Applique on ...

Gunny sack /burlap sack/jute

My friend and I were at a fair traded organic coffee shop the other day, and we saw that the empty sacks are on sale for $2. We both purchased sacks wanting to try some form of creative work on it. I did a few  sketches and opted to try out this applique for a window panel.


I separated the sack into two by trimming the off the edges, and used one piece to create this.



blanket stitches all over......




some work with ribbon, and felt ...

summer garden

I did put the backing and the border with some blueish grey material and sewed a casing for the rod. This is my experimental project and I do like the way it turned out.  I think I will be going to the coffee shop to buy a couple of more sacks :)

And, as for this one, I will be giving away as a gift. 

xxx,
Gaia 

Darning - one picture at a time - 1

Inspiration for these projects were taken from the Stitch Magazine.
If you go here http://www.embroiderersguild.com/stitch/projects/darning/index.html you read about it.

I do like this magazine a lot, it carries various interesting projects that one can try.
This is the tutorial piece.
tutorial work 

I liked the technique,  the texture and the pattern it created. So, I tried the following as well;

cuppa tea -  I feel that in certain areas I used more tension on the thread.







lonely tree - I am pleased with all the colours that I chose to darn this little tree. The problem I came across  on this one was, that I sketched the drawing  too closer to edge of the material and I could not get my embroidery frame to fit perfectly. Finally, I took it out and did the darning. [although I could have started another]





There's room for lots of improvement. I also,could not get the finishing as smoothly as I had it in my mind.


I am thinking of putting them in frames.
There's more coming...I have too many ideas but not enough time. 

xxx,
Gaia

A Saree Quilt

Saree - six yards of cloth draped around the body in various styles are worn by many woman from the south asian region. They come in various textures, patterns, and all and more colours one can imagine.
My grand mother who's in her 90's still wears saree everyday at home. My mother wears mostly when she goes to the city or on special occasions such as weddings etc. Many women in my family wear it in a style known as Kandyan [also known as osariya]. Cotton sarees are very common for daily wear. Saree is usually worn with a jacket and a slip.

If you go http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sari here you can read and see some pictures of various styles of draping.


The quilt I made is out saree borders from my mother's cotton sarees. My mother finds that whole six yards a little too much for her as she is petite. So she would cut off some of the border, and sew it for her liking. When I visited her, she gave me a whole pile of pretty and colourful cut-offs and I thought I would try quilt.


I cut them in larger squares and pieced them. I used fine cotton batting and a soft calico for backing. I did patterns on the printed material using chain stitch [mostly], running stitch and some blanket stitch. In places where it was plain and needed more filling in I used paisley patterns. [one above]






It took about an year for me to complete the quilt as it is quite large; fits a queen size bed. I am happy with the final result. And, every time I took at it,  it brings me a warm feeling of the tropics.


Thank you for taking time to stop by,


xxx,
Gaia

Monday...

Some more of my water color work. I really enjoyed painting Golden Girls and I love Lucy.  I have watched both series so many times. Gol d e...

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