My microwave flower press has been sitting on a shelf in it's original cardboard box for years, the box is not only falling to pieces but is also rather unattractive in colour and design, so in my quest to 'pretty up' the book shelves I decided to make a little padded bag for it.
Oh my goodness, I really could have done with Lunch Lady Jan on hand - I thought it would be straight forward but what a complicated business!
I made the entire padded shape beautifully, got ready to turn it inside out and realised the wadding would be on the outside! That was discarded and I started all over again. This time I made it successfully but when I folded it up to make the bag shape I realised if I stitched the sides together and turned it inside out I'd lose width, and the fold over flap would be too wide and ruckle up. So I hand stitched it down each edge and although it's not very neat, I can live with it!
Oh and I used up more scraps of fabric so extra points awarded for stash busting!
Lolol, I loved so much at this - only because I've made every mistake in the book over the years when it comes to bag making.. ome of my creations were like Frankenstein's monster. Bag making is totally backwards and leaving a gap in the liner is the answer!!
ReplyDeleteHugs LLJ 8 xxx
That's a lovely little bag! I agree though - it's a clever person that can work out the turning right way out thing with wadding etc!! I even struggle in making a pillow case that works properly! xx Jo
ReplyDeleteHi Diana, sorry, but I had to laugh at the wadding ending up on the outside! I did exactly that the first time I made a quilt- fortunately it was only for a dolls crib! I agree there are so many things to take into account, one reason I don't sew much, I don't do well with planning ahead,lol. But you did a lovely job of putting it together, it does look lovely.Stay safe, have a lovely week, hugs, Shaz #4 X
ReplyDeleteHi Diana. It's lovely - so glad you achieved what you set out to do - despite the difficulties en route!! Sorry, but I had to chuckle at the thrown one... we have all done it!!! She says with passion!
ReplyDeleteTake care. God bless.
Margaret #6
I'm always happy to see hand stitch, I know it's so much quicker to sew by machine but there's so much love attached to hand stitching. You made a grand job of that flower press cover, no one would guess the trauma attached to making it... well worth the trial and error. Bet it looks very sweet and neat on your shelf now.
ReplyDeleteSending WoywW creative wishes your way, take care Tracey #5 xx
Well done for persevering - the end result is really pretty. I admire anyone who can sew - I am a complete disaster when it comes to needle and thread, they always tangle! Happy WOYWW. Take care and stay safe. With love and God Bless, Caro xxx (#11)
ReplyDeleteLOL it sounds like a cock-up I would have made, but you saved it beautifully. I agree, it's nicer to have pretty things sitting on the shelves instead of tatty cardboard boxes. I've heard of those microwave flower presses - I use a thick cookbook to press leaves and flowers between the pages old school style - it just takes that much longer! Lovely to hear from you again Diana - we must have been posting on alternate weeks! Happy Wednesday! xx zsuzsa #20
ReplyDeleteDiana, I would have had all of those woes.... AND THEN SOME!!! LOL But look at your end result! Lovely, lovely!! Blessings, Felicia #25
ReplyDeleteOh no! why did you show me that press, I have one of those somewhere and it might even have something inside it long forgotten! Nice bag to put it in. You made me smile when I read the stages you went through to complete it, brings back memories of teaching Textiles. Things are not always as straight forward as you think when making things like this. Have a lovely creative week and a happy woyww, Angela x15x
ReplyDeletewell it looks way better than anything I could do! I've never had a flower press although often thought about it.... don't have enough flowers to press really (and not sure Kew would be too keen on my taking some of theirs!! ) take care and have a good week. Helen #3
ReplyDeleteLovely finished project despite all the trial and error Diana. Stay safe and happy WOYWW. Sarah #2
ReplyDeleteYup, and this is why sewing has never been one of my creative habits! (Sewing machines break when I sit down at them.) Still, despite the struggles you've ended up with a charming case for your press, and it will certainly make the shelves look pretty.
ReplyDeleteAlison x
Alison x
Loved reading about your process! It all worked out in the end though and is very pretty!
ReplyDeleteHappy Woyww! Susan #14
Diana, that sounds just like me. So many times I do things like that. And more.
ReplyDeleteTake this morning's blog for instance - I was not feeling good yesterday but had to get myk Jeudi Journal done and out this morning. Partly finished last night I attempted to complete it today. First of all I made an apron to attach to one of the figures, got called away and returned to no apron so had to make another one. Since found it, at my feet! Then I realised I had made a spelling mistake and I am a stickler for things like that so I had to think on my feet and I attached a picture on the wall to cover the extra letter up. All finished, it was time to scan it - I won't go into details but I had about ten minutes messing about to get one scan. Even had a message saying someone else was using the scanner - impossible! So I was about two hours late in linking my blog to the challenge.
Guess it was just one of those days - much like the one you had.
Hugs, Neet 7 xx
much like all the typos I have had here ...
Told you ... and then i never commented on how nice your cover was. Diana - it is lovely and so much nicer knowing what you went through to get it done - but it really is lovely!
ReplyDeleteHugs, again, Neet xx
Oh poor you, Diana, going through all that hassle! The end result was certainly worth it, though, and it's a testament to your patience and dogged determination to get it right!! Wouldn't it be lovely to have a clone of LLJ at your right hand, helping you out? Lol! (The funny thing is, I find it very hard to imagine you getting anything wrong in the creative dept. because your work is always exquisite!!)
ReplyDeleteHappy belated WOYWW,
Shoshi x #12
Hahaha you are very determined. I would have given up after attempt one. Hahaha
ReplyDeleteEllie #30
Lovely material and I am glad I am not the only one to do things like that Angela #23
ReplyDeleteThat’s very pretty Diana, and worth all the faff. I smiled that rueful, been there, done that about the wadding...more times than I should have, for sure!
ReplyDeleteI bet LLJ had to smile reading your story, sewing isn't that simple eh (I know!) but the result is great! Thanks for visiting my blog the other day, have a wonderful weekend. Stay safe. Love from the Netherlands. Marit #1
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit, Diana, and for your kind comments!
ReplyDeleteShoshi x #12
Diana it is lovely. I've been there! Anne x 26
ReplyDeleteA beautiful result Diana, and such lovely fabric, too.- I`m sorry that it seems I have abandoned blogging totally,- but you are one of my favorite artists, so I keep on visiting you here. As for me I must confess it is IG now . I hope you are all well, and safe . Hugs, Dorthe
ReplyDelete