Taking leftover fabric to the next level…#1

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Artist and crafter, Brushed cotton covers, Crafty creations, Creative crafting, Fun with fabrics, Hand quilted creations, Patchwork Creaions, Patchwork cushion covers, Striing patchwork designs

A unique pair of Patchwork cosy brushed cotton/flannel cushion/throw pillow covers

A week or so ago I set out to buy some super soft cotton flannel fabrics to create a beautiful striking lap quilt  Naturally there was always going to be some left over fabric! On this mission I set myself the goal to… ”’COMPLETELY”’ use up all the left over bits!

In the next couple of posts I will show how, and into what form they took 😉

This being the first I decided to make the most of what I had left over, what better than to make a matching Super Soft  pair of skewed patchwork pillow/cushion covers to go with, or stand alone, the original new quilt.

 

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A bit of colourful Christmassy cuteness :-)

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Applique felt designs, Artist and crafter, Button eye character cushions, Carens canvas and craft My ETSY shop, Cotton patchwork fabrics, Crafty creations, Creative crafting, Cure quirky designer cushions, Cute throw pillow covers, Fun with fabrics, Hand quilted cushion covers, Patchwork for Christmas

A tree..mendous pair!!
A bit of colourful Christmassy cuteness 🙂

Scrap sorting once more,…..I measured twice and decided I had just enough fabric to make a quirky pair of patchwork cushion/throw pillow covers 😀

Cute quirky Cushion covers From…..Patchwork Pooch….to a ‘Knitting Chicken’ !

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Artist and crafter, Artistic moment, Bored moment, Buttons, Carens canvas and craft My ETSY shop, Cotton fabrics, Crafty creation, Creative crafting, Cute Quirky Patchwork, Cute teddy cushion, Feature cushions, Fun throw pillows, Fun with fabrics, Handmade cushion covers, Knitting chicken cushion, Quilting and applique, Super cute Dog cushion

My Super cute applique felt patchwork dog design throw pillow/Cushion cover.
Finished yesterday, though, after adding a few more quirky items – In plenty of time for Christmas..;-) – to my Etsy shop, I’ve only just gotten around to posting!…After spending much of the day out in the garden, What a beautiful day it’s been, a mixture of monstrously dark threatening clouds and masses of sunshine at the same time with not a drop of rain!! 🙂

Super cute dog square from a section of preprinted fabric was again the inspiration to create a centre feature panel for the strikingly colourful cushion.

My fabric and felt version of the small printed square is approximately 10.5 inches and the red floral fabric from my stash was as close a match as I could find to the little square version, though I think it worked out well 😉 A couple of felt flowers with button centres and a little hand stem stitching before quilting over the whole panel to finish. 

Another cute little cushion creation with Bears and bees!

And…not forgetting the quirky ‘knitting chicken’ cushion cover wearing her brass ring specs!! 😀

After another busy day – there’s never a bored moment!! – I need to try and organise my random creative ideas into some kind of order…or who knows what jumbled creation might pop up next 😉

Spotty pin-wheel lap quilt

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Artist and crafter, Arty, Carens canvas and craft My ETSY shop, Colourful cotton fabric creations, Cotton fabric, Crafty creations, Creative crafting, Fun with fabric, Hand quilted throw, Patchwork lap quilt, Patchwork quilted cushion, Pin-wheel quilted patchwork, Spotty cotton print fabrics, Turquoise fabric

