More New Creations

Last night, I wrote myself a TO DO LIST for this week.

By dinner time tonight I had crossed off more than half of my projects as complete. 

Thus, I have had a very productive day and a super start to the week.

I have finished embellishing the last of my cards, sewn buttons and button holes for the kids art folios, and sewn up all of the wall hangings that you will find below.

I even had time to help my nieces create lovely collages out of scraps of fabric the picked up from my feet. I will make creative artists out of them too.

I have had quite a few people express interest in purchasing some of my creations.

Firstly thanks for taking the time to look at my blog,

and secondly, I am so excited that you like what you see here.

For anyone who is interested I am now going to pop some prices in as I blog

(and have edited in prices into the older blogs).

This is what I will be selling these items for if they make it to the markets.

All prices are in Australian Dollars.

I am happy to post items anywhere in Australia, and internationally,

so feel free to email me for a postage price.

Some items I can make to order, for example, the Library bags. The original designs (Isabelle, Alexander and Isaac in the sewing blog) were extremely time consuming and frustrating to make, so I have refined the process a lot in the past 5 years. Below are photos of 2 more recent Library Bag. I charge $50 each for the bags, personalised and with one applique or pocket. They are fully lined and have strong handles. If you really want a quilted bag, I will make to order but they will cost extra. I also have a range of simple, lined drawstring library bags, if you are interested in them (they start at $15 and are not personalised).

Personalised Library Bags $50 each

EMBROIDERIES

After returning to Australia in January with my broken ankle I stayed with my folks for 9 weeks. Still in plaster, and recovering from surgery, I was not able to use the sewing machine,

so I hand stitched and produced a lot of embroideries.

Life has been pretty tumultuous for me since about September 2009, or maybe even longer, so this time of recovery has offered me ample opportunity to explore somewhat the deeper levels of myself and to dream dreams for the future. I am a real believer in using the creative arts as therapy and particularly fabric art. There is nothing like putting needle and thread together to help you think and process all those feelings that are rushing through you as you recover from an illness or injury. I find stitching so meditative and reflective and for me, every stitch becomes a little prayer for the person, place, or event I am thinking about at the time.

So four months on and this week I have finally added borders, backing, binding and hanging sleeves, so here I have some lovely wall hangings. I really wanted to finish these so I could move on to another project. I hate having things half finished.

"Welcome My Friend" by Melly and Me ($40) 

Fresh Eggs and Chook Chook Chook ($30 each)

would be a wonderful edition to a country kitchen. 

These blue and white embroideries are from a block of the month

by Melly and Me called "Love Is..."

I stitched the complete 9 block wall hanging in red and white about 12 months ago.

These I have made up as individual wall hangings.

They are approximately 30cm (12 inch) square.

"Love your neighbour as yourself" ($30)

  

"Love is ... Angels watching over me" ($30)

"Love is ... tea for two with you!" ($30)

"Love is ...the gift of flowers" ($30)

Kokeshi Dolls ($50)

The Kokeshi Wall hanging came out of the Melly and Me "Kaleidoscope" Book. 

I absolutely adore this one and thinK the border fabric is so perfect for the embroidery.

This one is the largest of all at approx 35 X 50 cm. ($50)

 Pastel Babuskas ($40)

I have a bit of an obsession with Babuska dolls. I have my own set of dolls that have 10 dolls in total. The largest doll is about 30cm high and the smallest is about the size of a grain of rice. I have used it for years as a retreat tool, helping to explain to young people about the layers of the self, what the world sees, being the outer/largest doll and the smallest being that which only God knows intimately.

I searched and searched for a pattern for this one and when I couldn't find one that I liked, I just drew it myself. I love how it turned out and can't believe how extraordinarily different they each look. The pastel one with baby pink gingham borders and binding would look so perfect in a baby girls room, while the bright one would look great anywhere - maybe even on a wall in my house, if no one snaps it up.

