June 19, 2015
New Books and Needle Cases on Etsy
A few days ago I added these Needle Cases and Mini Composition Journals to my Etsy Store. The Needle Cases are scans of Vintage Envelopes that I added Vintage digital elements to before printing on fabric. Once I put the needle cases together I embellished them with embroidery, beads, lace and buttons. The envelope addressed to Col Edwards is circa late 1800s.The other letter was sent from Italy to Long Beach in the 1950s.
Embellished Covers are added to Mini Composition books to create the Mini Journals. One is a felted base with Silk ribbon embroidered flowers which was this backed with another piece of felt. The other Mini Journal is linen applied to felt and then embellished with a piece of painted lace embroidery and beads. All four can be found in my Etsy Store.
March 23, 2015
Old Time Text
Inspired by the 12 x 12 group I belong to on Facebook, “Old Time Text” uses the word of the month for March: Text. I scanned then printed the fabrics in the background from my collection of vintage and antique books and ephemera. Some are as old as the 1830s. It’s 12 x 12 so it qualifies as a Twilt as well.
For more info on the Twilts: Twitter quilts…….Twilts or see all my Twilts :Flickr Twilts Page. Click on the image of the Twilt to go directly to it’s high resolution image.
March 18, 2015
Embellished Organdy Hearts
My latest embellished project, “Organdy Hearts” features cotton organdy hearts appliqued to five of the blocks before the embroidery, silk ribbon and beading was applied. The stitch used to applique the cotton organdy is called the Pin Stitch. I learned this stitch from Elyn Mosbarger a while back.I’ve wanted to revisit the stitch for some time, once I began doing handwork again. 
I’ve already tempted and taught the stitch to my Crazy Quilt group.
Click on the images to see the high res pictures on Flickr.
I’ve created a pattern for this project and if you are interested contact me through my email found in the contact section of the Blog.
August 27, 2014
Chocolate Memories
“Chocolate Memories” is another example of the blocks used in the Embellishment Sampler. Each of the nine blocks use a batik square zig zag stitched to a piece of felt. I added a piece of lace, doily or hankie. Trims, silk ribbon and embroidery were added next. It was finished up with beads and found objects. The squares were then added to a quilted piece with beads. The entire piece measures approximately 20″ square.
I love doing these little pieces. Block 5 features a photo on fabric of my sweet cat Myke who died a few months ago at the age of 19. A theme can be applied to the whole set or a single small square can be used on a card, a magnet or a book cover.
All of my collections of beads, lace, threads and ribbons can be mined for the current block that I am working on. I have so many ideas for my next block that I have a hard time choosing the next one to start.
I hope you enjoy them.
May 28, 2014
Embellishment Sampler
By special request I put together this Embellishment Sampler for a workshop I will be doing in July. I have included many of my favorite embellishment elements. Just as Inchies, Post Cards and Tags have become a popular format for small artwork, I thought that these Tiny Twilts” would be a fun and versatile way of learning new embroidery and embellishment techniques. Each of the nine Tiny Twilts are only 3 1/2″.
This little pieces are a lot of fun and would make great Motifs on cards books and needle cases. They are also a great way to experiment with new stitches and techniques.
Just a few included techniques: Gathered Wire Edge Ribbon flowers, Basic Silk Ribbon Embroidery, Silk Ribbon Spider Web Roses, Bead Leaf Flowers and Folded Gathered Flowers.
Click on the picture of the Sampler and it will take you to a High Res picture on Flickr.com
April 21, 2014
The Laugh of a Child
April’s 12 x 12, “The Laugh of a Child”. Vintage pictures, lace, silk ribbon, beads, gathered flower and lots of buttons. Also doubles as a Twilt. Enjoy!
For more info on the Twilts: Twitter quilts…….Twilts or see all my Twilts :Flickr Twilts Page. Click on the image of the Twilt to go directly to it’s high resolution image.
