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.

A for Alphabet, B for Birthday....

C for Certainly been a full on fortnight between birthday, now Easter and projects. So here is a little round up of what I've been up too. 

• You know my sneaky shots from my last blog post, well heck I finished it! I am so super happy with how this Alphabet display piece turned out. 26 individually stitched letters. Yes, in my favourite trailing stitch, think I need treatment for this addiction. Loved making it so much so that I want to do another one, and I will because I've already purchased another display rack. Thinking a different colour way and different stitch. Interested in purchasing, head over to Etsy. 

Q for...uhm...Queue? Qwerty...

Now you know your A, B, C's...next time...

• Who knew about laminating fabric could be so much fun...now have a fab new mousemat! Go on, crack out that laminator.

• What did I do for my birthday? Lots of hanging out with my family, yay! And double yay, as I went to the freakin' Harry Potter Studio. Cue feeling like a massive kid, and I was, so many small people...still it was so much fun. And totally worth the ticket price. Totally rode a broom, wore a Slytherin cloak, and bought a chocolate frog.

Sort of loving the pink ombre tiles...

Squee, Dumbledore's Office...

• Enjoying the Easter break! Not one to like keep still or anything, I've been flicking between decorating my bathroom, which I can now say is finally complete! Huzzah. I do not want to see a paintbrush for a while. Eating chocolate has been the order of the day, as has drinking copious amounts of tea (duh), and stitching. Just flitting about playing about with things half finished. Like rather large 1 1/2 inch hexie's I had the fabric cut out for an age, and I really couldn't remember what the plan was, but heck I thought do something or put it away. So out came the lovely rainbow coloured threads again. When it's spring time, you just need to bust out the colours even when it's a grey, April day. Tomorrow there will be more working on this random project, and if it looks good I'll give you more of a heads up on how you can make a totally random hexi thing too! 

• Think also get the Wonderland piece back out to see about getting that a little closer to finishing.  
• Oh! I managed to give my website a little bit of love. Updated pictures, and tweaked the little store that's on that site too.

For now my dearies, I need tea and some more chocolate! Happy Easter xx

Biscuits, Quilts and Tea

Another week has flown by, I was rather caught up with last minute decorating ahead of my carpet being fitted, more on that later. Feeling a little bit crook but at the same time determined to finish a longstanding project. I feel more energized of late to stitch and well do things. 

Get things done! 

• The sheer relief of finishing a quilting project! Having started it, or at least gathered together all the fabric back in 2013, the quilt for my bedroom was completed last week. Can't say how bloody awesome it is to actually finish such a long project. The hand sewing the binding certainly took a lot of patience, as I was so ready for it to be done. And can I say why did I not get the Clover Wonder Clips sooner! But it is, at long last now adorning my bed. Which means I'll be getting ready soon to getting that room decorated. Speaking of decorating....

I love my little red and clear wonder clips, they are so freakin awesome and totally limit the amount of times I am normally stabbed with pins whilst sewing on bias binding!

Bob, I can see you.

• My hallway is finally finished! Talk about a relief. The carpet was fitted, along with the laminate in the bathroom, yesterday morning. Knowing that one room(ish) is complete, and that I am now keen to crack on with the next project, which will be the bathroom is really great, and I think I have to say the spring sunshine is certainly helping with the motivation to get on. 

• Other decorating based news. My biscuit collection is ever growing, the lovely designing talents of Nikki McWilliams has extended to these lovely range of foil letterpress designs, Jammie Dodger, Custard Cream and recently a copper Bourbon biscuit. Hard to resist. These will eventually be framed and will go on display in the livingroom. Hoping that there will be a party ring on the horizon. 

• Watch the process of handcrafted quilts. Simply stunning.

• Got the idea for my next embroidery project, follows on from a mini quilt/patchwork which I am going to post about during the week, once I've properly completed (nearly there!). Let's just say, tea is featured. 

• Things I am thinking about a lot lately: changing direction, closing Etsy store, getting rid of Facebook (company page) love Instagram more, focusing on making things for me but perhaps looking in more detail about what is I am making, and how I do it. Essentially, figuring out do I want to make to sell or simply just make? Perhaps the sunshine had woken up long dusty brain cells. What are you thinking about at the moment?

Charting New Courses

So my sample compass idea has progressed to what I think is near completion. A spot of less is more. I want to do more along this type of work, and a few ideas for custom work is still brewing away.

However, I am going to take a small break from 'charting' new courses, to start doodling new typography based ideas. Linen, and silk threads are calling to me in this idea.

If there is a quote or a saying that you love, share it with me I might well make it my next design.

