Studio Visit - Joumana Medlej

The internet is a bit of a strange beast, but through it I have come to make some very good friends, link up with oodles of creative souls and share their work and my own. Sometimes I have actually met some of the folks and continue to do so. Recently I had the opportunity to meet someone whose work I've followed for sometime now, years if not a decade via Deviant Art...she was the reason I ended up on Etsy too. 

That person being the super multi-talented Joumana Medlej, doing anything from illustration to digital games. The work that I have been especially drawn to is her calligraphy especially being a bit of a fan of all things typography based. Not that you would ever know.

I popped along to her open studio day last Sunday, 28th June, in London. It really was an honour to get the chance to meet her and to see her work in the flesh, honestly photographs don't always do it justice. 

Part of her London studio, lovely amount of space and light

Just some of the equipment she uses...like looking into a apothecary (you know, a word that I have always had issues with saying aloud)

Also, gave me the chance to pick up a few pieces for the flat, which was fantastic. Can't wait to get these framed and up on the wall, they will be going pride of place in my bedroom...well once I've finished decorating it (so close).

I have to admit, I am not sure how I missed it, as I do have a tendency to get distracted, but I missed the fact she was in London and had been for sometime. So I have Instagram to thanks for helping me to see she had the open studio day! Gawd love social media.

It was a lovely opportunity and I'll certainly pop along to another one of her open days, and maybe I'll get the time to do one of her calligraphy classes, that would be amazing!

You can follow Joumana's work, and travels too (she does take some cracking photographs):

• Twitter - @joumajnouna
• Instagram - joumajnouna
• DeviantArt - majnouna
• Website - http://majnouna.com/

Silver Linings...

At last! A full day of sunshine and not a cloud in sight, except for one rather pretty, silvery cloud that I completed during the week, it's all mounted and now ready for framing. With the brightened weather I even managed to get some fairly decent photo's of it and for a bit of a trial I ordered a small stack of postcards from Moo to see what it and other embroidered works looks in print.

I'm so thrilled with the outcome, from a random little sketch last year to this simple, shiny and uber effective appliqué. I'll admit I was really tempted to add more beading to it but stopped myself when I finished couching 'every' because I thought what it had was enough. 

Whilst I was mounting the piece I posted a picture over on Instagram, and I got the following question:

@themasonbee what do you mount it on? I’ve never done that before.
— Rebecca Greco (@hugsarefun) February 15, 2014

Twitter is somewhat limited to answer but I thought I might expand on it here. Using the picture in question I pinned the embroidered piece of fabric to two layers of mount board (preference is museum grade) Before doing that I put a couple of layers of wadding underneath, it helps keep the fabric layer smooth. Now normally I'd have wrapped a layer of calico over the wadding and not put it directly against the embroidered fabric but as the silk is already applied to calico I didn't want to add more bulk. I then laced the embroidered fabric around the wadding and card, then slipped stitched silk on the back to cover the lacing and the card.

I'll admit, that this is the easiest way of mounting work but it isn't the completely proper way of doing it. But noneless it's secure and does the job brilliantly for what I need it to do. Now I need to buy the shadow box for it to go into.

I do feel a bit forlorn now that it's complete but not at the same time as I have already the next design to work on. Essentially, I did a doodle of a dragon last night and I am so excited by the design that I'll be working on that next week. Whilst also finishing off my place mats (nearly all stitched), designing and making an ATC (Artist Trading Card) for a swap I'm involved with and I'm also considering signing up to take part in the Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap not that I don't already have enough things to work on. I don't have long to decide whether or not to do it, but nothing like leaving it to the last minute to make a decision.

During the week, I sent out my first newsletter (check it out) for this year and I showed a few snippets of future patterns and I also mentioned with publications I am in this month. Now on that last point I make a correction. I thought that the project I did for Crafty was in this one, but it would have actually been in the March edition...I say would have been but if you didn't already know, the publication is being pulled. Gutting, and rather sad news, as I think it was really starting to find its feet and a cracking magazine. Now I am not sure where that leaves my projects, I need to get some clarification on that but it's probably likely I'll be able to release what I did on the blog instead or turn into little paid for patterns. Not sure, either way I'll keep you posted!

Finally, and not least if you wondered why I didn't blog last week, I had a very busy weekend of seeing good friends and being all cultural. On the Saturday I ventured up to London, despite the atrocious weather, to see a fellow Laura and to hit various smaller more obscure museums; Sir John Soane's Museum, The Hunterian Museum and Two Temple Place. It was a hoot of a day, tiring as hell at the end of it but well worth it. Highly recommend all the museums if your looking to go somewhere that aren't the usual suspects and they are pretty close together, in fact Soane is cross the square from the Hunterian. It was meant to be!

I hope you lovely lot are well and safe in this utterly mad weather!

London Trip and Sale Time

Today is the last day of my holiday, two and a half weeks of bliss have near enough come to an end. The time was spent relaxing, hibernating in my flat and getting covered in fabric. Many a cup of tea was drunk and I ate my weight in sugar. 

In order to prepare myself for the return to work tomorrow, the last few days of the holiday have seen me venture out into the beautiful weather (yeah right) on Monday I spent several hours in London with my Mum, mainly at the Victoria and Albert Museum and I have to say like most museums doesn't matter how many times you go, there is always something new to see. Or a new little nook you haven't been in. In this case it was the whole Medieval area and the mezzanine level that holds the ironwork/ironmongery. 

Sensing a return to the VAM to check out the Ironmongery again, as it's got me thinking about potential future project ideas...

