Bicycle Wall Hanging

A little red bicycle with a basket of flowers and books - few things say summer to me more than this image! To celebrate the coming of summer, I designed and created this bicycle wall hanging. It incorporates my love of appliqué, bicycles, books, flowers, and polka dots. I wanted this to be as happy a wall hanging as I could manage, and I think I succeeded.

What do you think?

More pictures are available here.

Although not clear in this photo, the tires and seat are black polka dots, like the border. I am a lover of all things polka dot. Few designs are as cheerful to me as dots of all colors.

This completed wall hanging is available at my Etsy shop.

This is a completely original design. I used Adobe Illustrator to trace several different kinds of bicycles until I got it looking like an old-timey two wheeler. For the flowers and books in the basket, I fussy cut from appropriate fabrics that spoke to me. (You can't really see the books in the basket but they are there.)

 If you would like to make your own wall hanging, here is a copy of the bicycle. Please don't claim this design as yours - a link back would be nice but not required. Anything you choose to do with this design is up to you, as long as you don't say you designed it yourself. Thanks!

Bicycle for applique (c) Crafts of Note

Quilting pattern for wall hanging border (c) Crafts of Note 2016

Ballerinas Dancing Across a Wall Hanging

I have always loved the art of Ballet. If I'd been shorter, thinner, and more athletic, I would have dreamt of being a ballerina. Alas, that was not to be. I am a sewer which means I can create ballerinas from fabric and thread. This is the result!

Even more photos are available here: Ballerina Wall Hanging - Four Swans Dancing

Ballerina Wall Hanging is available from my Etsy shop.

I created this wall hanging using Adobe Illustrator to trace various ballerinas in several poses. If you would like to make your own wall hanging, here is a copy of the swans. Please don't claim this design as yours - a link back would be nice but not required. Anything you choose to do with this design is up to you, as long as you don't say you designed it yourself. Thanks!

Four Swans Dancing (c) Crafts of Note 

Joyful Elephant Wall Hanging

Isn't there something so adorable about elephants? I've always thought of elephants as true gentle giants. I feel certain that in real life they are loud, smelly, and ill tempered - much like us, now that I think about it.

That doesn't mean that I don't harbor a love of elephants. When I saw this design at Windham Fabrics, I knew I had to make my own.

I was a little surprised that the elephant on the appliqué pattern wasn't reversed. And since I'd already printed it out, I decided not to reverse it when I made it. That makes mine a mirror image of the original but I'm okay with it. I still think it's incredibly adorable.

What do you think?

More photos are available here: Joyful Elephant Wall Hanging.

Joyful Elephant Wall Hanging is available in my Etsy shop.

Open Book Wall Hanging

I've been quilting for many, many years - off and on. Recently I decided to return to making quilts by starting small. My first project of what I plan to be many quilts is an open book wall hanging. It is pieced which is a change from the appliqué I have been doing more recently.

Open Book Wall Hanging

Open book close-up

Bookshelf close-up

Open book close-up

Back of wall hanging

Back close-up

The Open Book Wall Hanging is available from my Etsy shop.

The wall hanging has two shelves of closed books and two shelves displaying open books with quotes: "Not all who wander are lost." and "A ship in harbor is safe but that is not what ships are built for." The "pages" of the books are machine quilted with appropriate designs, including a sailboat, a lighthouse, and a mariner's compass. The shelved books are outline quilted.

The wall hanging is machine pieced and quilted, from 100% pre-washed quilting cotton. The back is Timeless Treasure book fabric, always a favorite. There are three tabs at the top for hanging. It measures 23.5 inches high and 31 inches wide.

I was very happy with the overall look although it didn't come out precisely the way it should have. Those 1/4 inch seams can have their own minds which I can't get under control. 

This wall hanging was made from the Open Book pattern designed by Nancy Harcourt of Prairie Queen Pattern Company, which can be purchased at her Etsy shop (prairiequeenpatterns.etsy.com).