Normal Stitching Service has Resumed...

Yes, I am finally back up and running again. Well, not running but stitching. My studio come guestroom is near enough complete, bar a few odds and sods to sort out. But I can and have at least been able to get stitching. Feels nice to be able to get back to it. Even though I have admit I had a couple of 'Omg so much I can do...where to begin' moments. Which isn't new!

So what have I been doing well, I've been prepping for my Secret Squirrel project, which I'll be starting to stitch this week and I've gone back to my Tea Solves Everything embroidered quote.

I was doing a spot of jumping around with this piece as I was keen to get more sections done. That and stitching 'solves' was making my eyes go a bit weird. It was either that or I was a wee bit tired this afternoon. So I completed 'thing' and was playing about with how I was going to do 'every'. Now originally I was going to do it in padded satin again but I had a idea at the last second of doing French Knots, and I like the effect....

Eyes slowly drifting in different directions...

'so' is done so I skip off to do 'thing and then thought, let's start 'every'.

I am going to try and squeeze a bit more stitching in this evening and tomorrow night before I get on with the commissioned piece. I've worked out my schedule and I've pretty much only got time to do that until the end of the month. Now that's not to say I won't get it completed early, I've given myself a health amount of time to work on it without feeling as though I have to rush it to meet the deadline. Whilst I don't mind working under pressure I don't want any mistakes!

Oh, I managed to also purchase and complete a pattern this week too. Now this was great really because when I reached as far as I could with the studio on Wednesday night I wanted to start stitching on Thursday but wasn't sure what to do...then I saw this pattern on What Delilah Did 'Mini Folk Letter' and I had to have it. Well after a moments deliberation and Sophie Simpson on Twitter (the lady behind the designs) goading me to do it. Granted it didn't take much encouragement. It didn't take long to stitch and all that remains for me to do is to get it framed and hung on the wall. 

It wasn't the only pattern I purchased, I also picked up the Bee pattern I had my eye on for a while. Though I won't be starting that one till the Autumn. 

Finally but not least, now I've been taking about this for a while. When my darling little Bergamot passed away at the beginning of the year I knew I wanted to, but not straight away, get a new hamster. I put it off because firstly I missed the little blighter, and secondly I was trying to purchase a flat. To get one during this time would have been wrong. Anyway, when I finally moved I knew it was only a matter of time before I got a new one. And I did yesterday, he's a rather timid, but rather fluffy Syrian called Hamish. There was a moment I was going to call it Hannibal because all it seemed to like to do in the shop was bite things. I don't really have a decent enough photo to show you because he's rather shy. But there will be a shot soon!

Now, with all that typed out I am rather in need of another cuppa!

Short and Sweet Post

Today is just to lovely to be sat indoors, especially now that I just finished 'Today is a Good Day'. I'm so utterly thrilled with the final outcome that sitting out in the sun is my reward for some damned good work. 

So I am really not going to waffle on in this post, or talk about much beyond, have a look at the finished piece for yourself. I am so thankful to Hannah Dollery for allowing to use it and I can't wait to hang it up, well once I've decided how I am going to do it. 

Only thing left for me to say is I really want to stitch some more words, phrases anything really, and work more in the lush silk threads from Mulberry Silks.

And that's it...

Well one thing, next Honeycomb tutorial will be ready next weekend.

Promise that is the last thing!

Final bits to stitch

Today is...

a goo'd' day. 

Yes, it really is.

I am, really getting into the embroidery piece 'Today is a Good Day' (designer Hannah Dollery), it's taking a little while to get back into the habit of doing padded satin, but I am really loving it now. Like visiting an old friend.

So here is a super close up shot of the piece in progress. 

It will, and I really mean this, be finished this week. Whether that also means framing it I am not entirely sure, we'll see I have a super oval shaped ring frame which I think it would slot rather nicely into. But who knows...I am fickle when it comes to how I want to finish something off.

For those who aren't signed up to my newsletter, the latest copy went out on Monday, and you can now view it online. I recommend having a peek as I revealed what the latest 'Honeycomb' Tutorial piece was going to be covering. Go on, have a look, you know you want too...

