Raven brooch

I finally got the finishing touches done..

This is actually a fairly large piece.. almost 6 inches from top of head to tip of tail...

I needed to order larger pin findings as well as sequins for the trim along the edges before I could finish it.. 

 back to the beginning.. 

I have been wanting to do a raven applique for some time now

 however it is going to be large as it will have outstretched wings .. planning on putting it on a bag/purse so about 10 inches wide..

I wasn't sure what medium I wanted to use... so many ideas floating around in my head.. Pinterest doesn't help limit the choices one little bit by the way.. 

Should I stick with beads.. do just fabric layered with yarn embellishments,

 or should I try sequins... 

or a mix of all...

before I really could decide I wanted to see what each style would look like and the amount of work involved in each.. the sequins are the only ones left to see what would look like as I haven't played with them much..

so I decided to do a practice piece.. 

I started with two layers of tulle netting in an embroidery loom..

 I didn't want to use my normal beading foundation Pellon 70, as I was fairly sure the background would show through in some areas and didn't want to bother painting it.. during the summer when I can easily air out the smell that would be easy enough.. with below freezing temps not happening..

 so I went with a regular piece of felt although it was on a thicker side it was definitely not going to be enough.. I was careful about stitching as to not overtask the felt.. going around the tulle strands to add strength to them..

 

For the image I checked a few sites that offer free cut outs.. didn't find what I wanted..

I ended up kind of piecing together some of my favorite parts, but I wasn't happy with the feet

 throughout the piece I changed the shape as I added to it fine tuning to what I wanted, my drawing skills are very limited..

 I actually removed the foot and reattached it in a placement that I liked better ..  but still needed adjustment as I went along 

I try to keep waste to a minimum so I use every bit of space I can normally.. I realized that it would be a real test of patience.. something of which I normally do not possess 

especially with my crafting so I limited how many pieces I put on the loom.. 

I could have easily added a couple of smaller pieces but it was really testing my limits as it was LOL

I wanted a higher textured look, I do like some very structured pieces but not for this one.. so I went with uneven beads again .. 

 

Around here we don't have many local choices in crafting supplies.. 

Our only locally owned bead shop doesn't carry truly uneven beads, they do have a really nice selection of Czech beads so you can find a couple of uneven ones, at least that's what I think they are.. they self package them so not 100% sure, never stopped to ask as I am very happy with them no matter where they are from plus it's a dangerous place for me to go I get lost in there I keep forgetting to ask lol .. beautiful shop so many gorgeous beads in such a tiny area..

 

Our JoAnn's is on the small side, the beading section is limited as well as the sequins.. still one of my favorite places to shop..

Walmart has really cut back on crafting supplies over the last few years but did have the felt I wanted..

 

At hobby lobby they do have a reasonable selection of beads.. they have large containers of uneven seed beads at a good price as well as sequins in black with multiple sizes..

I forgot to take a photo of the sequins before opening the package.. so this is a screen shot of them off of their web page.. really a good deal, too bad they only have one color in the multi-sized packages however it did work out for me this time..

 I did use all three sizes plus another size I got from JoAnn's 

Backside after finally getting it off of the embroidery loom,

 Side note.... I had made a soft "fabric" toy using small safety eyes for a give away but my puppy desperately needed to have it... so I removed the eye and replaced it with a small amount of embroidery floss..

 I saved the eyes.. had no clue what I was going to use it for, as once it was removed it was no longer going to be a safety eye.. in the sense that it wasn't ever going to hold as tight again.. at least not without glue.. 

I decided that it would be a perfect eye for this raven as it wasn't going to be a toy possibly given to a child so no worries.. 

I had used a thinner beading material so adding extra backing to hide the back of the safety eye with the now trimmed off post wouldn't make it too thick..

I still wasn't happy with the feet..... This is after replacement 

So when I added the center layer of felt I adjusted them a bit more while gluing leaving the back uncut.. 

I did add extra backing behind the eye after that as well 

 

to glue I used mod podge matte at this stage.. I wanted the extra stiffness it adds especially with the thinner beading material used.. it is still slightly flexible but a nice firmness

I went with a vinyl backing that is on the thinner side, it has a mesh backing for strength 

 

I'm pretty sure I got it at Walmart.. awhile back

  while gluing I realized the the backing was holding but not the vinyl in some places, so I finished it off with a white crafting glue where I could reach without damaging it

this time while it set I added a layer of tissue,  folded a few times for thickness,  between the vinyl and clips so it wouldn't damage it..

 I added some extra weight to the center hoping it would help it hold better

oh I had added the pin finding before the last stage of gluing.. didn't think to take a photo.. I stitched it down with the same Nymo I used for everything.. size D

 I added 3mm sequins along the edges.. 

