Tapestry Pillows and a few birds

 Yesterday I riffled through my cupboard and decided it was time to sew up these little beauties. The 3 tapestries have been hiding for some years, purchased in an op shop and tossed aside for another day. Well finally that day has come. I bought them attached by staples to a piece of cardboard with the barest of margins to spare for sewing. Out comes the overlocker to trim up the very frayed edges and then a selection of four cream prints for a patchworked border. The backing is linen with only a 13cm zip...big enough to get a hand through to stuff the cushion with fibre fill.  I then proceeded to blanket stitch around the edge...many hours later a crochet border began. I love the coral pink colour of the cotton. A finish of all three just before the sun hides it head for another day. The light always appears strong and throws tall shadows when the sun begins to hang his hat up for the evening.

Winter has been kind to the weeds, they make a magnificent display on the hillside

Cushions for sale in shop

Tapestry Bird Pillow

Psst...It's just another pillow!

Actually it took me a long time to stitch those thousands of tiny stitches.
It makes me appreciate the work that some people put into their craft and then you see it being sold off at miniscule prices (hardly covering the cost of materials and "they" the buyer complain about the price. Or better yet I have lots of friends that think that I can just whip something up for them in my free time...not that I mind making things for friends..it's just the assumption that I will do it or have nothing better to do.
I sound like an old bag...miserable. But not really because what I say is true.

I think the true value of making is the pleasure that I get from making something and although the process may be tedious its the actual finishing a project that gives me satisfaction.I did that. I took the time to make decisions about what I wanted the finished product to look like and spent the time to make it.

It drives me crazy when I hear I could never do that! What they mean to say is I cant be bothered, I have no desire or inclination to pursue the process of making something myself. Just to darn lazy to learn. The only thing that is stopping a person from doing something is themselves..their drive..their desire to succeed. You can have the smallest amount of talent but those with the desire to succeed will find a way to make things happen..as with any athlete they may have some natural talent but they will never become the best without putting in repeated effort , that 110% will get you across the finish line.

Wow all that from finishing a pillow.

Wishing you all every success in your endeavours.. a can do attitude will get you there!

The negative side of things..actually I just set my camera to a negative setting. I was thinking this pillow would look good with an orange back ground and it does!

Thrifted

Some time ago I picked this little tapestry up at a op shop. The tapestry had the basic bones of the pattern already needled on the clothe. I originally thought the tapestry was in long stitch and proceeded to do the birds in this manner. Not long into the work the penny dropped and I realised that these were the base to give the stitches a full look and not part of a long stitch tapestry. Not one to like pulling things out I continued on my merry way and completed the birds and then place the tapestry at the back of my cupboard for another time.. far, far away.

You know the trouble with looking into other peoples lives and blogs is  that you see some wonderful things being made, and me being the type of person I am, want to do them all! A lady of many passions and little time.
Any way new friends are great for inspiration! I have recently been visiting Brigitte Peetermans at Home is where the dachshund is  and admiring her brightly coloured display of needled cushions on her couch. 
Just sumptuous and delicious colour, perfect to give anyone a lift in spirits as soon as they walk in the door. Have  a look at this post for cushion delight, one of the many colourful and visual posts..

Anyway Brigitte's needled cushions of many gay colours have impelled me to drag out this tapestry and inject some colour into the background. The tapestry kit only came with the threads for the picture and on finding this bright thread, also in an op shop, I proceeded to enliven my cushion. 

I LoOOVe this blue. 

Only problem is that it is acrylic - does that really matter? maybe my cushion wont last as long but I will enjoy its brilliance. So only another 100 hours or so until I finish it...Why is tapestry so slow! I know why I don't do it very often and I also have trouble seeing the variation in thread colour and where the stitch should go..so this cushion will not be perfect but I will love that colour!

A little needlework done by one of the ladies at craft whom is recently deceased and her goods were gifted on to raise funds for The Cancer Research Foundation - I thought I might use this panel in a bag.

Also found thrifting is this delightful pattern. thought I would whip up a print of Kims Flower in pinks to make the dress the pattern of the sleeveless dress in the middle

And also found - a cute little burro/ donkey with a barrel cart to hold tooth picks

Hexagon Christmas Stocking

cute raccoon tapestry

I've had an all out mad 3 days of sewing and crafting. i just couldn't help myself.,sometimes you get that urge to sew and sew. ..and that is just what I have done.
I grabbed my stack of gifted hand printed fabric from Hand Printed Fabric Swap III and finally utilised some of the delicious colours and prints given to me. I particularly liked the colouring of Melanie Cooks leaf print in soft yellows and greens, they have a light and airy feel about them and lend to the festive feel of the stocking. Also in the mix is a selection of my own printed fabrics the blues from my thistle print and pomegranates in soft pinks.
Then throw in some doilies ( also hand dyed), cross stitch, hand stitching and tapestry oddments. Cut out a heap of hexis - sew all afternoon and you get a super large stocking !
I must say my back is aching from bending over but I am happy with the result .