Star Wars Coasters

Hello, I had in mind today to make a little coaster from my pinterest board with lots of little hearts, however I have no need of another but with the boys  working from home I thought I would make coasters for them with a star wars theme.  Once again this is a recycling project using up all the oddments, I have used thick fleece scraps for the backs and two layers of canvas so hopefully that will stop the heat on tables.

I just searched images and copied off the ones I wanted, there will also be a little yoda one for my husband but that one is not finished yet.

I think Darth Vada looks a little surprised I did his eyes a bit big, sad thing is he gets covered by a cup but it's the thought right?

A storm trouper ? I think... well my sons recognised who they were supposed to be.

I also made a pair of boxer shorts for my son this morning and I do not have a photo as he decided to wear them and said they are the perfect fit.  I have since ordered more thick elastic and cotton jersey to make more.

Now none of these are perfect they are made quickly for fun and to be used, there are things to perfect like clothes and special home furnishings and there are fun makes to try ideas out and that is just what these are.  I love to make use of the last bits of fabric and little projects like these are spot on for that. If you have little ones who like a particular theme at the moment why not google some images and use up some scraps for their own personal little coasters for bedrooms.  My boys are grown but they have lots of drinks in their rooms so I know these will get used.

Last night I checked out a book for my tablet it is The Temple House Vanishing, I am already a third of the way through and enjoying it.  It did take me a while to find a screen I like as the glare from it last night was too bright, you can't beat a paper book I think but this enables me to continue using the library. It also means I can read in bed without the light so as not to disturb my husband when he goes to sleep first. 

Bye for now. 

Something New

I have had this little embroidery hoop sitting around for a while and had been saving it until inspiration struck but you know how that goes and if you don't do something you don't do anything so I had a go. Having looked at my saved ideas I felt even more intimidated by how brilliant they all are so decided to jump in and have a try.  The words are from a journaling book and the other bits I just put together from seeing different designs, it is rustic and I know something I need to work on but I did find it enjoyable so I will be doing more.  This one will be added to and improved over the coming week.

I couldn't see my pencil marks clearly so the writing could have been better, the 'i' has been unpicked and re-joined correctly as it was only when I looked at this image that I saw I had weirdly joined it at the top!  I must have been distracted when I did that. I think it also needs some purple in there but that would have to be done in regular cotton.
The backing is just some scrap drill fabric, my needle was also just a yarn needle quite thick and hard to push through this fabric, I was just basically using what I had so please forgive my crude attempt I do aim to improve.

Little designs could be nice to put on other textiles like bag and cushions I know a lot of people do just leave them in the hoop to hang.  When I have a bit more experience I will try one in a bag panel and see how that turns out.

We have been waking vey early here due to the light mornings and I am very happy they are finally here. It is very quiet however due to fewer cars on the road and that would be a nice thing if not for it being a reminder of why that is the moment you wake up.

Yesterday I started reading The Scarlet Letter, now I have a feeling I read this when I was young as I have a vague recollection of the story but no harm in reading it again.  My reading is always a bit random, something modern, something classical then a non fiction book.  It doesn't work for me to stick with the same genre all the time, I generally walk in the library with no idea what I would like.

Well keep busy everyone I will be looking for my next make for tomorrow.

Sewing Birds

Day one of my little pinterest challenge for myself and I chose to make a little bird.  This is another great way of using up tiny bits of fabric (or bigger pieces depending hoe big you want it) and also a nice little project that can be finished in front of the T.V for adding the bead eyes and wings.  I actually clicked on the link on pinterest but couldn't see the templates, maybe I wasn't looking hard enough, here is the link if you want to see the original here. So I just drew my own, it is quite a basic shape for a bird but if you need you can always google bird silhouettes and print one from there I expect.

I had fun going through the scrap bag to see which fabrics would look well together, I have a feeling there will be more of these popping up all over the house I think they may be quite addictive!  As an added bonus my mothers day plant proved to be just the setting for a picture and the colours go well too.

It is different fabric on each side, also the underbelly bit is also different.  I chose to do the wings in felt but if you are hand stitching the whole bird would work well in felt and then you wouldn't have to turn in the fiddly seams.

I couldn't put my hands on embroidery thread (I know another sort out is in order)  so I just used regular thread doubled up.  There is some somewhere I will have to find it for the next one.

For stuffing I cut up some little bits of scrap fleece, so all of the bits are recycled.  In the pinterest image these birds were hanging with thread from a twig and that looked cute, you could also put a keyring on them.  For now this one is sat beside my machine waiting for the rest of the flock.
Here are the shapes that I drew and cut out but I decided not to use tail feather piece it just didn't add anything, maybe on a bigger bird it would work.

The piece for under the belly didn't need to be that long either or as wide it sort of evolved as I stitched it.

On another note this last few evenings we have started watching My Brilliant Friend on Now T.V it is based on the book by Elena Ferrante and I am really enjoying it, so if you like watching drama with subtitles (it is in Italian) this may be for you.  It follows the friendship of two girls and I have to say the actors both play excellent parts.  If you would rather read the book it is available from the library in digital format that I mentioned yesterday, just add rbdigital then log into your library account.  I may read it after I have watched it, my husband doesn't get it when I do that but sometimes it is good to compare.

Back soon, take care.