Stitching Up Wildflowers - Thai Hill Tribe Wall Hanging

Click on the photos to enlarge)

About 7 years ago my family spent a summer in Thailand. My husband taught for one semester at a Christian college there. While we were there I was given this beautiful wall hanging. It is hand made, and hand stitched, on possibly hand woven and hand dyed fabric. The fabric is cotton. There are irregularities in the dye work. The mural is more then six feet wide and over 3 feet high.

The mural features hand appliquéd and embroidered hill tribe women and children and wildflowers. I wish I could remember which specific hill tribe it features, but unfortunately I have forgotten that important detail.
In the above photo there is a woman with a baby tied to her back. You can find her in the middle of the large mural.
I'm assuming this section features children playing with a handmade toy. I have seen actual children in Thailand pushing a wheel connected to a stick for a toy. They got so much more fun and joy from that simple object then most American kids do from something with batteries, animation and noise.
There is a toddler in this picture accompanied by her mother. I am fascinated by the pack she is carrying on her back with some kind of blooming flower or herb that she has gathered. It makes me wonder if the mural actually teaches about useful plants, but unfortunately I can only guess.

The third person from the left in the large mural is doing some kind of stitching, though I didn't get a close up photo of her.

The exciting thing about this wall hanging is that I have pulled it out of the closet, and it is now on the wall above my sewing machine. I really like seeing it there. It has really brightened up my sewing area.

Quilted Valentines Day Card Tutorial

Would you like to combine sewing fun and card making this Valentine's Day to make unique handmade cards for you loved ones? Here are some simple step-by-step directions that will make it easy for you.

Supplies:
-a heart shaped to trace so you can make a template for your card
-Card stock in pink, white or red, cut in half, so you can fold it to make a card.
-Sewing machine that zig zags
-thread in a contrasting color
-fabric appropriate for hearts and Valentine's Day
-thin batting
-scissors
-white school type glue

1. Make yourself a heart shaped template using a stencil, or by tracing another heart. Cut it out of card stock so it is durable.

2. Position your heart template on a pre-cut and folded half sheet of card stock.






3. Carefully poke scissors into the middle of the heart you have traced on the card, and then cut it out, try to have very smooth cutting edges, because every little nick will show. An exact0 knife might make a smoother edge, if you had one.






4. Cut some fabric bigger then the heart hole by about 1/2 inch or more on all sides. Cut a piece of batting the same size. Layer all three pieces like a sandwich. Fabric (facing out), batting, fabric.








5. Hold your fabric sandwich firmly and center it on the underside of your card, so it shows through nicely out the front window. With your sewing machine set on a zig-zag stitch, carefully maneuver around the outside of the heart. Sewing slowly helps turn corners. Be careful to not let the fabric slip or pucker underneath the card.





6. Trim thread ends of your heart. Then trim excess fabric off the back edge of the heart. Pinking shears might be nice if you had them.









7. At this point you can leave the card just as it is, or you can cut a piece of card stock into quarters, and then glue one of those quarters onto the back side of the fabric heart to cover the edges. It will make the card a little more stiff, which could help it stand up longer. But I do think this is optional, because there is a kind of simple charm to seeing the stitched back side of the heart too.




8. Make enough cards to send to everyone. They really don't take long to make. Fill the note inside with affirmations and love. Then be sure to put them in an envelope with a stamp and address and get them out to the mail box right away. I know this is the hardest part, but may be the most important part. Don't think you are finished until you have them mailed. Then sit down and smile. You have done a good thing. Someone is going to feel so cared for in just a couple days when they find your sweet card in the mailbox.

Update on the Beaded Bell Ornament

A dear friend went searching on the web and found a place where you can order beads and instructions to make four beaded bell ornaments. I am so excited and have already placed my order. You can take a look at this site. Thank you to my friend, and to all of you who searched.

Elizabeth Joy

Wanted: Beaded Bell Ornament Pattern

In 1980 and 1981 I attended a one room school for 7th and 8th grade. I really loved it there. They were my best two years of school ever. A kind lady from our church came in and taught us how to make beaded bell ornaments for Christmas. I made two and have treasured them ever since. Unfortunately one was broken a couple years ago. I have missed it ever since and would like to make a replacement, but I can't find a pattern. Do any of you have one or know where to find one? I would so appreciate your help! The picture above shows my remaining bell which was on our Christmas tree again this year.

Update on the story: We have found some bells you can order that come with beads and instructions here.