Sewing & Quilting

Dallas Quilt Show-Log Cabin Odyssey

The Dallas Quilt Show starts today. Woohoo. And not a moment to soon because I need my sewing scissors sharpened!

More Fabric Flower Embellishments

I’m a huge fan of the sewing magazine, Threads, and I think flower embellishments are definitely a trend right now. Just a few days ago, I posted about flower/rose  fabric embellishments (necklace or pin) here. Now, you have to check out this circular ribbon flower tutorial by Kenneth King. The tutorial is really easy to follow because of the fabulous pictures. He has an awesome idea to use this technique as a ruffle or a cuff.

P.S. Anyone created any fabric flower embellishments lately? Please do share!

Shibori Flowers and Rolled Fabric Roses

The lost Shibori Flower Pin

Last year at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, Sharrie of Needles Zing and I stumbled across the most amazing shibori ribbon (like tie-dye technique but the fabric is pole wrapped) by Shibori Girl Silk Studios. That evening, I was so excited to create a shibori flower pin to wear the next day that I stayed up way too late but it was oh so worth it. Yes, I know the picture is minuscule but it is the only one I have!

Chinese Indigo Dyed Cloth Exhibition

Unfortunately, while perusing the Indigo exhibition my white boa feathers decided the pin was competition and ditched it!! You got to watch out for those boa feathers I’m tellin’ ya. ;-0

While I did NOT shed tears as I searched frantically for my handmade treasure, I did have to go back and restock my supply of shibori ribbon because I really was that attached to having a flower pin! When I shared my story with Shibori Girl, she was kind enough to throw in extra ribbon (even though it wasn’t her fault).  Thank you, Shibori Girl!! Thanks to her generosity and the power of  Mastercard, I am proud to show off my shibori ribbon stash. Isn’t it pretty!

Shibori Silk Ribbon

I really did mean to come back to the big D and make myself another one pronto but… have you ever purchased supplies, stashed them , and oh like 6 months later (or longer) get inspired to get creative? Do I see some raised hands in cyber world? Tell me I’m not alone! This would probably still be a UFO (aka unfinished object) if I were not inspired by blog posts by Trish of Two Peas in a Pod Designs and Bridget Baxter of Everyday Chaos.

Trish Presson of Two Peas in a Pod Designs

Two Peas in a Pod Designs-rolled fabric rose necklace

Are you having a little fabric necklace envy yet? Want to make your own rolled fabric roses to create a pin, necklace, etc…….

Everyday Chaos by Bridget Baxter

Go ahead and visit Bridget Baxter of Everyday Chaos because she has a fabulous tutorial on making tattered fabric roses here. Look at the color & texture. Yum!

Bridget Baxter-tutorial for tattered fabric roses

After seeing those rolled fabric roses, I was going through fabric flower envy myself. Then I remembered my stash of cool shibori silk ribbon and I can make my own! I went with red-black & lime green with single flower a shiny czech glass button for the center.

Randi's Red/Black/Lime Green Shibori Flower Pin

You can purchase a kit from Shibori Girl Silk Studios. You will still need a few extras to complete your project. Shibori Girl recommends using a #10 milliners needle with invisible nylon thread. I used silk thread because I find it easier to work with than the nylon thread. Shibori Girl has a video tutorial for making these silk ribbon flowers.

I wish I had purchased more rhinestone buttons(the pictures below do NOT do these buttons justice) from Tom & Cheryl Orr’s booth, Things Past and Present, for future projects (like oh say, Mother’s Day). They had vintage quilts, fabrics, estate jewelry, buttons and other embellishments that were just fabulous.

Supplies for Rolled Fabric Roses

They do NOT have a website because of the huge stock of “one of a kind” items! Cheryl was kind enough to share her upcoming shows :

……and gave me permission to share her e-mail address (tcorr7 (at) aol (dot) com ) if you are looking for something in particular!

Thanks to Trish and Bridget who unwittingly inspired me to get creative and dig out my shibori silk stash!  I would love to see what you make if you’ve been inspired (or if you’ve already created something similar). Just leave a comment don’t be shy!

*** Dharma Trading Co. has fabulous information about Ikat and Shibori techniques. Shibori Girl Studios uses the Arashi Shibori technique (aka pole wrapping). If you want to learn the basics and start creating your own vibrant shibori cloth, Shibori Designs & Techniques by Mandy Southan is a great resource.