See you at the weekend folks x

All and Sundry

Golly, it's another Bank Holiday over here in Blighty, and finally there is even a bit of sunshine to go with it. Who else is keeping their appendages crossed that it might last till Tuesday? I am in spirit but not actually as it would make typing this blog post rather tricky.

I've actually had a longer break than most, as I had decided that on Monday (just gone) that I need a bit longer than 3 days, so I took Friday off too. Just as well I did, the heavens well and truly opened on that day, and there is nothing worse than walking about London in the pissing rain. Granted that is the same for anywhere really. Anyway, I was nice and wrapped up in the warm working on a sample. Now for those who follow me on Facebook, you will have seen said sample already, as I was gauging people's opinions.

And for those who have yet to see it, here it is. Yep, it's a cushion. It's not an area of home-wares I've ever delved into, which is why I was seeking people's thoughts. I am fairly happy with the overall finish. There are couple of things I want to change, such as I don't think I will go down the route of purchasing cushion blanks, unless I can find a UK handmade supply. The quality of the blank I used for the sample is fine, but part of me feels guilty. Why? Well if your buying handmade then the whole thing needs to be handmade. 

Anyway, I would still like to get people's opinions on the design which is the same as the wall clock (just with a different Liberty print), size (sample was 16"), with a filler or without (the latter reduces postage costs). If you can spare a moment to drop a comment that would be fantastic.

What else have I been doing, well I've finally finished my entries for the Survival Arts - Bee Competition, now all I need to do is get them posted and once I've done that I'll show them off to you all. 

Oh, I almost forgot to say, that one of my clocks, Ring of Bees was featured in a fab article called 'A to Z of Time Keeping' in the latest issue of Pretty Nostalgic. Which is rather swell, I had been contacted for images a while ago, so I almost forgot about it! It's a nice magazine if you've not picked it up before, very little in the way of advertising so you get a decent read.

For now, it's time to finish off the next e-newsletter (goes out tomorrow, and you get a sneaky peek at the next tutorial with this one) and then carry on with my 'Today is a Good Day' piece. 

Sunday: One down...

Bit of a nutty week at work, thus resulting in not a lot of stitching. 

But, I have managed to get at least one thing finished and a future project prepped. 

Firstly, the little bee that I briefly featured last week has finally ended up in it's finished form, a wall clock. Rather pleased with the outcome, so cheerful and friendly...and useful to boot. This also gave way to another idea for a new selection of items to go under my product line aptly named 'bees'. And the below shot is another sneaky shot of what's to come. I hope to have at least one completed, if not two, by the end of the next Bank Holiday weekend. Can I just say another three day weekend can't come soon enough. Tempted to make a four day.

Oh there was one other thing I prepped for this week, and that was the next newsletter, which will be going out in the next week. Thanks for all the lovely new newsletter followers. If you want to join, then do pop you email into the box on the top right hand of the screen.

Testing out New Ideas

Today has been a day of finishing off small projects and trying out a new one. Although it's not really new it's almost going back to what I used to make when I first started out on Etsy which was embroidered jewellery. Funny how things end up coming round full circle. 

Recently I restarted making brooches again, the little bee, and now I am trying my hand at making necklaces or in this case a pendant. I am trying out different ways of working out how to speed up the process of making up the actual pendant not the stitching.  Not that I like the whole adage of time equals money but it does really, that and its also coming up with a sturdier finish. This has worked but I need to work out a better way of attaching a loop.

Of course, it would be good to get some feedback on whether there is the interest there to buy them. I have a small design which would feature bees and of course, the Paradise bird design as shown below. I would certainly appreciate any comments.

And finally, I've just listed the second version of the ring of bee pouches. So as I think I mentioned before there will be five of each design. I am rather fond of this blue fabric, just got enough left over to perhaps use it for another project, I am sort of keen to do another mini quilt, or for when I finally get round to attempting at making a faux taxidermy bird. I really want for the new place...

Return of the Bees

Nice to get back to stitching my bees once more. 

I stitched the ring in the centre of the clock last week, as its going to be used for my next mirror design, but it's kind of two for the price of one as it's also for my next clock. 

Actually this clock...

