Second Mini wall block.

This one has some tatting and speciality stitches as well as the initial.

This one has butterflies in organza, different stitches and all have the cherubs

This one has a new technique for initials as well as for working the butterflies in flight.

This shows the actual size of around eight inches and how puffy they truly are.

This is a little prayer pouch that I have made and set aside for now.  It was actually created some time ago, and just found it for the camera.

This is a second prayer pouch and it shows both the front and the back and the individualism of each one, no two are the same.

This is an 8 x about 14 inch block that I have finished stitching and want to get a frill added to and a pillow and back done before Christmas.  I am trying to work in tone on tone with a touch of pink.  I did not want to add any crazy quilting stitches at this time.  Love the antiqued lace, rusched ribbons and the double satin bows.

Motivation is starting.

     I took yesterday to piece a large fourteen inch square block with tone on tone in shades of beige to soft pastel browns.  I actually got to start some stitching on it as well and will take a picture and share before I work any further on the block today.  I needed an inspiration and chose to jump from making journal covers as gifts to large pictures and now pillows.  All  in one afternoon.

    As this blog is so full of bits of everything I am debating creating another one to share my ways of making items from start to finish, in particular pieced, embroidered , beaded, brazilian , and silk ribbon embroidery, along with my own ' prayer pouches ' , that I design and share.

More works in progress

These little projects are nearing completion and will have mroe stitches, beadwork and decisions before they are finished. I have to work on these this evening and hopefully they will be ready this week to be posted.

Prayer Pouch - Falling roses.

I truly enjoy designing prayer pouches with special people in mind. This one has a cascade of falling roses that are held down with little green silk ribbon leaves. A tear drop falls from the base of one rose, and the antique lace sets off the sprig at the top. It is also embellished with a touch of gold ribbon on the front and a pink prayer bow on the back. The straps are silk ribbon and they are fully lined. On a prayer and a wish and this little pouch leaves for a new home.

Prayer Pouch - Bleeding Hearts

This little pouch reminds me of bleeding hearts. I chose to make the flowers in a gathered style and then added long dangled beads from the centres. I also used 7mm over dyed green ribbon and did some matching leaves. The lace cuttings are from a larger piece that I have been cutting from and I have been debating on whether or not to dye the rest with tea dye, but decided on the simplicity of white. The little pouch is lined and made with love. All I have to do is say a prayer and mail this one out.

Prayer Pouch for Lynn

This is the front and back of a prayer pouch that I made for a special friend

who asked how I made the bridal roses of the bridal pillow.

She offered to send a brazilian embroidery pattern for the cost of postage and I wanted to make her something special to remember me by so I chose to put two or three different versions of how I do my roses into the pouches.

On the front there are several shades of 7mm wide purple to lavender and they are free handed as I work along. I added stems, bead works and a flirty little butterfly to the front. On the back I used another silk ribbon technique to do a rose branch and added some lace and beads to this as well.

I also shared some different ways and sizes of satin bridal roses that I enjoy making. I am so used to making them right on the garment that it is hard to describe as there are several ways to make them. I will try and do a little tutorial on them when time settles down.

I hesiate to post this as I am not sure if this has arrived at " Lynn's " home or not, but we will see.

Lots on the go and finishing.

I have finished another prayer pouch for a special friend and it has gone in the mail and I will when she does receive hers along with some satin handmade roses.

I received the most beautiful pin puff from my Turkish friend Rengin in return for the two prayer pouches that I have made for her.

I will share these photos when I get on the main computer. I finished up the stitching on a crazy quilted one yesterday afternoon.....the background is maple leaves in gold and the accent piece is a unicorn ear ring that I found at an antique shop some time ago. I used one on this pouch and one on my dd's Christmas stocking, which I must finish.

I have so many little things to finish that it is scary and while I am in the process of doing same I keep on stitching away on other things. Like a lot of fiber artists I am continuously thinking.

I have at least three large clutch purses to put together and they will go into my hope chest to be given away someday when my heart lets them go. I have at least five long christening gowns on the go and two more on the way to being complete. I do want to do long slips with matching crochet lace on them to accent them.

I have two borders on my Angels in Blue quilt to hand quilt and I will then add the ribbons and flowers to this one and e had a lot share.