Bright Babuskas ($30)

I am going to sell all of these wall hangings for between $30 and $50 each,

so if there is one that takes your fancy now, say so and it is yours.

There are only one of each and I am unlikely to produce anymore,

well at least not in this quantity.

I still have about 15 more to sew up some time in the future.

 More A5 Journal covers with beautiful big buttons and elastic for closure.

I now have 30 journal covers for sale.

These are $25 each with a lined journal included.

Please email me if you are interested in these or any other of my creations

at cathie.stone@hotmail.com

 Wow, time flies. I just realised it is almost 1 am and tomorrow will not be nearly as productive if I stay up any longer. So goodnight and sweet dreams.

God Bless

Cathie's Newest Creations

Journal Covers

Each journal cover contains a 200 leaf Spirax A5 notebook.

The white journals are made with waffle weave fabric.

This last photo shows the journal covers that close with beautiful ribbons.

The ones with buttons are currently under construction.

Will post photos of them in the next day or so....

A5 Journal Covers are $25 each.

A6 Journal Covers are $20 each.

(These prices includes the lined, hardcover journal)

Hairclips

(for little girls and big girls who are always little girls at heart)

Yo Yo's and Button Clips

I have packaged and I am selling these individually,

but many have a buddy, so you can buy a pair.

The price is $3 each or 2 for $5

(two can be a pair or 2 different clips) 

and Buttons Clips ....

all of these are one off creations. 

I am selling them individually

as it is difficult to match up buttons to make pairs.

(Button Hair Clips are $3 each or 2 for $5)

Children's Art Folios

These deligthful art folios are A5 size and in gorgeous prints for children.

Comes complete with 12 coloured pencils or crayons and an A5 notepad.

great for taking on outings and encouraging the budding creative talent of your little artist.

(Children's Art Folios $20 each including pencils and notepad)

(I haven't found the right buttons yet, but these art folios will have a nice big button - great practice for children as they learn to button there own clothing)

 

 So, what's next in the creation station. I'm thinking I might make some bags and purses this week. A little something for the both the big girls and little girls. As I am currently living with my 3 and 4 year old neices, they are constantly inspiring me to dream up new ideas and creations. They are bag lovers, just as their Auntie is, so I am feeling inspired.


I'm also thinking I might venture into some softies soon. I have been collecting Melly and Me patterns, and I bought their Kaleidoscope book at last years Quilt and Craft fair and I have only managed the time to make one thus far - Bella Boo.


Oh, I just remembered I have a pile of embroideries that I stitched while I was in plaster and unable to operate the sewing machine so I had best get back to them and make them up into wall hangings. And, I really need to finish my Mums Mother's Day gift.  It kinda got shelved when the plaster came off and I got back onto the sewing machine pedal. Oh, and then there is a birthday present for Emmeline who turned one in December, but that one was delayed by a trip to Vanuatu and then a broken ankle. I had better get it done before she turns two. Think it might be Bubbles the unicorn for her, or Phoebe the elephant - or both - maybe I can make one for one and one for two, ah ha, now there is a plan.


For now, I had best get some beauty sleep. There is certain to be some sewing time tomorrow! Yippee! That is, of course, if Kevin doesn't put me on the ride on mower for a few hours and there is the small matter of some physio in the pool ... which I admit, I have been avoiding.


Okay, night night for now....

Sewing

I started sewing when I was very young. My mother was always sewing and I used to collect her material scraps and make clothes for my barbie dolls. I remember sitting on my bed with a pile of material scraps and a needle and thread, making tiny little pants. They weren't so tiny back then, but I when my parents moved house recently Mum gave me some of them back. I was amazed at how small they were, but even more amazed at my stitching and how they had held together for so many years, especially considering the number of costume changes my dolls used to have.


