Machine Quilted Lap Quilt

After one of my sisters saw the little quilt I made for Jolee, she asked if I'd machine quilt and bind a lap quilt she had pieced.

I placed everything on the floor, taping the bottom piece so it wouldn't move around as I layered the batting and the top.

And then I pin basted everything... those curved pins by Dritz are so much easier to use!

I actually enjoy doing wavy machine quilting... when my sewing machine cooperates. I had a few problems about half-way through the quilt. For some reason tension got out of whack, and I didn't realize it until I'd sewn several rows and flipped it over to check the back. So, I ripped out several lines of quilting, re-quilted, and then got it ready for the binding.

I made the binding from the same pinky/coral fabric that was used in the quilt top.

{ I always do handwork under an OttLite --- I have a few different styles and have more on my wish list! }

I always sew the double-fold (or French-fold) binding on the front by machine, and then finish by hand-sewing it to the back.

Call me crazy but I love hand-stitching the binding!

My sister was very happy with her quilt! I think she's ordered an even feed walking foot so she can try machine quilting, too! :)

I have another quilt to start soon. It will be a queen size and in shades of blue, gray, and white. I'll share in-progress photos when I start on it.

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Take care and God Bless,
Lana

Hand-Tufted Mattresses --- A Growing Obsession?

I've recently become enamored with making miniature hand-tufted ticking mattresses using old French ticking. Mine are little pincushions... or pin pillows.

You may purchase these three pin pillows made from French ticking at Honeysuckle Lane

I made the first one as a tuffet for a mohair bird and then another for a lop-eared bunny. And I just kept making them.

Now I have ideas of making a hand-tufted mattress / cushion for a bench that I want to make from an old bed I bought at a Habitat for Humanity Resale Store. It's the same concept, just on a bigger scale, right?

Here's one example, although the bench is made from more than a bed:

via Refresh Restyle

I've started pinning any and all ticking / mattress / cushion ideas that strike my fancy... thank you Pinterest! I don't know what we'd do if that website ever shut down and we lost all our pins... probably riot!

via French Garden House - you will LOVE Lidy's shop!

via One Kings Lane

I've also found loads of youtube videos about mattress making. Here are a couple to get you started:
Block printed, hand stitched quilt video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck25bSSnwFU
Making a hand-tufted mattress video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJAabi1LFYw


Blessings,
Lana

OttLite Giveaway!!! LED Light Box and Task Lamp Station

Each time I get a new OttLite lamp, I think it surely can't be topped! However, I love this lamp, too! As of this writing, I have 4 different OttLite lamps and my son has a desk lamp. I guess you can say without a doubt that we're fans! :)
 

The LED Light Box and Task Lamp Station is perfect for all artists and crafters.  With 3 brightness setting and a large illumination area, tracing patterns and drawings has never been easier.  The super bright LEDs with a smooth slanted surface disperse light and eliminate dark or hot spots.  There are two storage areas with a total of 9 compartments that hold papers, pencils, crayons, paintbrushes, and any other supplies you may need.    For even more illumination, the LED Light Box and Task Lamp Station transforms from a light box to a multi-position task lamp.  With OttLite you can see details clearly and reduce glare & eyestrain so you can do what you love, longer. - See more at: http://products.ottlite.com/p-433-led-light-box-and-task-lamp-station.aspx#Description

A few months back, I was in contact with Marcea, the marketing manager for OttLite. I truly enjoy their products so much that I was hoping to review another one and have a giveaway for someone else to have the opportunity to own an OttLite lamp. We decided on a new design at OttLite: the OttLite LED Light Box and Task Lamp Station. I couldn't even find it in stores yet and I don't think it was available on OttLite's website for a while. This giveaway was planned for a while, but due to the popularity when it did reach stores, Marcea asked me to postpone the giveaway so they could restock the shelves! They were selling out fast!

Let me share the description from JOANN.com:

Description

The LED Light Box and Task Lamp Station is perfect for all artists and crafters.  With 3 brightness setting and a large illumination area, tracing patterns and drawings has never been easier.  The super bright LEDs with a smooth slanted surface disperse light and eliminate dark or hot spots.  There are two storage areas with a total of 9 compartments that hold papers, pencils, crayons, paintbrushes, and any other supplies you may need.    For even more illumination, the LED Light Box and Task Lamp Station transforms from a light box to a multi-position task lamp.  With OttLite you can see details clearly and reduce glare & eyestrain so you can do what you love, longer.

