The Suffragette:

I really enjoyed stitching this piece as I really didn't have a clue what it would be about when I started.

I began by stitching a face without a drawing to refer to and it took me quite a while to work out who she was.

As soon as her eyes appeared I knew she was one determined woman!

It certainly isn't the most efficient way to work, but sometimes not having a plan can lead to quite unexpected results (and quite a lot of unpicking!)

I hope you like her.

Wishing you a very creative weekend.

X

Party Lurcher!

A few days ago I started stitching one of my favourite designs, (I don't usually repeat a piece of work but I really love stitching this cheery chappie!)

And no matter how hard you may try, every one emerges with their own personality!

At the end of the day though, I knew it wasn't quite right, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

So, after making a cup of tea, I took a photo of it.

Now, I find this little trick really useful when trying to see with 'fresh eyes'.

So the next day I looked at the photo and realised that my Party Lurcher needed a bit of a nip and tuck as his head was a bit too wide.

I overlaid some scraps of the fabric used for the background, I also liked how the pink showed through a little on the right hand side of the eye brow.

I think that when you have a bit of a struggle, either in painting or stitching (or anything creative,) it can add extra layers and textures...

but cups of tea are needed, lots of cups of tea!

You can see how many layers there are on the back!

Hope you didn't mind me sharing my stitching struggles, but I do enjoy a testing creative challenge, 

(and the tea, did I mention the tea!)

x

Care To Dance?

It's been a while since I blogged a step-by-step, I wondered if you'd like to see how my latest machine embroidery developed?

I wasn't too careful when I placed the fabric scraps because I wanted to create a 'sketchy' quality.

Then I thought she looked a bit lonely...

You can see how much I use my trusty post-its!

Time to design some finery!

I think that she would like some lace!

You can see how loosely you can place the fabric pieces before stitching...

His tail was quite tricky to stitch.

'Care to dance?'

Floribunda...

I've loved every stitch of this piece of machine embroidery but it's taken a very long time to finish.

I really love finding old pieces of clothing and making my embroidery wearable.

Here's some photos of when I was stitching it....

She took a long time to make because I didn't sketch beforehand, I just began to sew directly and let her evolve.

Which was quite exciting really!

So here she is...

'Floribunda'

the last snip has been snipped

and

the last stitch has been stitched.

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A Bit Of A Challenge...

I fancied trying something a little different, and I've been thinking about customising clothing recently, so I was very excited when I found a denim jacket at the charity shop.

So I had a go at machine embroidering it with a selection of my favourite scrips and scraps of fabric.

There are a few patches here and there...

and of course a hare!

There were a few technical bits and bobs to work out along the way, but that added to the enjoyment.

Right, time for another trip to the charity shop soon!

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Patch Work Hare Suit Case....

I've just finished a Patch Work Hare suitcase, ready for my next Hope and Elvis workshop in November.

That little suitcase had been sitting in my studio, sighing, waiting for a little bit of love and attention.

So I thought I would embroider on my favourite scrips and scraps and see what happened.

I'm always nervous when working on vintage pieces in case I spoil their aged beauty.

I hope I haven't, and I did have fun!

X

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Scribbly Tuesday...

It's been a pretty miserable day outside and I really fancied having a play.

Nothing plotted.

Nothing planned.

For this brooch I scribbled directly onto the fabric, chucking in some of my favourite neon for good measure.

I think he looks rather smug, don't you!

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A Small Frippery...

Here's a small hare embroidered picture.

He looks a little startled.

I love it when I stitch something and its character emerges.

(I've told him there's nothing to worry about!)

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Not another one...

I do apologise but my hare obsession is still going strong.

This is a tiny stitched picture made from mono printing (a technique I still have lots of experimenting to do,) paint, stitch and scrips and scraps.

Happy weekend!

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Patchwork Fox

Last year I stitched a fox and he found a very good home indeed.

I missed him a little, and so decided to stitch another.

The good thing about working from a sketch though is that they always turn out a bit differently....this one looks a little bit cross I think!

I really enjoyed using some of the precious bark cloth scraps I got for Christmas.

I'm going to give my poor machine a rest now though!

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The Patchwork Garden...

I've been working for quite a few days on this machine embroidered picture.

I've used some new ( well, to me!) techniques on this piece, acrylic paint and mono printed scraps of fabric.

I think I'm looking forward to Spring!

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