More from STITCHED

Still have registered over at STITCHED?  What are you waiting for?  There are 20 fabulous artists who created amazing videos full of tips, tricks, and projects that you will love.  Sign up here, you won't regret it!  All workshops open this Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012.

Here is a journal that I made with a taffeta rosette made using Annie Hutchings' technique in her Fabric Flower 101 workshop on STITCHED.  Her workshop is chock full of lovely flowers, I had a difficult time deciding which one to make.  I ended up with the 30's rosette which Annie declares is an ancient family secret and I'm so glad she shared.  Her directions are really easy to follow!  

The fabric I used for this cover is something from my stash and I'm not sure what it is.  It's natural colored and an open weave, very soft hand unlike burlap.  I want to say it's osnaburg, but I could be talking out my hat!  I free motion stitched the fabric to natural canvas then added a piece of the embroidered muslin trim .  The small cotton trim on the right of this piece had to be dunked in coffee to tone down the stark white before I could add it on here.  I used a running stitch in floss (egads!  floss and not my beloved perle cotton! chalk it up to inspiration over at STITCHED!) to attach the embroidered piece before adding the faux bow under the rosette.  The rosette has some pearls in the center and then I added flat backed pearls and french knots on the side.  

I also added a decorative pin on which I put some more beads and pearls, they are on the spine, but I didn't photograph it this time.

The pearls and french knots.  The closure is a twisted strand of floss wrapped around a button.

Journal from STITCHED

If you haven't gone over and checked out STITCHED, you need to do so!  It's a group of 20 artists each showcasing their stitching talents with so many great workshops my head is spinning with ideas.  I'm so lucky as one of the artists.......... I've been sampling the goods already!  The workshops officially go online in a few days, Jan. 1, 2012 so don't miss out!  Click here to see all the juicy details.

This is my first project from the workshops.  I adapted Cindy Caraway's 

Fabric Flower Corsage Cuff and made a journal cover.  No pages yet, but I wanted to show you what I did created so far.  The cover is moiré taffeta that I got at the thrift store last week (a steal... over 5 yards for $1) with cotton batting in between.  Over the taffeta is a rectangular handkerchief with Battenburg lace that I tea dyed.  I embellished with 3 wool flowers nestled on ruffled organza and accented with off white pearls.  In between 2 of the flowers is a decorative pin with some beads on it.  

The wool flowers are made following Cindy's directions in her workshop.  She used upholstery fabric, but I really like the way the fulled wool (from a thrift store skirt) turned out!  I glued a pearl in the center of each flower.

In the lower right hand corner I places some half pearls from Stampin' Up Pretties that I purchased years ago and finally remembered to get them out.  I embroidered a field of cream french knots around the pearls.

The dark blue wool flowers are made from another thrift store skirt that I also fulled in the washer and dryer some time ago.  It's been waiting for the perfect project!  Stay tuned for more goodies from the STITCHED workshops..................

Ornaments for Dylan

It'a a good thing that April took a photo of the ornaments that I made for Dylan this Christmas because I totally forgot to do so!  Dylan doesn't really need anything as far as presents so I decided to make him ornaments every year.  April still has the ones that I made when they were little so I knew she would take care of them and appreciate the effort I put into making the ornaments.  In fact she should be receiving two ornaments from my mother from when I was little.  Since we don't have a tree here (well, we have pine trees but they're all outside!) I felt she would appreciate having several generations of ornaments on her tree.  The three square ornaments are left over from last year's project.  The stocking was my own design and embroidered on felt.  The owl  I found on Plushka's blog and made a pattern from the photo.  And the peppermint candy is a tutorial from pinksuedeshoe.com.

I already pinned some ideas for next year on Pinterest and plan to order from Herrschner's.  Better get a bigger tree, April!

Wall Hanging

I am working on a series of nature themed wall hangings from several Mackenna Ryan patterns.  This completed piece was made from fabric I purchased this past fall in Cazenovia, NY while visiting my mother.  Rather than machine stitch the fused pieces, I hand sewed them.  Some of the pieces were TINY (the chick's beak and feet) so I felt that machine stitching wouldn't work.  I like the way it turned out and now am working on a squirrel and birdhouse block.  

Rainbow Book on Etsy

My colorful rainbow book is listed on Etsy!  This book measures approximately 6 1/2 inches square with white muslin pages.  Each of the 6 pages (12 sides total) is adorned with buttons and ribbons in the colors of the rainbow:  red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.  The covers are lined with a multi-colored fabric to compliment the rainbow palate.  This book is perfect for showcasing photos, memorabilia, or journaling.

