My favourite coaster/mug rug made from a collage of fabric scraps with an assortment of embroidery, slow stitch and machine embroidery.
Only I know how long it took to transform the scraps into some thing unique and useful.
These sweet little napkin rings were quick makes from felt scraps.
The strap is about 7cm long and the central round is about 3 cm diameter.
I fixed mine with Velcro dots but they can be stitched closed or have button holes.
Some had simple die cut shapes stitched on with invisible thread. Some had sequins and some more complicated stitching with embroidery thread. to harmonise them as a set, I straight stitched a circle around each design in a contrast colour.
Some had felt circles backing the thread work so they don’t unravel too quickly but they are delicate and definitely won’t survive red wine spills or washing.
I love finding practical uses for my crafting so turn appliqué, fabric painted and/or free motion stitcheries into lightly quilted mats for bedside or occasional tables .
This one used lots of ribbon scraps stitched down to look like ferns and the crab and puffin were simply drawn with fabric paint at the end.
I quilt in random swirls as I like the texture it creates.
To finish I made my own binding to replicate a picture frame effect.
For a quick upgrade of a plain white shirt I raided my button tin and replaced the buttons with a rainbow of buttons. I used the same vibrant thread to make the contrasts look deliberate.
I even included one of the glittery buttons I made with UV resin so a proper use it up project!
a simple felt snipping craft
I cut felt from a poinsettia paper pattern (a mini batch making session)
I punched a hole in the centre of each piece of felt then pierced the stacked felt with the large snowflake brad before sticking the flower to a brooch back (I used hot glue)
simple effective fold from pinterest
tip; if using fabric starch it well!
A super easy recipe
Combine: I can condensed milk about 300 ml, 300 ml whiskey, 300ml single cream, 1 tablespoon vanilla essence, 1 shot expresso coffee. Taste and adjust the vanilla and coffee to taste.
When thoroughly mixed pour into clean decorative bottles and refrigerate until served (to be safe re the cream finish within a week). Optional toppings are grated chocolate, cinnamon or nutmeg.
A quick festive make.
Cut a circle of fabric about 4”.
Running stitch around the diameter. Pull the ends of the thread so the circle closes into a ball. ( a Suffolk puff)
Stuff the ball firmly with wadding then stitch closed the gap.
Slow stitch over the ball to decorate the fabric and cover the stitched gap with a button. The button will also serve as a hanger for cord.
Sequin or decorate to finish.
A by product which turned out brilliantly!
After using the fruit as you wish (in my case grapefruit vodka), the peel of a grapefruit is sliced and boiled in water for 3 minutes.
The water is dumped and replaced with clean cold water, the peels are boiled for another 3 minutes, water replaced and boiled for another 3 minutes before once again dumping the water.
The peels are then covered with just enough fresh water and a similar volume of sugar is added. This mixture is simmered until the water evaporates, about 40 minutes for me.
The sticky peels are then tossed in sugar and left to dry before storing in a tin.
Tart and sweet, surprisingly tender. Will be interesting to see if they harden further in the days to come, if they last that long!
janecrafts 