All You Need is Love

Earlier this week I sent prayer flags to my two partners in the Prayer Flag Swap Round 2  on Craftster
(which I just happen to be coorganizing, with my friend Susan). One flag reached its destination yesterday, so I now can reveal it to the world!

My partner, StickerChic87, loves the Beatles, and one of the phrases she likes is "All you need is love", from one of their songs.  She also loves images of houses, so I used both of those to make her flag.

I left all the edges raw, and cut the fabrics free-hand, so everything has a "wonky" look.  I think the secret to keeping a project like this from looking poorly-made is to include an element that is carefully crafted.  In this case, it is the top section.  I made the word "love" by setting cardboard letters on white fabric, and then spraying the fabric with Tulip Fabric Spray Paint. After removing the cardboard letters and letting the paint dry, I stitched around the letters with white embroidery thread, and added embroidered seed stitches (using a rainbow thread) all over the red area. Then I machine-stitched it to the flag.

I find prayer flags to be enjoyable and satisfying to make, because they come together rather quickly and easily for me. Since they are intended to be ephemeral (one way to use them is to display them outside and let them gradually deteriorate, thus releasing the prayer into the world), exquisite craftmanship is neither required nor expected.

StickerChic87 says she loves her flag and that it was just what she was hoping for--which is exactly what I was hoping to hear!

Christmas!

Wishing you a

happy, holy, blessed,

joyful, peaceful, wonderful

Christmas!

Five Tiny Dresses and a New Blog

Now that the year is drawing to a close, and I have finished my 365 Sewn Hearts, several people have asked me, "What's next?"  I've been thinking and rethinking that; and the answer is...

 a new blog! 

 It will not be in the "365" format; at first I thought would do that again, but then I decided to be kind to myself and not add that pressure to my life!  Instead, this new blog will focus on my new love, Blythe dolls.  I will be able to ramble on about them in a separate place, so I don't bore my non-dolly readers--that's good for me and for you!  I expect to post there once or twice a week, while continuing to post here about more general sewing, crafts and art.  Blythes will still show up here occasionally, when I have made something for my dolls that fits the context of this blog...like sewing these dolly dresses, for example!

First, I proudly admit that my dolly family has grown to five.  I wanted them all to have a Christmas outfit, so using the pattern for the party dress at the Blythe site, Puchi Collective  I whipped out these five tiny dresses. My stash of Christmas fabrics is rather huge, so it wasn't hard to find some small-scale designs for this project. I decided to add a detail of some sort to each waist and hem...that was where things got a little tricky, because I didn't want to repeat any of the trims or ribbons. I've recently discovered a couple of shops on Etsy that specialize in extra-small notions which are perfect for doll clothes, so I will be doing more shopping there in the future!

Now, getting back to the new blog...it's called Blythe Happy. I invite you to take a look--I've started blogging there already.  If you aren't interested in dolls, you still might find something fun--for example, there are more pictures there from my walk through Colonial Williamsburg...I brought one of the Blythes with me and took pictures with her there, too.

 If by some chance I manage to "convert" a reader to Blythe--oh happy day!  I want to hear from you!

Christmas in Williamsburg

It's been such a warm and lovely December here in Virginia that I decided to go down to the part of town known as Colonial Williamsburg to see the decorations. All the buildings there have been restored to how they might have looked in the 1700's, and you can take tours inside some of them.

The Christmas decorations are understated compared to our bright and shiny modern displays; everything here is made of natural elements.

Almost every building has a wreath (or three)...

This double wreath is really unusual.

The wreath below caught my eye because it is wrapped with strips of fabrics.

This next one is so charming, with the wooden spoons, cookies and cookie cutters!

Even the signs are decorated (the center of this one is a cluster of pomegranates.)

After walking all over CW (as we locals call it), I felt like this squirrel, so I went home to rest for a while!

Bunnies!

I've started "releasing" the bunnies I made last week.  While mailing Christmas presents, I left these two at the Post Office:

The next day I went to the library, and two more bunnies hopped into obvious hiding places.  This first one is in the "pet" section (even though there weren't many books on rabbits!)

And this little bunny is hiding on the top floor, on a seldom-used computer desk.

I REALLY hope they will be found by someone who will love them!  If you want to be a part of The Giving Bunny Project, just hop, skip or jump over to Urban Threads to get the bunny pattern, directions, and printable tags.

Winner!

Because I'm short on time today, I used the reliable Random Number Generator to choose the winner of December's Surprise Giveaway--it's not nearly as exciting as watching a cat choose the winner, but it sure is fast!

There were 32 comments, and the winner is number 31...

****Linny****

Congratulations, Linny, I have just sent you an e-mail.  This purse will be in your mailbox soon!

Thank you to all of you who read my blog and left comments, and an especially BIG thanks to all who voted for The Giving Heart in the charity Christmas tree contest.  I will be sure to announce it here if they win!

Surprise! It's Giveaway Time! (Now Closed)

Giving stuff away is fun, that's why I'm happy to announce December's givewawy!

You might remember this bag from when I posted it this summer; I love the fabric so much I had to show you the bag right after I made it. I actually made two of them; I am using one right now, and the other one will go to one of you!!

This purse is the smaller size that I make, but it is big enough to hold a large wallet and a big pouch full of whatever you need to carry!

Dimensions:

9" tall

12" wide at the top

8.5" wide at the bottom

4" deep

12.5" drop to the straps

To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment below.  

If you happen to be one of the FABULOUS people who voted for The Giving Heart's charity Christmas tree--THANK YOU--please leave a second comment below, for a second chance to win. (If you haven't voted yet, you still can; click HERE to go to the voting page; scroll down and click the box next to "The Giving Heart".  Then come back here and leave a second comment.)

If you sent handmade hearts to The Giving Heart--Kay in England and Pam in Illinois are the two that I know of--please leave a third comment for yet another entry in this giveaway.

If you are not registered with Blogger (your comment will show up as "anonymous"), please include your email address so I can contact you if you win.  The giveaway will close at 9 a.m. EST on Saturday, Dec. 15th (three days from now).  I will announce the winner here on this blog shortly thereafter.

Good luck, and thanks for visiting my blog!