Ring of Bees Hand Embroidered Wall Clock

Size: 13 (w) x 13 (h) x 2.5 (d) cm - 5 1/4 x 5 1/4 x 1 inches (approx)

Materials: Cotton threads, linen, card, wooden hoop, and a quartz clock mechanism.

More bees on the horizon though, I need to work on the pouches for the mirrors, well once I have ordered the actually mirrors. I also got a bit sidetracked this afternoon I made a tiny bee brooch, whether or not I'll actually make more of them I am not entirely sure but I might gauge your opinions on it...

It's a tiny gold bee, which was stitched in gold check purl, over stitched with stranded cotton, on the back of the brooch it's backed with Liberty Tana Lawn fabric. It's just under 2.5cm in diameter.

What do you think?

Want it Wednesday: Puzzler

Just a mini showcase this week of puzzles. I happened to spend some of my time over the weekend completing a puzzle that I had knocking about for years, not sure why I decided it was the best use of my time? But I have to admit. I do love a puzzle. So here are a few puzzles I have come across, handmade naturally...

Waldorf-Wooden PUZZLE ME- Toddler Puzzler - applenamos

UNION JACK 110 PIECE A4 SIZE JIGSAW PUZZLE STOCKING FILLER - STACKSJIGSAWPUZZLESANDPICS

Happy Birthday postage stamp puzzle 24 pieces - Scrollwoodshop

Sort of mid week crafting..

From my lovely week off I appear to have fallen quiet, but now I am back into the swing of things at work, I am now back in the swing of doing things in the evening. Tonight must say was productive, on top of doing all my chores (okay, skipped the bathroom, tomorrow I'll do it), I set about working on finishing off the stumpwork and got myself set-up for the next project. It will look familiar...

Organised chaos or just chaos?

Somewhere on this desk, I have the frame (on the right), and here you can see that I am just making some notes on sizes for the mount and what size I need to cut my card for the actual mounting of the embroidery. So much mounting..no pun intended..maybe a little.

Here I have cut the card, covered it in a basic white cotton, and laid the embroidered fabric on top and have started pining round, gently pulling the fabric taut, and the grain as straight as I can possibly get it without going insane in the process. I'll admit I am already pretty loopy.

Look a mini version of the bird, at least I can say I've pretty much covered every angle. Although tempted to do a tissue holder version too....although after this one, I might take a break on this design to work on the bee bits and pieces. Speaking of bees still waiting for the web button from the BBKA, better drop them an email tomorrow.

Enough about me, what are you working on? Do you craft in the evening, even after a long day at work?

Busy Bee - Project flying

Okay, I'll admit there was a lot of things done on this project between last night and this afternoon, that I didn't take photographs of, now some of that was partly down to dodgy lighting and being wrapped up with what I was doing, that I forgot. 

So some of yesterday's afternoon/evening was taken up with stitching the wing. Worked separately in order to give the bird more height. The wing has extra form, this comes from stitching over a very thin paper covered wire, this was shaped to the outline of the wing. Make sense? Basically couched down some wire onto silk. The stitching is very close together, which means I can then cut the fabric away, right up against the stitches which is always ruddy nerve wrecking. Before I got to that stage I stitched the middle lines, back stitch with silver thread weaved through them. In this shot you can see I also stitched some beads on it....

Your probably wondering how I got the wing attached to the body. Allow me to explain. 

I used a great big needle (mislaid my stelletto at this point) to punch a hole into the right place on the body, to keep the opening neat I then did a quick buttonhole edge round it. The wire on the wing was tightly bunched together and plunged through the hole, its then bent back on itself and stitched down on the back of the fabric.

Pretty shot...look at that wing. Just checking the head still works.

Told you the tail wasn't finished. I couched down some silver passing around the left of the trailing to act as a highlight. Don't it look pretty.

Actually at this point the silver passing had been stitched down, and the head has also been very carefully stitched down into place, something else has occurred to and I will explain that bit in the next picture. However, in this shot I am using six threads of stranded cotton and carefully couching that around the edge of this silk, this is to cover my stab stitches. Neat, huh?

There is a lot in this shot. But you might notice a couple of things, one the wing appears to be missing its beads. This is correct, I took them off. It wasn't a simple undertaking as it meant I had to take the wing off, and stitching back down. Not easy but I am happier with the results the beads just weren't doing it for me. 

