The Crafter’s Way 197–Feather Stitch

A couple of months ago I wrote a tutorial for doing Buttonhole or Blanket Stitch. Today’s tutorial is another embroidery stitch, Feather Stitch. Feather Stitch, which is also known as Coral stitch, is a variety of buttonhole/blanket stitch.

Feather Stitch is an useful decorative stitch and can be found in hand smocking and crazy patchwork. The feathery line can be stitched straight, around curves and be embellished with French Knots, Lazy Daisy and Beads. It is also possible to alter the effect completely by altering the spacing of each finished stitch.

To start:
Secure your thread at the back of fabric.
Bring needle to front of fabric at (a).
Leave a little slack in the thread, hold this with your finger. Reinsert the needle at (b).
Bring needle to front at (c).
Leave a little slack and holding this re-insert the needle at (d).
Bring needle to front at (e).
Leave a little slack and holding this re-insert the needle at (f).
Bring needle to front at (g).

Each subsequent stitch secures the previous one. When you are first learning it is useful to mark four parallel lines with a water dissolvable marker. This will help you stitch even feathers. I’m sure that after a little practice this stitch will become a firm favourite.

Lessons I’ve Learnt 20–Making Money From Your Blog.

No, I’m not going to talk about Adwords, Sponsors etc. I know they work for some. They have even worked for me in the past.

I choose not to to sell space on my blog anymore for a couple of reasons. First of all I personally don’t like  looking at cluttered pages. Secondly, I have never clicked on an ad on anybody else’s site so why should I expect others to do that on my site.

Having said that it is still possible to make money from your blog.

• I have secured ongoing commercial arrangements with a number of companies directly off the back of my blog.
• The weekly Magazine column came after they saw my blog.
• Commissioned work.
• Commissioned Projects for Magazines.
• And just this morning I have had 2 emails following up posts off my blog. One was a 2 year old post. The other was the possibility of another ongoing international arrangement.

A Lesson I’ve Learnt is that you may don’t have to have lots of people commenting on your blog posts or even lots of people visiting your site to make money from your blog. You just have to have the right people visiting.

The Crafter’s Way 196–Craft Blog Round Up

This week’s Messenger column is a quick roundup of blogs.I chose most of these blogs with the school holidays in mind. Many have a refashion focus that might spark some creativity in your teen however there are blogs here with activities for your younger creatives as well.

Adey at http://sewconvert.wordpress.com is a former kids’ television channel manager turned stay home mum. A late starter to sewing she has certainly made up for lost time. An intensive 4 day sewing class from an American lady living in Singapore set Adey on a path that she has been exploring ever since. There are quite a few tutorials on this site including a super easy wrap skirt.

http://www.elizabethabernathy.com This site has heaps of refashion tutorials including a very different take on a pillowcase bag. On the top nav bar is a link to kids craft tutorials where you will find some super fun and simple activities.

http://diydailyblog.blogspot.com/ This is a fairly new blog and while they haven’t posted a lot yet it might be one to bookmark for future use. I included it here as it has a tutorial on how to make seedbombs. If you give out lots of cards at Christmas time include a seedbomb as an inexpensive extra. This is something younger children can be involved in.

http://knittygrittythoughts.typepad.com Lots of free knitting patterns here as well as numerous other crafts. My favourite right now is the tutorial for the Fabric Styrofoam Balls. These make colourful Christmas Decorations.

http://www.crapivemade.com All the tutorials on this site are exceptionally well written. I made myself the reversible sling bag in approx half an hour. If you check out only one blog from this list make sure it is this one.

http://www.happytogethercreates.com This is a fun, light hearted blog where the author shares her crafting journey. There are a couple of tutorials; my favourite is the Rag Letters. It comes with a printable patterns and easy to follow instructions. Older children may also like the headband.

http://mytwobutterflies.blogspot.com This is a refashioning blog with a difference. The author takes up to date fashion items from the pages of magazines and shows you how you can put your own spin on it for a fraction of the cost.

Hope these ideas brighten up your school holidays.

A Cloud-y Day

Dylon Dye 59–Antique Grey

I was really excited about trying Dylon’s new Antique Grey and I wasn’t disappointed.