Spotty pin-wheel lap quilt and coordinating cushion cover
Left with several small pieces of spotty colourful cotton fabrics from previous projects and a meter and a bit of a lovely turquoise cotton print, which never seems to match anything I ever make… impulse buy – like you do ;-)!  I decided to combine them all together…after all, on their own they seemed useless, so nothing to lose?! From the four spotty fabrics and a piece of white cotton fabric (which has the same print as the turquoise) I determined I had enough to cut out five 4 x 4 inch squares of each colour and twenty white ones. Once I had all my squares, I then cut diagonally to give four triangles from each square, having done this to all 40 squares I then set about sewing them back together including one of each of the four coloured triangles and four white triangles to form a pin-wheel square, which once ironed to flatten all the overlapping seams was trimmed back to a neat 4.5 x 4.5 inch square and surrounded by a narrow 1.25  inch border of white. Loosing the seam allowance sewing on the borders I was left with 20 x 6.5 inch bordered pin-wheel squares. Carefully measuring for long borders of the turquoise which I wanted to surround the panel, I found I had enough left to cut 20 x (6.5 x 6.5 inch) squares of the turquoise too – so I played around with different combinations until I decided to on the straightforward panel above and proceeded to sew the squares together, then surrounded with the turquoise 3.25 inch wide long lengths I had put aside at the beginning. Once all that was done I marked out the diamond grid for quilting, used a 100% cotton wadding as the middle layer and a plain white cotton for the reverse, then hand quilted over the entire panel 🙂  Once the excess oversized wadding and backing were trimmed I found a darker turquoise marble printed cotton fabric which tied in perfectly as the binding. If by now you have counted the squares on the lap quilt, you’ll have noticed I didn’t use all of my 20 pin-wheel squares for the design…so, having a couple left over I decided to make them into a coordinating cushion/pillow cover!

…which also used up the small remaining spotty fabrics. The same diamond grid was drawn over the piece, though this time I used a soft springy synthetic wadding for
quilting and finished with a simple envelope opening on the back of the 17 x 17 inch (430 x 430 mm) cushion/pillow cover

Hand quilted spotty pin-wheel lap quilt 44 inches x 34 inches (1120 mm x 865 mm) Both the throw/quilt and the cushion/pillow cover are now available in my Etsy store 
I’m really happy with the end result as the little leftovers and the lonesome turquoise fabrics compliment each other in such a simple pretty way 😀

Having been MIA for a little while (spending a lovely time with our daughter and her partner as they plan their wedding) I have eventually got around to doing a little post on a couple of creations I finished before we left – a pretty throw/quilt and coordinating cushion/pillow cover 🙂

Colourful Christmas Creations

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2014, Artist, Artistic commissions, Artistic design, Arty, Atistic, Caren's canvas and craft, Christmas, Christmas creations, Christmas customised, Christmas gift ideas, Cotton creations, Created from my own ideas, Creative crafting, Cushion covers, Custom creations, Design your own, Father Christmas, Hand crafted, Happy New Year, Heirloom, Merry Christmas, My Etsy Shop, New friends, Original, Original creative crafting, Original gifts, Patchwork, Patchwork pillows, Pillow covers, Quilted, Something unique, Traditional Christmas, Unique, Wordpress

 

Joshua’s giant stocking/sleeping bag!

Over the last few weeks I think I have almost worn my fingers away creating very individual custom ordered creations. (Though I am more than pleased to be able to do so – if any one should have a request in 2014 please feel free to email me about it and I can arrange to create something special for you or a loved one)

The clients who asked me to make the gifts gave little more brief than the names and ages of the recipients, allowing me to go into an enjoyable surge of creativity – which is completely fine with me, though I always wonder while I am making things ‘will it be what they perceive, will they like it or will they be disappointed?’ The children were aged between two weeks and six years so I tried to cast my mind back to when my children were of similar ages and what they were interested in and build a theme around it. The patchwork, appliquéd and quilted feature handmade cushion covers are all hand cut and each separate piece has been stitched into place to form the overall picture.  The youngest was Elliott (with 2 T’s- I didn’t do it wrong) and for him I felt the little bear was most appropriate and the oldest was Oliver for whom I guessed a space theme was more grown up (probably because of my daughter at that age, everything was awesome to her about space back then….in fact some things never change… as she is now in her final year of her PhD of planetary seismology, studying ‘Mars Quakes’! And, indeed, when she came home for the holidays yesterday, I showed her pictures of the order, which had already been picked up, she admitted her favourite cover was the space one after confessing to loving them all. More to the point though, the client absolutely loved them, and, without knowing, I had apparently got each name matched with what they most liked, which I was thrilled about 🙂

