Clouds floating on by...

A spot of evening stitching to progress this beauty prior to my meeting with Heidi Burton on Friday, a wee catch up on our collaboration, over a spot of lunch. I'm very close to finishing off the cloud tree's before starting the final one. Can't wait to get the clouds done as I am itching to stitch the little guy on the top one (see the middle image you can make him out on the original drawing).

Floating on a Cloud

So over the past couple of days I've been getting back on target with the second design, in the on going collaboration with Heidi Burton (Making Strangers). I am relieved that the need to redo it, has gone better than I had hoped. There is nothing worse than starting again only find that the second attempt is no better than the first. Thankfully this isn't the case.


Here is the progress so far...well that I've taken a photograph of....

Actually on the little cloud on the right at the moment and about a third of a way through it, pictures tomorrow!

And in case you missed it my competition - click here

Competition - Win a piece of my original work

Everyone loves a little competition right?

Over the years I have made many items, and like many crafty people have built up a vast collection of items made with the intention to sell but for some reason never doing so. 

This year I am planning on moving and as such I would love to send a few of these pieces to a good home.

First up is a very stunning silk purse, hand embroidered with a peacock feather design and embellished Swarovski crystals. 

Its open to anyone (anywhere), and to enter you can leave a comment here, like my Facebook page or leave a comment on there (i'll be putting a post up there on this competition shortly). Its starts today and runs to the 24th March, which is my birthday....(subtle hint). I will put all your names into a hat (a real one) and select a name at random. 

Good Luck!

Feeling a little Royal...and look ain't she pretty!

When I stitch I love to listen either to music in all its varied forms, TV box sets (currently West Wing and Supernatural) and the odd documentary. Lately its been the Diamond Queen, and I have to say I am feeling a little bit more Royalist. The Queen has always reminded me of my late nan, style, the way she conducted herself and at the time with my nan she was a constant. So its almost disappointing that the programme that looked back on her reign, the highs and lows was only three parts. Anyway, its been making me think and I am rather in the mood to stitch a crown. However, before I do that I must crack on with my collaboration with Heidi (Making Strangers), one clock is officially complete and another is in the works today.

Doesn't she look pretty? There are a few more bits to sort out, labels and packaging but she is complete! Just another two of this design to go, but on different coloured linens. I hear Berwick Street calling my name in a few weeks time!

Some of you might wonder now, hang on I thought you started this one already? Or is this your second one? Yes, I did already start this design, and technically it is my second. Like most people I am only human and I stupidly managed to get something on the first one, whilst annoying at the time has allowed me to rethink how I started it last time. I wasn't totally happy with the last stitching anyway, so it was perhaps a saving grace. So, this is what I am working on at the moment, just on the last cloud so I'll be able to whip the tissue off shortly and crack on with filling in the clouds, then it will be the trees, rain then finally the little guy standing on the uppermost cloud.

What are you up today?

A Mini Break

I took myself up North, with a good friend of mine to visit another very good friend. This mini break eventually took us to the delightful surroundings of Chatsworth House. Whilst there was lot of walking, it certainly swept the cobwebs away and charged the batteries. 

I hope everyone else had a nice weekend. Stitching will be resuming this week xx

Finished!

This morning I picked up where I left off last night, and with several cups of tea in my system I finished the hair shortly before lunchtime, handy! I nearly did a couple of whoops of joy. Though it was a challenge to stitch the hair it was great working it out, because yes there will be at least another two of this design.....

(above & below) This is me working on the bow, it was quite a refreshing change working in red thread. This was the padded satin bow, now it was tough going because in certain places your going through several layers of stitches, and believe me it can be tough going on your fingers.

(above & below) As you can see I did a split stitch outline, and built up a few layers in double thread, going vertical then horizontal with the stitches to build it up. Then straight stitches over the top, angling the needle when brought down to give it a smooth edge.

I added a few highlights in a slightly darker red thread. At this point I did a few additional stitches for the hair to tidy it up, replace stitches and filling in just above the bow. 

As before I used tissue paper to transfer the design, the face is delicate so I used black machine thread to get finer lines. Then carefully I peeled away the tissue to reveal a very pretty sleeping beauty.

On the right was the original drawing by Heidi Burton (Making Strangers). Bloody enjoyed it, and so pleased I actually managed to get the embroidery finished today. Now I need to source the right clock hands to go with this design then mount it in the frame. Though for now I am going to take a break and perhaps finish the other design. So at least I have two finished clocks before I move to make more. In all there will be three of each design, though each will be different either in the colour of the threads, or the linen used. Which means a nice trip to London for some inspiration on colours. Then of course it will be the packaging which I am working on with Heidi then listing for selling!

I can almost taste it...

Honest it's getting there! I can almost taste it......

Well I can sense that the moment for doing the finishing details is so close!

WIP: Design 2

 To give myself a little break for some of the day I started the other design by Making Strangers. Same process as before I stitched through tissue paper, it's a slow old job and adds time but its the easier way of transferring the design with out using pounce which is just as time consuming. 

The stylised clouds didn't take to much time to stitch, I opted against stitching the rain or the trees in the end it will be easy for me to work out where they go by eye rather than the tissue paper.

Still a bit more to do on the clouds, couching round the outsides, adding in a few more lines and highlighting with silver/gunmetal coloured thread. But so far so good. Looking forward to stitching the rain, trees and a tiny little guy which will be standing on the upper cloud. For now though its back to the hair I go!

Clock Face Continues

Nothing says stay in the warm than stitching.

How it looked this morning before I got settled into the sofa, stitching and watching Disney flicks. Bliss.

By late afternoon the last bits in the first section of hair were complete. I took longer than expected because I distracted by Disney films. Oops.

When I wasn't distracted, moved onto playing classical music at this stage, I drew on the tissue paper the second section of hair and pinned in place. 

How it currently stands, I've stopped to have some dinner and catch up online and of course keep you all in the loop. Still listening to classical music so I shall return to the stitching. I would love to get a whole chunk of this complete tonight. Tomorrow I will get the other design in the frame and perhaps a few bits of it stitched. Its been a while since I've completed anything fully, but I hope everyone will be pleased with the final results. This collaboration will see more designs, and versions of these clocks.

I am also keen to continue collaborating with artists I know, I love translating illustrations into embroidered clocks. Eeek.