Sewing

Hi Everyone! Little Stories are posts I write every now and then where I share odds and ends that I work on or things that happen around me. This time I want to share a few finishes consisting of knitting, sewing and this impromptu little owl book I made. I love to keep my hands busy by working on projects like these, mostly after dinner.

Previously I wrote about an exchange that Mary and I did. She made me an amazing artist apron ( you can see it here ) and I knitted her a couple of sets of hats and mitts. Since Mary and I both love autumn colours, I had fun shopping as if I was buying the yarns for myself.

I used the patterns Westward Hat and Westward Mitts by Rebecca Woelber for this set. The cable part of this design required my full attention. I mostly worked on this one while my husband was playing a video game and I was “helping”.

For this set, I paired Prim hat by Andrea Mowry with Staghorn Mitts by Pamala Jane Patterns. Both were quick knits and easy cables too. They are not beginner patterns, but very well written. If you are a generally a confident knitter, and want to try cable knitting, both of these are very good patterns. Once you get used to the cable patterns, they don’t require so much attention either.

It was so wonderful to make them for a friend, and I am happy to hear that she got to use them a lot during the colder months.

During the time I was knitting for Mary, I decided to donate my serger. The lady who was fostering our kitten was delighted to hear that I would donate the serger to the Rescue. She lives an hour away, and halfway along the way is a JoAnn fabric store. I wanted to remake this blanket for our kitty Charlie ( You can read about it and download the leaves file for free here ), so my husband and I made a quick pit stop to pick up some fleece.

I had to pick up some extra fleece for a few more kitty blankets, of course. I cut the pieces in half to make them double-layered. I like both the slow process of binding by hand, and also the look of hand binding. Instead of matching bindings, I decided to use contrasting colours and designs. They had to have an autumn and winter theme to them as those are my favourite seasons. I specially love the wispy and wintry tree branches of the binding on the top blanket.

Please click on the image thumbnails to see the photos –

Now they are all ready for my little kitties when the weather turns cold around here. These would make cosy and quick baby blankets too.

One of the original Fairy Lantern flower prints is going to a new home soon, as are a few of the everyday journals, which is always exciting! They are available in the shop.

Most of my work is thought through and planned ahead. This little owl book, however, was a complete exception to that and was certainly not on the list. At the end of one day, I was so mentally exhausted that I needed a feel-good project. I had a little 2″ x 3″ book made from before that needed a cover. I pulled out washi tape, some scrap pieces of book binding boards, paper, micron pen, glue and scissors, and set to work.

I didn’t even feel like drawing anything new. I have always had a soft spot for owls. I traced the owl from one of my old marker paintings, copied it on the cover and inked it with micron pen. I love designs by Morris Brown, and I got this washi tape from Jet Pens recently. After affixing the front and back covers to the book, I attached the spine board with a strip of the wide washi tape. I added some scrap washi tape triangles to the corners and the book was done. It took me a total of around 30 minutes and it certainly uplifted my spirit quite a lot. Paper, pen, glue and tape – ingredients for utter happiness.

These after hours projects have a calming effect on me. While I work on them, I mentally prepare for the next day too. Do any of you do anything special to wind down? I would love to know.

-Soma

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page. Please pay them a visit. Also linking up with Favorite Finish Linky Party @ Meadow Mist Designs.

Unfinished Garden Path Quilt

Let’s start with the Garden Path quilt. I had the quilt layout design done long ago. It was inspired by the gardens I had visited in the UK. Some of those gardens really look like fairies live there.

Please click on the image thumbnails to see the pictures –

Selenite Clematis, Olivine Tulip, Kyanite Iris and Garnet Primrose

These are all 12″ flower patterns that I designed with stained glass motifs in mind.

If you are wandering about the names – I love geology and the flowers started looking very much like they were made of crystal. So, I decided to name them after my favourite minerals.

Here is the full stack of finished blocks. Only five more to make. I am hoping to finish at least two more blocks within the next two week.

A Little Experiment – Painting With Fountain Pen Ink

Fountain pens and I go a long way back. In school, from third year onwards, we were to use fountain pens only. I still remember the anticipation of getting my very first fountain pen. Since then, I have only ever used fountain pens for writing. This is a quilt block I designed based on one of my pens.

For my birthday this year, my husband gave me a fountain pen and couple of bottles of beautiful inks. I was curious to see how fountain pen ink would behave as paint, so I set out to sketch a quick painting with them.

Please click on the image thumbnails to see the pictures –

The blue ink is Pilot Iroshizuku Moonlit Night, the red is Diamine Dragon Blood Ink. Love the names. He really knows me well!

I left the ink on my palette for a few days. I was afraid that once the ink dried, it may not rewet well. To my surprise, it was as good as fresh ink with a drop or two of water.

I tried sploshing a little ink on wet paper in my little book. It spread out just like watercolour.

Although these two inks are from different companies, they mixed very well and I was able to create different shades of black, grey and purple.

The Dragon Blood ink is infused with gold coloured particles which gives it a slight shimmery effect. That part is only seen in the undiluted ink.

With watercolour, I can lift and move paint easily as long as it has not dried completely. These inks, however, would not budge at all.

I started with extremely diluted paint, and slowly built up the colour intensity by layering. The inks did not lift off when I applied the next layer. It was really easy to work with them, and I needed very little ink for this 6″ x 4″ painting.

Even the diluted colours dried with a soft but vibrant effect. I found that to be very unique to these inks.

Fountain pen inks can be quite expensive. Goulet Pen Co. sells ink samples for a very reasonable price. Jet Pens also has a very good collection.

Little Book of Dragons

This moss green journal was the very first 3″ x 4″ journal I made. The early editions of J. R. R. Tolkien’s Hobbit was bound in light green cover. As soon as I made this book, I wanted to make it a book of dragons. I am glad I waited. Now the first painting is special, made with the inks I got for my birthday and inspired by the weather on my birthday at Yosemite Valley.

Dragon And The Little Boy

This little boy can befriend dragons very easily. Not to control them mind you, but to talk to them. Dragons always have such fascinating stories to tell. While everyone else thinks he has special powers of making dragons listen to him, he would tell you that he is simply being nice to them and listening to them.

Little Wild Flowers

Last Sunday, despite my deadly pollen allergies, I hazarded a little outing on a trail. Although I paid for it dearly afterwards, I found the most beautiful flowers there. These are Golden Fairy Lanterns. I found these two tucked away beside an oak tree. More on the next Wandering Camera.

I always get asked – The quilt patterns and the journals, designed and hand made by me are available in my shop.

I think we all can use a little helping of fairy tale inspiration every now and then, don’t you?

Until next time,
-Soma

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page. Please pay a visit to some of them.

Little Stories – After Hours

Little Stories – Fairy Tale Inspired

Unfinished Garden Path Quilt

A Little Experiment – Painting With Fountain Pen Ink

Little Book of Dragons

Dragon And The Little Boy

Little Wild Flowers