03/20/2013
I just had to do it
Once the thought was there I had to do it. I created a hand bound buttonhole for my latest wrapping cloth yesterday, a single buttonhole with cross stitch lips. I was reluctant to call them lips as last time I made these the mention that they looked like lips almost stopped me making them ever again. I wouldn't say I'm over it, I still cringe a little but the trick I think is to consider 'lips' as things that can be made from gorgeous cloth too. I'm working on it.....
Embroider, embellish, create started again on monday and the group is filling up already. Unlike Alchmey this group is public so if you want to have a look at what is happening in school then just go here.
The rest of my week is up in the air a little at the moment. I have plans for travel over two days, Friday and Saturday. Today however there has been mention of heavy snow for Friday so now I'm not sure.......In all honesty I will not be able to make a decision until Friday morning so if I do disappear again that is why.
03/19/2013
this morning....
We have bright sunshine today, it's wonderful. Vitamin D top up time. Today I have been attending to TWO classes. Oh my, I am going to get so confused. Alchemy will be getting EEC work and vice versa. That will teach me to count my weeks properly won't it. There is cross stitch here, (yes, to be cut up), some scrim and evidence that I will indeed be using my pin pillow. It didn't cry when I stuck the pins in so I guess that means it's OK.
My Mothers day roses are still in full bloom...gorgeous. In my lounge I have huge lillies, another Mothers day gift which is also going strong along with a pretty bouquet in a bag, a gift from a friend that arrived before the Mothers Day flowers. It is like an indoor garden.
03/18/2013
pin pillow
The piece from Friday, the piece on the right of the bowl is now a lace pin pillow. It was just something I needed to do. I had wondered how this type of cloth would translate into a pin pillow so decided to make one to find out. I don't really NEED a pin pillow but can you ever have too many? I doubt it.
I was missing at the weekend. Did you notice? I wasn't slacking as such, just having some much needed family time. I did manage a little embroidery...cross stitch to be precise...although not as much of that as I feel I need. I would love to have say a yard of hand embroidered cross stitch cloth to cut up and use for titivation whenever I feel the need. At the weekend I managed a piece measuring approximately 6 x 8 inches. Can you believe how time consuming cross stitch can be? Time consuming doesn't normally bother me but I am in so much of a hurry for that elusive large piece.
Embroider, embellish, create began today. If you are signed up for that you should now have your week one e mail. If you don't have that, check your spam. If you still don't have it then get in touch asap....can't have anyone missing out on week one!!
03/15/2013
the white bowl
03/14/2013
this week
This week has gone by in a whirl. When I listed embroider, embellish, create I counted my weeks wrong meaning that Alchemy still has two weeks to run when eec begins. It's not a problem as such it just means more planning, more readiness and twice the number of videos to make. Importantly too I must make sure that nobody feels neglected, gets less than 100% of what they deserve. With that in mind my dining room come work room come computer room has been in disarray every day. The table always needs to be clear to eat in the evening so things have been taken off, moved about, photographed and videoed in a never ending cycle of activity.
The items in the second to last image will be mostly unfamiliar, far removed from white and lace and titvation. They are ''old'' work and have been discussed in a video for my Alchemy girls. I may also make a video for here about them next week sometime. The stories behind them are both familiar and in the case of the framed piece quite amusing. The thread? Well I have a lot of embroidery to do.....
Before I go I want to say thanks for all the input yesterday....I am leaning towards a hinged frame for that piece, a frame with a glass door. I also have a massive desire to make titivated lace curtains too (thanks Mo!)
p.s.....the silver foil, do you see that? It's cake......it's all gone now, sorry!
03/13/2013
my petal piece
This piece has moved on since you last saw it. More lace has been added to one edge along with tiny cross stitch appliqued circles and three little cross stitched hearts. I am unsure at the moment as to how much this will grow from this point. I have my indecisive head on today. I adore this so much that perhaps I don't want it ever to be finished. I also have a quandary....I talk about this in the video and by doing that, by verbalising my dilemma I do have a little more clarity.
03/12/2013
paper and lace
Two pieces of finished paperwork...paper and cloth, cloth and paper. One of these is now in the shop, the other sold...thank you!! I'm meeting myself coming back today, it's madness here. I was up early changing beds, feeling very smug that I was so organised and then realisation descended. Embroider, embelllish, create starts on Monday and we haven't finished Alchemy yet! Yikes...I counted my weeks wrong. Never was very good at maths. Have no fear, both will run seamlessly I promise. I have worked so hard this morning with the video camera, with cloth, with the computer.