One of my favourite pictures I took, rather impressed with the camera on the iPod Touch

Yesterday and today as well I've been getting myself prepared for going to back to work  (admittedly don't think I am ever fully ready for that) hair cut and digging out the work wear that's been banished to the far reaches of draws and cupboards. I envisage that the weekend will mostly be about recovering from the shock of being at work. 

Actually not entirely true I'll be in theory working on a project for Crafty magazine if the fabric ever turns up. My Etsy store will be reopened on Saturday and I will be having a sale, mainly on the clocks, as I have made the decision not to make any more for the foreseeable future. Time for a break..no pun intended. Sort of.

I need to move on from them, likewise I'll be taking a step back from hoop framed embroidery. Whilst I find it a very effective way of hanging work, and no doubt I will be doing that with a few pieces of my own for the flat, I find myself going back to the traditional way of framing. With the typography work and other such pieces they can be a bit too delicate for being open to elements. 

Oh on Sunday I'll be nipping over to the Farnham Maltings as there is a Quilting Exhibition and supplies sale, and my favourite thread supplier will be there, Mulberry Silks. Patricia who runs it has very kindly agreed to take some particular coloured thread packs I want to match to fabric to the show for me to look at.

Change in Plans and Commissions

So another week comes to a conclusion and with it has brought more exciting things. Now originally I had thought that now till Christmas it was going to be a lot quieter for me, I could sit and work on the few commissions I had and start researching new ideas for 2013...And whilst I have been working on the commissions, such as this lovely personalised Christmas gift.

I do love a bit of trailing, actually I love it a lot which is why the whole thing ended up in the stitch. 

I've got myself involved with another fair, this is what happens when you go and see some dear friends. Have a chat and get roped in. So this Thursday and Friday you will get another opportunity to purchase my items before Christmas in person. Sure it's going to be a little bit on the chilly side but there is going to be mulled cider! What more can you want? Actually the Thursday I won't be there in person, my dear friend Anna  Stassen (http://sakurajewellery.com) will be holding the fort whilst I am at work. Then on Friday I will be coming up to man my stall. So come along and say hello!

I shall be taking majority of my clocks, collars and all my cute little pieces like my very last button needlecases, baubles and mirrors as well. Ideal stocking fillers! After this event my store will be going into hibernation mode for the winter, tucked up in a cozy bed, so that I can get myself ready for Christmas, and yes you guessed it working on the commissions. 

Nice and quiet....yeah.

To-do List Trauma

I am still here. I am just buried under a massive to-do list. The sort where you manage to cross one thing off only to add another five things to do in the process. Mostly I am working on the commission which is slowly progressing and working on extra stock bits for the craftshow. Needless to say I am going to be making the most of my commute to and from work. 

Hope all my crafty minions are doing well, just found a wee slot of time to look over the feedback received so far and making a note of a few of the points for me to work on. 

Must now dash...time for soup x

Minions and Craftshow

It's about to insanely busy for me this month, for both my stitch business and my day-to-day work. And you know what I don't mind, sure I am probably going to end up crashing in late December but until then I'am happy if not a little prone to the odd tendency to rock back and forth...

So reason for this sudden change?

I am doing a craft market in December. I don't often do them but I try to around Christmas just a natural time to hawk your wares, so to speak, and for me even if I don't sell a whole lot it's all part of the process of getting people to know you and what you do. You know what, I feel more ready for this than I have ever done in the past. I've got some really clear lines and they look bloody good. There I blew my own trumpet for a change.

So when and where will I be?

I'll be at the We Make craft market taking place at Battersea Arts Centre, London on the 1st December. I've just paid for the stall so as and when I get a bit more details on times extra I'll be posting that up and hopefully some of you that follow my blog will pop along. 

On the run up to the market I'll be sorting out a bit more stock to take along with what I already I have, working out stall layout (I already have a sparkly Christmas Tree to take...) and then about the week before I will be closing my Etsy store. Mainly so that I don't have to panic, though it would be a lovely one, that I'd be sold out of an item that I want to take with me.

Along side working on that the commission continues, starting to breath a small sigh of relief that I have actually started to make some noticeable progress, I will show you a picture some time in the near future. I also have a couple of smaller commissions to work on too but thankfully I can delay working on those till December. 

So plenty of stitching to be getting on with.

On a silly note, I will also be trying to stop myself from stroking my lovely Filofax, aptly named Guildford (was meant to be), I can't distract myself with it just yet. Soon, soon I can. Then dammit I'll never forget another birthday again.

Fingers crossed....

Photograph by Jessica (Needle & Thread)

What else? The other day you might recall that I did a shout out for some Stitching Minions, and several of you stepped forward to lend a hand to help me test out on of my recent patterns 'Hi Honey'. Gawd love you all for willingly helping out, even though I can't give you much in return. One of my lovely minions has already started to blog about her progress, Needle & Cloth.

I will keep everyone in the loop of how everyone is doing, and how the pattern is shaping up, I've already received some very useful feedback. 

That's it my lovelies. 

Want it Wednesday - Lets here it for the Girls and Boys

Like many today, I am sure, watched as much of the Olympics as they could. Whilst I was at work I managed to at least get into the spirit of things with watching the girls come home for the rowing and Wiggins and Froome smash the cycling later in the afternoon. I will admit I am not a sports fan, I can't hack it really mainly because the suspense kills me. However, things like the rowing does appeal...so come on the chaps on Friday. So first Want it Wednesday in quite sometime I've dedicated to all things rowing and Cycling.

Bicycle Art Print - AldariArt

Bradley Wiggins T-shirt - freebirdvelo

London Olympics Print - HaveAGanderUK

Miniature Row Boat - RCaroe

Vintage Inspired Union Jack Cushion - dulciesloft

I shall end this post on wishing Team GB the very best of luck with the remainder of the Olympics!