Want it Wednesday - Pencil Porn

Doesn't matter if I am at work or at home working on my next design, I always reach for my trusty HB pencils. I always have a stash with in arms reach. They are my number one needed supply, well tied with my embroidery equipment, but they are essential.

5 Piece Green Eco-Friendly Recycled Paper Pencil Set- WriteWithMoxie

6 Stay Classy Anchorman Inspired Hot CORAL Pink Pencil Pack - Earmark

I love you more than cupcakes - ecceprints

You are the write one - lettercdesign

Hi Tree Twig Pencil - hitree

And the winner is....

Firstly I would like to say thank you to everyone who entered both on here and via my Facebook page, and commiserations to those who didn't win this time round, fear not another competition will be happening in due course so watch this space!

However, of course the draw took place a short moment ago, and as promised there was a hat. 

Hat filled with lots of paper slips

After a couple of shakes, I pull out a slip

And the winner is.....OLIVIA280177

Congratulations, you entered via my blog so if that's you Olivia can you leave a little comment and then we can work out posting the little pouch to you. 

Now its time I got my groove on and got stitching!

Want it Wednesday - Badge It

Slight deviation this week, taking a look not at supplies but at one of my other passions, brooches. I adore them, I have a whole box full of them and on the run up to my birthday (subtle hint) here are just a few of my favourites from Etsy:

Badger of Honor by HandyMaiden

Chevron wood and plastic Navajo inspired Brooch by finestimaginary

Handmade Silver & Peridot Bowerbird Lapel Pin by CarolineCowen

Secret Order of the Ladies Lumberjack League by touchthedutch

Something I missed....Little Man on a Cloud

I can't believe I forgot to upload the finished shots of what I have called it 'Cloud Boy' clock, or the clock with the thousand names (me and Heidi are yet to work out the titles!). Anyway, without further ado here is the first of what will become a series of 4. So I'd better pull my finger out and get started on the other three...

Up close and personal

A couple of nice shots...

P.s. yesterday I posted a request for your comments on a new product range, why not let me know your thoughts...

New Line: Comments welcomed!

As mentioned in my previous post I am in the process of working out a new product line, which will be pocket mirrors and pouches. Something nice and simple but pretty. Now I've been going through all my embroidery pictures and I have selected the following:

1. Fluttering Heart

2. Heart o'Clock

3. Heart Flower

4. Spotty Flower

5. Little Birdie

How did this get in here......*whistles*

6. Peacock Paradise

7. & 8. These two are possibility but perhaps later down the line as I progress my work with Heidi, but if there is interest then perhaps I will look into these two sooner. 

9. Regal Clock - Any other clock design in general

Another thought I had was if the image was cropped down, so that you couldn't see the hoop would that be an interesting pocket mirror image? A picture of a clock? Or just the embroidery?

So tell me what ones you would like to see as a pocket mirror. I will be looking to get 3 designs made for the first go. The pouches will be linen and lined with gorgeous Liberty Tana Lawn.

Seeing Double & Look a Head

For the last three or so hours I have been re-photographing some of my products, it was in some instances rather overdue. Spurned on by the fact that I'd recently taking some good product photographs which showed up my other products. So whilst it was a bit of a pain, my back is now aching, I feel rather pleased with the results.


For instance, here is a couple of before and after shots:

Before - Very dark!!

After you can actually see the colours better, and a nice shot of the clock with the packaging it will come in.

So yes, taken most of the day, but totally worth it and sometimes you do just have to bite the bullet and get on with it. The rest of the weekend will be ordering new fabric labels, getting a frame ready to start a new clock, plan next Wednesdays showcase blog and selecting the images for my new product line. 

This new line will be a range of pocket mirrors, images taken from previously stitched embroidery pieces, and each will have a little handmade pouch to go with it. Hence the urgency to get new fabric labels made. Rather looking forward to this and how they will turn out (well hopefully! Otherwise my friends are getting the rejects.) I like the idea of my main shop item being my clocks, then a select range of smaller items such as tissue holders and these new pocket mirrors. I'll be posting up the images I think I will be choosing over the course of the weekend, comments would be appreciated!

In the meantime don't forget I have a competition on at the moment! Ends next week.

Want it Wednesday - Seeing Stripes

At a little midweek look at some loveliness. I like many other craftspeople love a supply or two...three hundred. Here are a few of my recent faves:

Traditional Sweet Shop Pink Candy Stripe Paper Bags

Etsy Seller: InTheClear 

Stripe Fabric Linen Cotton Fabric- Fabric Yard Brown Fabric 

with white stripe 1/2 yard

Etsy Seller: fabricmade

French Linen - Red Stripe

Etsy Seller: tialys

Trim Organic Stripe cotton Ribbon x3metres

Etsy Seller: BigFish

  

NEW - Trendy Tape Pink Stripe

Etsy Seller: LillyBellesPaperie

More supply goodness next week!

Regal Clock Complete

And here is the Regal Clock completed! Pretty Swarovski Crystals adorn the crown on the left. Rather pleased with it, and also the photograph, though that was some what of an epic battle this morning! You can now purchase it from my Etsy store. 

Regal Stitching

So following on from the mystery shot earlier on this week, here is the progress of a new little clock. I wanted a fairly quick project to do, to be able to do in between working on my bits with Heidi. So this is one of these such projects. Nice and simple in both design and stitch (running and a bit of back). The stitching part is all done, now its the making it up into a clock and then adding the finishing details.

I don't often work on one section at any given time I switch it up.

Hey look it's a crown..and another

Now the making up begins....

Sneak Peek...Royal Flavour

My next little project started this evening. A little break from my collaboration with Heidi (Making Strangers). Feeling a little bit Regal. Just need to decide on the stitches...running/back or a spot of trailing. Maybe a bit of both.

Drumroll Please - Completed Collab Number Two

Looks like he's waving

Oh he's holding something, and he's got a little jacket and hat on

And its got tiny little buttons and what is that in his hand?

Aww its a little telescope!

And here it is complete (ready for making up into a clock) and sitting long side its original drawing. This clock will be a series of four, and no one will be exactly alike. Different linens will be used, and who knows the jacket may be a different colour.

The progress and journey so far of this collaboration has been the most exciting thing I've done to date, and I hope your enjoying it too. More designs are in the works, and packaging and things of that nature are still to be designed, but soon they will be ready to purchase. If anyone is interested in joining a mailing list in regards to purchasing these clocks, then drop me a message here or over at my Etsy store.

Working Progress - Little Clouds

The progress of the other clock is going well and I think, as I stated last week, that I will be hopefully getting all the stitching done today. This means I can then make it up during the week. I worked on it fairly late into the night, until a headache kicked in. 

Starting the last cloud

Ooo look I started the little fellow, here I tacked down a rough outline for his legs, coat and face

Just put one layer of padding on the jacket ready for me to do some straight satin stitch over it. The arms will be a combination of trailing and satin stitch.