Debra: Raw Edge Pashmina Scarves

I find a good assortment of faux and real pashmina shawls/scarves at my local thrift store for about $3.75 each.   Whenever I see something in abundance, I am always challenging myself for an upcycle/reclamation idea.

This is my scarf.  Not too long ago I got distracted while ironing it and gave it a big scorch.  I decided to experiment with raw edge work on it.  I had already embroidered the ends a few years ago so that helped me decide the color scheme.  Here it is stretched on the longarm.  Last night I stitched the beginning rows.  Once I cover the scorch, I may skip an area before adding more strips.  Otherwise, it could take a long time to cover the scarf.  It's kinda long!

I have about 4 or 5 large boxes of small strips so I'm challenging myself in 2016 to work them into lots of raw edge work.  Before I got heavy handed buying more scarves, I thought it would be prudent to work up the ones I own now to see if the idea is even worth pursuing.  Ideas are like that.  Sometimes they seem so good in theory and pathetic in actuality!

Fitzy - Stash enhancement

The photo is turned on its side I see. I'm not sure how that happens!

We were away for the weekend, again in Prescott, AZ. Oh heavens, it's COLD there! The wall heater in our unit (a refurbished retro motor court) wasn't working, but thankfully our fireplace was. My bones weren't ready for THAT kind of cold!

I was anxious to hit the second-hand craft supply store up again, and found these bits pictured. I was worried about my bill until I found that it was "Customer Appreciation" day and it was all 50% off. I had only chosen what I really wanted, but was sorely tempted to revisit those stock drawers again. This haul was a mere $3.87. BAHAHA!

I'm busy on my next block, which I will hold to show next week. I have an important addition to make before I show. I've also offered to do another block in this set as a "stitch angel" for the next person in line who just isn't able to keep up with our scheduled. It could easily happen to me, and I now have a bit of time.

Overtime is done and our business (7,000 employees) has now been converted over to ADP, things should slow down a bit, thankfully.

Hope you're enjoying your week so far!

Cy ~ Week 9 Heart Quilt and more

This week I have been flitting between projects again, and even started a new one 

(oh no, another ufo started)

Update on the Straight From The Heart Quilt

Week 9

I auditioned some crocheted lace edging for around the Dresden plate.

Here it is, temporarily pinned in place, to see if I like it there ..... I do. So I shall carry on and crochet the rest to fit around the scalloped perimeter.

And these three free-form stitched "plus size inchies" (1.5ins) are surplus from a previous project, and have now made it onto this quilt.

There is a pink heart on the orange square.

I created the following crochet square for my Winter-Warmer project. 

We, here in New Zealand, have just gone in to Autumn, so I am expecting some cooler weather shortly.

Then, my most favourite denim skirt "bit-the-dust" through old age and wear and tear. I am too heartbroken to throw it out, so I lovingly started to upcycle it into a Boho style skirt.

The idea is to cover all the threadbare worn areas and holes with cutesy stitcheries.

The skirt originally had four tiers. I have cut off the bottom scraggy tier (it was too long anyway), and started covering the 2nd tier as the photos show here - rustic stitching, raw edges, uneven shapes, basic (or zero) embellishing.

Then I shall add lace to the 3rd tier, and attach a shorter gathered fabric strip in place of the bottom tier if it looks ok.

And while I was stitching the purple one on, I was thinking about turning my denim jacket into a Boho one to match the skirt, lol.

Debra : Crate Mats

I had a young friend ask me if I could make some simple crate mats for the all breed dog rescue in which she participates.  Every year I lug home a big bag of quilted fabrics from the Houston Quilt Festival.  I ask the APQS (longarm machine vendor) for the practice fabrics at the end of the week.  If you've been to any quilt show where they sell machines, you know how people come by and scribble with the machines. 

Because the batting has been quilted to death, it's not that good to reuse for new quilts.  It's good for wallhangings but I have enough of those right now.  In my effort to clean out some miscellaneous fabrics, I decided to try this quilted fabric for the crate mats.  It worked splendidly!  I backed these 16 mats with some gifted drapery prints.  This really opened some space in my storage area.  Great recycling project and the fabric benefits dogs instead of being dumped in the landfill.  I love a good ending to a story.