Stitching Frustrations Out by Stitching Love

You may recall from a previous blog post of my frustrations at not being in the zone for embroidery, and in the past couple of weeks I've been endeavoring to knock that on a head. Enough, is enough. Despite whatever wibble I am in, embroidery/ stitching in general puts me in a happy place. And that, my friends is what we should do a lot more of. Feeling frustrated, do what you love, sod everything else. Unless it involves breaking the law....don't do that...stroke kittens instead.

Anyway, before I completely go off topic. I finally got over my not feeling able to come up with an embroidery project, a drawing/ concept if you will. Then I picked up the latest copy of 'The Simple Things' Magazine, the colouring in pages drew me in. Then, then I got this need to doodle and colour. I did and the above design came about. Simple. That's what I love most. 

I started working on it last week. Got the fabric all prepped, a linen mix if your wondering. It's got a bit of a slightly open weave, so to support it I placed a piece of light weight muslin behind (with a finer weave), I didn't herringbone it to the other fabric as you would do normally (properly). Sometimes, sometimes, it's okay to skip a step. Plus it's in an uber tight frame so I am not worried about it shifting about.

To get my started I roughly drew on the design, and roughly stitched various rows of running stitch in green threads round, and around on an oval shape. It not being dead on perfect was intentional,  somewhat out of my comfort zone...

I'll likely add more rows, but I wanted to try out ways of stitching the numerous leaves that will be dotting it, returned to the raised fishbone stitch, and satin for a starter for ten. Though I will probably look at lazy daisy and some other isolated stitches, just to give it some depth.

Happy with the leaves, I've moved onto starting the main bit of the project, stitching the lettering, I wanted to get this done before I put any more leaves, and long before I start the flowers. Rows, upon rows, of tiny split stitch in two colours, this is going to keep me quiet for a bit.

And its a perfect way for me to chill out on this rather glorious sunny, Sunday morning.

Trailing, Trailing, Trailing...

...Rawhide!

It's been in my head all week that line, as I crack on with yet another craft project, Wonderland is on hold at the moment as the sudden urge to stitch on the commute to work has overtaken it for the time being. Will be back on it very soon!

So what's up this week...

• The closest I got to the eclipse was via the computer. I have to say, that the coverage was pretty good on the BBC website. 

• Taken to stitching on the train once more as I've got a project, yes I've started another one, that I can carry about with me. I am not going to go into too much detail on it but you can see a few sneaky shots, and I am sure you can at least gather that the alphabet is involved. Or it's a name with an interesting spelling...Oh, and yes it's trailing. Okay, can't help it! Threads, in case you were interested are DMC white for the core thread, and over the top I am presently using cotton hand-dyed threads by Zoe Acketts, and also one colour is using vintage silk floss, brand unknown.

• Got a little fidgety the other week, Sunday night wobbles, and so I found myself knocking up a little floating cloud with crystal raindrops, just to keep my hands busy. For once, the inspiration /mood board in my study/guest room came in handy. Wish I could tell you who to credit, but all I can say the instructions were in issue #32 of Mollie Makes, on page 62. That's it, as I ripped it out when I was having a clear out of old magazines. In those instructions they make it into a super cute mobile, but for me I just went for the one solitary cloud in uber wicked liberty print. Finally starting to cut into the Tana Lawn stash again.

• It's my birthday next week, and whilst I run about the Harry Potter Studios, like a loon, I've decided to offer 31% off everything in my Etsy store. Simply use the following discount code: 31ROCKS.

Hope everyone is having a fab March. 

More Lettering: Life & Tana Lawn

It appears, in addition to my love for tea, bees and Liberty Tana Lawn, I have a growing fondness for stitching lettering. It's all I appear to be doodling these days, either random quotes I like or things I've come up with. Where or how far this takes me I don't rightly know, but I am liking this momentary diversion. Because, I am still not any further to completing the purchase on my first home. It's turning into a comedy at how long it's taking. That grumble aside, at least this limbo time is affording me a change in pace.

So what bunch of words have I chosen to work on at the moment, well it's something that's been muddling about in my noggin, 'Life is a Big Puddle, Jump In'. Words, that I don't often follow but one that I am paying a bit more attention too.

I've drawn out the design, chosen to use an assortment of different font styles, and colours. Really into the whole using the entire rainbow at the moment. Hey, the grey days have to be banished somehow!

Design, scaled up a smidgeon. My hedgehog pin cushion doesn't look impressed.

Currently working on the top row of letters 'LIFE', chosen to do balloon type letters in fruity colours. The string from each of the letters will link down to the second row. I will point out that working this in long and short stitch, has reminded me how rusty I am at doing it, taken me to 'f' to get back into the swing of it, and to get a smooth finish. 

Ah,....Lif...sweet...Lif.

I shall keep you all in the loop on it's progress, the aim of the coming week is to get the the first two rows complete, and to start the third row, which spells out 'BIG'. And when I am not working on that I will be planning what to do with my new stash of Liberty fabrics. I've gone on a bit of a spree to liven up the stash of Tana Lawn I already have. Some of my funky coloured ones are starting to run out so it was high time and a good excuse to buy more. It's been a combination of Ebay purchases and taking advantage of the summer sale at Liberty's in London. 2 metres for just under £25, I'll have some of that thank you very much. It will take me a long time, years even, to get through it all. 

Look at them, they are just so darn cheerful and lush! 

Before I dive off to make a cuppa and to take a break form the computer, you can see my entries for the 'Survival Arts - Bee Competition. Head over to their pinterest account to see the wonderful entries thus far, and my own (look out for Laura Mason) http://pinterest.com/survivalarts/brave-bees-art-competition/