Wednesday, February 13, 2013

A Happy Birthday To You, Friend....

Shortly after I became Molly Flanders I found Patchwork N Play...
we became buddies!  She would help me decode quilt patterns that didn't quite make sense....and....well, I am not sure what she gets out of this long distance relationship! Tee hee!

The genius behind Patchwork N Play is Susan, of course! I was drawn to her blog because of her attention to detail.  Her piecing is always perfect.  Her choice of fabrics and colors are always thoughtful.  And she has fantastic style! And to top it all off she is a really nice person....really.  She is just a gem!

So if you aren't her friend too {although I know many of you are} then you should be.

Susan has a February birthday and I wanted to make her something special.  Gifting can be tricky when it has to travel all the way to Oz.  So not too big and heavy, but something special for her day!

   
Since I was working on Molly's quilt and had just finished the Flowering Vine, I was in a bit of a flowery/vine-like mood.  And, of course, I turned to Denyse Schmidt for more inspiration.  

 
Denyse Schmidt's first craft book includes a pattern for embellishing a wool skirt with felted wool flowers and vines.  I borrowed this idea and applied it to a table runner/dresser scarf for my dear friend.

  
I had so much fun making this!  The strips of wool felt did not need to be cut on the bias to get these nice curves...the edges didn't need to be finished.  Just cut and stitch!  yay!


    
I used Essex linen for the background fabric and simply added a dot of Roxanne's Basting Glue to hold the pieces down while I stitched.  The entire vine has a couching stitch to hold it in place.


  
And I used my favorite Valdani Thread for all my stitching and embellishing!

 
Another gift stitched with love! Susan is posting about her gift today...please pop over and wish her a happy birthday!
happy wednesday!
mary

24 comments:

  1. What a beautiful gift for your lucky friend.

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  2. It's beautiful Mary and a wonderful present for a great friend. I've been lucky enough to meet Susan twice now, hopefully I'll be able to see this beautiful table runner in person next time we meet.

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  3. Mary this is just LOVELY---a fabulous idea. :) She's a lucky duck. :)

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  4. Just so pretty, as you said, stitched with love! :) x

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  5. Handmade gifts are always precious to receive, especially when you can tell how much the maker loved the makery!!

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  6. Beautiful! I love working with felt. I think I'll be buying Essex linen!

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  7. So beautiful! You have a very lucky friend.

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  8. I am sure Susan will be delighted with this gift

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  9. It's so beautiful,love the combination of linen, felt, and all the hand stitching, simply divine!

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  10. You have been very generous with your sweet words as well as your beautiful stitching, my special friend Mary.

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  11. This is such a beautiful table runner and such a special gift for Susan. I love the combination of wool, linen and those wonderful stitches!

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  12. What a wonderful present. You do beautiful work. Hugs

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  13. Wished Happy Birthday! She is very happy with her present from you Mary - but then who wouldn't be!?

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  14. Wished Happy Birthday! She is very happy with her present from you Mary - but then who wouldn't be!?

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  15. It is lovely. That couching is a great idea.

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  16. I love it and Susan will too, she makes great things too.

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  17. Wonderful gift! I will check out Susan's blog now.

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  18. What a lovely gift! I popped over and told her Happy Birthday... Oh, I started following her too.

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  19. Thanks for sharing pictures of that special runner for a special lady! I admire you both very much.

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  20. Pretty, pretty, pretty. Honestly, I love the bright colours on the linen, off to pop over to the blog link now, as not sure it's on my reader list. Bethx (thelinencat)

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  21. How can I be SO behind on reading your posts? In a blog-fog since December for whatever reason. Susan is just wonderful isn't she? What a lovely gift. You are both so inspiring to me.

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