Keepsake Wallets

Spring is close at hand and it is time to celebrate the season with projects that remind us of flowers and warmer weather. These little wallets from collage designer Donna Funnell of Milton, Ontario, will come in handy as change purses or make perfect gifts for friends who need a business card case. These are miniature works of fabric art that you can show off or give.
Donna likes to re-purpose fabric and trim as part of her commitment to keep scraps and odds and ends out of the landfill. “I like using fabric that someone is finished with,” she says. In fact some of the fabrics used in the sample are leftovers given to her by a costume-making friend.
“This technique is collage,” Donna explains. “I lay the fabric flat and machine embroider or free motion quilt on top of it. I will usually finish the piece off with hand embroidery or beading.” She will add bits of other fabric or trim to add dimension and she encourages makers to add their own ideas or techniques to make the wallets uniquely personal.

“The most difficult part of this project will be to relax and be spontaneous,” Donna continues. “This isn’t about matching; you need to take a spirited approach and think outside the box and try something new.”

Read more in our Spring 2011 issue.

Designed by Donna Funnell
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