Happy Spring Days

I'm writing this blog post in a ridiculously good mood, singing along (badly) to radio, and once I've stopped writing I'll be sorting out a spot of dinner, speaking to my best mate and then getting back to stitching. I would say it's down to a combination of enjoying the sunshine pouring through the windows, buying more plants for the flat, and just enjoying what I am making. Sure this week hasn't gone to plan from dentist's costing an arm an leg, unexpected bills...too and this is the funniest thing, having a sparkie come out only to realise the lights that you thought were going in the hallway hadn't been ordered...because it was you that was meant to have done it. Yes, I felt like a right idiot. 

Not that it mattered cause at the end of the day my teeth are in good order, the bill will get paid and the lights whilst not up, are now ordered, and most of the prep work has been done. Oh, and a phone socket issue was also sorted out in the process. 

So what does it matter, these things are sent to try us but I am slowly learning to just go with the flow...ish. 

Anyway, enough of that waffle! I've made some pretty things, well one finished pretty, another is in the process:

Mia Mouse

This little Tilda mouse was made for a friend's god-daughter, the dress/apron gave me a bit of gip but it's come out well. Bright colours were a must for the little girl it's going to. Slightly tempted to make a coat or a blanket for it, perhaps I might if I have a moment over the Easter holidays.

Then afternoon, I started work on the monogram for a friend in the States. Starting with a bit of prep work then moving onto starting the trailing. I have to really think about the order I work the monogram in as there is a lot of over lapping. The lettering was designed by me and I've found myself doodling what the rest of the alphabet would look like. So chances are there might be more like in the future.

Getting smart-arse with the filters on Instagram...

Looks like an 'e' but really is a twiddly bit (technical term) at the end of the letter, finished with a tiny little tassel, to help it stand out from the rest of the gold trailing, I flecked in some of the blue I'll be using to work the main part of the letter in. 

It's not the only things I've been doing this weekend, there's been a lot of shifting about, perhaps its the need of wanting to spring clean has got me spirited to do it. I'll not complain, because whilst it lasts the flat is looking utterly smashing. 

I hope everyone has had a lovely weekend! 

Grey Clouds, Spring Colours and Press

I've not been quite as active this week as I would have liked too but unfortunately I finally sucummoned to the dreaded office plague. I think I might have tempted fate by saying the other week, that it's been a rather long time since I had picked up anything...

So when I wasn't hiding on the sofa shivering, face suckered to a pillow, or sneezing my head off I did do a bit of stitching, actually a bit more today as I was starting to feel a bit more human. I started on the table mats for the flat, as the fabric and threads arrived earlier this week.

Nice and squishy. Loving the Koi collection quilting fabrics. I picked two out of the range to make the placements.

Then today I moved onto the finishing details to the Silver Linings project. As you can see pretty much on the homeward straight. I just finished off a couple of chain stitch lines, plunged threads and added more bead detailing.

Just got the lettering to do which I decided to do couching to keep the fluidity of the letters and it's also super quick, should get that finished in the next couple of days. Exciting!

The rest of the today I pottered about the flat, drank copious amounts of tea, joined an ATC swap and started working on the sample for a new free pattern. Which I can at least share the colours with you...

Faithful newsletter subscribers will get the first sneaky look at the pattern, in the next week or so. Along with hopefully the sneak preview of another pattern that I have been doodling. Yes, the newsletters start back this month after a winter break. 

Before I head off to take a break from the computer, I just have a few shares with you. As you know I have been doing a few projects for magazines lately, and I've just realised this weekend that they are out this coming week. Like buses they all come at once. I've done four little projects for Crafty Magazine and I also worked on a little project for a soon to be new publication called Hoop-la, which you can see a sneak preview of, both publications will be out this week. 

Ta-ta for now!

2014 - Welcome and Winter Projects

*Gives the blog a good dust down*

Hello folks and a very Happy New Year to you all! 

I hope you all made it in good health and spirits. Owing to my extended winter holiday I am very much still in high spirits and I find myself at long last in the mood to get cracking on with things again, whilst at the same time taking it easy. Part of this comes in the form of working on things that are for the flat. Projects that allow me to play with absolutely no pressure to get them done quickly. Perfecto.

So what have I been making whilst curled up on the sofa over Christmas whilst ignoring the bad weather, watching old flicks and generally eating my body weight in chocolate (still eating it now)....

I didn't actually make the Deer head over Christmas it was for a gift, but I couldn't show it off because it was for my mum and she reads my blog posts... She had her eye on the one I made for myself for quite sometime, and has had to be prevented from walking off with it on more than one occasion. So I finally got round to making one for her, and I have another to make now for my sister. You might recognise it to be a Tilda design for a deer version of a hobby horse, you can find it in Sew Pretty Christmas Homestyle book. 

I also made this sleepy mouse over a course of three evenings, for my best friends first baby, I've called it Sweet Little William Mouse and it's yes another Tilda creation. 

