hello sweeties!
here is a fun, fast and free sweet little mini-sewing pattern for you!

Designing  your “Potpourri Heart” should feel awfully familiar…remembering how you made your first Valentines in grade school…folding your paper in half and drawing your half-heart!  This time just add a 1/4″ seam allowance as you cut it out.  Voila! You now have your sewing pattern. 

Feel free to click the following link, then print it out on a standard 8.5″ x 11″ piece of printer/copier paper at 100% so you will have the correct pattern proportions.  Enjoy!  [ View and Print PDF Pattern ]

XOXO,

-ellen

Now available! One of my first bag KITS!

I can’t tell you how long I have wanted to be able to “kit” some of the popular bags/totes I have designed over the years! Sooo many nice folks have stopped me at shows and requested “Kits, please!” 

2010 I am turning over the “kit” leaf, and following through with several more, so keep an eye out for them!

Well, here is the first!  There are a limited number of these cute “Paris Ville” Bag Kits now up for sale in my company’s online store! Each are tied with a grosgrain ribbon, that can then be used as part of the bag details if you wish! You might have recognized the bag’s style… it is made using “The Picture This Bag Pattern”. Fabric used is by Michael Miller Fabrics- in case it looks familiar as well!

A few details about The Picture This Bag Style…
Your bag will be approximately 8″h. x 10″w. x 4″ d.
The length of the shoulder straps are 20-21″ each.
There are options for 6+ Pockets!

Besides the obvious Pattern with Step by Step Instructions, and Fabric as shown, Purse Feet and Magnetic Snap Hardware (choose from siver or gold), Interfacing, and two tiny (but favorite!) details… daisies that adorn the side pockets! 

Please let us know if you have any questions regarding this Kit, and then grab one before they are gone!!

Happy Sewing,

-ellen

All Images and Text Copyright 2009, Ellen Medlock, LLC.

This Holiday Fabric Table Setting-   napkin, napkin ring, charger, and dessert plate, I designed using Christmas themed  fabrics by Michael Miller. The mod pink and green tree fabric  is called “Yule Tree”- one of my favorites!

I also used one of my Napkin Ring Set blanks to finish the red and white striped napkin ring. For How-To Instructions on the Napkin Ring’s take a peek here.

The Glass Dinner Plate is from the local Dollar store! You can’t go wrong-

The Napkin was made using Michael Miller coordinating green dot fabric, and is cut 16″ square. Simply turn under and sew 1/4″ seams on all sides.

Here’s how to make the rest of your unique Table Setting:

The Fabric Charger Plate

13″ common acrylic charger plate (these seem to be everywhere around the Holidays, and are pretty cheap- I found mine for $1.50.  Try Walmart or Target.. they come in sets of 4. I used a silver metalic finished charger.)

Spray Adhesive for crafters (Elmer’s Craft Bond worked well for me.)

15″ Square of your favorite  Holiday fabric, ironed well.

Clear Matte Acrylic Spray

Rotary cutter

1.  Give the top of your acrylic charger a good coat of adhesive spray.

2.  Drape and center your fabric square over the tacky charger, and gently smooth it onto the charger’s top.

3.  Allow to dry completely, then turn the charger upside down on your cutting surface, and use the rotary cutter to remove excess fabric from around the rim of the charger.

4.  Are we having fun yet?! If the answer is YES, then move on to the next step!

5.  Protect the new fabric charger with 3 coats of the clear acrylic spray. Of course these are not to be immersed in wather, but will repel water, and food stains while in use as a mostly decorative piece!

                                                               ♥

Now on to the small silver dessert or serving plate….  A clear glass dinner plate from a Dollar type chains store sits between~

The Dessert Plate

a clear glass plate @ 7″ round, with a flat area in the center that will accomodate a design (again, check the Dollar store!)

a tiny motif cut from a coordination piece of fabric, (possibly from the charger fabric) or paper, to be placed in the center of the plate

silver glitter spray paint- small can

aluminum matte finish spray paint- small can

clear matte acrylic spray

1.  Wash your glass plate well.

2. Press the tiny cut motif  -if fabric.

 3.  Very lightly spray the BACK or WRONG side of the tiny motif  with two coats of clear acrylic spray, allowing it to dry between light coats. Avoid saturating it.

4.  When the tiny motif is completely dry, turn it over to the FRONT or RIGHT side and spray with the spray adhesive.

5.  Take the small round glass plate, and turn it upside down.  Then carefully center the motif on the flat center  area of the back of the plate, smoothing it gently to help it adhere.

6. Once dry, spray the back of the glass plate with several light coats of the silver glitter spray, allowing it to dry between coats.

7.  When dry, spray a 2 light coats of the aluminum spray paint on top of the glitter coat, still working on the back side of the glass plate.

8. When the aluminum spray paint is completely dry, give the back of the plate several light coats of the clear acrylic spray to protect the piece. Again, this is not an immersible piece, but it will be somewhat serviceable as a decorative or special serving piece!

