Finishing Old WIPs

I wrote before that one of the things on my list for this year is to finish most of my unfinished projects that I keep in a special box. This little guy was left forgotten pretty much since the very beginning of my sewing journey. But I am happy to say that it's all done and dusted now. The embroidery is a copy of a photo of a small figurine that was given to my husband by his parents when he was little. We still have this special toy and it sits happily in a glass cabinet with my doll collection. I was going to make a fabric envelope and leave the embroidery as a "pencil sketch", just brown outlines. I only added some fabric for the ball at that time. But when I pulled it out recently, I felt like it needed some colour. So I filled the outlines with some colourful threads.

Not too much, just the outfit, gloves and shoes, and as you can see, I changed the ground as well. These delicate single count grass shoots seemed totally out of place after I completed the figure. I decided to turn this embroidery into a bookmark for my husband. I really wanted him to have something special from his childhood that connects him to his Mum and Dad that he could use on daily basis. This bookmark was a perfect choice. My husband was touched by this small unexpected gift. I added a kiss and a cuddle, something we all need.

The next one was a pair of patchwork pieces. I am so happy I found the perfect use for these pretty pastel patches. I made them using a paper piecing technique, just simple stripes, but this fabric "Sakura Park" by Moda makes them look so pretty. I don't even remember what I was planning to make with them, but I found two of them in my box, attached cotton/linen blend fabric in natural colour and turned them into...

...hot pot holders. A very simple design, nothing fancy, not many details, but I do like how they turned out, because they were so quick and easy to make, I do not think I will be holding onto them for long and will start using them pretty much right away.

So I can tick two little things off my list of unfinished projects that makes me feel happy. Happy because I honestly do not like leaving things unfinished and I do not have much storage room, and I do not like wasting any fabric for nothing. But my box is still quite full and I need to make more room for projects that I keep starting. Have a wonderful weekend! Larisa xox