The last minute order was for a giant stocking (the first picture) ”As big as you can make it with Joshua on it, Please” was the request.  For the rest of the day after the order was taken, was spent designing and conjuring ideas to create a stocking for a little boy which would be used year on year. I wanted to make something more than just your bog standard red stocking with a fluffy white top which is what most people would have expected on a last minute order. I wanted to create a potential heirloom stocking with a timeless quality, inserting all my self taught sewing skills from the past year or so and something which would bring a’whoop’ of delight that first viewing from Joshua… SO, a giant penguin, in my own style, it would be!!! In the rush to get it ready I have worked for twelve hours per day for the last five days sketching, cutting and sewing each piece, adding tiny beads to the trees and then hand quilting over the entire front and back of the stocking. When I handed it over this evening to Joshua’s father, he was so pleased with it and totally unexpected from the ””Red stocking with a fluffy top he had imagined”’ he said, ”He couldn’t wait to go home and show Joshua’s mother”. Literally as he must have gotten home and shown her, I got a text to say how over the moon they were with it and they couldn’t wait to show it on face book. That means so much to me as a creative crafter and artist, to be able to share a mini creation, or in this case, a very large one. The stocking had a final size of 40.5 inches long by 23 inches wide at both top and toe. just perfect for a three year old to camp out in! 

These handmade and designed pieces will be winging their way via ‘Father Christmas’ to several little people as part of their exciting presents to be opened on Christmas morning. After finishing the last one today I think it an appropriate time to hang up my needle, threads and paint brushes and spend the last week preparing for our own family holiday as I have much shopping to do.

I wish each and everyone a Merry Christmas and a VERY Happy and Healthy 2014.

It has been quite a journey being on WordPress this last year for me, I have loved discovering exciting sites, following people’s journeys of creativity, expressions, expertise, or day to day living. One which I am very please I ventured into, after coming across many lovely people. I look forward to a better year next year and hope the same for you too!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

Below are the custom handmade cushion covers…

Harry’s dinosaurs

George’s pirates

Elsie’s bunnies and hearts

Elliott’s teddy

Joshua’s jungle

Oliver’s space theme

A very special Jenny bunny cover for a very special girl

 

 

 

 

 

Cushion Covers – Handmade, Designed Patchwork and Quilted -Crazy Chicken Cushion Cover

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Appliquéd chicken, Coloured patchwork cottons, Colourful handmade cushion covers, Crazy chicken cushion, Creative canvas and craft, Feature cushion covers, Handmade and quilted cushion covers, Handmade patchwork cushion covers, Old buttons, Patchwork chicken cushion cover, Patchwork designs

Crazy Chicken Cushion Cover

Here’s another of my Crazy Knitting Chickens Design Cushion Cover. After hand appliquéing all the small cotton fabrics to form the chicken sitting on her clutch of eggs, I selected highly contrasting reds and greens. By adding simple embroidery for legs and knitting needles, I then gave the old dear a pair of brass ring ‘specs’ and a frilly little cotton garter! The whole panel was then hand quilted and Old buttons were used for the eyes and finshing touches

Cushion Covers – ‘Dillon the Dog’ – Handmade, Designed Patchwork and Quilted Cushion Cover

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Appliqued dog cushion cover, Clever handmade gift ideas, Colourful buttons in patchwork, Coordinating colours in patchwork, Creative canvas and craft, Dillon the dog cushion, Dog design handmade cushion cover, Hand applique, Handmade and designed patterns in patchwork, Handmade feature dog cushion, Handmade patchwork cushion cover, Old button and patchwork, Patchwork and quilting by hand, Patchwork cotton fabrics, Recycling Old Buttons, Unique handmade crafted items