Details

• Light Box easily transforms into a multi-position task lamp with large illumination area
• With 3 brightness settings the LED Light Box and Task Lamp Station easily adjusts its light level to meet your needs
• Two storage areas with 9 compartments to hold papers, pencils, stamps and more
• Convenient removable upper storage tray that keeps tools and supplies within reach
• Super bright OttLite LEDs rated to last up to 40,000 hours

- See more at: http://products.ottlite.com/p-433-led-light-box-and-task-lamp-station.aspx#Description

The OttLite LED Light Box and Task Lamp Station is perfect for artists and crafters.  With 3 brightness settings and a large illumination area, tracing patterns and drawings has never been easier.  The Super Bright OttLite Illumination LEDs with a smooth slanted surface disperse light and eliminate dark or hot spots.  There are two storage areas with a total of 9 compartments that hold papers, pencils, crayons, paintbrushes, and any other supplies you may need.  For even more illumination, the LED Light Box and Task Lamp Station transforms from a light box to a multi-position task lamp.  With OttLite you can see details clearly and reduce glare & eyestrain so you can do what you love, longer.

• 3 brightness settings to easily adjust light levels to meet your needs
• Two storage areas with 9 compartments to hold papers, pencils, stamps and more
• Convenient removable upper storage tray keeps tools and supplies within reach
• Light Box easily transforms into a multi-position task lamp with large 9.75” x 7.875” illumination area
• Task Lamp Height – adjusts from 4.625” to 13.5”
• Task Lamp Base – 12.5” x 9”
• Light Box Height – 4.625”
• Light Box Base – 14.5” x 14.5”
• Super Bright Natural Daylight OttLite LEDs rated to last up to 40,000 hours
• With OttLite you can see details clearly and reduce glare & eyestrain so you can do what you love, longer

Description

The LED Light Box and Task Lamp Station is perfect for all artists and crafters.  With 3 brightness setting and a large illumination area, tracing patterns and drawings has never been easier.  The super bright LEDs with a smooth slanted surface disperse light and eliminate dark or hot spots.  There are two storage areas with a total of 9 compartments that hold papers, pencils, crayons, paintbrushes, and any other supplies you may need.    For even more illumination, the LED Light Box and Task Lamp Station transforms from a light box to a multi-position task lamp.  With OttLite you can see details clearly and reduce glare & eyestrain so you can do what you love, longer.

Details

• Light Box easily transforms into a multi-position task lamp with large illumination area
• With 3 brightness settings the LED Light Box and Task Lamp Station easily adjusts its light level to meet your needs
• Two storage areas with 9 compartments to hold papers, pencils, stamps and more
• Convenient removable upper storage tray that keeps tools and supplies within reach
• Super bright OttLite LEDs rated to last up to 40,000 hours

- See more at: http://products.ottlite.com/p-433-led-light-box-and-task-lamp-station.aspx#Description

This light box has been wonderful for transferring my sketches to fabric for punch needle designs! I will also be using it for other needlework and art projects, as well.

There are several compartments for storing your pens, glue sticks, scissors, etc. to keep supplies handy.

I think you can click the photo, then click again to see it full size.

Something I want to mention about OttLite lamps is that every single one I own is hefty for its size, which to me is a good thing! They are not cheap lightweight things that can easily be knocked over. Even this light box has a good weight to it. I don't think you'll be disappointed if you get one.

And before you rush out to buy one for yourself, enter this giveaway for a chance to win one.... completely free! OttLite will ship a brand new LED Light Box and Task Lamp Station --- a $139.99 value!!! --- to the winner free of charge! This is open to U.S. residents, only.

LED Light Box and Task Lamp Station

To enter, just follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter box below.
Please leave a comment on this blog and a way to contact you (a link back to your blog, email, etc.).
You have several options to acquire even more entries!
Sorry, but to be fair to everyone, invalid entries (those that didn't follow through with the requirements) will be disqualified. Rafflecopter keeps up with this for me.

Be sure to visit every day... and enter again and again!
This giveaway ends next Saturday, the 26th.

