Needle Weaving a Purse Flap

Trying to get a jump on some fall projects, I wove some scrap yarns on a wooden frame.  Then fused interfacing to the back to help it hold together. 

I added fabric and piping to make this purse flap.  It has a magnetic closing under the flap.  Pretty interesting, but I thought it needed something else.

So I added a few buttons from my collection.  The bottom two are hand made (bird is plastic, right hand one is ceramic).  The top button is an extra that came with a sweater.

Pillows from a Rug

A customer brought me this gorgeous, embroidered wool rug and wanted 2 pillows made from it.  I cut it in half and picked the heavy canvas backing off.

The back has a really interesting texture.

She wanted removable inserts.  I sewed 2 stuffed pillow forms.  For the back of  the pillows, I used 2 pieces of muslin, overlapped, to form a zipper-free closure.

Here is the finished back.

The 2 finished pillows.  I love the colors!

Pets on Quilts Show

This is my entry for http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com 's Pets on Quilts Show!

Stripe, my son's rat likes hanging out on this scrappy yo-yo quilt.  I sewed it years ago.  Partly by hand, partly by machine- I couldn't seem to decide!

Here are Cloud and Stripe sharing secrets.

Stripe, up close on quilt I made inspired by a sunset. Those are applique clouds.

Not to be outdone by rats- Alice is posing on her favorite quilt.  It actually has calico cat fabric in it too!  I sewed this one using the instruction booklet in my shop http://catsongstitchery.etsy.com

Pets on Quilts Show

Be sure and visit http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/ and see the upcoming show of Pets on Quilts!  You can enter starting Aug.7.  I will be entering and I'll post it here.

Easy Gift for a Child- "Color Me Cat"

I have sewn this cat many times for gifts.  I include washable markers.  The child can then decorate it again and again, front and back.  Just throw in the washer and dryer and it is ready for a new look!

Color Me Cat is just 2 pieces of muslin, sewn right sides together, turn right sides out and stuff!

It is really that simple.  You could use any shape.

I have found that Crayola Washable Markers wash out the best.

For older kids, include a permanent marker and it becomes an autograph cat.

My son had fun doing the sample above.