Monday, 11 January 2016

A quiet house....

After my son and his girlfriend left on Friday evening to return to university, the house seemed very quiet but, it wasn't too long before I cheered myself up by starting work on a couple of creative projects.

First on my list of things to do was to turn my 2015 TAST Stitch Sampler into a needle case. I started by defining the area of the sampler that I wanted to use.

Then I filled in any gaps with extra embroidery stitches until I was happy with it.  I only used the same TAST stitches that were already in the sampler.


I tidied up the edges of the sampler fabric by placing it on a piece of batting and then stitching along each side with a very small machine stitch so that all the embroidery threads were caught in the stitches. I could then trim the fabric piece to the size I wanted without the hand embroidered stitches coming undone which, is what I did next.


Then I pieced together the inside of the needle case, making a pocket and adding a piece of felt for needles.  The back and front were then pinned together and some binding added.  I finished it off by adding some velcro to fasten it with.

It makes quite a sweet needle case and I am all ready now to start a new 2016 sampler, which is just as well, as TAST starts again tomorrow!

Front

Back

The following day I had the house to myself and after finishing off some housework, I thought I would try my hand at making some cards. 



I started off by having a look through some card-making ideas on Pinterest. I pulled out all my card-making bits and pieces and had a go at making my first card.  I chose an idea I had seen which patched some squares of paper together and then you stitched over the paper with your sewing machine and a zig zag stitch. 


I was really delighted with the result which spurred me on to making several more cards. 


Each was a different idea and used some different techniques that I had seen and liked.


I now have eight 'Thank you' cards ready to be written and posted off.... I can see that card-making might be quite addictive!  Here they all are sitting on top of their envelopes some of which I also made.... it was a lot of fun!

 I am linking this post to the next stitchery link up over at Super Mom - No Cape!  and Design Board Monday over at Bits 'n' Bobs. Why not pop over for a visit and see who else has linked up! 


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36 comments:

  1. Dorfymid11 January 2016 at 13:53

    I just knew your cards would be good and my goodness they are, lovely...Doti X

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    1. Christine B11 January 2016 at 15:36

      Thank you Doti! I had a lot of fun making them! Christine x

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  2. Cattinka11 January 2016 at 14:33

    What a clever idea to turn your stitchery into an organizer! It is pretty and useful.
    KATRIN W.

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    1. Christine B11 January 2016 at 15:37

      Thank you Katrin! It will be fun to have it with me when I start stitching the new sampler! Christine x

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  3. Kunzfrau11 January 2016 at 14:42

    I like your needlecase! As i was a schoolchild i have something also embroidered in small form.

    Greetings Marion

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    1. Christine B11 January 2016 at 15:38

      Thank you Marion! I also made something similar when I was a child at school. I think my mum still keeps her needles in it! Christine x

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  4. Magpie's Mumblings11 January 2016 at 15:18

    Your needlebook is absolutely the best thing for your sampler. It will give you stitching inspiration each time you use it.

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    1. Christine B11 January 2016 at 15:39

      Thank you Mary Anne! It will be fun to use it while I am stitching the next sampler! Christine x

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  5. Renee11 January 2016 at 17:37

    Lovely work! I LOVE the way your needle book turned out. Fabulous! And your cards are wonderful. (Perhaps I will need to pull out my supplies and make a few this year...) Thanks for sharing your gorgeous work!

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    1. Christine B11 January 2016 at 18:25

      Thank you Renee! It was fun working on both the needle case and the cards. Looking forward to the new TAST stitches for 2016! Christine x

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  6. Monika Kunstnadel11 January 2016 at 18:12

    Liebe Christine,
    da warst Du aber super fleißig. Das Nadeletui ist zauberhaft geworden und die vielen Karten gefallen mir sehr.
    Liebe Grüße
    Monika

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    1. Christine B11 January 2016 at 18:26

      Thank you Monika! They were both fun to make! Christine x

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  7. Linda11 January 2016 at 19:00

    Your needlecase is just darling! And your cards - wow! Love them. You'll have to give us a tutorial. :)

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    1. Christine B12 January 2016 at 10:26

      Thank you Linda! I really enjoyed making both the needlecase and the cards! Can't wait to make some more! Christine x

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  8. Janet Pring11 January 2016 at 19:16

    Sounds like you've had a very nice couple of days. I love your little needle case and all your cards are very clever.

