday National EXhibition. I used three of my own photos along with machine and hand embroidery and beads. There is still time to send cards. They should arrive by the end of May. You can find the rules and regulations on my blog here: International Fabric Postcard Exhibition…..Ireland International Fabric POstcard Exhibition, Ireland These cards will be exhibited at the Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin. They will also be exhibited at the Knitting and Stitching Show in November. They will then be sold and the proceeds will go to the Marie Keating Foundation…….Which is a Breast Cancer Charity in Ireland.

An April Flower Bouquet to Embroider

By on 4-09-2011 in Original photos

Cover-McCalls-embroidery-book

An embroidery pattern to stitch from the McCall’s transfer book Vol IV, 1977. Whether you decide to stitch these flowers in bright, bold colours or pastels it will bring Spring and Summer into your home. If you have a cottage it would look right at home on a pillow or table runner. Seed beads would look good adorning the centers as well as decorating the butterflies.

cover pattern-McCalls-transfer

Christmas Elves….two cute wooden ornaments

By on 4-09-2011 in Original photos

These two little guys were published in McCall’s Jan/Feb 1982 Needlework Magazine. They graced a bright yellow insert for extra Christmas ideas and did not have a finished product photo. I have coloured the pair to give you an idea of what they would look like painted. They would be perfect for a redwork Christmas pillow or appliqued onto Christmas stockings.

coloured elves

You could print out these coloured elves for your youngster to cut out and hang on the tree or on a gift.

cute Christmas Elves pattern

Wool felt would make bright little elves for your Christmas tree and the scraps could be used on a smaller version for cards.

Two more collages, these two honour Spring

By on 4-09-2011 in Original photos

While I have been waiting for the rain to stop and the sun to shine I put together two collaged cards. For the first collage I used the yellow crocus. I painted the background, added moss from one of our trees then created a crocus brush. A very interesting piece of work, my first attempt at using the Photoshop layers in this way.

yellow crocus spring card

I chose the purple crocus for the second collage. I painted the background in this piece as well, and created another crocus brush which I used in two different sizes and colours to add depth to the piece.

spring card
I like the way the crocus flowers seem to float on air in both these collages and the moss takes on a character all of it’s own. Both of the collages would make great fabric postcards, especially with added embroidered embellishments.

A cat pattern to use for fabric arts

By on 4-09-2011 in Original photos

Crewel cat

What a great cat with oodles of potential. It was published in the McCall’s Fall/Winter 1972-73 needlework magazine. He was stitched onto a pillow. I can now see him enlarged and worked in crazy quilt. Anybody have a lot of little scraps just asking to be put into a cat pattern? Printed or dyed multiple times onto fabric and then stitched and beaded would make a very handsome kitty wall hanging.

cat pattern