Beach Thistles (In the Hoop Embroidery)

I wanted to try out some ITH embroidery applique and came across PixieWillowPatterns on Etsy  where I found this lovely  applique design  for Beach Thistles. I made these into lavender sachets but you could make them into hand warmers if filled with crushed walnuts or flax. You can let your imagination go wild re which fabrics to use,  I choose to use wool, muslin, silk and cotton and added a couple of seed pearls on the leaf stems. Really easy to make and a delight to stitch.  

Nana they're not Pink!

 My granddaughter Poppy will be moving soon and she will have her own bedroom, as she loves cats I thought I would maker her a few, well I did and but they had no faces and they looked very boring and characterless.

I gave them red eyes at first and they all  looked as if they had severe hangovers so I unpicked and did black ones with whiskers.

They dont stand up so I made a few circles on a few so they could sit on a shelf, I looked for a small box to sit them in but have not found anything suitable yet.

then I thought maybe they would look good hanging, a mummy cat and kitten, some I filled with lavender and some with rose petals and a few with just the poly fiber.

 Mummy cat below looked shocked that I could even think of unpicking her eyes so I left her well alone and she thinks she is purrfect!

I should have checked first with Poppy!!! yes they are lovely Nana but they're not PINK!!!  

Embroidery fun with Ribbon

Twirled Ribbon Roses, French Ribbon Knots, Spider Web Roses and Needleweaving Bars.  Been an age since I did these, forgot how relaxing and fun they are to do. The A-Z Embroidery Stitches book I bought for my daughter last Christmas and borrowed it back just to have a browse and saw the ribbon embroidery and felt I just had to have a wee play, and as I was making my granddaughter Poppy a few outfits for her doll I thought I would try it out on a top..... might add it took me for ever and I won't be in a hurry to do another, the top took minutes but I reckon it took me a good 4 hours off and on to finish the embroidery. Fun book and perfect for beginners through to advanced.

Rose scented Sachet

Another Rose scented sachet

 Top and trousers made from an old scarf

Pants from an old T-shirt, the poncho is a doily with the centre cut out, bias trim round the top with pink ribbon tie,and a little pouch bag made from the left over centre. Ta da

Envelope style Sachet Tutorial

First choose a piece of material  and cut it to 30cm x 12.5cm (11.3/4" x 5") I have used a cotton linen mixture for this one, then  over lock all sides to prevent fraying. If you don't have an overlocker pinking shears are just as good. Fold over 1.5cm (1/4") on both short ends and press. Add a piece of piping to one of the short edges on  the wrong  side of the material  and stitch close to edge on the front side. Also looks good if you use a contrast piping.

Find the centre point  and mark or pin top and bottom and taking  the piped edge, right sides together place 4.5cm (1.1/2") over the centre line and pin. Bring the remaining side over leaving 2cm (1/2") beyond the piped edge.

Now stitch down each side approx 1cm (1/4") in from each side.

Turn the unpiped side  right side out which will give you a pocket, gently push out the corners, then fill with filling of your choice (I used lavender for this one) pushing it down so you get as much as you can in there.

Then turn the other side out and distribute the lavender ( you can always add a little more at this stage and then give it a good shake). This will give you in effect a double pocket so whatever you add to your sachet won't spill out.  If you prefer the closure to be central, put the piped edge onto the centre mark.

Finish off with whatever you fancy, I added a bit of raffia but you can add anything you like, buttons, ribbon or lace also works really well.

Hope this was useful and you try some  for yourself.

Good choices for sachets: lavender, lemon balm, lilac, mint, rosemary, roses, scented geraniums and thyme