I did this before the glue was completely set in the center as by then I was completely out of patience lol it did stick down a bit better than it shows in the photo but still not quite as much as i would have liked.. I knew I was going to stitch everything in place so didn't want to mess with it too much..

This was the first time I added sequins as the edge trim.. I normally use beads or floss 

These things are tiny and full of static ..they were sticking to everything.. even under my fingernails ugh..

 I'm sure the lack of moisture in the air with using an electric heater didn't help this process at all.. living in the desert the air is normally pretty dry

I'm sure or at least hoping they will be smoother it work with come summer while using our evaporative cooler..

Combine that with needing to be extra careful to not pierce the vinyl more than once per stitch, it was a very slow-moving process

 but the overall look was definitely worth the effort.. 

The before backing photo shows the difference in the feet compared to the final photo

Overall I learned a lot from this practice piece.. 

originally I was planning on using it as an applique on a bag.. so I didn't want to add hard material for the feet 

however next time I make a brooch I will definitely give that a try.. as soon as I figure out how that's done LOL 

It definitely took more materials then originally planned so that's a good thing to know before starting a even bigger piece..

Llama brooch

Just love that llamas are turning up everywhere... 

Saw some really cute embroidery ones on Pinterest close to what I was thinking of doing.. 

 

 

I wanted mine to be a bit more fluffy than any I saw..  

I had just harvested some sequins from some dollar store appliques 

click for post

I decided to use the foam to thicken my llama"s fur

 

                   I pieced them together using stick glue to hold in place.. on Pellon 70 interfacing 
 

I clipped them for a short time .. 

dries really fast  and doesn't get any gunk on the needles

 

 

I wanted a bit of the foam showing though, in a darker color on top then the lighter color under that for depth.. 

no foam on the hoofs or face..

 black size 11 seed beads for the hoofs.. stitched down with Nymo D 

 three strands of embroidery floss held together for the main body

,

 used a "rough" colonial knot, purposely made stitches uneven, not in a row, some over lapping others for more of an outgrown furry look  

 for the face I put a piece of  thinner white felt after darkening the material underneath it again for more depth..

 two strands of black embroidery floss for the details of the face.. 

The blanket has a thin bullion wire trim with crystal and glass seed beads.. not quite finished in this photo 

I made three small tassels using embroidery floss and attached them around the neck with crimp cover caps in between for beads...  because I didn't know I wanted to add them before attaching the tassels firmly down lol .. a couple smaller gold tone ones on the outsides, with two slightly larger sliver tone ones in the middle

For backing I went with a fairly thick piece of tan felt, after stitching on the pin fixture

glued down with a fair amount of matte mod podge... to add a bit of stiffness and act as an light adhesive

 

I use clips for the first hour or so, remove and let dry overnight

 trimmed after fully dry

The mod podge holds fairly well when dried but not well enough to count on ..

 I really like the stiffness it adds without adding any extra layers or trying to work everything through a stiffer base

 stitched around the outline catching both layers well, with seed beads and white Nymo size D to hold everything together 

Took awhile to get all the knots done but very happy with the layered effect and over all look

Sequin harvesting

Finally got around to removing the sequins from a few items I picked up at the dollar tree.. 

 

I love that they are a different color on the other side. got a red with green, red with gold and blue and sliver.. got quite a few sequins from each sock

Plus the felt back, satin front as well as a bit of furry white fabric 

 

I was going to use these as is at first but the fabric is so thin I decided to take them apart as well

 

Got more than I expected

The fabric was not worth saving.. the foam lining I actually was able to use for another brooch I wanted to try that will be showcased in my next post

hummingbird

 

Ever just have to make something.. without a clue how you're going to pull it off... Yeah that was this guy..

Middle of multiple other projects I needed to make a hummingbird.. 

I love hummingbirds.. we have a family that lives in our yucca tree in our front yard.. every year they hatch their babies and teach them in our yard and garden.. we plant sunflowers and other plants just for the birds and bees .. this area can be pretty harsh in the summer so a plant here or there can mean a lot.. 

Anyhow I didn't have a clue how I was going to make the beak sturdy enough to hold up..

 I knew I wanted it to be done in seed beads.. although I have since seen some cool ones done with embroidery floss and glue.. middle of winter isn't a good time to play with glue inside for me.. allergies are already going nuts without adding to it.. might try that with the next one I make using sequins..

After I finished the bead work on the beak I added a piece of jewelry wire .. folded with spirals on either end stitched it under the beak with the spirals on the back of the head and chest.. 

I continued with beading fastening down the rest of the wire as I went.. 

I haven't finished it off yet as I'm not sure what I want to do with it.. 