April 14, 2014
Early Spring
I know there is cold weather out there but Spring is coming in with a vengeance here in Southern California. It’s almost 90 degrees outside. This is my newest Twilt, “Early Spring”. Techniques include Silk Ribbon Embroidery, Folded Gathered Roses. raveled linen Tiny Twilts with bits of vintage lace and a doily corner. There’s a vintage button, lots of beads and my favorite French Knot Roses.
For more info on the Twilts: Twitter quilts…….Twilts or see all my Twilts :Flickr Twilts Page. Click on the image of the Twilt to go directly to it’s high resolution image.
March 31, 2014
Twilts or 12 x 12s, A Lot of Fun!
At the Beginning of the year I joined a group on Facebook called the 12×12’s with Cosmo & Cook. The idea was that they would give us a word and we would use that word to make a 12 x 12 quilt. Anyone who follows my blog knows ….. that’s a Twilt. Here are my contributions for January, February and March.
“Delight” is January’s word and the title for my piece. I used a Crinkled fabric base with a burned edge silk heart. A bow held down with french knots was added along with a Digital definition of the word Delight from a 1908 dictionary. I finished it off with pearl cotton and silk ribbon embroidery. The tiny French Knot Roses are one of my favorite stitches.
For February we were challenged with Colorful and then Animal. I knew immediately that I would use the Zebra Batik from the 80’s. I applied fusible web to the batik print ,cut out the Zebras and stitched them in place. Once I fused them to the background batik I added a variety of sequins and buttons. It’s called “Dance of the Zebras”
Tranquility was the word for Ma
rch with a bonus word of Bloom. I was working on my Tiny Twilt Squares and decided to use one with silk ribbon buds and a rose. I used pearl cotton Xs to stitch it onto a Digital print as the background. I added lace and silk ribbon embroidery. Once I added the border batik I thought it needed a bow and some pearl cotton feather stitch with beads. I finished it off with button and a Key. “What is the Key to Tranquility?”
Why did I call it a Twilt? For more info on the Twilts: Twitter quilts…….Twilts or see all my Twilts :Flickr Twilts Page. Click on the image of the Twilt to go directly to it’s high resolution image.
October 13, 2012
Vintage Envelope Needle Cases
I have been working on the Vintage Envelope Needle Case project for a while and wrapped it up a couple of weeks ago. In my Vintage Art collecting I have found a number of very cool Vintage Envelopes. I scan them into my computer, clean them up, add some digital art if they are plain, add a background and then print them on cotton. When they are out flat they fill approximately half of a regular sheet of paper. They are sandwiched with fusible batting and a back and stitched around the edges.
Embroidery, buttons, silk ribbon and all sorts of embellishments can be added. Add flannel or wool pages for the needles and you are ready to go.
This is one of my favorites. It’s a happy New Year card from Argentina, from one family to another wishing them Happy New Year in 1900.
I have created sixteen different Vintage Envelopes. Each Vintage Envelope design is printed on cotton and includes a pattern with instructions on how to assemble the needle case. You add your own embellishments. The price is $9.50 each plus postage. Email me if you are interested in purchasing one or more. They make great gifts.
Click on images to see them in high resolution.
Some of these prints are available on Etsy. Here
July 31, 2012
Summer In Bloom
“Summer in Bloom” is my newest Twilt. It includes tiny little pieces that I call Twiltlets. They are a great format for experimentation with bits of this and that. These four include, just to name a few things, trims, buttons, a picture on fabric, the corner of an old hankerchief, a heart paperclip and silk ribbon embroidery. When I mounted the Twiltlets on the quilted linen print I added gathered flowers and a vintage lace that looked like a little fence. So, I added a rose bush with French Knot Roses.
For more info on the Twilts: Twitter quilts…….Twilts or see all my Twilts : Flickr Twilts Page. Click on the image of the Twilt to go directly to it’s high resolution image.
Snips and Bits from Shelley's Studio 
