Silver Cloud for a Grey Day

Just a mini update on the cloud progression. Further chain stitch has been added in varying shades of grey and thickness's of silk thread. I've also given in and started to add crystals and beads, and I've also begun to add a highlight of silver purl thread around the edge of the cloud to give it a neater finish. It won't be long to go till I add the wording to the off-white silk background. Seems rather apt to be working on it today given how gawd awful the weather has been again.

Silk Thread and Puffy Clouds Progress

The Silver Lining Project (which makes it sound like some sort of Government top secret...) is progressing long rather nicely. The week before last I managed to get the initial stages done, which largely meant prep work and stuffing the cloud. Like you do.

The cloud is made up of two thin layers of pale grey linen, which has then been applied to a layer of silk dupion. This in turn has been machined to a layer of calico (to give it some grip and support when in a ring frame - also handy when it comes to mounting the work). The cloud before I finished stab stitching it to the silk has been stuffed with polyester stuffing. Not too much so it looks akin to the Michelin man but just enough to give it some depth. Also didn't want to make it too stuffed as it be tricky when it comes to doing all the embroidery detailing around the cloud. 

After that point I had to put it to one side till I had picked up the threads I wanted to add into the mix and to work on the project for Crafty Magazine, I need to confirm when this is out, I think its the March issue. This weekend, however, I managed to get back to it, and I must say I am really pleased with how it's coming along. I had a few initial blips, where I was trying out thread on the actual piece and really disliked it, so there has been quite a bit of unpicking. It took a cup of tea and a break from it work out how I wanted to really start it. Which turned out to be couching a main-ish outline in silver smooth passing. Which gave me something a bit more solid to work against. 

After the outline I just pretty much cracked on with running stitch, couching, metal work, stab stitching and lots and lots of chain stitch, the latter being the main stitch for this project. I am using numerous tones of grey, some with pink or blue hues, different thickness's and types of silk thread. This really is a cornucopia of all things grey and silver.

I haven't even got to the beading part! Which I am saving till last so not to get threads caught on them.

It wasn't the only project I got back to working on, I even spent sometime last night whilst watching Wayne's World, still makes me laugh, to work on the small quilting project. I hope to get back to working on that a bit at a time in the evenings so that doesn't become an unfinished project (got way to many of those floating about). 

Oh, and I've also given some thought to my previous tutorials the honeycomb pieces, it's been a long time since I did one, and I have to be honest I am not sure I want to do another one. Is that bad? Planning the next one felt like a bit of a battle and not terribly enjoyable. The design has been filed since I moved house. 

I certainly want to do more little tutorials for you guys and I don't want to completely abandon the idea of the honeycomb pieces, I just have an idea for something else, something I am pretty sure will work and both you and I will enjoy doing. I have a rough sketch of how it will look and even some of the stitches I want to put on it, I now just need to work out how to go about it. But I think you'll like it. I wont put a time-scale on this one, other than it will be soon. 

Now time to get back to the cloud! 

New Project for the New Year: Every Cloud has a Silver Lining

Last year I mentioned I wanted to do more typography / quote based embroideries as I loved working on the last three; Tea Solves Everything, Today is a Good Day, Life is a Big Puddle Jump In. I've had a design in my notebook for a while now but wasn't quite ready to work on it, until now that is. 

The new quote is Every Cloud has a Silver Lining, and whilst I have one design in mind and doodled, I have an inkling another version of it might just follow.

As you can see I've started to gather the materials, I love the hunting and sourcing aspect of any new project and especially if it means trawling through my stash. As it means the more I use up the more reason I have to buy new materials.

I pulled out the metal threads, silk threads and silk dupion and a few other odds and sods that I have stashed away. I think I need a few more silk threads to add to the mix as a few of the colours I have aren't quite right. So this is an excuse to make the most of the Mulberry Silk sale. Not that I really needed an excuse. Beads and maybe a few discreet crystals (special bit of bling) will also be added too. 

Now normally I like to work and play around with threads and stitches as I go a long on the main piece, it can be a scary doing this but I tend to work well doing it this way. However, last night I whipped a small sample as I wanted to see what the pale grey linen would work on the cream dupion, and I like it and I've kept the sample so that I can use it to try out stitches etc on it. this time I knocked up a sample mainly to see if I like the linen on the cream silk but I'll also be using it to play on.

I can't stop poking it...squidgy.

Hey look I am drinking tea...

I'm really looking forward to getting cracking with this but I first have to see if I can't get the project for Crafty magazine completed first, though I am still waiting on the fabric to arrive.

More information on this as it progresses.

Finished!

Another weekend of a bit of me time, things to do, people to see and projects to finish, whilst also whipping up batches of soup and moving furniture around.

Has anyone else noticed the change in the weather this weekend? Yes, I know a Brit talking about the weather, well nothing like sticking to a stereotype. I really noticed it this weekend, with the warm sun but a noticeable nip in the air with with the wind. Thus making you wish when your out that you brought a scarf with you. I have always loved the snuggly jumper, soup making, blanket days, more than any other time of year. Sure I was born in the spring but autumn and winter will always be my fave. Bring on the crispy leaves to tread on!

Anyway, enough of the weather...I've got something to show you!

I've finished my 'Tea Solves Everything' embroidery at long last! Yay, we all cry...well okay, perhaps just me. So pleased its finally complete. I need to get it framed but it's done, it's finished...its sitting in the hoop frame next to me. Okay, I need to get it mounted onto card but it's done!

Just starting the very last letter, I had to actually do this letter again, so this is attempt number two. I just couldn't get the flick under the 'v' right. So I unpicked, stitched 'e' and 's' and went back to it. Sometimes you have to give something a break before you come back to it.

Using a pin I was able to keep the core thread where I wanted it whilst I stitched up to it. 

And here it is complete! So, utterly thrilled with it.

I'm so pleased with the outcome, I just need to sort out some really high resolution shots and then I can play around with the idea of greeting cards. I'm mind is already onto stitching the next one, which I will start but in a few weeks time.

I've had to put my own projects on hold again, some of you might have seen some of my tweets lately, I've had a bit of an issue with post. My secret squirrel project finished pieces went missing in the post....and yes, to say I was distraught would be an understatement. I have, however, gotten over it. Someday it may show up, and in the meantime I am stitching it again, with a slight adaptation. Needless to say, posting it will cause me a bit of a stress but I am seriously contemplating DHL or Feedex. It's frustrating but at the end of the day it's really not the worst thing in the world, at the time it was but you have to move on. Tea and chocolate also helped, and wisdom from my best friend and mum.

I was about to sign off, but I must draw your attention to a competition being run by &Stitches blog rather aptly named for the time of year, 'Back to School'. It sounds like a really fantastic competition idea and there are some fab prizes up for grabs. Go and check it out.

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!

Life is a Big Puddle Jump In - Embroidery Complete

There is always a silver lining to feeling poorly, additional days at home. And being the sort that always has to be doing something I've been able to finish my latest quote/typography embroidery piece, 'Life is a Big Puddle Jump In'. This piece is yet to be mounted, that's the next bit to do. And once I've got that sorted I'll be taking some higher resolution images to allow me to turn the image into purchasable postcards and greetings cards.