Trapped objects

Many years ago, I came across a project in Stitch magazine that used trapped objects. I liked the idea but didn't want to do that particular project, so earlier this year I made up a piece using trapped objects plus stitching and beading and then made it up into a cushion.

Cloaks

For some time now, Emma has been fascinated by cloaks. She would wrap any piece of fabric she could find (and there are quite a few in my stash) around her shoulders. So I decided to make her a proper cloak - purple, of course. 

And then I remembered the issue with bags at Christmas time, so I found some pink fabric and made a cloak for Olivia as well. Emma loves her cloak but Olivia was less impressed by hers - though she's happy enough in this photo.

Emma had a little lamb

It's fleece might have been white as snow once upon a time but its fur has greyed over the years, having been much loved and much travelled (Abigail has been to England, France, Switzerland and Italy). But Emma still loves her little lamb.

So, when I made a winter "silkie" for Emma, I machine-embroidered a lamb onto it - much to Emma's delight.

This photo gives a clearer view of the embroidered lamb:

Organza pyramids

Last weekend, I played around with fusing fabrics. I wasn't very pleased with my results, except for these floaty pyramids, made from shot organza. They are like little clouds and look as if they could float away at any moment.

Biscornu

I first came across a biscornu (seemingly a French word meaning skewed or quirky) in a Stitch magazine. I liked the shape but couldn't find the thread that it was decorated in. However, after making some fabrics earlier in the year - knitting, needle-felting and then free machine stitching - I decided that they would make up nicely into biscornus.

I'm very pleased with the result:

Blackwork

I like the crisp, sophisticated look of blackwork embroidery, especially when done with white thread on a darker background. These cards proved very popular at a recent fund-raising craft stall.

Kanzashi flower brooches

I have been planning to make some Kanzashi flowers for a while and recently managed to round up my Clover templates, silk fabric and buttons. I had great fun making these little gems - they are very quick and easy to make. (I tried to group the photos - it works in the draft but disappears when I look at it Safari.)