a joint project

It was hot again today - 41 degrees hot. How ridiculous is that? I usually try to get out every day with Audrey to avoid cabin fever, but cashed in one of my heavily pregnant cards today and, armed with some essentials (grapes for the fridge and a washable fabric pen), scheduled a day at home for a joint project.

I've been wanting to try some embroidery-type thing with Audrey's drawings for ages. This idea has been doing the rounds of the crafting blog world forever, and I can't remember where I first saw it - perhaps here with Amanda way back when? There's this fabulous looking Japanese craft book on the subject, too. It's extremely addictive, and I couldn't help but think when I was stitching these today that they could be the most precious things I've ever sewn (spot the pregnancy hormones, anyone?!) I got Audrey to draw straight on the the fabric with the pen, and then machine stitched over the top. It took a bit of trial and error with my machine. I'd hoped to do it free motion, but once I lowered the feed dogs the whole thing looked like a dog's breakfast. Also, I don't have any fancy embroidery feet for my machine, so I ended up just straight stitching with a tiny stitch length. Not perfect (my machine's stitch quaility and I are often at odds with each other anyway), but it worked. Some stabilizing fabric probably would have helped, but, honestly, I'm too lazy! Her first picture of a cat made it's way onto one of the bazillion singlets we have for the baby.

And then I couldn't stop. A person.

A house. I was tempted to appliqué some patterned fabric into this one - maybe next time.

And my personal favourite (other than the cat), a person with flowers. I'm not sure what these others will become - perhaps part of a quilt one day? But for now, the process of preserving these pictures I love is half the fun.

Comments

[Heleen]

these are so great!! those first drawings to be remain special.

[Claire]

I love doing this with my childrens' drawings. I find hand stitching in backstitch (and french knots for dots) the easiest. Putting a portrait of a loved one onto a garment for them by your resident artist is a great gift. We have made t-shirts for Daddy, and an Uncle in this fashion.

My 7 year old daughter has just won her catagory in a "Young Designer of the Year" competition with her stitchery that was a drawing of hers that we transfered and she stitched out herself.
You can see it here...
http://www.matchingpegs.com/2008/01/11/
a-prizewinner-in-the-family/

The only dilema I have is what to do with this clothing, when it is outgrown.

[Steph]

How gorgeous! Be sure to make one to frame for your wall!!

[alix]

These are wonderful. And lovely that the baby will be wearing creations by his sister. Good luck from across the pond.

[monica]

what sweet drawings!

good luck with everything...

[Amy]

I can't wait until my daughter draws more than scribble scrabble so I can try this out.So sweet!

[Leta]

These are so sweet and the house would just be precious with applique.

[joyce]

my son draws people just like that...no body...he says he can't draw bodies only arms and legs =)