I have had a lot of requests on how I do my prayer pouches and all I can say is I will share how I do a basic one as no two are the same. Depends on how the fabric speaks to me.

I was inspired by the works of Pat Winters of Gatherings when a friend sent me two kits, one for me and one to do for her.

I was also given a pouch made by Pat from my friend Rita Geoff as a Christmas gift one year and fell immediately in love with it.

Well, enough chatter and I must get some more pics up. Been getting ready for a family get together this week coming and have let the poor blog lapse.

Have a great day. I am also learning Brazilian embroidery and admit I have fallen in love with this technique and the realism of three dimensional floral work.

I will also put some tutorials up on how I do my ribbon flowers as there are not a lot of blogs on silk ribbon or ribbon art work. I love it.

Prayer Post Two

This is the second prayer pouch that I made and finished over the past week. I added floating hearts, some fantasy flowers and a little cupid to the top. A trick I have learned in working with the fringed bead work is to hide it under a seam on the lace or a ribbon of it's own and you can feel confident that it will work.

I hope to do a step by step to how these are made and will share on my blog along with a basic pattern as each one changes in size and shape.

Prayer Pouch One

This little prayer purse is what has been keeping me busy the last few weeks on and off finding time to work on it and say a few prayers at the same time. I hope it brings happiness and joy to the new home it will soon arrive at.

I sincerely love doing this as they are a true labour of love and creativity and all are lined with batiste and backed with dress linen.

Rose Swag Pouch

Spring Cleaning my sewing room I decided to set aside some small pieces of tone on tone fabrics and lace as well as some ribbons that were left over from other projects, beads as well and a second pouch is now designed.

The overall size of these finished and lined are about 4.5 x 6.5 depending on the main fabric I have to play with.

I enjoy working with ribbon and want to start using different types of flowers as well as techniques.

Boquet of Roses Pouch

With Easter upon us and the bulbs popping through the ground it reminded me of my beautiful rose bushes that I had planted last year so I decided to take their colours and use them on a pouch.

Two days later and another little pouch that is very detailed has come to life. This one is a crazy quilt pouch with dangling beads and lots of handwork. It would be more of a thank-you gift or " value your friendship" type of gift. I have another one done in similar colours and hope to get that one finished today or tomorrow. I am still embroidering butterflies for a special friend for her quilt.........and just finished making a pair of long shorts for work. Love the fabric and so will she, it was her dad's for his quilt. Kayaks........oh well, the quilt did not get made, but the shorts just need the elastic. Sure hope the fit and she is not near to do a try on. Time will tell.

Sweltering here in beautiful Nova Scotia by the sea.

Last evening I put the finishing touches on two more prayer pouches and have them ready to be mailed out.

I also found three more that were in the final stages and hope this week to get them finished and posted as well.

While cleaning the sewing room and moving the office to the larger room there should be a lot of new ufo's popping out of containers.

I have on the drawing board three more prayer or friendship pouches as well as three crazy quilt blocks that I am embellishing. I will walk you through a basic prayer block on one of my future posts.

This coming month is finish up in the ufo section and I will share as they are done, as some will be gifts and some will be set for sale.

Enjoy the heat in July and August and if you are from our area of the world it means that soon it will be fall and we will be shovelling snow.........

I have chosen to share another prayer pouch that I made. This is completely made by hand, seams, lining and all and was the first time that I rusched the bottom of the pouch before I added the embellishments to the bottom and the lining so it was all done at once. A small hand beaded bracelet accompanied this little pouch.

When I started to create my blog, I wondered what to name it, and in a hesitating moment decided to call it " Labours of Love ", as when I look around, most of the items that I create are made with love by myself for someone else. And I truly love working on them and surprising people with little items when they least expect them.

I hand painted the ribbons on the front of this little prayer pouch and gathered them to make three small carnations. I added some hand painted leaves, ribbon, beads, laces, pearls etc. and a fluffy feather with beads attached with bead glue into the feathers as the lady this was designed for is a gentle elegant person and the feather seemed so fitting. I chose to finish the back as well and added some beads that you purchase on a reel under the seam and finished embellishing. I lined it with satin and an overlay of wide lace and included a prayer and a beaded chain and it has since been mailed and received.