Tuesday 7 July 2015

Rustic Sunflower Needlecase

Here's another one I made earlier.
I suspect I'm a little bit obsessed with needle cases; I seem to make a lot of them. Probably because they're useful, don't take an awful lot of work, plus you only need to sew reasonably straight lines!

This lovely rustic linen called out to me from a fabric shop in Bath. 'You need me' it cried, and everyone in the shop turned round in amazement!
Ok, I made that up, but we all know the little voice, don't we? It niggles at us when we see the pretty/interesting/ new item we can no longer live without. Even though I'm trying hard to simplify and recycle, I'm not immune to its enticements.....

The linen's almost like a high quality feedsack, and very rough.  I wanted to paint on it and wondered  how Inktense pencils would work. Not bad, as it turned out. I doodled my favourite flower, and added some text and stitch.


I really like this motif,  it tends to be my go-to doodle! I repeated it on the back, this time working on calico first for some variety in texture, and then fusing  this to the linen.  I wanted to keep the naive, rustic effect, so I mixed  up the stitching, Actually, I think I could equally have reversed the back and front images, but hey ho....


 Inside I made my usual lined pockets on each side, bound with some old chocolate coloured silk and then cut out dark brown wool felt for the needle holder.


Another tiny sunflower appears when the felt is lifted, having just pushed up from the soil below.

 He -llo!
(If you've seen 'Gnomeo and Juliet' this will make perfect sense to you, if not,  sorry!)



Can I say a big thank you for all your lovely comments on my re-emerging posts. I hope I've managed to visit or e-mail everyone,  but if I haven't got to you for any reason, please know I am really grateful for your support. x

10 comments:

CC said...

Love this, Jules!

Rachel said...

A needlecase is also something small that's ideal for experimenting on, and this experiment turned out rather well, I think!

Starr White said...

This is so pretty, Jules! I can see why you had to have that wonderful fabric. Love the texture and the color of it, and your sunflowers are the perfect accent! so happy to see you're back making and sharing again :)

Anonymous said...

Fabulous - both front and back. What gorgeous fabric and I'm really impressed with the effect that the inktense pencils have given.

Gill said...

Fabulous - I love the inktense flower!

margaret said...

great way to try out now techniques, must make a couple of needlecases myself, I am using one Catherine made when she was at junior school, she is 43 later this month!

crazyQstitcher said...

I love the simplicity of your needlebook. The sunflowers looks great and the inner page also.

Tammie Lee said...

this is lovely
i so enjoy seeing all the details
i agree with you, linen can be quite appealing
i have been enjoying wearing it this hot summer

Deb said...

Beautiful Jules, that linen is gorgeous, no wonder you had to have it! Lovely sunflowers and now I am going to have to watch Gnomeo and Juliet so I can get your sunflower reference LOL! A beautiful needlecase, thanks for sharing it.

Michelle May-The Raspberry Rabbits said...

Love it! I was just showing off the one you made for me to a friend. I treasure it.