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WIP Wednesday – Bird Fabric Panels

In last Wednesday’s Work In Progress (WIP) post I mentioned that I had the fabrics chosen and the zippers bought for two more sewing kits. The kits have been cut out and all the pieces placed in individual plastic zip bags ready for me to start sewing.

The Star Fruit Cushion would have been completed except that I got frustrated that it wasn’t stuffing as smoothly as I’d like and just when I got one side looking the way I wanted it, I’d see another side that needed smoothing out or a corner point that wasn’t as pointy as I thought it should be and on and on it went. This is where it sits now.

I’ve left it on the fold out leaf of the sewing cabinet to force me to finish it today before I start anything else.

Also from last week, I managed to complete the final embroidery panel for the stitch-a-long I’ll be posting about soon. I’ve been working on this off and on for months and it’s great to have those panels finished.

Now that my “Act of Faith” embroidery project is finished and all the embroidery for the stitch-a-long is finished, I need another project to work on in the evenings.

For quite a while now, I’ve been seeing some really cool examples of people using embroidery to embellish print fabrics and on a recent trip to the States, I saw the perfect fabric panel to try out this technique.

The panel is VW24Summer from Valori Wells’ line called Nest for Free Spirit Fabrics. Each panel consists of three different bird vignettes.

As I thought about the fabric, a picture grew in my mind of how I wanted it to look and I realized that not only was it embroidered but also hand quilted. So I’ve taken two of those vignettes and sandwiched and basted them.

Once I’ve completed both the embroidery and hand quilting, I plan to turn them into a tote bag.

Edited to add: To see what I actually turned them into, click here.

 

 

 

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20 Comments

  • Trackback: Super Mom – No Cape! » Blog Archive » Progress on the Bird Panels and Other Sewing Projects
  • Dee
    July 29, 2012 10:55 pm

    I use little zip top fabric bags more than zip lock bags as there have been times when my projects have stayed there for a while. Other times they get done in a moment. The other way that I contain my projects is small plastic boxes. I currently have two on the go. the boxes are small enough to drop into my tote andI am less likely to lose the bits as they hold them all for me in the strange places where I work on projects (the car waiting for kids seems to be a common one. )
    I would love to win your third panel – I love the bird panels and I think it would make a nice hanging for my daughter’s room. I would like to embellish it if my name comes up. thanks for the offer.

  • highland monkeys
    July 29, 2012 12:47 pm

    Wow, your star cushion is fab. I’ve never seen one like this before. I’m sure that you will get those corners the way you want before long.
    Those bird panels are so pretty, I hope I win!

  • Rosanne
    July 29, 2012 1:38 pm

    These are adorable! Looking forward to see how you embellish them…such a great idea!

  • kris
    July 29, 2012 11:49 am

    discover your website ,today,
    i love your machine too,
    it will be nice for cushions, love kris

  • Helen
    July 29, 2012 10:36 am

    ps Love your website!

  • Helen
    July 29, 2012 10:35 am

    i am such a bird lover that my heart just stops when I see something like these! I would love to be able to handquilt them! That will be perfect! Thanks for sharing. I may have to order and try my hand with machine quilting them. Thank you!

  • Celtic Thistle
    July 29, 2012 9:03 am

    I like your idea of hand quilting and embroidering the bird vignettes, it is such lovely fabric but will look stunning with your additions!

  • Mary
    July 26, 2012 11:03 pm

    I’ve been seeing lots of fabrics with embroidery too and love it. I haven’t embroidered in years, but after seeing {sew} Allegorical’s Summersville alphabet sampler (http://www.sewallegorical.com/2012/06/handmade-parade-im-so-behind.html), I’m hooked. Love your pin cushion too. Thanks for the chance to win that beautiful bird panel. (Can’t wait to see your tote finished!)

  • Bonnie Larson
    July 26, 2012 3:15 pm

    Gorgeous cushion. Love the panels. they are beautiful and i would love to take one off your hands…….

  • Tobie Peck
    July 26, 2012 9:29 am

    Those panels are adornable….can’t wait to see the tote….You are a sweetheart for ALL the information you post…I have learned quite a few things I had no ideal of doing…..Thank you SuperMom….

  • Nancy
    July 26, 2012 8:44 am

    Love that cushion! Using polyfil stuffing is an artform in and of itself. I have been wrestling a Tilda doll into submission for the better part of a week. Those birds are adorable!

  • Maria
    July 26, 2012 7:31 am

    You certainly have been working on some great projects. I really like your Star Fruit pincushion…

  • Karen Ocansey
    July 25, 2012 5:51 pm

    I LOVE your Starfruit pincushion. And those bird panels are amazing. I would LOVE to win one of those to work on. Maybe it would get me started with Embroidery to go with my quilting.

  • Robin (RsIslandCrafts)
    July 25, 2012 4:44 pm

    I like to have a variety of projects in ziploc bags too. Then I can just grab one and go.

    I like the idea of embroidering and hand quilting the panels and turning them into tote bags. Great way to use smaller panels and have a relatively quick project. Plus, it becomes a take along project for those times when you find yourself sitting somewhere. I think adding beads would bring a nice dimension to the panels. Can’t wait to see the finished bag!

  • marjorie
    July 25, 2012 4:44 pm

    What a sweet giveaway!!! thank you for this chance. And thank you for your lovely comment on my blog today…I really appreciate it.

  • Sandra :)
    July 25, 2012 1:03 pm

    Sometimes stuffing projects just doesn’t go smoothly. Just take a break, then try again, but remember to only use small bits at a time – it really does make a difference.

    Love the panels – maybe you could also add some beads – in the flower centers, certainly, and maybe on the buds etc.!

    Do you put a note in your kits as to what project it contains? I have to do that so I remember – I also make note of sizes, changes to pattern, stuff to remember etc. Otherwise the old sieve – I mean brain – tends to forget 😀

  • wendy
    July 25, 2012 1:06 pm

    Wow that cushion is fabulous! I love these bird panels, I’ve also seen them hand quilted and they’re amazing. Thanks for the chance!

  • julie beswick-valentine
    July 25, 2012 1:03 pm

    The Star Fruit cushion is gorgeous, I hope you manage to stuff it to your satisfaction. The bird vignettes, well they are so pretty, its rare to find something like it in Ireland. You keep me inspired, thank you

  • Ellie Q
    July 25, 2012 1:03 pm

    I can’t wait to see how your panels turn out! What a neat idea!

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