Thursday, December 22, 2011

What was that?

When I posted the photos of the effects that are available on my camera. Did you wonder about this one?

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What are these? Why, they're Inchies! Every trip to the library will find me prowling through the section of books on sewing, knitting, crocheting and crafts in general. This is a fairly small library and the selection is limited but I always seem to find something that I missed before. This time I found a Mary Englebreit Christmas book and something called "Inchies" by Peggy Donda-Kobert.

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I love a book that sets forth a creative challenge, gives the basics and some examples which allows you to run with the idea.

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An Inchie is a piece of artwork that is created using one square inch of fabric.

I guess it's the fiber form of Smith Magazine's Six Word Memoir. Now, there's a challenge.

For my first foray into the Inchie realm I chose cream colored felt. The edges won't fray and it has thickness and body. Some of my Inchies are more successful than others. I especially love this one featuring a bare tree. It was hand stitched with black all purpose thread and mirrored a design in the book.

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Here's one using beads, spacers and sequins. I call it the UFO Inchie.

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A hand-carved wooden leopard bead strolls across hand stitched grass. This one needs more work. I need to stitch the grass higher so that it's more visible.

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Snowflake using small pearls and sequins.

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Another free form snowflake using glass tubes and pearls.

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It's a fun creative exercise and allows me to escape into the fog of concentrating on needle, thread and eye/hand coordination. The book shows the Inchies being used to create artistic pieces but I think they'd make cool little lapel pins.

So, there's the Inchie for you.



14 comments:

Dorothy said...

Very clever. Maybe I should try some of those instead of sitting here at this computer all day reading all these blogs. I love reading all the neat things others make and cook. Christmas candy everywhere. Love it!!
Have a wonderful Christmas with your family!

Vee said...

Yours is a different inchie form than I have seen before and I like them very much. I especially like the snowflake, but wouldn't have the patience for such details.

Hope that all is calm and bright in your corner!

Lisa D. said...

Those are neat. The snowflake ones had me thinking they would make an intersting advent calendar. Make a fabric calendar, put a snap on the back of each inchie and either add or remove a square for each day.

Leslie T. said...

Oh I love them! You know me, I'd sew a little tutu on an inchie. :)

dot smith said...

Suzanne, you are my book loving guru! A Fortunate Life and No Time on my Hands are two of the best books I've ever read,and I ordered Inchies on Amazon before I even finished your post. Please continue to recommend books. We obviously love the same types. Wishing you the happiest of Holidays. You brighten my life.

PamKittyMorning said...

Merry Christmas! xo

jeanne said...

Hello Suzanne, I am thinking of you today and wishing you not inches but yards of Christmas wishes. Love the inches too.
Blessings, Jeanne

Vee said...

Yes, you know me, can't leave you alone for a peaceful Christmas. Just checking in before I settle myself down once again with "No Time on My Hands." It is my fond hope to be sending it along to the next gal on the list by next week. So much to ponder with this one!

Becky K. said...

Those are fun. It is amazing how different they all are from each other...

Thirkellgirl said...

Just checking in to make sure you're ok. See you at Monday's staff meeting? I'll have slightly stale leftover Christmas cookies I can bring in my "home is where the cookies are" tin.

Chris said...

Miss you.

Dorothy said...

I am wondering if something is wrong at your home. Haven't heard from you in too long. Hope it isn't anything too serious.
Miis you!

Adele said...

Another concerned reader... everything ok????

Tess said...

Where are you darlin'?

Yours at the Menger,

Tess