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    1. Christine B12 January 2016 at 10:27

      Thank you Janet! I did have a very enjoyable couple of days! looking forward to trying some more card ideas! Chrissie x

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  9. Melody11 January 2016 at 20:44

    What an adorable needle case and your cards are lovely too. You clever cookie.

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    1. Christine B12 January 2016 at 10:27

      Thank you Melody! I had a lot of fun and I think that is the most important part! Christine x

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  10. Leanne12 January 2016 at 00:08

    Wow Christine, your needle case is so beautiful, you did such a good job. I love your cards also, they turned out really pretty. You have inspired me to make a few now.
    I love a quiet house, mine is never quiet for very long.

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    1. Christine B12 January 2016 at 10:28

      Thank you Leanne! I really enjoyed my few quiet days.... it hasn't lasted long here either.... but it was fun to have some creative time! Christine x

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  11. Steffi12 January 2016 at 07:37

    Liebe Christine,
    dein Nadelmäppchen ist wunderschön geworden. Was mir dabei besonders gut gefällt, du kannst dir Stickstiche die du brauchst, bildlich aussuchen!
    Liebe Grüße
    Steffi

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    1. Christine B12 January 2016 at 10:32

      Thank you Steffi! Yes, it is nice to have some stitches there in front of you if you are stuck for inspiration! Christine x

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  12. Baa. xxx12 January 2016 at 07:55

    What a wonderful needlecase the sampler made. And great cards. Such a great new hobby.

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    1. Christine B12 January 2016 at 10:29

      Thank you! Yes, I had a lot of fun with the cards and they make a great alternative to stitching! Christine x

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  13. sunny12 January 2016 at 08:21

    I Love your little needlecase! What a great way to show off your stitches. I started learning some stitches a couple of years ago, but then stopped for no reason. I think I could handle a small project like this.

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    1. Christine B12 January 2016 at 10:30

      Thank you Sunny! You should join in the TAST Challenge this year... you only have to do as many stitches as you like! Christine x

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  14. Christine M13 January 2016 at 00:33

    Your needle case looks lovely, Christine. What a great way to use your sampler. xx

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    1. Christine B13 January 2016 at 10:33

      Thank you Christine! I enjoyed making it! Christine x

      Delete
  15. Dawn13 January 2016 at 05:09

    Love how you have used your sampler and I can see you have taken to your card making with relish - they look awesome

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    1. Christine B13 January 2016 at 10:34

      Thank you Dawn! They were all fun to make! Hope you are keeping well! Christine x

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  16. Cath14 January 2016 at 04:18

    Fabulous Christine....what a great way to make use of that lovely sampler of stitches. and I love the cards too....I did that paper patchwork at a craft show workshop a few years ago and was always going to do more......famous last words! thanks for sharing on Bits 'n Bobs for Design Board Monday.

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    1. Christine B14 January 2016 at 12:08

      Thank you Cath! I certainly had a lot of fun making the cards! Christine x

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  17. Shami Immanuel14 January 2016 at 14:23

    You have beautifully turned the sampler into a needlecase. Always my samplers sits idle in the boxes. Cards are wonderful. Simple patches into beautiful cards. Great. Keep it up.

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    1. Christine B14 January 2016 at 21:38

      Thank you! It was a nice quick project to turn the sampler into a needle case and the cards were good fun to make! Christine x

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  18. FlashinScissors14 January 2016 at 19:25

    Hi Christine, I love to visit your blog and see your latest inspirational stitching. Your TAST stitch needlecase is such a brilliant idea. A great way to show off your beautiful stitching, and your cards are lovely too!
    Barbara xx

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    1. Christine B14 January 2016 at 21:39

      Thank you Barbara! That is very kind of you! I had a lot of fun with both the needle case and the cards! Christine x

      Delete

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