Sunday 22 June 2014

Can I think of an interesting title? Nope.

At the Stitching and Knitting show at Harrogate last year, I bought quite a lot of strips of fabric panels.  I thought they would be ideal for baby books, or for cards.  Turns out I bought a lot more of them than I thought!  I frog-loving friends birthday prompted me into action.


I simply cut the panels out, layered them onto patterned paper and stitched with a wide zig-zag on my machine.  I then stuck them to square card blanks and decorated with brads and little gems.  


My mum made a load of Christmas cards one year like this.  Later on she was laughing at me for changing my sewing machine needle.  I asked why and she said she'd changed hers exactly once, that was when the existing one broke.  So she sews fabric and paper, all with the same needle... it's a wonder it stitches at all!



I've got quite a few panels like the Hot Chocolate one above but with different kinds of coffee.  I am intending to make them into little spill mats for inside my coffee machine.  That coffee machine really is a messy bugger, but I love it with my life!


Now I just need to make an effort to remember people's birthdays!







18 comments:

Melody said...

beautiful cards

Pam @Threading My Way said...

What a great way to make cards, Wendy. Pinning this. Wonder what secret your Mum has not changing needles.

Fiona said...

Great idea for the cards.... I would definitely change my needle too... and use an old one for the cardboard...
Hugz

Sarah in Stitches said...

These are so cute! :D

Shirlee Fassell said...

There adorable!

JoJo said...

What a cute idea! But I don't understand what you meant about using the same needle and 'it's a wonder it stitches at all'. Does using the needle through paper dull it somehow?

Sandra :) said...

That's a cute idea!

Rachel said...

That coffee machine gives you plenty of excuses for making things!

Una said...

I must have learned to sew with your Mum. I have NEVER changed my sewing machine needle and it is still going strong after about 30 years!

Alison said...

These are lovely, I have been meaning to try sewing card but never quite had the guts to do it - I really should... A x

Jane said...

What a great idea, and some lovely cards

margaret said...

these have worked so very well,

pennydog said...

It's good to have a stack of these on hand just in case :) I recognise some of those squares actually, I bought some of these on my very first fabric guild visit a couple of years ago for a baby quilt.

Sheryl said...

These are lovely Wendy.

Jillayne said...

Love your cards! What a brilliant use for panels Wendy... Brilliant.
Like you, I struggle to remember the dates. I've finally had to resort to using a large calendar to write it all down - now if I could just remember to look at the darn calendar!

Carrie P. said...

great idea!

Jo Ferguson said...

These are adorable. I love using brads to attach fabric/paper. You can find a lot of embellishments in the scrapbooking isle.

Ella and Nesta said...

What a great idea! Personal and original at the same time.