‘Dillon the Dog’

Here is another of my doodle designs for hand applique.  I always like to stay original and create my own patterns. This little dog character cushion cover was created at the same time as  Cushion Covers – ‘Dennis the Dog’ – Handmade, Designed Patchwork and Quilted Cushion Cover . Whilst some of the patchwork cottons are the same the two are still quite different and definitely unique.  Once ‘Dillon’ had been hand stitched to the centre panel, coordinating border strips were added, the whole front panel was then hand quilted and matching old buttons added for decoration. Another characterful feature cushion cover!

Cushion Covers – ‘Dennis the Dog’ – Handmade, Designed Patchwork and Quilted Cushion Cover

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Applique design, Buttons on patchwork, Colourful buttons for decoration, Colourful handmade dog design cushion cover, Coordinating colours in patchwork, Creative crafting, Cute dog design cushion cover, Dennis the dog design, Donald the dog design, Feature dog cushion cover, Handmade cushion cover, Handmade dog cushion cover, Handmade Patchwork and applique, Patchwork and quilting, Patchwork cottons, Recycling Old Buttons

‘Dennis the Dog’

Meet ‘ Dennis the Dog’ ! This is one of my designs for applique, I have used it before as posted in Handmade patchwork dog cushion cover though as you will see they are both totally different. Like my artwork I like to make things again but differently, so everything I do is always unique. You will notice ‘Dennis’ has been flipped over, which changes the design again from ‘Donald’ and a very different colour pallet. With the background of the light fabrics being a very pale green, then picking up the purple from the tiny flower printed cotton for the outer border. ‘Dennis’ was hand appliquéd onto the centre panel and then the whole cushion cover was hand quilted. Old buttons were sewn on for eyes and colourful finishing touches. I think ‘Dennis’ is just as cute as ‘Donald’ – But then I suppose I am bias!

Cushion Cover – Handmade Patchwork and Quilted Cushion Cover

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Buttons with patchwork, Colourful handmade cushion covers, Cotton patchwork fabrics, Creative crafting, Handmade cushion covers, Handmade feature cushion covers, Handmade patchwork cushions, Patchwork and quilting by hand, Recycling Old Buttons

Taking my fabric challenge to item number three! Cushion Cover

As you can see its another handmade patchwork and quilted cushion cover, though now the fabric is getting quite diminished after the two shopping bags. The colours I chose were inspired slightly by the new range of colourful illustrations I am working on, and I must admit the outer border cotton is so soft and velvety I rushed back to the store to purchase the last remaining small piece. Even if I never use it in the future, I can always give it a quick stroke! Continuing too, with the flower button theme,  in order to recycle old buttons.

Personalised – Handmade designed and quilted Cushion cover

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Children's cushion covers, Children's gift ideas, Children's soft furnishings, Colourful cushion cover design, Creative crafting, Farm scene cushion cover, Felt applique design, Hand applique, Handmade and designed patchwork, Handmade feature cushion cover, Handmade patchwork cushion cover, Handmade soft furnishings, Original creative patchwork, Patchwork and quilting by hand, Personalised handmade gifts, Recycling Old Buttons, Unique gifts handmade

Personalised for a christening gift

This little cushion cover has been made and personalised as a gift for an upcoming Christening present. Not only is it already unique, a simple handmade gift can be made ever more so by adding the date of birth and names to the item by hand embroidery. The design is one of my own, which I have reused for this particular gift,  though all the fabrics are different from ones used in the past, therefore no two are ever the same. The little tractor, scarecrow, sun and the crows are all hand cut from felt then hand appliquéd to the centre patchwork panel over the farm and field scene. The whole cushion cover was hand quilted in the ditches to add texture to the fields and I added little flying birds by stitching simple lines.  Recycling old buttons was a finishing touch for the scarecrows jacket, tractor and trailer wheels!