Guess what?  It’s Tutorial Tuesday time!  I did some super cute, and super easy napkins…just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Supplies:

Build A Border stamp set

4 blank cotton napkins

Violet Permanent Ink (I used the ColorBox pigment inks)

Coordinating skeins of embroidery floss- 1 Dark and 1 Medium/Light Violet

Water Soluble Fabric Marking Pen

FREE Embroidery Pattern

Ready to get going?

Stamp the large oval border with your lighter ink about 1 ½” above the hem line.

Stamp the dotted line border with the darker ink.

(If you need another dot to finish off the end of the row just put the smaller stamp with 2 dots on your block but only ink one of them and you’re good to go to finish off your border!)

Turn your iron to the cotton setting and iron the stamped image to heat set it and make it permanent.

Trace the images onto your napkin in the middle about 2” above the border you’ve stamped.

Using 3 strands of the embroidery floss, trace the image with a back stitch.  Follow the printable pattern for your colors.

When you’re finished (which shouldn’t take more than watching one movie) rinse off the water soluble ink, let air dry, and iron one more time!  You’re finished!

You know I love to keep my projects super simple so here’s what you need:

-1 Placemat (or as many as you need for all your guests)  I found my place-mat at Target for $2.99.  You can find plain place mats just about anywhere!
-1 skein each DMC Embroidery Floss in green and orange (I used Orange DMC 3853 and Green DMC 3020)
sewing needle, transfer pen (I like the kind that disappears on it’s own!  It’s awesome!)
-1 Stitching Pattern from me.  Download here.

Transfer the image onto the lower right corner of your place mat (leave about 2″ on the right and bottom) and hand stitch the design.  I used the back stitch, and a french knot for the dot on the i.  You’re finished.  Really, it’s that easy!  If you’re super ambitious or can’t find any place mats you like, sew your own.  Cut two rectangles 19 1/2″ x 14 1/2″.  Stitch your pattern onto the corner of the place mat, then layer the two rectangles with the right side of the stitching on the inside.  Place one rectangle of a  medium weight interfacing on top of the two rectangles.  Stitch using 1/4″ seams all the way around leaving a space for turning about 3-4″ wide.  Turn the place mat right side out, hand stitch the opening shut, and you’re finished!

Here’s how I used some freezer paper to transfer the pattern to his shirt:

You can download your cute hedgehog pattern here!

Wouldn’t this look cute on the end of a fleece/wool scarf, or maybe a small clutch too?

I had 6 lovely ladies at my table that were a joy to teach and were so fun chatting with.  They taught me all about Chicago in the winter!  I taught Amy, Chris, Jess, Cindy, Charis, and Chelsea (who just moved here from South Africa and left right before the picture.)

I made double and triple sure that I had all the supplies needed for the event…then ended up leaving my camera at home so thank you Amy and Chris for letting me use some of your pictures!

After a quick demonstration Chelsea learned how to do the lazy daisy stitch.  She’d never hand stitched anything and by the time we were through, had mastered the lazy daisy!

Amy’s Project.  She stamped on the napkin using the Boughs Stamp Set then embellished with some back stitching and french knots!  Beautiful!

All in all I had tons of fun and am so glad I was able to participate!!

]]> http://www.schlosserdesigns.com/blog/2009/08/chicago-craft-social-recap/feed/ 0 http://www.schlosserdesigns.com/blog/2008/07/countdown-to-my-100th-post/ http://www.schlosserdesigns.com/blog/2008/07/countdown-to-my-100th-post/#comments Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:09:00 +0000 admin http://www.schlosserdesigns.com/blog/2008/07/countdown-to-my-100th-post/ On to the countdown related stuff in a minute. I took a break from some paper crafts yesterday to do a purely embroidery project. It’s another napkin, but this time no stamping, just pure embroidery. It all started with this book:

I was searching through the selection of books at Half Price Books (I LOVE Half Price Books!!!) and pulled this one off the shelf. It didn’t have a spine because it’s a spiral bound 225 page book. From the cover I thought it wasn’t going to be worth it, but I opened it anyway and the minute I did, I just sat there, so elated, that I had in fact decided to open the book. There are over 200 pages of embroidered sketches in black and white. It’s a compilation of sketches from a lady that lived in Virginia in the 1850’s. The book suggests that all the designs would look better in white thread on white fabric, kind of like embroidered linens with lace and eyelet. But, as I flipped through I could see in my mind all these beautiful colors and my mind started racing. I feel like I stole the book, it was only $5.00! I brought it home and got started right away. This is the black and white image I decided to use. (If you have trouble picking colors, just make a copy and outline the image in different colors to easily see which colors you would like to use.)

Here’s the final product. I did it on a napkin, but I might cut it out and make a little bag with it instead. This one is just too pretty for an everyday napkin. (Although if you do it on a larger napkin, it makes a great way to wrap a fresh loaf of bread to give to a neighbor. The fabric protects the bread, while letting it cool off without sweating. )
Now to the countdown stuff! Everyday this week I’m going to have a post with a different project! I’m so excited! And on the 100th post, which will be Saturday, I’ll unveil a new product in the store. This product is pretty cool if I do say so myself, and it was created 100% by me. So come on out sometime this week, leave me a comment and say Hi!

I cut out scraps of a neutral color fabric (thanks again Celia for the scraps!) I stamped the star from the Bough set and hand stitched around the image. I used a french knot at the star points, and a straight stitch for the outline. I used the water soluble pen to write “freedom” and “liberty” and then I free stitched those. I trimmed each one with pinking shears to be a 2 1/2″ square.

Then take your fat quarter of fabric and cut it into quarters. You should end up with pieces that are about 9″ x 10 1/2″. Hem the edges and then sew the “patches” we made on top.

You’re done!

(Close up of “patches”)

I made a few napkins this weekend. Of course I used the new stamp sets! I wanted some for birthdays or if we have company over for dessert. I used the Hey Cupcake set and the StazOn ink. The StazOn ink is permanent. Then I just embellished the cupcake with french knot “sprinkles”. (Thanks to my friend Celia for showing me how to do a french knot!)

Here is a general one that I did for everyday eating.

Ready for the instructions?

Start with the Bough set, a napkin, StazOn ink, and a water soluble transfer pen. (I love the water soluble transfer pens, you just get them wet and they wash away!)
Mark two dots in the middle of your napkin to help with the stamp placement. (If you click on the picture you’ll be able to see mine.)
Stamp the branch on the napkin.

Then I used the lazy daisy stitch to make some hand embroidered flowers on my branch.

Finish it off with a french knot in the middle of the flower and a herringbone stitch along the bottom.

This is another color combination I did.

Now for the entry rules:
Leave a comment on this post by Friday night, June 28, 2008. In the comment, tell me what other things, besides stamps you’d like to see me carry in my store. Would you like to buy paper kits that I put together with coordinating colors of cardstock? Special types of ink pads? Unique packaging to stamp and embellish for gift giving? Let me know what floats your boat and be entered into the drawing! Thanks so much!