Adventures in Life and Thought

Step one is to sketch a rough draft of the design you want to create for slow stitching.  Step two is to cut and place fabric and fibers where you want them in your design.  Step 3 is to start layering up individual areas of the design until you achieve the look you want. The next step is to remove each piece as you want to sew it onto your background fabric, leaving the designed piece intact until you're ready to sew them.  If the piece is very intricate, take a photo before starting to sew just in case you need to refer to it later. This is the method I use when designing my slow-stitch pieces. It's easy and works beautifully. This method leaves plenty of room for adding or modifying the design as you go along. Consider it a draft that you can embellish or improve as you work.   

  Grab a needle and have some fun slow stitching. A great way to de-stress and create something whimsical at the same time. Available at Icky Chic Designs.  Video walkthrough ink is available in the product description.

  Grab a needle and have some fun slow stitching. A great way to de-stress and create something whimsical at the same time. Available at Icky Chic Designs.  

  Children love games like  Hide and Seek , and  I Spy , and they'll love this special I FOUND IT game made especially for them. I created this one for my granddaughter from fabric but paper crafters can do the same. Here's how I did mine using fabric. Find two each of multiple designs and cut them out.  I backed one of each of them with a fusible web product - I used Wonder Under Heat fuse them to a background fabric leaving a border on all sides.  I suggest framing the piece behind glass. This will allow it to stay in good shape for many years. As the child outgrows the game, the framed piece will become simply wall art that they will cherish in later years. The second matching piece I sewed to card stock, creating durable cards the child could use when trying to find the matching element in the completed design. The more elements included the more challenging and fun the game will be.  Have some fun with this project and create a one-of-a-kind gift. 

  It's time to pull some of those scraps out of the bag they've been hiding in and put them to work. Making clutch or envelope bags and pouches is a beginner-friendly sewing project.  I created these two examples from fabric sample swatches. The small pouch I use to hold my keys so I don't have to dig around in my purse to find them. It has a Velcro closure as does the envelope clutch. I like simple! Here is a link to a video that I enjoyed and it will help you get started on sewing your own Clutch and Key Pouch Set. 

  Have you been wondering what kind of gift you could create for someone in school or college, or perhaps your neighbor, workmate, caregiver, or friend? With a little fabric and some glam adventure, you could create a shabby chic composition notebook cover as I did. And if you're not into shabby chic, design an original cover idea. Here is  a video that shows how to easily construct a fabric cover.  This is exactly how I created mine. With the exception that I completely finished the decorations on the front fabric panel before completing the other steps. Once you sew the layers together and turn the cover inside out, the decorations pop out to adorn your cover.  The other great thing about this project is that you can make it from scraps of fabric, lace, and trim.