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Back in September 2019 I took delivery of this ..
It is very firm interfacing which is often used to make curtain pelmets, and I sang….
“Pelmet Vilene, oh I swear
At this moment, you mean everything
Too ra loo ra too ra loo rye aye
And you’ll hum this tune forever… “
I cut 12 of these out..
and I decorated them using some hand dyed rainbow coloured silk I bought hoping to use on my handmade scarves, but it was much too fine and the rough skin on my hands kept snagging it! I also used some scraps from my undiminishing scrap mountain.
They were split into 2 sets and each set was posted to 12 people who all contributed to them. They then came back to me and I stitched them into cubes using this nifty set up..
I then allocated a cube to each participant in a random stylee, and they went off in the post today. This was a fun collaboration, I really enjoyed seeing what each person added, and I loved seeing the flat templates turn into 3D cubes. You can see the step by step progress of each one by using the arrows to move between the photos.
cube A1
original 
contribution by Helen Miles: “Painted and thread wrapped bead added.” 
contribution by Karen Teal : “Large ornamental shisha mirror with variegated embroidery thread.” 
contribution by Gemma Bee :”I needle felted some orange ridges inspired by bracket mushrooms.” 
contribution by Lyn O’sullivan: “I added dark blue around button and stitch” 
contribution by Annie Mac : “wrapped string stitched on with metallic thread, beads and charms and foiling” 
contribution by Sandra Shiel : ” a hand charm and lace flower” 
Contribution by Fran Harkes : “I added a brooch made by Ruth Zanoni made using free motion embroidery” 
contribution by Dee Priest :”Herringbone and straight stitch over the fabric design on the bottom of this cube.” 
contribution by Angela Boyce:”Machine stitched hand made braid round the button decoration and two rows of decorative machine stitching echoing the lines of previous running and cross stitching.” 
contribution by Sheila Briggs:”Small woven circle to echo coins etc” 
contribution by Janette Smith:”Added some beads and embellishments” 
contribution by Judith Clarke: “I have added virus shapes using fabric and sequins. Onto the edges as they are so full now. Thought it was interesting as it was St Coronas Day yesterday, patron saint of pandemics and treasure hunts.”
cube A2
original 
contribution by Helen Miles: “Segment of purple silk added” 
contribution by Karen Teal : “Vintage floral ribbon lace with red pearle cross stitch to secure and small pearl beads” 
contribution by Gemma Bee : “Needle felted raised yellow spots” 
contribution by Lyn O’sullivan: “I added a blue circle and stitch” 
contribution by Annie Mac : “heart with stitching surrounding it, sequins and beads” 
contribution by Sandra Shiel : ” a hand pleated silk flower with beaded trim and sequin centre” 
Contribution by Fran Harkes : “I couched some tartan ricrac with large stitches and added some multicoloured stitching around the edges of the flower” 
contribution by Dee Priest :”A piece cut from a crazy patch stitched to bosal and felt and attached with pink beads.” 
contribution by Angela Boyce:”Free machine embroidery on both ends and a little silver bead added using the pollen as the centre. 
contribution by Sheila Briggs:”Couldn’t resist adding French knots to these needle felted mounds to create viruses, that’s all I see every time I turn on the TV” 
contribution by Janette Smith:”Added a embroidered bee and some heart buttons” 
cube A3
original 
contribution by Helen Miles: “Blue metallic thread, machine stitched.” 
contribution by Karen Teal : “vintage black ribbon with coral beads secured with French knot” 
contribution by Gemma Bee :”Needlefelter cluster of blue nubs” 
contribution by Lyn O’sullivan: “I added painted paper and stitch” 
contribution by Annie Mac : “various embroidery stitches” 
contribution by Sandra Shiel : ” a hand pleated silk rosette trimmed with beads” 
contribution by Fran Harkes : “I stitched on a piece of embroidery from a charity shop tablecloth” 
contribution by Dee Priest :”A larger square of machine embroidery on felt attached with a button and orange felt circle with pink shiny beads over a yellow oval.” 
contribution by Angela Boyce:” Purple and yellow flowers on the end and a row of little flower stitches on the diagonal in the centre.” 
contribution by Sheila Briggs:”Blanket stitch along existing line” 
contribution by Janette Smith:”Added some appliqué and some flower embellishments” 
cube A4
original 
contribution by Helen Miles: “Spiral of couched gimp.” 
