Friday, December 2, 2011

Cat Topiary Garden Wall Hanging

Rear of Cat Topiary Garden Wall Hanging
The cat topiary garden canvas is made up into a wall hanging now. The back side is blue silk damask with a circle pattern.

I cut a dowel from the craft store to the proper length with an inch on either side to allow for a wooden knob (also from the craft store) to be attached on each side.  Then I sanded and stained the dowel and the knobs with cherry stain.  It's a light wash, which is suitable for the environment it will live once I give it to my mother for Christmas.

The tabs are woven trim from the sewing store.  I cut three identical loops large enough for the knobs to slide though and positioned them at either end and in the middle of the top.  They were stitched into place, then I laid the NP canvas face down on the backing fabric and hand sewed three sides together.  I left the bottom edge open so I could slide in a piece of plastic canvas covered with quilt batting on the front.  The plastic canvas had to be trimmed slightly to fit but it is easy to cut plastic canvas with scissors (not the good embroidery scissors, though!).

Once the innards were in place, I sewed up the bottom edge.  The gold braid (also from the fabric store) was tied around the dowel at each end after I stuck the dowel through the loops.  Then I put a drop of Aileen's Fabric Glue on the knot so that once it dried, I could cut the raw frayed edge of the braid away.  Aileen's Fabric Glue dries clear so you really have to look carefully to see that the knot is held in place by glue.

Cat Topiary Garden Ready for Christmas
Then I hung this up to take photos so you can see the finished piece.   Hope you've enjoyed this journey full of bushes of all shapes and sizes.


Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Looks gorgeous, your Mom is going to be thrilled with her new door ornamentation. I wouldn't be surprised if you get requests from other residents for ornamentation for their doors.

Peggi @ Tapestry Fair said...

Even though you don't like finishing- really pretty job on this piece, Jane. I'm sure your mom will be thrilled!

palma said...

What a finish. Well done, Jane, well done. I can see your mother smile

~Judy/CCR said...

I love it - the stitches, the threads, the finishing - all of it! Great job!!!

Vicky said...

Just wonderful! stitching and the finishing are both awesome! You will make your Mom so very happy!

The Chilly Hollow Needlepoint Adventure said...

Thank you, everyone. I appreciate the compliments, especially since this took FOREVER and I was pretty sick of the bushes toward the end.

Anonymous said...

Looks good Jane! Don't forget to let us know "Mum"'s view. :-)
Glenis

Wendy TC said...

Looking good, Jane! The plastic canvas will surely add stability when the cat garden topiary is hung.

The Chilly Hollow Needlepoint Adventure said...

Plastic canvas is strong but light. It is lighter than foam core, which would work, too, but I'm worried about heavy items falling off the wall onto my fragile (but feisty) mother. I'd never hear the end of that!

Robin said...

This has been a wonderful journey. Kudos to your stitching and to dede Ogden for an awesome canvas design.

Nancy L said...

Your patience with all the stitching and tulle paid off. It looks lovely. Thanks for taking us all along on the ride!

Nancy

NCPat said...

Congratulations! It is wonderful.....great job on the finishing.....my sewing machine and I are not friends! LOL

The Chilly Hollow Needlepoint Adventure said...

My sewing machine hates me. That's why I finished this one by hand. I wasn't going to cover the seam joins so I needed the precision of hand sewing. Hated every minute but it looks good, not to brag on myself.