I dyed 3 pieces of fabric, cotton, washed silk and a sari silk.
The cotton is a real pewter shade of grey which is what I expected. The Washed Silk has a very distinct  muted purple hue, very pretty. The Sari Silk is a much lighter shade of the purple.  In the dye bath I also dyed a cotton t-shirt, making the total weight of fabric dyed just under the recommended 250g.
Thinking I will try the French Lavender next.

The Crafter’s Way 195– Simple Fabric Coasters

Fabric Coasters

With school holidays looming on the horizon this activity is perfect for competent young sewers.

You will need: Cotton Fabric, Coordinating Thread (I used a contrasting thread so you could clearly see what I had done), Cotton Batting, Scissors and a Sewing Machine, Water Erasable Pen.

Step 1: Cut Cotton Fabric 26cm x 15cm and Cotton Batting 12cm x 12 cm.

Step 2: With right sides together fold and press fabric in half, short edge to short edge.

Step 3: Using a 1cm seam allowance sew 2 edges as shown. You need to leave one edge open. This is how you will turn to right side and insert batting. Trim corners.

Step 4: Turn to right side and press. Press open edge seam allowance. Insert cotton batting. Cotton batting may need a little trimming.

Step 5: Tuck seam allowance inside the packet. Top stitch 6mm in from edge. This will close the open seam and stabilise the batting. Using the Water Soluble Pen mark two diagonal lines, crossing in the middle. Stitch along these lines, further stabilising the batting. If you are more confident or just feeling creative feel free to make this stitching more decorative.

The Crafter’s Way 194–Mixed Media Exhibitions

In the upcoming months we have not one but two mixed media exhibitions to immerse our senses in. Featuring internationally recognised artists each exhibition shares the artist’s journeys and inspirations.

Undercurrents is at the Art Factory Gallery, corner Merivale & Glenelg Streets, South Brisbane. This exhibition features the work of three talented mixed media artists, Felicity Clarke, Mel Forrest and Tricia Smout. Using a wide variety of techniques and mediums each artist has delved into enigmatic sentiments and almost forgotten memories to create a diverse exhibition.

After graduation with a Diploma of Visual Art in 2005 Felicity Clarke began working as a Wardrobe Assistant at the Brisbane Arts Theatre while establishing herself as a Soft Sculpture and Textile Artists. For this exhibition Felicity has focussed on incorporating various practices using modern synthetic fibres and illumination. Mel Forrest enjoys combining photography with stitch and textiles to create art quilts, collage and book art.

We have visited with Tricia Smout before. Her work continues to amaze and inspire me. Tricia’s passion for calligraphy and lettering drives her to create hangings, artist books, sculptures and wearable art which incorporate meaningful text in an aesthetic manner. Her work is currently in exhibitions in Italy, Korea, Philippines, USA and Melbourne.

Admission to Undercurrents is free. Gallery hours are 10am – 4 pm daily from 9^th – 14^th September. The official opening on Saturday 10^th September includes the artists’ talks.

The second exhibition is a little closer to home. Papers, Pages and Prints is an exhibition of artist prints and handmade books featuring the works of Judith Rosenberg, Pressgang Print Group and Queensland Spinners, Weavers and Fibre Artists Book and Paper Group.

The Book and Paper Group worked on two collaborative ventures throughout 2010 & 2011. The collaborations, an altered book project and a ‘round-robin’ page swap were progressively passed around the group each month. These unique pieces will be on display at Pine Rivers Gallery from September - 2 October, 10am-4pm. Again, entry is free. Workshops for adults and children will be held in conjunction with the exhibition. Artist Talks will also be held at the Gallery from 11.30am – 12.30pm on the 24^th Sept and 1st Oct.

Works in Progress (alt title–Don’t hold your breath)

I have been filling small snatches of time with some simple hand embroidery. You know those times when you are waiting for the bus, waiting waiting, waiting.

These are destined to be brooches.

Using more scraps of my hand dyed fabrics and threads.

There is no wrong way.

Eventually I will add some beads and other embellishments.

By the time I finish them though I could well have thought of another use for them.

I’ve also started embroidering some samples for an upcoming project.

Up close and personal.

No details just yet, still some work to be done before the grand reveal.