WIPW - Vaxholmskudden Constructed and Completed

What's on the menu for Work In Progress Wednesday this week?

Crazy for Crazy
I just added a few basic seam lines which I will add beads or other stitches to later.

Baby Rubik's Cube

Many readers have been fascinated by this soft toy and I have now made a tutorial of sorts for it. 

Click on BABY BLOCKS TUTORIAL tag at the top of this blog, to see, and hopefully give it a try. Be prepared to work slowly and carefully. It IS tricky!

Vaxholmskudden

I have worked hard to finish this wool embroidery project, based on Karin Derland's style.
After completing the embroidery, I have constructed the cushion, added the back which has a zip, and made the inner cushion.
Vaxholmskudden is now ready to be wrapped in tissue paper and fancy gift wrapping, and fly off to Vaxholm, a charming town in Stockholm Archipelago.

 

WIPW - Baby 'Rubik's Cube'

Work In progress Wednesday, well one piece is no longer in progress, it is completed - the

Baby Blocks,
or should I say Baby 'Rubik's Cube'.

This soft toy is made up of 4cm cubes of foam rubber, covered with fabric.
A cube means there are 6 sides, and each side has one piece of the six fabric prints used.
The cubes are stitched together so they have 'hinges' and you can turn and fold the cubes until all eight cubes show the same fabric.

 Polka dots turn into stripes

 stripes become flowers

 flowers attract cats

 Turn the polka dots the other way and you see the hedgehogs and mushrooms

 or in another way, the berries

This toy is fun for children of all ages, even those over 70.

Crazy for Crazy

The pieces have been stitched down and the first embroidery added.

Vaxholmskudden

I worked on the centre piece of polka dot appliqué.

The six rounds are plastic cupped discs that I covered with fabric, appliquéd and couched with red wool.

I couched down some straight lines of Perle and worked an edge of Buttonhole Stitch around the circle.

Some swirls were drawn in with charcoal pen. These lines are the next to be stitched.

WIPW - Baby Blocks

Wednesday? Again? So soon? Time to show Work In Progress Wednesday.

Crazy for Crazy
I have cut out, placed and pinned down the pieces of green. Four of them are from my kimono silk stash.

New! Wobbly Baby Blocks Toy
I started making a soft toy of baby blocks that can be turned and twisted, so they show different fabric.
Here it looks like a real mess. Believe me it is messy stitching, although not difficult, once you have double checked the placement of the fabric.
The pieces need to be pinned to the cubes of foam rubber for the filling and it is so easy to prick oneself on one of the many pins. Ouch!

Vaxholmskudden
Leaves have sprouted.

WIPW - Greeting Cards

Work In Progress Wednesday today includes a couple of greeting cards.

But let's start with
Crazy for Crazy
I have selected the fabric for the next block.

Embroidery and embellishment will be in the shades of rust/orange/salmon.

BES (Brazilian Embroidery Study)
I have mounted the embroidery on a piece of cardboard.

Vaxholmskudden

Last week I made some Stem Stitch swirls. Those have now been whipped for better definition.

Round dots of boiled wool appliqué has been added.

Greeting cards

Two birthdays need to be celebrated with handmade cards.

WIPW - Two Finishes

It has been a busy week, with the visits to the Quilt Time Festival in Yokohama and writing up the blog reports of the quilts I saw there.

Nevertheless I have made progress for Work In Progress Wednesday's Show and Tell.

Crazy for Crazy
The candy floss pink and white block is finished. The last bit of embellishment was a piece of ribbon I twisted up, pinned in its tangled mess and then stitched down.

Next week I will have to put together fabric, thread and buttons etc for the next block.

BES (Brazilian Embroidery Study
The embroidery is finished  with a mass of knots.
The only work left is to mount it on a piece of board.
It was an enjoyable project.

Vaxholmskudden

In spite of constantly being on the look-out for new and interesting stitches, the humble and very basic Stem Stitch is probably always going to be my favourite.

It was used for the long 'tentacles' sprouting from the pink heart.

WIPW - Almost Done

Two of my Work In Progress Wednesday projects are almost done.

Crazy for Crazy
is one of them.
I added sequins, bugle beads and French Knots.

BES (Brazilian Embroidery Study

is also nearing its completion.

Here I stitched flowers in Stem Stitch and French Knots.

There is still plenty more work to be added to 

Vaxholmskudden

but I did make good progress. The scalloped segments were filled with various stitches.

WIPW - Hearts

I have to hurry up to post this Work In Progress Wednesday report before Wednesday is over - it is that late in the day here.

Crazy for Crazy
Seed and Bugle beads have been added to the lace.

BES (Brazilian Embroidery Study)
I used the Double Cast On Stitch to make a multicoloured flower. The stem is made of Laced Running Stitch.

Vaxholmskudden
Here is where I have spent most time this week.

In the corner pieces I appliquéd last week I have embroidered a heart and embellished it like this:

On the half circles of blue cotton appliqué I have started outlining a shape in Stem Stitch.

The ribbon along the edge has been secured to the wool foundation with Tied Herringbone Stitch.

WIPW - Ribbon Bow

It's been a productive week and I have the following to report for Work In Progress Wednesday.

Crazy for Crazy
I have reached the stage when it is time to play with beads, sequins and things that add shine, volume and structure.
Pearls and bugle beads were added.
More beads will be spilled here and there.

BES (Brazilian Embroidery Study)

Here I made good progress, I think. Making the ribbon bow in Buttonholed Double Chain Stitch took up a lot of time, but I am pleased with the result.

Oh, I do love the look of this stitch!

More Bullion Knots will be added to fill the knot in the centre.

Vaxholmskudden

Here, I have also made noticeable progress.
I stitched down a ribbon and four corner pieces. The latter have been edged with Buttonhole Stitch.

If I am lucky I will have as much progress to report next week, too!