In high school I took Home Economics as a subject from Year 8 to 12. I didn't really care much for the cooking part of the subject, and to be honest I don't care much for it these days either. But the sewing and design and textile part, well, I was in heaven. I couldn't have cared less about the rest of school, I was most at home when I was in sewing class. In Year 11 our project was to make a lined skirt with a zip and waist band. My teacher called me back after class and told me that I would have that finished in a few days and she would hope that I would choose a more challenging project. So, I made my formal dress. It was lined, had a zip and the bodice and skirt were joined - fulfilling all of the required components for the task. I loved it and wore it very proudly the following year.


Although I have sewn alot of clothes over the years, these days I prefer my sewing to be about other things. I particularly enjoy creating useful things for my neicesand nephews, like library bags, kindy sheet sets, toy bags, blankies, wall hangings and now, quilts.


I guess sewing, patchwork and quilting are my thing and and really doesn't matter what it is, I just love creating stuff.


About 2 years ago, I scored miles and miles of fabric from a deceased estate. There were the mostly vintage and retro fabrics. Some of the bags even had receipts in them from the 1970's and 1980's. I have made a few things out of these fabrics, and I have taken about 20 kg of fabric over to Vanuatu and used them while teaching in the St Michel School and village. I have also given some away and sold some. I now have half a dozen huge boxes stored in my shipping container, just waiting for the day that they will be lucky enough to be created into something magnificant.


Here are some images of the things I have created for the children:












And some of the items I have created and sold at the markets:

Lavender and Camphor Laurel Bags ($5 each)

Christmas Swag ($25)

Christmas Tree ($35)

Christmas Wreath

(Price varies depending on size - $15 to $35)

"All hearts come home for Christmas" 

Handstitched, Felt Heart, Christmas Decoration ($30)

Quilts

I made my first quilt when I was in Year 11. It was a quillo and I chose dusky pink and blue florals in Liberty fabrics to make it in. I remember taking myself to Gardems in Brisbane City on the way home from school one day and buying all the fabric. When I got home that night I spread it out on my desk and smelt it, felt it, and totally absorbed it. I think this was when I fell in love with fabric.


I cruised through the making of my quillo and then helped everyone else in the class to finish theirs. I just seemed to get it while the others struggled.


Apart from a few small quilts that I made in my early 20's it really wasn't until I was in my late 20's and living in the Southern Highlands of NSW that I really discovered the length and breadth of the art of quilting. Then in my early 30's, and with an income to support the habit, I really discovered the joy and peace that making quilts bought into my life. I have been quilting avidly ever since.


For me, quilts bring it all together. Designing and making quilts enables me to realign body and soul. It also allows me to go deeply into my spirit and nurture and refresh my interior world. I have Depression and and Anxiety disorder and when I was at my worst, I could not bring myself to sew or quilt or even think about creating. I knew I was on the path to recovery when I started to put together a quilt. Now I know when I am sliding into a depressive stage, because I just can't face fabric. So, I now use my creativity and love of all things fabric as my therapy.


Here are some of the images of my quilts.


A Family Tree Quilt I made for my Auntie Melanie's 50th Birthday. The names of all of our family members are on the leaves of the tree.



This is my own quilt. "My Lavender Quilt". I collected the fabrics in fat quarters for 3 years before I even started cutting. I used Rosalie Quinlins 'Rebekah's Amy Quilt' and adapted it to queen size.




I made this Reversible Log Cabin Quilt-as-you-go for my parents. This is actually the only quilting class I have ever done (apart from high school!). It is probably my best ever ... I love it, and luckly my folks do too.

The Summer Side


The Winter Side



I called this one "Brighter Days". I made this one for my friend who was having weekly chemo. The quilt folded up into the bag and the big pockets held a book, purse, glasses etc, when Sue went to the hospital for the day.

Getting Started

Well, here goes. I have been thinking about blogging for such a long time and today is the day. I wanted to find a way to share some of my creations with the world ... and let's hope that this is it.

Watch this space because I am hoping that in the coming weeks, months and years I will be able take you somewhere special - into my creative world.

See you soon