Red Brolly

Feather your nest :: Decorating with quilts.

How are you going displaying your quilts? Have you got a gorgeous display that you would like to share? If you have please take a photo and share them with us. I would love to see...please??? You can post a link here, if you have a blog or flickr etc, or you can post a photo to my facebook page.

We just LOVE getting inspiration. I might even do a big blog posting on all your gorgeous displays. What do you think?

So, to this week's decorating with quilts idea....it's a little "outside the box." The idea I have is to paint your favourite quilt onto a floor or wall. These displays actually look very stunning! Here's a few examples to get you thinking over the weekend...

Photo from 1stdibs

photo: This Old House

from Coastal Living.

from Alisa Burke, plus there's a how to here.

This one I love...great for those who aren't confident in painting...

patchwork tiles!

 

And a few other ideas, not neccesarily patchwork, but along the same theme.

An idea for the cross-stitcher's...

And I couldn't resist this stencilled floor, especially since we've just been discussing beautiful doilies,

from Royal Design Studio

Remember to post your photos/links if you have an especially lovely display.

Have a lovely stitching weekend.

-Bronwyn...

 

You are all so clever:: Words of Encouragement

So I spent my weekend going throughall the gorgeous stitching in my Red Brolly Flickr groups. As you know every whenever I get a chance I love to look through and admire your gorgeous stitching. I like to show off your work, afterall you have spent a lot of time on these and share them with everyone.

 

These stitchers in particular caught my eye...

 

By Aparo Lillo Bosc.  This is her version of my free Catalicious quilt. Isn't she clever? She made extra blocks by using my drawings from the blog of Brutus to make enough squares to make a large quilt!

  Stunning isn't it? You can see all the blocks in my Red Brolly Catalicious group in Flickr.

Here's a block from the "My Town" BOM, which was just featured recently in Australian Homespun Magazine. This is by Elizabeth Kenny. I love the colours she's chosen!

Thinking of Christmas? Here's some gorgeous Christmas goodies, made by a very busy lady by the name of Jeanette L.

And these from Yootje....

You can post your Red Brolly Christmas Stitching into my Christmas group.

And remember my recent felt flower tutorial?  Well Amanda of Amanda Makes made an absolutely stunning felt flower brooch.

Have you made one yet?

Just a big congratulations to everyone. Thank you for taking the time to stitch  my designs, and also to those that have taken the courage to share them with us. If I haven't featured you today, not to worry, I try to do these posts regularly.

Before I go, a little reminder that my celebration giveaway with Pokey Chicken is about to end. The givewaway finishes at midnight, 31st October. Remember that for any item purchased from Pokey Chicken, you will receive for free a copy of your choice of either "Tea with Friends" or "Flowerbed."

This is a great offer, especially with Christmas quickly approaching it's a fabulous opportunity to buy something for yourself and a friend. The giveaway applies to each item purchased- so buy 2 items, you get 2 books. You can leave a note as to which book you would like in the "Note to Seller" section when checking out. If no choice is mentioned, you will automatically be sent "Tea with Friends."

Keep up the fabulous stitching and again Congratulations!!

-Bronwyn...

           

Just for you:: Something exciting is coming...

I can't tell you- yet, but....there's a something special coming just in time for Christmas for all of my stitching friends.

Here's a hint...

Stay tuned! All will be revealed shortly....

 

Home Sweet Home Recipe ::Lace Doily Biscuits/Cookies

Would you like to learn how to make these? These biscuits (cookies if you are in the States) are so simple to make, yet look so lovely and delicate on the plate-you'll be sure to impress the stitchers at your next gathering.

Here's how.

You'll need to make a batch of cookie dough using your favourite recipe. You could also use this recipe from my earlier Button Biscuits recipe.

You'll also need a rolling pin, cookie cutter (any shape really, I used a circle and heart) and of course your lovely lace doilies. You could also use crochet ones or even paper doilies.

Roll out your dough so it is about .5 cm in thickness- you don't want to roll them too thin as when you press the doily into the dough they may break.

Using your cookie cutter, cut out your biscuits. Next, take your gorgeous doily and place on top of the dough shapes. Press gently, but ensure that there is enough pressure to make a design in the dough. You can cover the whole shape or just a selection. Choose your favourite part of the doily to press into the dough. Have fun and experiment!

Continue until all the biscuits are complete. Bake in the oven until they begin to turn a slight golden colour. Voila! Serve them to your friends, or use them as a gift.

Have fun and let me know how you go.

-Bronwyn...

 

           

{D.I.Y Craft Round-up} Super Doily Tutorials

photo courtesy of Style Me Pretty

Are you just loving the abundance of Doilies at the moment? Do you have a secret stash of doilies that you're not sure what you're going to do with?

Presently I'm working on a few stitching ideas with Doilies myself, but in the meantime I've put together a fantastic array of doily D.I.Y tutorials and projects.

The ideas in these free projects are amazing, I know I'll be doing a few of these myself.

Here's some ideas and tutorials....

With doilies you can....

Like they did at Casa Sugar. There's a framed doily tutorial via The Pretty Bee or go here for the framed hoop doily project.

You could hang folded paper doilies to make a bunting. There's no tutorial, but it would just be a matter of folding paper lace doiles over twine and securing with glue, or even some staples. You could also make a more permanent one using real doilies and stitching them...add some embroidery perhaps??

To make the stunning stiffened doilies, you'll find the tutorial to make this gorgeous doily display here.