Good luck!
Lana
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Last One! Lop Eared Mohair Bunny on French Ticking Pincushion

I have so many projects in mind, I had to call it quits on the bunnies this spring! So for those of you waiting for more, this is the last one.

It makes a sweet friend for the mohair robin that I made recently.

I do have a few more French ticking pincushions started, so I will finish those before I move on to a completely different project.

If you are interested in the bunny, you can find it at Honeysuckle Lane.

Have a lovely day!
Blessings,
Lana

A Mohair Bird on an Antique French Ticking Mattress Pincushion

Birds are a favorite subject of mine. I've often included them in my paintings and folk art pieces. This one was inspired by antique Steiff toys and the arrival of spring.

Even though the bird is a golden brown, I still see it as a robin... just in time for spring! The fabrics are vintage sparse mohair and recycled red wool.

The underside of the wings are lined with a recycled brown wool. If you notice in the photos, the end of the tail has a reddish tint to the mohair... the fabric was shaded like that, so I made sure to cut that part to add a bit more color to the tail.

I drew a bird pattern (free-hand) on the back of the fabric, cut it out, and hand-stitched it. No patterns were used. Now I wish I had made a pattern... I really like the shape of the bird. Hopefully I can sketch around a bit and come up with a very similar design.

As I've mentioned many times before, my husband is a carpenter / woodworker, so I used a tiny scrap of walnut wood from his shop for the beak. I carved it by hand with an exacto knife.

That wonderful old looking pincushion is made from beautiful antique French ticking that I purchased directly from a dealer in France several years ago.

When I received it in the mail, I couldn't bring myself to cut into the fabric... and so it sat in a box.

And I forgot about it until a while back when I was looking for a specific fabric for some projects and found it in my stash.

Again, I used no pattern, cutting the pincushion design to fit under the bird, and then hand-stitching to make a tufted mattress. It is filled with snippets and scraps of 100% wool.

This one of a kind piece is currently in my Honeysuckle Lane shop. Click this link to visit and make a purchase if you are interested.

Thanks so much for visiting!

Have a blessed weekend,
Lana

Dragonflies on Batik

I'd planned on having several pillows ready to share, but you know how it goes... plans often have to change.

I only have two pillows to share today, and one of those sold as soon as it was listed --- thank you! :)

Hand embroidered dragonflies grace the front of these decorative pillows.
Their bodies are made of glass beads. The wings are organza ribbons and vintage seam binding ribbons.

The grass is made of wool felt and I have scattered more glass beads across the grass for extra sparkle. It reminds me of the dew sparkling on the grass early in the morning!

The pillow fabrics are made from cotton batik fabric.
I used 10" pillow forms for these pillows.

My needlework designs are one of a kind. I draw the design freehand directly on the fabric with an air-soluble marker and embroider it before the design disappears.

The darker one is the only one left. If interested, you may purchase it here.

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Blessings,
Lana

Beaded Dragonflies

I've been looking back through old photos and decided it was time to make some dragonfly pillows for spring. The photos are from a few years back... not what I'm working on right now. Look for new ones in a few more days! :)

Have a blessed week,
Lana

Another Quilt for Jolee

After I finished my oldest son's quilt, I had a few pieced blocks and fabric scraps left over, so I made a quilt for his little girl. I've already made Jolee a quilt using pretty Cori Dantini fabrics but this one will be like her daddy's quilt. :)

I really like the black and white polka dot binding...

Because of the colors, it's something she can play on and her mommy and daddy don't have to worry as much about it getting dirty.

And I hope Jolee doesn't mind the two blocks of mustaches and men's hats. :-/

Even though my Pfaff Hobby 750 sewing machine is standard size, I managed to machine quilt it using an even feed walking foot. I opted for a wavy line design... since I figured it would be less obvious if my quilting lines were off here and there. :)

And the Aurifil quilting thread worked wonderfully! I used 2605 (Grey) 50 wt.

I love how a quilt gets that puckered look once it's been washed and dried. I think using all cotton fabric and cotton quilt batting contributes to that look. In this quilt, I used Warm and Natural batting.

In a couple more weeks I'll share photos of the next quilt... I think it will be have some blues in it... we'll see!

Take care and God bless,
Lana