Preparation & T-Rex

Bit of an odd week thus far, evenings have been busy but I don't feel as though I have even scratched the surface of my to do list, and that's not even touching the goals for July list. But, I think I am at least starting to make a bit of a headway so by the end of the week I can at least start to cross things off. Hopefully!

I do also seem to be loving the side projects and I have two more this week, along with the cross-stitch piece, I am currently mending the poor Mr T-Rex that was played with by my sisters dog, so attempting mouth, neck and head surgery over the course of the week.

Poor Mr T-Rex

Then, those who follow me on Facebook have heard me utter, I want to make a Peter Pan collar. And byjove I've only gone and started one. I've made the pattern pieces, tacked the fabric, and now I just need to transfer the embroidery design onto the fabric (mini Paradise Birds - got to keep the theme going!)

Will eventually look like something.

For the non-side project I am working on the prep for the first Bee related piece, just need to pick up the threads this weekend and then I can get cracking. I've already done the experimenting with the Black work stitches, so I sort of know what to expect. Sort of...

Tell what it is yet?

And that ladies, gents and dinos, sums up my week so far!

Oh, and I am now down to 12 Mini Button Needlecases, grab them whilst you can!

Experimenting & Playing with Stitches

So this weekend is mainly about playing. 

Also a bit of researching too, but I also consider this playing just with ideas more than actually physically stitching. I don't, to be honest, do samples or play with stitches before launching into my projects I tend to go with the flow, working out and challenging myself along the way to come up with solutions. But sometimes I make myself do it. 

I wanted to get sorted this year three main lines for my stores. The first one is the Paradise Bird, the second is what I am playing about with now, and the third one is down on paper just need to work out the logistics of it. So now I am done, not really, with the birds its now the time of the bees. The second line is all about bee appreciation and which will, I hope, enable me to support the British Bee Keepers Association and other worth while projects to do with saving the humble bee, humble not bumble!

The first of the bits for the bees I am looking at Black work for my inspiration. So you can see below I am playing with patterns, using colour to stop myself using black, and because it was to hand. I can be lazy.

Playing with colour here, attempting shading. Never have the right colours in my stash!

Here I am playing with the alternative way to shade, which is by breaking up the stitch.

Good overview of all the patterns and shading I did today. Didn't take me all that long to work out which one I am settled on, can you work out which one that would be?

Time for something different, this is the cross-stitch I am working on the side, it's for me. Can you tell it looks like gingham fabric yet? The whole pattern is various close ups of the fabric, awesome right?