Embroidered pouch

Linen burlap pouch with silk lining and perle cotton embroidery, all hand stitched.

Pin and stitch basting

It will have a button closure with a braided cord.

Anchoring the upper flap lining with stitching

The button goes on the right

If you want to see more everyday photos of what I am doing, I post frequently on Instagram @journalofathousandlives

 

Pouch in slow stitching - in progress

Fabric pouch; approximately 5in x 8in with pocket; embroidery and hand stitched patchwork

Basic patch layouts, silk, and cotton on a linen backing.

Back of the backing - here's where all the knots are

Edges are stitched to reduce fraying.

This is much of the embroidery so next comes the edge binding, lining, and construction of the pouch and closure.

If you want to see more everyday photos of what I am doing, I post frequently on Instagram @journalofathousandlives

 

Quilting with linen and silk thread

This is the first in a set of experimental placemats. I'm using linen remnants and figuring out all the technical aspects as I go along, using traditional hand stitching for the seams and for the quilting.

I am using a 3.5 x 3.5 in template to cut the base squares, then making 1/4 in seam allowances. I'm planning on doing 4 x 5 squares to get a nice placemat size.

Each block is lined with a very light cotton batting.

The blocks are sewn together with a tight whip stitch. Each block has a line of quilting  that goes around the block 1/4 in from the edge.

The edging is a bias strip. The medium weight linen and batting make a nice heavy mat.

 

Group Quilt 2020 - 2022

Community Quilt 2020

Insight Meditation Society Staff quilt

Gotta love a group quilt! Our quilt organizer, Rebecca Layton, began to develop this quilt in the spring of 2020, just as the COVID19 outbreak became obvious around the world.  Our organization hosts meditation retreats, so at that time we had to cease operations and the retreat center was in temporary suspension.  So Rebecca requested that we create a community art project.  She asked people to do a 12in. x 12 in. block and we had 24 blocks when all was said and done.

Most of the blocks were created from fabrics designed by Rebecca.  She has a business called Rekh and Datta that is a brand of clothing.  She works with artisans in India to produce wonderful block printed textiles. 

A team of three pulled together the blocks and created sashing to help make an integrated quilt top design.

Some blocks were more abstract and some blocks documented the pandemic and other happenings in the moment.  2020 was a year full of social and political upheaval, so there was a lot to think about!

Once the blocks were completed and assembled we held a few quilting bees.

Many of those who contributed to the quilt had never sewn before, so it was an opportunity to participate in a  community project in brand new way

A preview hanging in the Welcome Room of the center in January 2022.

The completed quilt in the conference room of the retreat center, spring 2022.

 

Mending a cashmere sweater

This beautiful red cashmere sweater is from days when I had moths, so they had a fairly substantial snack from the front of this beauty.  I've been contemplating how to mend it for years, and came across this velvet and also another cashmere sweater that I got in a clothing swap.  I think between the two acquired materials I shall be able to do either a patch/patches or some kind of reverse applique.  I want to use a good deal of embroidery too, in order to make the front of the sweater nice and splashy.

Linen Apron "ocean blue"

Cross-back Japanese style working apron, linen, hand stitched, about 50 in x 36in

2018

Using remnants, assembling three strips 50in x 13in to form the basic rectangle.

All stitching is running stitch.  The seams to piece together the stips are flat-felled so that it is neat on the back side.