                                                                 ♥

-ellen

These inspirational class samples from Swarovski expert and artist Kristal Wick  really caught my eye on her blog the other day! Her class at Quilt Festival this past Fall were a huge success, and I am sure this class will be also! Loved all the “bling”, and thought you might too! Thanks for the wonderful Bangle Bracelet Set ideas, Kristal!! Check out the rest of her blog!

XOXO

-ellen

Hello! I have been adding as quickly as I can some fun and unique fabric projects to my “PAGES” section on the left side of the Blog for our creative amusement! Goodness knows I have been totally amused to the point of not being able to stop myself from making more and more and more once I designed these “Fabric Charger & Plate Sets”. This is due to the fact that I have to confess, like alot of you crafty folks ..love to decorate my tabletop, plus just happen to have loads of nifty fabric! Ha!

The fabrics I have chosen for  the Charger, (Flight Pattern), Napkin (Enchanted Damask), and Napkin Ring (Sunrise Stripe) are original designs available in one and half yard cuts from my online boutique. Loved playing with the new Napkin Ring Set too! Check out the other projects up so far.. can’t wait ’til I get my “Discovery Collage” Pillow up…funny story on that one I have to tell you later! Thanks for stopping by!

-ellen

How much fun is this! Personalize your tabletop to the max with the new Napkin Ring Set from Ellen Medlock, llc. 
 There are 12 creative blanks for you to embellish to your heart’s content~ with fabric, ribbon (1 1/2″ wide fits perfectly), beads, paint, paper, buttons……etc! There are more Chic Crafts awaiting too- The Wood Bagette, The Bangle Bracelet Sets, The Fabric Clock.. Check them all out at my online store.

The hardest decision will be whether to keep these all to your self, or give as a gift! Wouldn’t they make excellent hostess gifts, or favors for a special occassion?!

-ellen

Celebrating the arrival of NEW Medium Size Bangle Bracelet Sets!! They are approximately 2.5″  -a tiny bit smaller than the original Large, which are just under 3″ diameter. Found out these tiny measurements can make a difference when taking a bangle on and off!  Medium Sets are now available from my Studio’s on-line boutique..www.ellenmedlockstudio.com

Here is a great idea for personalizing your bangle blanks, no matter what size!

I have a fantastic accumulation of gorgeous trims, and ribbon.. never have been able to resist- especially the show stopping ribbons of Laura Nicholson Foster.  Her 2″ wide Dahlia ribbon has been waiting for the right project, and I found it perfect for my wider 1″ bangle blank! All you need is the bangle, clear drying fabric/craft glue, and  a coordinating ribbon for the interior, and your main exterior ribbon! I can’t wait to wear this!!  (I was too conservative with my glue, at first, and would recommend using more than you think you need!

The thinner bangle is my 1/2″ wide bracelet which makes use of a darling  french style trim I purchased while perusing the infinite trim collection at my local quilt shop, Sew Flakes! Chris Fornell, the owner, has us trim junkies figured out! The first step in making this bracelet is to paint your bracelet blank with two coats of common acrylic craft paint. Once dry, apply your trim!

Have a fun creative day!

-ellen

Here are some creative timepieces I made yesterday using my “Fabric Clock Set”!  Shown in the mix of six are those made using fabic or scrapbook paper as the clock’s face! A blank canvas for your creative concepts! Most of the designs shown are available in my “Butterfly Collection” of scrapbook papers, too! Sorry they didn’t photograph as well as I would have liked.. much better in person I have to add! Honestly they each took less than a half hour to complete.. I even painted the second hands to match the color scheme of the backgrounds with a tiny bit of acrylic craft paint. I chose not to photograph them with the pop-off clear face cover, but it would be a good idea for everyday life use! All available at …www.ellenmedlockstudio.com…

happy crafting!

-ellen

Created specifically to decorate my Market/Festival booth at the last minute, this piece now hangs against the lime green walls of my studio, and is one of my favorite projects! I started with a 24 x 24 gallery edge canvas from the craft store, and literally decorated it to the “N”th degree. Using a thin coat of tacky glue, I divided it into distinct visual quarters by adhering four coordinating graphic fabrics by Michael Miller Fabrics.  Layered over the fabric are embellishments of ribbon, rick rack, tiny treasures of all varieties, (even a photo album on one corner!) to complete the look. I filled the photo album with sample bag photo’s, and was able to lift it on & off the piece when needed for show. Eye bolts screw into the canvas’s wooden frame for easy hanging. This was a bit difficult to photograph, and I am hoping some of the details are not lost! Hope this sparks an idea or two for your own Scrappy Wall Hanging!

-ellen

Wanted to share a bit of fun I’ve had recently experimenting with the creation of bangle bracelets sporting favorite fabrics! My image above shows a few of the results! These were fashioned from a bracelet form and some wonderful scraps of Michael Miller fabric. I have to say, they are addictingly simple. I am in the process of writing instructions for the form sets the studio will soon offer for sale. Check the “Specialty” page of ellenmedlock.com or call for pricing, 918-852-5697. What a fun project for that fabric you just can’t do enough with!! If I can tear myself away from these, I will begin new bag designs awaiting…now where’s that glue….

-ellen