What's more fun than felt fish?

Not much!
I had so much fun making these little critters. I started out by cutting small felt circles to create the fish scales. Cutting the circles wasn't the easiest thing in the world, but I do like the look:

 

 

I then decided to try using small felt squares to create the fish scale pattern. I sewed the tiny squares in an alternating pattern to a piece of muslin. I found this great coordinating chevron-style cotton which I think works really great with the diamond pattern. I overlayed the felt square pattern onto the chevron fish and cut the squares the shape of the fish.

 

Here's the final product!

 

I'm trying some other combinations in citrus colors and I found another great cotton fabric for the fish. Watch for this project coming soon!

 



Nautical Christmas

My love of working with burlap continues. I've had a lot of fun making these items. Here's a nautical garland I just finished. It has small 'flags' portraying boats carrying Christmas to port, larger Christmas trees, and fringe with bows. I hand cut all the appliques and iron then sew them on. Finding all sorts of holiday trims to add sparkle has also been a lot of fun.

Then I got hooked on beach cabanas. I just think they are so cute. I created this holiday table topper with a small cabana along side a swaying palm tree in opposite corners.

Next I headed out to the beach to pick up just the perfect size pieces of driftwood to use in creating beach cabana ornaments.

 

 

New Nautical Lighthouse Collection

Hello! And a very happy Memorial Day to all! Here in Michigan, it is a great day to -- be inside sewing. I had purchased some wonderful lighthouse embroidered jacquard upholstery fabric a while back and have finally created some pillows. There is an 18", 16", 12x16", and I also made a matching garland. I just couldn't resist using up the remaining lighthouses on this garland.

How I made the garland --
I cut out the lighthouse in a square and fused heat and bond to the backside to stabilize the fabric and keep it from unraveling. I then cut out the lighthouse and fused it to the burlap flag. Then sewed it on because even the super strength heat and bond doesn't really adhere well to burlap. The burlap flags are cut 5-1/2" wide by 8" long. Then I serge around all edges, fold down a top pocket and zigzag it shut. I measured out 8' plus a few inches of dock line and strung the flags on placing knots in between to hold them in place.

I can just image these pillows tossed on a bed with the garland looping above the headboard. Or the pillows tossed on a couch with the garland strung over a window covering to add a great nautical feel to the décor.

This was a custom order. The person I made these pillow covers for needed the fabric to be washable and did not want the appliques ironed on due to the chemical. Highly allergic was the reason for the special request. These are classically nautical with boxed corners, blue and white ticking embellished with a nautical applique. I'm really pleased how they turned out and enjoyed making them.