In my last couple of posts I referred to the Making Zen online retreat (the Liz Haywood Zero Waste top, and the Selina Ben treasure pouches), and I’ve been having so much fun I decided that I needed to document where I’ve got to so far. I couldn’t decide what to call this post but as I’m reporting on my third lot of makes, I decided to call it Part 3. Don’t go looking for Parts 1 and 2!

In my last post I mentioned the Selina Ben Treasure pouches and Miss G found the floral one tucked in my bag. It was obvious that she wanted to wear it so I brought it home and added some leather thonging so she could put it round her neck. Whilst all thiswas going on Miss E proclaimed that she would like a blue one, and Miss I’s mother said she’d like a pink one. So here they are.

The blue one is made from some scraps left over from my indigo dyeing experiments. I had used some slippery bamboo sheeting and struggled to get crisp corners. The pink one is made from fabric I was given that had belonged to Miss I’s great grandmother (Oma). The pink was originally a tablecloth and the floral fabric was screwed up in a box. After a launder and press, I thought it was really pretty.

By the way, they are sitting on a table mat I wove some years ago. The extent of my weaving I’m afraid!

The very first class I did was by Meredith Woolnough, an introduction to freehand machine embroidery. She had us embroidering little gardens. Here are two of mine, done on a scrap left over from some natural dyeing.

These were all done using an embroidery hoop, and I used my BSR – Bernina Stitch Regulator. It’s supposed to keep the stitch length consistent. Not sure it always works for me. We had to test our tension, and I have to say I don’t normally fiddle with it, so this was good for me.

I made the fabric owl sachet by Persimmon Studio Art and filled it with dried lavender from my garden. Igot some texture on the brow by using a tiny scrap of towelling. The green “garden” is a beautiful piece of Indian fabric and I couched on a branch made from embroidery floss.

This owl was immediately appropriated by my husband so I made another one for me. Very similar but slightly different.

I used the second owl pattern and gave it some woolly brows. I also used purple floss for the feathers and feet, which have somehow missed sitting on the branch properly, but I don’t mind. I know owls can swivel their heads, but this one has rotated its face independently of its body! I decided this one is a boy owl because he’s a bit prettier. Once again I used dried lavender. Both of these now live under our pillows.

Please note that he’s sitting on the Kawandi quilt I made during Making Zen in 2025. See the green patch, which matches?

I was quite surprised when I put the two together, as they are quite different shapes and sizes. I think the boy one looks a bit friendlier. I note that I now have a parliament of owls in my bed!

Whilst I was wafting around proudly with my owls my youngest son appeared to work on a project in our garage (he really needs his own workshop). I asked if he’d like one and he said sure, but didn’t want an owl. He just wanted a plain one in a neutral fabric. I naturally dug some green fabric out of the stash, but no, he wanted linen coloured linen! I happen to have a torn sheet of his, which met his brief perfectly. Here it is! I laugh every time I look at it.

I loved the little textile vessels by Petalplum. I made the rectangular one first and learned a lot. It’s a bit floppy and I couldn’t make the rim very neat. I should have cut the corners longer so that the box would have higher sides. Next time.

I really love the petal one. I used some lace pieces supplemented with scraps of marbled fabric. The other side is just the marbled fabric. I like that I can turn the dish inside out depending on which side I want to show.

I really wanted to make the Agy Lee – Broderie Anglaise Scalloped Coasters. I used denim for the back and piece of yellow cloth for the front and stitched the scalloped edges. It all looked a bit plain so I freehand drew a bird and stitched round it. I’m really pleased with it.

I’m going to end this post with Meredith Woolnough’s negative space class. I found this a bit fascinating, and had very mised results with my experiments. I used an embroidery hoop for my circle and a page torn from a visual diary. My shapes came from cut up sheet music which I had rescued from a throw out bin at the op shop.

I’m not very skilled at getting even negative space so tucked little offcuts in. I was rather pleased with this first attempt. I can see a snake in the middle there.

Then I tried to get fancy! What if my negative space was the music? Well, I don’t like this at all. I don’t like the big plain shapes and the music in the background. I wasn’t going to post this, but thought others might learn from my mistake.

Of course I’m now thinking how to translate this to textiles.

My dinosaur mad grandson turned four last week and I thought I’d show you the card I made him on my Cricut.