X - Cross Stitch

Counted cross stitch was one of the first crafts I learned. I actually learned how before I was really very good at reading or counting. I think I may have been in second or third grade at the time.

It is a craft I enjoy, but it is also something I rarely finish. Most of the bigger projects I made were gifts, so I don't have them around, and most were made before I had a digital camera, so I don't have many records of them.

This little kitty was a quick mother's day gift I made a few years ago. My brother and I both did a cross stitch picture for our mom, and she absolutely loved them. She is also an avid cross stitcher, and taught both of us.

V - Variegated

There are lots of cool applications for variegated thread and yarn. Some change between several colors like the tatted book marker above, while others are subtle, like both the orange and blue in the hardanger heart below.

I really don't often use variegated thread because there is a lot of chance involved, and in some applications, it can simply look like stripes.

But when done well, a variegated thread can add to the design.

Happy A-Z Crafting!

U - Unusual

I have a few unusual projects and patterns I have developed, so here are a few.

This set of fairy wings was a crafting challenge. I had a budget of less than $20 plus whatever is in your private stash. We had to make something appropriate for a fairy court. I used branches off of the tree that fell in my dad's house, and a bunch of different things from my stash. I used crocheting to make the dragon fly/dream catcher-like wings. I love how it turned out, but I can't figure out a way to make them to sell because they are so fragile.

This is a better picture of the over-all wings.

I made these for the same challenge. We were supposed to make something that is thrown in the game of Amtgard. I made spell balls using the Japanese technique of Temari balls. This launched my interest in making better and cooler balls.

This is a pattern I developed for a fairy skirt. I haven't seen this type of skirt/dress anywhere else. I have fabric to make three more, and I am looking forward to making more because they are so fun and different from the others out there.

This dress is also a skirt. It offers lots of costuming possibilities. Thanks for reading... Almost at the A-Z finish line!

T - Tatting

Tatting is a craft I picked up when on chemo. It takes almost no energy, and very little room, so I would pop a tatting project into my purse and work on it while waiting for the doctor. I really like the feel of shuttle tatting, and especially these old fashioned shuttles.

I am planning on teaching a class on tatting at Clan this upcoming July.

R - Rose

Rose is one of my really close friend's auntie. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer, I made her a few pink ribbon inspired things. The first was a paper crane and  pink ribbon decoration. I folded the cranes and connected them with beads.

This was the rose quilt for Rose. I saw this pattern on a baby quilt and wanted to try it out. I love these oriental looking calicos, so I put them together in a nice lap quilt that would be perfect for the chemo days.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, Rose mailed me a care package of hats and other little things to help me get through it. I am happy to report that she is still cancer free, 9 years later.

Q - Quilling

Please note: None of these photos are of my own work. I just found pretty examples.

Quilling is the are of twirling paper on its side and gluing it together to make three dimensional pictures.

I like quilling, and I have tried it a little, but I do not have any pictures of things I have done. So, this blog, I am posting things I would like to try.

The humming bird is using some techniques I have tried, though the one I did was all in white, so I think this one looks way better.

I admire the thick petals and the lovely 3-D this flower has. I also love the color choice.

This leaf is super cool because it really is made up using a fairly easy technique, but the execution and color choice are phenomenal.  

This is a chart of how to start. You begin by spinning paper in a spiral. Then by adding folds on the spiral, you make all these other shapes. Anyway, this is a super cool craft, and I hope it catches on more.

O - Ornament

I made everyone in the family some Temari ball ornaments for Christmas. These two are for my mom and aunt. I forgot to take pictures of the other 12, but this gives you an idea.

I picked each person's favorite colors rather than sticking to Christmas. Most ended up being football teams. My dad uses his for a light pull, so I may make them as light pulls in the future, because that is fun. :)

E - Ermine

I was given a commission to make a heraldic dress for the above Coat of Arms. The overall design is not very challenging, with one exception. The background design is called "ermine" and is meant to duplicate the fur of a spotted ermine. But, as people used this heraldry, it became more designer, so it developed into something that is a cross between a pretty little art symbol and a little ermine footprint.

 

Doing a single ermine would not be all that challenging, but as you can see on the original Coat of Arms, having a repeated ermine greatly increases the complexity of the project.

Since this is for a person in the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism), historical accuracy is something that is prized. I chose to use a wood block printing technique to add the ermine to the fabric. I began by carving a woodblock.

I experimented with several types of ink before discovering that there was one specifically made for what I was doing. It takes a long time to dry (a full week to cure and 4-6 hours before I dare try and move it), but it is working nicely.

 

 

 I chose to sew large sections of the dress first so that the ermine would fall exactly in the right spots and would not be cut off in weird ways.

The dress is still in the works, but here is a sneak peek of how it will look. I mixed machine applique with hand embroidery to get a mostly authentic look. I'll post again when this is finished and add a link here.

B - Ball

I am really loving making Temari balls. They are constructed by starting with a little packet of rice or a jingle bell. Then you wrap it in yarn and wrap it in sewing thread. Once the ball is done, you then embroider it with a design. They were originally intended as a child's toy, and they are surprisingly durable and bouncy.

This is just a sample of the new ones I made in the last 6 months or so. I made 15 mini ones for little Christmas gifts.

More often than not, I have been making balls for the game of Amtgard. They are used to represent spells when we play on the field. A person has to say an incantation and then throw the ball and hit another person in order for the "spell" to work. It is half a game and half a bit of acting, but fully fun.

The spell balls have strict color rules, so I try to keep them fairly obviously only one color.

These were "normal" temari balls. The one on the left was a give away for reaching 100 likes on my facebook page, and the one on the left sold on Etsy.

Mask Fundraiser

Peacock Feather

 This is the second time I have done a masquerade mask fundraiser. They will all be up for silent auction on Saturday at my local Amtgard park. Most are based on fighting companies' and households' heraldry. I put my favorite first. I made most of them using the cardboard mask blanks from Michael's and painting them with acrylic paint. I also used puff paint and tulle to make the rest. My cousin Randi pitched in and made one as well because she thought it looked like fun. Enjoy!

 Blue Butterfly

 Dragonblade Mercenaries

 Cosmos

 Slytherin

 Dragonflies

 Star Wars Storm Trooper

 Hufflepuff

Monarch Butterfly

Queen of Hearts

 Wolves of Valor

 House Ansgar

Fallen Phoenix

 Ravenclaw

 Gryffindor

 The Lost Boys

 Deadpool

 Sun's Haven

 Mock Lace 

  Mock Lace 

  Mock Lace Dragon

  Mock Lace 

 Mock Lace