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Sunday, March 14, 2010

Even More Needlepunch Ribbon Flowers

I have made several more of these ribbon flower pins since the last time I posted about them.

Experimenting with different ribbon widths, adding other fibers, including different beads...creating these has been an ongoing quest.
And I finally figured out a way to "finish" them that I like!

They make nice gifts....

This one uses 13mm and 4mm RiverSilks ribbons, Krenik Soie Noppe thread and 6 ply silk floss, with some barely visible machine sewing thread in little loops in the center.

It became this:

The leaves are made from the hand-dyed felted wool I bought from Vicki Day in January.
This pin is a bit large for my taste, though. So I went smaller.

This one has simpler leaves and is smaller in diameter too. There are more beads incorporated as well. You can sew those on either after needlepunching the ribbon or before.

Next I tried sewing the leaves around the perimeter of the ribbon flower itself.

I like it, but they are a wee bit hard to see. Too subtle, I guess.

Larger leaves again, then.....

But they are nice and clean looking, of vintage lucite.

All these flowers were mounted over Timtex with an additional covered Timtex backing which worked well but felt cumbersome to me.
Then it finally occurred to me that covered button blanks could be ideal for this application. They come in sizes that are plenty big. So yesterday I tried that approach.

The button blank is 1 1/2". I've got a circle slightly larger than that drawn on my fabric in the hoop, to account for the curvature of the button blank. You can see my pearls are already sewn into place.

Fast forward to fitting the finished punched flower over the button form. I've removed that wire shank.

Using strong Silamead thread, I ran a gathering stitch around the trimmed perimeter of my punched fabric.

Then I cinched the gathers tightly, and took a few more stitches to get everything snug.
This picture doesn't show it, but next I used my fingers to push the fabric onto the prongs in the button form. That way it is easier to snap the button back over it into place.

And here is the lavender flower....

The leaves are a size I like, and the flower is held together quite securely and neatly by the covered button front and back. I just need to glue a pinback on it and it is all set to go on a lapel somewhere!

I'll be teaching how to make these flower pins at a private class arranged by a friend of mine in the Bay Area in May, and also at the Adventure in Crazy Quilting conference in Connecticut in April 2011.
This Adventure, produced by Maureen Greeson and Susan Elliot, with my co-teachers Betty Pillsbury and Sharon Boggon, promises to be a truly wonderful event for crazy quilters from around the country. Hope you can attend!

22 comments:

  1. Oh Allie, these are exquisite little masterpieces. You have really carved out a special niche with these.

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  2. Yes, Allie, exquisite and masterpieces are the words to describe this work. You are a very creative person.

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  3. My goodness but there's little I love more than ribbon flowers - every kind - and your creations are glorious. Love the idea of mounting them on a button form.
    I hardly live close to the Bay Area to take your class, but I surely wish I did!!

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  4. These are beautiful! Absolutely lovely!

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  5. Allie, these are beautiful! You will have a full class for this!

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  6. OK Sign me up....I just ordered my ribbon punch needle!!! I'll have to keep an eye out for the large covered button thingys...great idea... Gerry K.

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  7. Phooey! I will be getting my PINK house CQ retreat ready for May 2011. No can do.
    It should be a fun retreat.
    Smiles,Pat

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  8. Very nice little flowers. I especially like the 3rd one with the yellow beads.

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  9. Wow...these ribbon flowers look awesome. I have never seen anything like it. Keep up the good work.

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  10. Everything has been said already about these little "jewels." Beautiful and clever. I wish I could be there to watch!! I like the green one.

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  11. Allie, these are so interesting! I love them!

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  12. Absolutely gorgeous. I like the back idea - very clever. You could pop the button backs on and then get rid of the shank by clipping it off and then you could use a jewelry type glue to add a pin back.

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  13. Boy, you have been bloomin' busy! Can you imagine creating a rug full of these? Wonderful!

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  14. Allie, it's beautiful. Can We make it..?

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  15. Hi Allison,
    Beautiful FLOWERS, everything you create is Beautiful, I LOVE FLOWERS, NATURE..............

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  16. hank you very much for your instruction. The photos and your explanation are perfect!! I will try them.

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  17. Those are stunning! I couldn't believe they were made of ribbon at first glace.

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  18. This is truly amazing I like the work that you have done.Thanks for sharing new Art.I think you will be successful..

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  19. These are so beautiful. You could sell these at craft shows!

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  20. Thanks for informative and helpful post, obviously in your blog everything is good.If you post informative comments on blogs there is always the chance that actual humans will click through.

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