contribution by Karen Teal : “Vintage lace secured with small glass beads in same colours as the base” 
contribution by Gemma Bee :”Needlefelter waves/flames” 
contribution by Lyn O’sullivan: “I added elastic colour bands” 
contribution by Annie Mac : “broken buckle painted and ‘jewels’ added. Hearts are re–purposed knitting stitch holders” 
contribution by Sandra Shiel : “Three stars on straight stitch with darker stitched centres” 
contribution by Fran Harkes : “I added some multicoulored iron-on bias tape and stitched over the top of it” 
contribution by Dee Priest :”Two little previously made squares of machine embroidery on felt attached and silk cord couches inside the spiral. 
contribution by Angela Boyce:” Machine stitch pattern round edges of square with elastic band flower and then the same round the sides and end of the long panel.” 
contribution by Sheila Briggs:”Weaving between the lines” 
contribution by Janette Smith:”Added some embroidery… Peacock feather and some Lavender.” 
cube A5
original 
contribution by Helen Miles: “Spiral of couched gimp.” 
contribution by Karen Teal : “Vintage lace secured with small glass beads in same colours as the base” 
contribution by Gemma Bee :”Needlefelter waves/flames” 
contribution by Lyn O’sullivan: “I added different green thread and green beads.” 
contribution by Annie Mac :”metal corners with beads, beads added to ribbon” 
contribution by Sandra Shiel : “satin flower with a button in the centre. Trimmed with straight stitches” 
contribution by Fran Harkes : “I added an Amish Stumpwork flower using a metal template and variegated cotton thread” 
contribution by Dee Priest :””A piece of pink heart trim attached with space dyed thread using fly and herringbone stitch. The trim is upside down I’m afraid. I was watching the rugby and only just noticed!” 
contribution by Angela Boyce:” Braid added and then a golden sequins shape with pink embroidered shapes” 
contribution by Janette Smith:”Added a snail button and some embroidered leaves and heart.” 
cube A6
original 
contribution by Helen Miles: “Hand dyed perle cotton, chain stitched.” 
contribution by Karen Teal : “Decorative multi coloured yarn following the previous chain stitch and beyond” 
contribution by Gemma Bee : “Attached some wool locks here and needle felted down with blue spots” 
contribution by Lyn O’sullivan: “I added beads and shapes” 
contribution by Annie Mac : “Felted, cut and stitched, metal and bead embellishment” 
contribution by Sandra Shiel : ” two sea horse charms with beaded bubbles” 
contribution by Fran Harkes : “I used my Posca Paint Pens to draw some lines and circles, and then I stitched over them with thread. I also added some red stitching to the green beaded area” 
contribution by Dee Priest :”A square of space dyed felt attached with a button using space dyed thread and French knots in the orange circles.” 
contribution by Angela Boyce:”A row of delicate metallic machine stitches to echo the shape of the chain stitch and four free machine embroidered flowers.” 
contribution by Sheila Briggs:”Stars and chain stitch among existing coloured dots” 
contribution by Janette Smith:”Added some Fish Buttons and 4 little embellishments” 
Set B / part 2 to follow 🙂
It is here
EDITED TO ADD : you can see more of my collaborative projects here..
https://www.mcanaraks.com/category/projects/completed-collaborations/
These are fabulous
Thank you Jane, they were fun to do.
These are love and I’m thinking you could use them to put a little present in for someone special
Thanks Irene, these ones are sewn shut, but that is a nice idea 🙂
È proprio una bellissima idea! 😃🥰
Each of these are so beautiful! Each side of each piece is a work of art in itself.
Thanks Shasta, I really enjoyed seeing them progress 🙂
Love the cubes the textures depth of colours and stitching are beautiful
Thank you Helen, they were fun to contribute to 🙂
What an innovative idea! Doing something like this is like a challenge but also an oportunity for creatives to foray outside of their own ‘norms’ … great fun and unique end product!
Thank you Lyn, yes it was a fun project for sure 🙂
I’m enjoying looking at the progress of each cube.
Thanks for taking the time Carol 🙂
Sono bellissimi, così pieni di dettagli deliziosi, brave!
L’idea del pezzo di legno per cucirli, è semplicemente geniale!
Bel lavoro! 🥰
translation “They are beautiful, so full of delightful details, good!
The idea of the piece of wood to sew them is simply brilliant!
Good job!”
Thank you Anna, it was a very enjoyable project 🙂