Projects I have been working on whilst on holiday are as follows, the patchwork quilt for the bedroom, using Petite Street fabric and the Ruby, Opal and Pearl pattern. I've machined two of the twenty blocks I need to make, and I have two more pending. Currently awaiting another stash of the fabric before I start cutting out the rest (underestimated...typical). It comes together quite quickly, which is great as I really want to get on with the hand quilting the layers together.

It's not by any means the only quilting project I have on the go. I've started to make up the design I doodled in my sketchbook for a little while now, a small paper piecing art quilt. I even did samples for it, which for me isn't something I normally do for projects for myself but I wanted to try out the new thread and work out how I was going to quilt it. I eventually settled on the version below, which uses small running stitching and a thin wadding layer. The thread if your wondering is a rather snazzy Aurifil quilting thread, 100% cotton and made in Italy, colour number 4648. It's so lovely to use. It's prompted me to call this the Sunrise Quilt.

The pieces are 1-2" in size. So was a little fiddly!

I did have to unpick some of my stitching as I found I was going a little wobbly.

I will of course be posting little updates on the two projects over the coming weeks and months (in case of the large quilt). Quilting really is becoming very much my hobby of choice. Its both practical as I get to make things for the flat and keeps me stitching when I don't feel like embroidery. I also like it because it gives me a chance to learn new techniques. Techniques I am sure I will start to use in projects for Mason Bee a bit more, though don't expect to see a full blown bed spread any time soon. It took a long time to finish the last one and that was a hand-me down from my Aunt!  

Plus it gives me even more of an excuse to buy more fabric....*whistles*

Aside from the stitching and the quilting, I have also started working on Mason Bee related bits and pieces too, such as updating the website and even tided up the blog as I am sure you've noticed. I've gone for a much simpler design and deleted a lot of unnecessary pages and content. On the website I updated my about me page, removed quite a lot of the gallery and did a bit of tweeking. Main reasons behind this was that I realised how quickly everything was getting out of date because I either forgot to update or it was time consuming to do it. Sometimes pretty designs and layouts can be a headache.

Now enough about what I've been up too, what about you guys? Did you get a chance to work on any projects for you? Purchased or been given any lovely new craft related items? 

I've been spending most of my money on new clothes a necessary evil (hate clothes shopping!), but I did buy a new lamp for the workroom/guest room and as I said more fabric for the quilt and I've heard that Mulberry Silks has a sale on...

Threads, Bee and Success

Nothing like a productive weekend, to make you feel that whatever the next week brings that at least you started it with a few things crossed off your list. I had two things that I was rather pleased to get done.

The first is that I finally got a solution for my windows at my abode that works. I've had a bugger of a time with the plaster board. The new buildings owners worst nightmare when it comes to fixing anything heavier than a picture on it. So you can imagine that hanging anything like a blind was a nightmare. However, using components that are actually for wardrobe, small dabs of no more nails to add the screws, and the aid of my mum. I've fitted up a mini pole in the study ready for me to hang the curtains...that I've yet to make but still it's a start!

Taking a picture of it at the moment is a bit dull, but once I've made the curtain I'll show it off. Hopefully, by then I'll have my sofa bed installed too so the room will be pretty much complete and ready for guests to use too.

What's the second thing I am pleased about? Well I have made the sample and pretty much got instructions sorted out for a fab little Christmas project for you all. Here is a sneaky peek of a bit of it to wet your appetite. 

The project will be ready for next week, and I'll be aiming for the 7th November, to coincide with the project in Crafty magazine which will be out the same day. Which I can show you what it looks like, as they have put up on their site this week the template for the design. Sneaky peek and download the template ahead of the game!

This is a prefect opportunity to remind you about the competition I have running, which has some fab prizes up for grabs. Click here for more details.

As well as the Christmas project and the window solution, I popped along to the first Threads festival at Farnham Maltings. It was in the neighbourhood and I wanted to go along to see if it was something I wanted to take part in next year, but I have to be honest I wasn't utterly sold on it. The premise was good, but in reality to me it fell short, I can't fully explain it. I think it largely came down to not knowing what it was meant to be. I personally felt that the set up at the Maltings might have also not fully helped it was a little too bitty, perhaps that was the reason I couldn't quite figure it out. If you've not been to the Maltings, its a collection of buildings linked together, with studio areas, halls and various other side rooms. Which for this festival made me feel as I left that I might have missed something. 

I might have felt even more disappointed had I not come across a rather lovely and local hand-weaver who also sold her hand dyed cotton threads. Naturally I fell in love with the threads couldn't resist purchasing a pack of mercerised cottons and one of her silk dying experiments. I highly recommend checking out Zoe Acketts by going to her site http://www.zoeacketts.co.uk/.  