If you have signed up for eec then keep an eye on your e mail. Later today the class blog will go live and you will receive a password. (I am truly organised!! It can't last!!) See, I have worked hard today....
Last night I was working on the piece with the petals. Do you remember that one? Final titivations were added and there is only a tiny bit more to do on there so you may see that tomorrow. I also hope beyond hope to set aside some time for answering mail tomorrow. I am surprised any of you ever comment or mail as it takes me an age to respond. You know I hate myself for it...and that's the truth. I am so, so grateful you take the time.
03/11/2013
adding cross stitch inserts
Thanks for all the Mothers day wishes yesterday but can I say I am so relieved that the number of Happy Mothers Day e-mails I received doesn't equate to the number of children I have. Wow....that would be a lot of children! I wasn't here as you know. I was here, having lunch with my mum, my son and one of my brothers. It was very nice, a small family gathering, if the whole family had been there we would still be ordering now.
Since I was last here physically and not here in a pre timed computer auto post way I have been working on this little piece. Large spaces in embroidered lace have been partially filled with scraps of cross stitch, the cross stitch from yesterday. I have truly fallen in love with these little cross stitch motifs, the colour and the delicacy. I want to spend time creating more of this to cut up and use as an embellishment. Before then though this piece of embroidered cloth will be added to paper as will another finished piece....I am aiming for tomorrow and then they can be photographed and put in the shop.
03/10/2013
playing, testing
These are more pieces I have been playing with, laying together. The cross stitch is no more. It is now cut up and on another piece. That's OK though because it looks good, I am happy with how it looks. The paper and cloth have also been modified now too. You will get to see them shortly in fact the cloth is yesterdays piece before I edged it.
I'm not here today, I bring you this post through the use of modern technology. Who would have thought? I hope it works...It is Mothers day here today so I am up North being a daughter....
whether you are a mother or not I hope you have a great day.
03/09/2013
falling into place
03/08/2013
everything part two
Today it's the turn of the sketchbooks to be glanced at every so often, pages turned. Despite the fact that this exercise was born from desperation I am quite enjoying it now. You don't realise how many resources you have until you gather them like this. I didn't realise I worked so hard...must have a nap!
You will be delighted to hear that it clicked too. That thing in my brain, it just switched itelf on again, it's all systems go now.....
03/07/2013
everything
Not everything I own. Not everything I have ever created. This is everything I have to hand, close by, within reach, all laid out on my table. I walk past and glance every so often. From experience I know this is the best way to be inspired, to find a boost, to see that tiny piece of information that won't show up on its own without prompting.
Meantime I am cross stitching, more cloth to be cut up and used as embellishment, as strips, as pieces for applique because I appear to have fallen in love with how that looks.
03/06/2013
hand embroidered bullion edge
Don't be fooled by the neatness, order and apparent focus here. Don't for one minute imagine I know what I am doing here. This work, my current work is driving me to distraction. It isn't doing it for me. I am trying, changing things, making new pieces, putting stuff together and then taking it apart again. A creative hiatus is happening....maddening, frustrating.
I was focused last night whilst I was embroidering an edge of bullion knots for a new piece of paperwork. The loops are all bullion knots, hand embroidered, damp stretched and added to paper. It works as an edge but that's as far as it goes for now. If you are doing Alchemy then I have a mini breakdown over this piece on your next video....an advance warning, it happens in the middle. No tears, no none of that, just a lot of verbal angst.
This will pass, I know it. It happens all the time. Tomorrow everything in the garden will be rosy....
03/05/2013
abc loops
No,
you're not imagining it I am early today. No particular reason apart
from a sudden burst of organisation. Last night I added loops to my
piece of lace cloth. A raised, 3D element was needed and that was the
solution. The only problem now is that I have used strips I was saving
for embroider, embellish, create and will have to make more. Why is that
a problem? It means I now have to embroider a large piece of cotton
with cross stitch. Not a problem for me but you may start yawning as
soon as you arrive on here if all you get to see is cross stitch day in
day out. Please accept my advance apologies if that is the case. Who
knows, I may be able to muster enough creativity to vary things....that
will depend on Father time.