I also added to the thighs of the bird, or trousers as I have now called them. Made them jazzier by adding some lasy daisy stitches in silver, I love them.

Around the body to hide the stitches I couched a double row of silver passing around it. 

The head has it's prong things (technical term), these are wrapped wire. Now like the tail feathers they need one more thing, a bit of sparkle. But that's enough for one weekend, and I need a few days to ponder what else needs to be done, how I am going to mount it. Thinking like with the last stumpwork on the round. I also have a wedding to attend so maybe a wee break will aid the thinking.

Although, open to suggestions?

Paradise Bird Hand Embroidered Wall Clock

There are times when I create a piece that I am so in awe of the finished look that I almost want to cry. Okay, I didn't shed a tear but it was close! I had at least a cup of Earl Grey in celebration instead. This clock is one of those pieces that deserved a cup of tea, of course miles away from it not wanting to tempt fate.

The clock as you can see is so simplistic in design but beautifully executed. It also gave me the great opportunity to get out the crystals again and use the new clock hands. Perfect!

This is also led me to feel happy about doing this again, but customised. People can select any colour thread, and if I have the stock the crystals, clock hands, size and even the linen. I want to do a mini version next, so a little 3" wall art version.

It's now available to purchase in store, the listing for the customised version will be up later today.

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...

Peacock Paradise

As promised I have finally completed the stumpwork piece that has been several weeks in the process, if not months.  And byjove I am very, very pleased with the final outcome. Only thing that does remain is getting a shadow box frame before finally listing it. This piece will be listed on Wow Thank You rather than Etsy, will let you know when it is up.


SO many stitches, threads, and time went into producing this beauty and I am almost sad its complete, but now it means I can move onto other projects, whatever they maybe.

Peacock Stumpwork...it continues

Like a strangely addictive epic the Peacock continues on at quite a pace. The nice thing is I finally got the beak the way I wanted it and the little feathery detail in his head, one of them but you can't quite see is actually thread wrapped wire. I will try to get a closer shot of this at the weekend, hopefully this weekend I will attach his wing properly. Left to do is a few more eyelets and satin dots, I am contemplating a few more wired paisley shapes and or couching of vintage threads. Then it will be working out if my finishing ideas will happen or not....

Tick Tock

Another clock to add to the collection though as much as I am happy with the outcome, I am less than happy with the photography, just can't seem to get it right today. Another battle for another day, it is however listed. Just check out my Etsy store. Click on the tab above.

A Little Curio

For those who wondered what it looked like once finished.... I was aiming for a strange little specimen, a little bit of a odd nature in a little curio box. I was rather pleased with the outcome it's very tactile. I almost inclined to make another one and put it in the same small glass box. 

Making a Promise

Playing

In which I make a promise to myself not to be lazy. 


I made a promise to myself this afternoon, but I wonder how long it will last. It's one of the reasons I don't bother making these sort of promises usually because I end up forgetting it or changing my mind. However, this time I hope it will be different.


What is this promise?


It's to do more crafting, and not waste my time in the evenings, using that old excuse of being tired or not bothered. It's such a waste, I can do half an hour in the evenings! I can do this! I hate having nothing to show for a week when I used to do so much, even when working. Sure my work time has changed, I am no longer part-time so I don't have the extra time in the mornings to work on bits. Why should I let that stop me from doing something that actually in the long run makes me relax, otherwise you get stuck in a rut or just mull over work and where is the fun in that??!


So I make this pledge to do more with my time!


Can someone keep me going? Prod me occasionally or send me a nice link to a inspirational website?

Working on a new clock, something akin to patchwork..

Buy Handmade Campaign - Have you Signed?

If you only do one thing today, or at all this month, endeavour to sign up and join this worthwhile campaign, if anything it use it as a chance to remind yourself that buying handmade rocks.

Buy Handmade Campaign

Monochrome Mini Button Wall Clock

Seem to be on a partial roll lately with the making of items, once a week I must be ill?

I'll be working on an embroidery next something small, naturally, designed on the train on my way up to London but rather excited to do it. Will keep you posted!

Available to purchase here