I just got some new pin and tack findings .. 

I guess we shall see how it plays out as I go along .. 

Pink Heart

A couple of days ago I bought a gnome with the intention of using some parts to make another gnome that was put together a bit more sturdy and gift worthy.. see link below... 

 upcycled dolloar store gnome post

I crocheted my gnome smaller than the original one without the bling, so I wanted to add a heart pin that was removable for a touch of sparkle.. gifting it to my mother who has started collecting pins I make on a bag ( I also made, pattern coming soon ) she loves gnomes and pins.. not so hot on pink though.. going to have to work something out with that .. 

This is the finished project

I actually remembered to take photos as I went along .. 

I wasn't sure what I wanted to do.. pretty much how I start all of my projects lol.. so I grabbed some supplies.. some didn't get used, others were added along the way

I took what was the front of the original gnomes hat.. after removing the flat sequins- those are for another project- cut out a rough outline.. wanted overlap on the front so it needed to be larger than the pellon 70 heart shape I had cutout for the beading base

I used regular sewing thread in a matching color to hand stitch it to the base, wrapping around the edges

Then trimmed off the extra

Added some of these cute gems I picked up from hobby lobby

Added some silver flower sequins with pink seed bead center along with a strip of the mesh ribbon with silver edges.. I was thinking of put some brushed yarn for interest under it but was so close in color it faded into the backing..  went with a bullion stitch rose in multi pink and white colors embroidery floss instead.. 

Added a few pink sequins along the other top side.. 

After stitching down the pin fixture.. at a slight angle.. I glued a small piece of the felt fabric that was the back of the original gnomes hat, it is so thin it is see through and areas but worked perfectly to level off the back making it smooth with the folded over front fabric, I like this dry thoroughly before going on a second peace to cover the entire back.

I used my live in place along the edges for just a few minutes I wanted to guarantee a secure seal bit didn't want to leave an permanent indication in the fabric..

After the glue dried I did a mattress stitch all the way around the edge using a metallic pink embroidery floss

 

Yarn Scraps

 I make a lot of multi colored hats and scarfs during the holiday selling season leaving me with lots of smaller amounts of yarn .. along with being gifted a lot of leftover yarn from family and friends.. 

 

I put them aside until I pretty much have to do something with them lol 

I do use up whatever I can when I can, still however manage to end up with a fairly good sized amount of balls of varying weights and lengths.. I keep them sorted by weight or length

I save the tail ends also

 

and trims after making pom poms or weaving in ends

 

I've shared a few of the ways I use them over the years,..

when making my multi colored hats I add the tails to the pom poms or make small pom poms for other projects

 

small pom-poms can be used in many ways but these guys are one of my favorite ways 

           scrap yarn pom pom critter 

Used to get critters something like this in gumball machines when I was a kid.. so darn cute

I also use small and tiny scraps in some of my sewing and other projects to add texture, interest, high lights ot details.. like this haunted house brooch. I added green yarn for bushes and brushed out white yarn for a hazy cloudy look.. 

as well as stuffing small projects of course and as hair for small dolls or random ties for things like cords.

 I have been using so many of the two inches or less ones,  I haven't added much to my ball of knotted yarn ends..  it is only few inches thicker than the photo 

 

I made a really fun long tail hat with one of my knotted balls of longer lengths .. going to give that another try soon, working on writing the pattern.. 

I really don't have many cotton left overs either as I have been using them to make scrap cloths so often.. just a simple single crochet or knit stitch as wide and long as needed..

while looking for the photo of the knotted yarn ball I was reminded of this can cover.. I used it for ages .. the ends added so much thickness to it not only did it keep drinks cold longer but it soaked up the condensation from the can better.. 

Super simple knit pattern

inside-out-scrap-yarn-can-cover

So I have several projects in the works that are geared towards using up my scrap yarn right now... 

I am reminding myself to keep photographing the steps as I go.. 

I tend to start strong until I get caught up with the actual crafting.. realize a few steps later how many I skipped.. this is why I haven't posted any of them yet.. ugh photography is not my strong suit lol 

My scrap bag will be a multi posting as I'm planning on doing some light applique work on it..   the body of the bag is similar to this one I made my mother last year.  

 

She has been adding many of the brooches I have made for her to it .. I will have to try a catch a current photo if possible..

 

I just finished another hdc scrap scarf that is really a great scrap yarn project.. need to take a few photos of it finished .. for that posting.. 

 as it's really not my strong suit my son takes most of the finished project photos when time allows.. 

 this one was made using the same technique.. see why he takes the photos...

  

I love that scrap yarn projects are all one of a kind items.. 

The next few months are going to have a lot of fun simple ways to use up scraps of different sizes .. stay tuned