Paper cuts and childhood memories

I had a happy childhood in a very stable environment with loving parents, and not many dramas or traumas. I thrived in the creative milieu that was my home. We were quite poor in comparison to some of my friends, so our creative entertainment made do with very simple bits and pieces - string and buttons, paper and scissors, wool and cotton. 

One thing I loved doing was folding pieces of paper, then cutting triangles, semi-circles and other shapes along the folds. Open it up, and voila! - a beautiful paper-cut doiley. Place them over a coloured background and my desire for pretty things was satisfied!

You can imagine how quickly I said "Yes" when the lovely editor of Australian Country Craft & Decorating magazine asked me to design a project in the style of Paper Cuts! The original request was for the design to use felt, but I found it very difficult to obtain the intricate detail that I wanted, so opted instead for black fabric.

...and so, Du Papier was born:

You can find it in Stunning Country Craft and Decorating, Vol 24 No 1:

I really enjoyed making this wall-hanging and was delighted that I was able to find fabrics and beaded fringe to match in my stash.  It's a bit fiddly and the cutting takes a long time, but it's worth it all for the effect that is gained.  Maybe I am a bit addicted as I've already started on another design in the paper-cut style!  I think I might even go and find some paper scissors and make a paper doiley this afternoon!

I received a lovely e-mail recently from Dianne in Adelaide sharing a photo of her completed "Thoughts in Thread" quilt (the 2012 free Block of the Month quilt):

Isn't it gorgeous!  I love the fabrics that Dianne has chosen - they work beautifully together and the applique and stitching looks great.  Thanks, Dianne, for sharing.  My plan is to make this Quilt pattern available for sale SOON!  - been putting it off for ages!

In the middle of all the bits and pieces that made up my week, I managed to complete a wall-hanging for daughter, Janelle.  I had worked a cross-stitch for her many years ago in blue, but was never happy with it. It definitely needed something done to improve it, so Janelle coloured it with her Inktense pencils.  It brought it to to life but it needed some kind of framework to set it off.  Janelle suggested a house shape, so grandson and I worked out a design and then I had to figure out how to actually sew it.  In the end, it came together quite easily and turned out really well. As daughter hasn't seen it yet, I'll just give you a sneak peak:

Yesterday I spent time working with the lovely Double Chocolat range - what a name!  The fabric is as lovely as the concept too!  I'm combining it with some white and love the fresh country look that that combination brings. I used to avoid white at all costs, and now this is the second design in a couple of months where I've used it! What is happening to me?????

Hope you have a wonderful week with lots of stitching.

Val