APPLIQUE BIRD

   A little bit of a change with this design, I have done some sewing for a change. The challenge for this month at CLARITYSTAMPS  is   Anything but a Card.  I love lots of different crafts, have to try most things and over the years have done quite a bit of sewing, so thought I would use those skills for this challenge.  I decided to do some hand applique on a canvas bag, at least I will have a nice colourful bag for my shopping.  I have chosen two stencils for the design---- The Filligraphy Flower and The Birds on a Branch which was a design club one. 

      
                                                                  

 Birds on a Branch

Filligraphy Flower

                                                                            

                                                             

      I drew round the flower stencil in pencil onto the canvas bag just to be able to get the position right. Then cut all the pieces out of cotton fabric backed with some iron on interfacing to stop it fraying. I hand sewed them in place using a buttonhole stitch. 

                                                                                                     

 

           I mixed up the fabric designs a little to add some interest, also stitched a few seed beads in place at the base of the flower.   I hand stitched the stem, bit too fiddly to applique.

   The bird has a small piece of Angelina fibres for the breast and beads again to give the impression of markings. The other features were added with chain stitch and a bead for his eye. I extended the branch across the width of the bag.

Finished Design on Bag

     Well certainly very different to making a card but really shows how versatile these stencils can be. It has made me look at some of the others I have and I suspect there might be a few appliqued cushions appearing in our house. I bought some linen fabric ready when I was at the NEC this week. Hope you all like this and maybe it will give you some ideas of other ways to use these stencils and stamps. 

MONOCHROME CAKE

      Goodness, three days in a row I have managed to blog. I shall never keep this going but there does seem to be a lot happening at the moment. Mainly our youngest daughter's 40th Birthday which I keep reminding her of. Her actual Birthday was last week but we are having a family meal a little later today. Her lovely husband has arranged this but I have made her another cake to be brought to the table at the restaurant.  I know how to embarrass her. I have been kind and not actually put her age on this cake but thought I would share a couple of pictures with you all. 

       Quite a nice easy design, she recently made herself a cushion with flowers on it similar to these so I thought they would be topical. Hope you like it and I hope family do when we cut it.  Bye for now, got to go and get my posh frock on.