If you would like to examine this piece in more detail then as if by magic I have a little video for you....
03/04/2013
paper and lace.....
I love it when a plan comes together. I am not quite there yet but so far so good. The cloth, the lace piece needs more embellishment and I haven't finished with the paper either but there's no rush....I am having fun. I have actually put another cloth piece together this morning, how's that for being prepared? and I've been out to buy printer ink. Today I am being exceptionally good and I hope someone notices!
I have had a few mails about embroider, embellish create. Yes...this will be the last ever one. No, that doesn't mean I won't be running any more classes it just means that particular one has ran its course. This one, the last one, starts on March 18 and if you are wondering then just go here to read more. I am leaving this one open a bit longer due to it being the last one...never to be seen again.
03/03/2013
two hoops....
There are two pieces in progress at the moment, two very similar pieces, both lace and titivation. One has cross stitch the other doesn't but that's not to say it won't at some point. Last night whilst I was watching the new James Bond...under sufference...against my wishes....yearning to stick pins in my eyes rather than be made to suffer James Bond and Skyfall.......I added a lot of bullion knots. (I have to say.....and keep it to yourself, just between us....I surprised myself and actually enjoyed Skyfall. What is happening to me???)
My favourite, favourite, favourite part of these? The tiny little ''fence'' or ''gate'' of knots that you can see between the two hoops in the top picture and just below my name in the last picture. I intended them to look like that, it worked, I love it.
03/02/2013
Friday.....
I'm late, running behind, list not ticked, I haven't even been to school yet and checked in goodness knows what's happening over there. So It's a quick one today, a peek at what was happening here yesterday. Boxes being rummaged through in order to create more cloth, putting bits together, a little stitching, a little wrapping, a lot of thinking and a huge amount of planning. Today, what's left of it, will be a little housework, reading mail, checking up on class and a take away. Who has time for cooking?
03/01/2013
the new piece
Last night I appliqued some petals, some flowers on to my new piece of cloth using the cross stitched piece I showed on here yesterday. There is a certain satisfaction in creating a piece of embroidered cloth and then cutting it up to provide surface embellishment for another piece of self made cloth. It is the fact that it all belongs to you, is personal, created by you every step of the way.
Imagine you densely embroider a six inch square of cotton. You then use it for applique or cutwork, patchwork even. Then ask yourself could you have bought anything that unique. Perhaps you could but I would guess it would cost you an enormous amount of money...so my motto, DIY!
Thanks so much for all the comments and e mails yesterday re my appearance in the book. I consider myself told now.......it won't be put on a shelf it will reside on a table! As for that enabling visitors to see it, one important thing to note...I never have visitors. (not a problem, I prefer a solitary, reclusive existence)
Finally for today (I am on a roll creating my own lace based cloth, itching to do more) thank you for the continued passion for embroider, embellish, create. It is filling up nicely now and I can confirm that this will be the last run of this class....ever. So another big THANK YOU before it bows out.
02/28/2013
the next thing....(and an embroidery book)
This is a new piece I started yesterday. It has been planned for a while, a couple of weeks. It is still in its very early stages but has actually moved on already from here with the cross stitch piece being cut up and used in another way...more of that tomorrow probably.
Meanwhile I thought I should tell you about something exciting.....There are four images of my work included in this new embroidery book. Technically I suppose there are three images, one has been used twice as it is also on the back cover but I am being precise, specific and milking it...my work appears four times and that's good enough for me!
Now I must go and clear a space on a bookshelf......
02/27/2013
the cloth, finished
There are lots of images today and a video. My hope is that together these will inform you regarding the process, reason, emotion and commitment that I place within each of these pieces. I know that no matter how many of these I make each one will be individual and unique, each cloth will cointain a little bit of ''me''. I will never tire of my 'wrapping cloths', ever.
I am also hoping that you will be inspired to create a cloth of your own.....if so then the next run of embroider, embellish, create is listed here where you can read more about the course and how your work will evolve. This class is possibly reaching the end of it's shelf life, those who wished to learn this process have now done so with the audience diminishing. Therefore this is probably be the last time I will run this one, demand will fall, that is natural.
You will not see my new cloth on here now for a few weeks. I am putting that 'on hold' until the next class starts so that I can finish that piece alongside the class. Don't worry though, I do have plans for something else to keep me going....watch this space.
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