Bits and Bobs - Raiding the Craft Room Stash

The process of turning our leftover fabric pieces, scraps, 

odd flowers, beads, charms, and laces into an 

embellished length of fabric. 

Playing with Textiles of a smaller nature and creating 

something beautiful. This may be achieved with the 

aid of a sewing machine, hand stitching or even glue. 

Uses in junk journaling as lace clusters.

Tags, pockets or page adornments.

But let's experiment to see what else these little

Self-made treasures can be. 

Some suggestions I have put together:

Bookmarks, Tags, Lace Cuffs

even decorations, banners, and Christmas décor.

As another layer in a sewing Project as you would

If placing a lace, this will become a feature. 

such as a bag or pouch. 

If the Snippet is in Cream, Ivory or White

the use in Bridal accessories is endless.

Pillows, Bags, Guest Registry, Cuffs, Belt. 

Scrapbooking, Card Making.

Make your own Embellishments by cutting into shapes

hearts, flowers, butterflies, dragonfly wings adding 

beads for the body, angel wings, birds, eg. 

Add extra beading and sequins as desired. 

Placing a pin or brooch clip to wear on clothing.

If you are into Slow Stitching, this can add depth

and texture, taking your work to the next level. 

FRENCH TAGS - MIXED MEDIA - FREE TUTORIAL

 

These are just great as Gifts.

Do you have hidden away in your sewing stash pieces

of lace that are just too small to put to use, but you

 cannot bear to part with them. This is a way to have

 it on show. Bring out such items as:

Small remnants of lace (vintage or modern), 

Doilies – damaged but precious, odd buttons. 

Charms, Ribbons, Hand-dyed Lace Trim / Motifs.

Broken pieces of jewellery, Art images on Fabric 

or fabric pieces.

For this illustrated tag, you will need:-

1 Backing Piece 12 x 22 cm.

 1 Fabric Stiffening, 10 x 20 cm.

1 image (8 x 6 cm) 

Small pieces of fabric to frame the image.

Front panel: add pieces of fabric around the image.

Layering is a plus with this type of craft; 

the more, the better. 

Add stiffening to the back.

For this example lace frames the image.

Overlapping where necessary. Making it wider than

 the fabric. Hand tack in matching thread to keep the

 lace in position. At the base I have added a hand-dyed

 lace motif with a slight touch of blue in the centre, 

which I feel complements the blue in the maid's dress.

Pearls stitched into the lace flower centres. 

With seed beads I have framed the image.

stitching them to the edge of the lace with a 

beading needle and thread.

Rosette:  

Base – Is a gathered rosette in lace.

2nd Layer - Constructed from 13 mm silk ribbon.

Pearl Button covering the stitching as the centre. 

Placed over a layer of fine lace leaves. 

Backing:

Press the seams down to make it the required size, 

then edge this with a fine 1 cm lace trim to give an

attractive edge. If machine sewing it may be best to 

do some hand tacking first to make it easier to handle

under the pressure foot with such a narrow lace.

Place it to the back of the French Tag and slip stitch

the two pieces together.

Add an eyelet to the top of the tag.

The opening for this, believe it or not, I have made

 with an ordinary office whole punch. Should you

 have the proper tool it will be simple to do.

 As an alternative the ribbon could be stitched to the 

tag, maybe with a few pleats for disguise.

Themes for your tags:-

Colourful, Christmas, Birthday, Modern, Vintage,

 Embroidered, Shabby, Boho. 

Much prettier than being hidden away in a Cabinet

don't you agree?

So pull out your sewing baskets and get inspired.