The cover:

 The first page showing buttons and ribbons in red:

 The rainbow and a glimpse of the cover lining fabric:

Cute little button on the back cover:

A Gift

 This was a journal that I started several months ago.  I got as far as the quilted background and denim snap closure and hit a wall.  Wasn't sure what I wanted to put on the cover so I set it aside until recently.  Looking through my bucket o' patterns I found the directions for how to make the fabric flower that I put on the cover.  I hadn't make one prior because I didn't have a glue gun, it was one of the items I didn't keep in our move cross country.  I have since purchased a glue gun so decided to give this flower a try.  Didn't come out perfectly, but there is enough leeway in the pattern that I can get away with the imperfections!  This journal is a Christmas gift (I don't want to say whose it is as she may read this blog and doesn't know she's even getting a gift from me...... shhhhhh.....) and she just so happens to like purple............ there was a reason I hadn't finished earlier!
The cover:

The closure is a snap from a recycled denim jacket and I created some wool felt leaves adding some stitching and seed beads:

 A close-up of the flower with a fabric covered button and some more seed beads sprinkled in the center:

 One of my "signature" embellishments -- the hand gathered ribbon -- with some more fabric covered buttons and a fish eye pearl button for decoration:

I'll let you know if she likes it after she receives it!

Bloopers

Soooooooooooo.... like I said in the last post, it was a looooong process and steep learning curve making my videos. I really thought Mollie's idea of showing outtakes from her video experience was a really good idea, so I stole it! This even makes me giggle at some of the faces I make while thinking about what I really wanted to say...............

Untitled from Penney Klaproth on Vimeo.

Class Sample for STITCHED

Wahoo! What a process this has been...... getting my video workshop up and running over at STITCHED. All the workshops begin January 1, 2012 (can you believe that's just a short couple of weeks away already?). Alma and the gang have been busy bees getting their classes ready just for you!

Here are glimpses of my sample class book for my Accordion Photo Book:

This is not your grandmother's scrapbooking! Your photos are sewn right on the pages and embellished with all sorts of goodies. Your completed book can be displayed either tied with a pretty ribbon as a book or as an accordion photo display like this:

Here is one of my favorite pages (see the zipper on the right..... yeah, baby!) that also shows the stick in the binding:

Some of the fun hand embroidery and my "hand gathered ribbon" embellishment that holds some beaded safety pins:

Another fully embellished page:

I'll show you how to paint with your sewing machine to add texture and visual interest on your pages:

So come join the fun! If you click on the link over there...............................> and register in the next couple of days I'll send you a piece of my hand-dyed canvas and a pretty little hand wrapped charm. What are you waiting for? Go check it out!

STITCHED Give Away

In my last post I mentioned that I would give away a piece of hand-dyed canvas and hand wrapped charm for early registrants for STITCHED. I have nine (9) pieces of canvas (they are actually bigger than I reported, they are 18" squares!) and charms to send to the first 9 people who register through my blog for the STITCHED workshops! To receive one of these packages you must be one of the first nine register following this link:Click here to register by December 15.

A peek at some fabric and charms I'm giving away:

All of the classes offered over at STITCHED are awesome! Check out the teachers' blogs over there ------------------------------>

STITCHED Registration is here!

I am so very proud to be a part of STITCHED, a collection of 20 online video workshops by 20 amazing and talented fabric artists. Each workshop provides you with high-value and high-content information to get you sewing, designing and creating.

These workshops are supported by some amazing companies which will be providing some great giveaway items and products for several lucky STITCHED registrants.

You will also get full video workshops including my Accordion Photo Book class. Each of the 20 amazing workshops include wonderful videos, printable pdf files which include patterns and related instructions for each workshop, as well as the support of our awesome instructors in a completely private site.

In my Accordion Photo Book class you will learn to uniquely preserve your memories by combining photos, fabric, hand stitching, and lots of love. In this class you will learn to create a fabric-based tri-fold accordion photo album which can be displayed in several ways. If you've not sewn on photos before you're in for a treat! A working knowledge of your sewing machine, a few basic embroidery stitches, and a willingness to think outside “the scrapbook” are the basic tools needed in creating this one-of-a-kind “uniquely you” photo book. You will learn to select materials that blend together as well as how to create layouts using photos as the focal point. You will become fearless adding texture on your fabric pages to compliment your choices and photos by using your sewing machine, trim, and hand stitching. Don't be afraid of loose threads, crooked stitches, or raw edges....... imperfections are encouraged! Have memorabilia related to your photos? Let's add that. Sticks and stones may break your bones, but they look great in juxtaposition to your fabric and stitches. After embellishing with embroidery, metal, ribbon, and possibly the kitchen sink you will join your three pages together with a quick, easy ribbon closure. When finished, your accordion photo album can stand on its own or be secured as a book you can display with pride. And you can say.......” I did that!”

An example of what you can create in my Accordion Photo Book class:

Registration for STITCHED begins today (December 1, 2011) with workshops beginning January 1, 2012. For $89 you get full access to all 20 wonderfully creative workshops.

