Valentine's Day Craft Swap

I know it's early and it's not Valentine's Day yet,

but I've already made my item for this swap

hosted by Amy on her blog

And Sew We Craft

and as my swap partner

Rae of Felt by Rae

has now received it, I can show it here.

I intended at first to make a padded heart and cut two

heart shapes from an old embroidered table runner.

This picture is of the back.

For the front I collaged various pieces of old lace

doilies and cheesecloth over the top.

I rubber stamped 'Love' onto a cotton scrap

and machine stitched the whole lot together

in a haphazard fashion.

As I was stitching it together it occurred to me

that rather than just being a padded heart,

it would be more useful as a pocket -

so I left the top unstitched.

(There is a layer of thin wadding between the

top and backing fabrics to give it more of a lightly quilted feel)

For the hanger I plaited three strands of string together.

As it was a pocket now, it needed a little gift inside!

This is the gift - a little Metal Pendant.

I was pleased with how the heart pocket turned out

so I made one to keep for myself too!

....  but there's no Valentine gift in mine -

oh yes, it's too early yet isn't it!

My inspiration for making this heart came from

Lilla of Just Lilla

who makes the most beautiful things and shares a

tutorial for a lace collage on her blog

which I followed when making my hearts.

I was lucky enough to win one of Lilla's lace collages

in the form a little book last year.



Isn't it beautiful!

Thank you Lilla for the inspiration,

and thank you for looking :)