Perhaps my thoughts on the show were a little hard, given it was the first one, next year I heard its going to be in September rather than November. Perhaps not to compete with the Christmas fairs. Which might work better...I'll leave my opinion as undecided. Did you go, what did you think? 

Now I must toddle off the evening has well and truly settled in and it's time to snuggle down on the sofa with a cuppa. 

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!

Must keep stitching...

I have to say far from chilling out this week, I've been putting myself through the paces with embroidery this week, but I am certainly enjoying it. Silly thing to say really, of course I am enjoying it. Sure there have been projects that I've worked on where the enjoyment ebbed away the longer it went on, but you know you live and your learn and also you have to remember with any job or even hobby for that matter there are always things you end up not enjoying. So far its been a long time since that's happened for me.

Hopefully not tempted fate. 

Before I show you the progress of the Paradise Bird project I thought I would give you an update on how my business plans are going. Branding is under way, as I speak my rather talented Uncle is working on that for me and we may even do some collaboration pieces like I have done with Heidi. I'll keep you posted.

Once the branding is sorted it means I can update all the sites with a more consistent look and I can get the new business cards sorted and labels etc. Which I can't wait to get sorted, at some point I will need to source fabric labels, or perhaps get a stamp made so I can make my own. Decisions, decisions.

The website I would say has finally bedded down, by that I mean I've stopped tweaking it, so any changes from now on will simply to keep it up to date. With the new look its certainly going to be easier and quicker, which is a relief. 

The most important step, and one that I know all craftspeople and artists battle with and that's how much are you worth? Perhaps that makes it sound a bit cras but it really is as simple as that. There are countless articles, blog posts and books on the subject of pricing and how you shouldn't under or over value your work. It's a bloody minefield. 

I've heard it quite a lot from friends and family that I undersell my wares, and yes I know I have and it comes down to not having the confidence in what I make is worth the price tag. Artists are there worse enemy in this respect. So I've bitten the bullet, if I don't now then frankly I am never going to be able to make this a viable means of living. I worked out my hourly rate, it certainly hurt my brain I'll tell you that much. And now I have done that it gives me a better basis for what to charge for my pieces and gives me the confidence I need to say I am worth it. I have a good friend of mine on hand to slap me if I don't use it. She has a strong right arm so she'll hurt. 

Why am I telling you this, well I hope it will help some other like minded soul. 

The heavy stuff over with for another week let's have a look at some pretty pictures. 

A spot of late night stitching meant that I managed to get all the trailing done on the tail feathers completed, however, it's not the end of the tail feathers, they need sparkle! Sparkle will come in the form of silver passing couched down one side, and crystals at the end of the feathers.

Ain't it pretty?

Actually one thing you can't really see in these images, is that towards the ends of the feathers I have blended in another colour different shades or tones of the colour I started with. Rather like the effect, even if my photography doesn't show it off.

Artsy shot...

Actually that's where the project is at, I've stopped it to work on something else for the rest of the afternoon, once that's complete then I will be working on the wing.

Back to Stitching

Byjove its good to be back stitching, and working on a project with some teeth. I've had a design in mind for sometime, its been sitting in my sketchbook just waiting for me to work out how to turn into a workable piece and that's what I've done, and have officially started stitching it today. And, unlike some of my previous pieces I am actually going to be translating the design into various different types of items. This is good use of the design and already have in my mind what I'll be doing.

But enough of that, I am sure you want to see what it is I am actually working on:

Translating the design in my sketchbook into something a little bit more workable

My favourite way of transferring the design, took me just under 30 minutes to do this bit.

I applied several layers of felt for padding the main part of the body, and a sliver of purple silk for the back wing.

And this is where I finished this evening, all felt layers are on, the back wing stitched down and half of it covered by the top layer of felt, the section of fabric at the bottom is the fabric I am considering for the body, though I keep changing my mind, it could be this, silver coloured silk or even some sort of stitching. Can't decide.

More playing to be done.

What are you working on?

Project finished!

How it was looking this afternoon
Just sewing on the press fasteners

Nothing quite like finishing a project for your own abode, I always feel slightly smug when I finish a project when its for me. Because frankly I rarely make anything for me, and to make something that's for me and practical frankly its almost a myth. Here we are an end of the bed thingie (I have no name for it) with pockets, done and dusted! Go me! It's now willing me to finish the experiment I had with the net curtain in the livingroom, going to finish it today, or at least get a fair whack of it done, so far I have two buttons badly sewn on and doing nawt.


Of course it does make me feel bad at the same time, I wanted to make some more things for my shop but I honestly don't know what to make. Which I feel sad about. So I think I'll get on with the mini patch work sampler and see where that takes me.


What wonders have you made?

Done!

 

Bedroom tidy...for a change.
End of bed hiding thingie put to use.