Want it Wednesday - Stop Collaborate and Listen...

No not going to burst out into song, though I bet you start humming. Anyway, this week post is dedicated to collaborations between artists/craftspersons. Reason for this, goes without saying really, is down to my own recent collaboration with Heidi Burton, which resulted in five rather beautiful clocks that I am so proud about that I was fit to burst yesterday listing them. I hope you have seen them but to remind you, just head over to my etsy store to have a look at them in more detail:

And this weeks selection:

Whats for Lunch - Zach Trover for Tinymeat

Framed pretty bunny brooch - Collaboration with Made By White - LisaManuels

Mae Lee Ann Ring- in collaboration with Keiko Lynn - LiamofYork

The Sweet Life-Photo Locket Necklace Collaboration with Susannah Tucker - HeartworksByLori

See you at the weekend

x

p.s. have you tried my lovely free pattern yet? If you have I would love to see it, I may very well surprise someone with a little something. Just simply post a picture in the Flickr Group, and become a crafty fellow

Waving the Flag and Phew I am done

So some what of a busy couple of hours, just finished off making up the four clocks (see above) and even photographed them, several times over. Damn this ever changing light, one minute sunshine the next overcast and raining. Anyway, battle done and a well deserved cup of tea is in order. 

Only thing left now is for me to purchase a few more bits of packaging, clock hands. Miss Burton all the way over in Cambridge is just working on the copy and labels, as I type this blog post. It's all coming together nicely. And then in May they will be available to purchase along with the other collaboration piece.

I really do think a cuppa is in order. 

Before I toddle off to make one, I have to show you what I purchased this weekend, I couldn't resist the Jubilee edition of Marmite (Sainsburys) and this little patriotic tin (from Marks & Spencers - chocolate wasn't to bad either). This is really making me want toast and put up bunting!

1, 2, 3, 4...I am seeing double, double.

Just finished about 10 minutes or so ago part 4 of 4 of what I have been calling 'Cloud Boy' but its my working title, Heidi is currently working on the story to go with it, so the name will no doubt will change.

I am thrilled that the fourth is done, perhaps a little that it is the fourth one I have done anyone that knows me well knows that I don't do more than one thing I get bored easily. But it was a challenge and I was up for it, and hell the design is that cute I couldn't help but do four. In a day or so time they will be made up into clocks like the one at the bottom, and then ladies and gentlemen who have been following the collaboration will be on say from the beginning of May. I am excited.

And I think a cup of tea and a TED talk will be a perfect celebration. 

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...

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.

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).

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?

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!

WIP: Collaboration underway

So begins my next big project, been talking about it enough, yes I've finally started the stitching for the collaboration pieces. This is just one section of one design and after a bit of a false start yesterday, I've started a fresh today and cracked on. I had an issue with the transferring normally I draw on, long since gone past the days of pounce (I used to get it everywhere) I opted for thin tissue paper and stitching down the main outlines. Which works out as the better route for this lovely lady and her following locks. 

I shall keep you posted with its progression...