There's limited tutorials for these ideas, but they're pretty self-explanatory. Great and inexpensive, especially with Christmas quickly looming.

This weekend make some wrapping paper, doily envelopes or head to this  tutorial for more wrapping paper ideas using paper doilies. Don't forget you could also paint them, or dye them to whatever colour you needed.

Make a doily garland like they did here- An idea for Christmas decorations perhaps??

Or make some Doily Cupcake Toppers or download your free template and make some simple Cupcake wrappers.

Use up your stash to make lovely lace votives.

Still not inspired?

What about sewing your lace doilies onto an old tablecloth to revamp it? Like they did here.

Make a stunning tablerunner by stitching your doilies together.

With Halloween just around the corner you might like to try stencilling lace doily designs onto pumpkins.

or making this pillow using the tutorial and a lace doily.

AND.....Just to prove you can never have enough lace doilies in your life. You could always try....

Do you have any ideas for doily crafts or tutorials you would like to share? Would love to hear about them.

-Bronwyn...

 

 

           

Look What I Found!

 Isn't this the most brilliant idea!  Just the thing for  Christmas... or Birthdays.... or Mother's Day....

  Thanks to the lovely girls over at a Spoonful of Sugar for this great idea using the  Felt Flower Tutorial.

  They have a really inspiring Blog with lots of unique ideas- so pop over and say "Hi".

 

 

 

 

OOps! A photo of the finished free Christmas sampler.

  Sorry about this- I forgot to put up a photo of the finished sampler!  Here it is:

 

      

 

 

 

     And here it is with a thinly cut felt, blanket stitched frame  and two gorgeous Giggle Buttons.....

 

Bronwyn ...

 

           

Free Pattern::The FIRST CHRISTMAS SAMPLER.

  HERE IT IS!  The first of three free Christmas samplers just in time for you to stitch for Christmas. Use them framed or put them in a quilt of your own design- whatever.  There will be two more to come in the lead up to Christmas. As always- if you've tried to download and are having problems- just e-mail me at:

       bronwyn@red-brolly.com.au

The first Sampler has the instructions for a colour chart- but you can always stitch it in red only, and DMC 304 is a good red to use or a variegated red would work wonders.

  Also, I've given the instructions for making "patches" for this sampler- but you can also just trace the design onto one piece of background fabric and stitch it.

          

 

 

 

Click to download your free PDF Red Brolly Christmas Sampler 1 instructions.

 

Click to download your free PDF Red Brolly First Christmas Sampler pattern..

 

The two buttons are optional. The Angel goes on top of the "t" in "Christmas" and the teddy goes next to the word "Family".

  Both buttons can be bought from www.gigglebuttons.com.au

 

      You may have seen this Sampler before- it's one I designed in 2002.

  Happy stitching!

           

{D.I.Y Tutorial} Stitched Felt Flowers- Part 2

As promised here's the second part to my Stitched Felt Flower tutorial. Click on the links to download a PDF version of instructions and flower shape template.

 

 

Click to download PDF instructions for your  Red Brolly Stitched felt flower tutorial

Click to download Red Brolly Flower template.

The possibilities for these are endless and very addicitive!

You could make bouquets, floral displays, embellish your bags and purses, hat pins, headbands, brooches.

Here's a few ideas, use the template as a guide, but you can enlarge, shrink or make your own designs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you make some of these gorgeous flowers, I would love to see them! You can post them to my facebook page. Here's an example of what a lovely stitcher created at my last stitching retreat in Berry. A gorgeous embellishment for my "Baby Love to Shop" purse.

Have a great weekend! And don't forget, if you get a chance to make some of these felt flowers, please share with us- I'd love to see them!

-Bronwyn...

 

 

           

{D.I.Y Tutorial} Stitched Felt Flowers-Part 1

Aren't they lovely? And so easy to make.

Here's what you'll need.

Materials

*Buttons of various sizes and colours

*Felt pieces in various colours

*Thread (for mine I used the Cottage Garden variagated thread- but you could use whatever you have)

* Your downloaded flower pattern pieces (coming in Part 2)

* Optional- Florist wire, brooch back if making either a brooch or the flowers shown in the photos

Instructions

In Part 2 of the Tutorial, I'll provide a detailed PDF set of instructions and patterns which you can download and print.

But, for those of you that can't wait, here's a basic set of instructions. If you would like something more detailed, please wait until tomorrow when I'll provide easy, step-by-step PDF version of instructions.

For those of you that can't wait...

* Using the pattern, cut out your layers of petals. Odd numbers work best. I used 5 layers of petals. Make sure each layer varies in shape, size and colour.

*Using your favourite decorative stitches, embroider your petals. Don't need to worry about sewing all the layers of petals, every other one works best. Don't forget to also embroider the leaves!

*Assemble. Start with the smallest, centre button and work backwards. Thread the smallest button onto the wire (If making flowers shown in the photo). Bend it over, making a "U" shape.

If making a brooch, or flat backed flowers, just sew the layers together. Passing the needle and thread through all the layers.

*Once you have all the layers threaded onto the wire, thread another large button onto the back and then twist the 2 lengths of wire together. Securing your flower petals tightly.

*Attach the leaves.

*VOILA!

 

Great for displays, bouquets, brooches, hat pins and decorating your bags and purses.

Start assembling all your materials and see you tomorrow, with lots of inspirational photos and instructions.