Another cover example for my Accordion Photo Book class:

You will learn to add texture and embellish one-of-a-kind photo pages:

Beads and ruffles and pins, oh my!

I am offering a treat for those who choose to sign up between today and December 15^th! By following this link: Click here to register before the 15^th you will receive a 12” square of hand-dyed canvas to use in my Accordion Photo Book class as well as a unique hand wrapped wire charm made by me. (Clicking on the registration link will take you to Alma Stoller's registration page where you will receive all the information you need to join us)

Come join in the creativity and get your stitching juices flowing with us at STITCHED!

More Wire Work

I just love to watch YouTube tutorials and I found realisticart's channel. The artist's name is Ross Barbera and his videos are really good! I've watched a couple of them, but today I was inspired to actually make the earrings from his new video. Rather than making them into earrings, I shortened them and turned them into charms. I also learned a great way to make spirals with a smaller center turn. Try this link and see what he's up to.

Etsy Back Up.....

I finished the Fall Leaves and Burgundy & Teal journals and placed them in my Etsy shop for sale. I hadn't renewed my listings as I was waiting until my fall bazaar sales were finished. I am really pleased with the way they both turned out!

Fall Leaves 1 Journal:

Burgundy & Teal Journal:

Tutorial from Alma

Over on Alma Stoller's blog she has a fantastic short video tutorial called 101 Coiled Paper Pieces. I can't wait to make some! Check it out and give her some love..........

101 Coiled Paper Pieces from Alma Stoller on Vimeo.

WIP

Last Saturday I participated in a sale and wouldn't you know I sold the purple and brown journal before I could take photos of the finished piece. D'oh! The girl loved it, that's all I've got to say. The entire cover was done in my version of quilting. My favorite part of making quilts is the hand quilting so I've done that with perle cotton for texture. This quilted cover is done in shades of burgundy and aqua/teal. Right now it's a work in progress as I haven't put any of my wire work on it, but I like it so far. As Donna Downey would say: "happy place!" Here's the front:

And a close up:

I really, really, really like this next one. I saw a version of the stitched tree and leaves on Pinterest a while ago and have two of these hanging around. I wasn't sure where I was going with the stitching, but I like the effect of stitching completely around the sewn design. This cover probably won't get much more than some earth tone leaf beads at the spine, I don't want to cover up the stitching too much:

a close-up:

Pink!

I'm still playing with my silver and copper wire (loving Thunderbird Supply... fast, fast shipping and great prices! They have a brick and mortar store in Flagstaff........ already planning a trip up when I got to AZ for Dylan's birthday in Feb.) This journal has sterling silver wire embellishments rather than the copper I used on the yellow rose journal. The focal point for the cover is an older photo of a pink starflower. I used some Moda fabric with pink, green, and yellow for the background on white canvas.

I made this freeform accent with the last of my wire (I've since received more wire from Thunderbird)

I created many wrapped beads for practice and used several on the spine along with a mixed media tassel.

I haven't finished this brown and purple journal yet, so I'm only showing a peek. I hand stitched small pieces of fabric onto batting and did my version of the rolled corded edging to attach the lining. I'm envisioning some copper beaded accents on it!

More Sneak Peeks for STITCHED

Among other things I have been making several samples for my STITCHED workshop. I won't show you the actual projects yet, but here ares some close-up peeks:

Two in one day?

The journal is finished! The pages are blank as the focus is on the cover and its image. I used: yellow rose photo from my mother's house, costume jewelry pin, canvas, linen handkerchief, silk fabric, ribbon, beads, safety pins, perle cotton, and some of my new wire work.

The cover:

The copper S link for closure with the ribbon:

Some copper bead work:

On this head pin I put beads and a safety pin:

Wire Work

I was lucky enough to win a spot in Deryn Mentock's The Build Zone class through Create Mixed Media and LOVE it! I have dabbled in jewelry in the past basically stringing beads which I enjoyed, but working with silver and copper wire is fantastic. Deryn is a fabulous teacher and I have learned so much from this class. Hammering and torching, baby! I learned to patina wire with liver of sulfur which gives the wire work character. Fun stuff. I don't plan to use these techniques for jewelry as this point, I want to make charms and findings to incorporate into my journals and books. I love to surf Pinterest and get even more ideas. I'm drawn to the spirals and love making them on headpins. (Who knew you could actually MAKE eyepins and headpins?!!!!) I love to make something that you would normally buy!

Here are some of the items I made to begin with:

A spiral headpin from silver wire that I patinaed (sp?)

I saw a gorgeous mixed media tassel on Pinterest. Here's my version:

A close-up of some of the wire work:

And lastly, I worked on S links today. Since my round nose pliers are different than Deryn's I had to figure out the proper length of wire. I plan to use these as a closure on the journal I am making right now. Look for them later!