07/10/2013
white silk
I think it's time I ordered more white silk. I am fast running out of the last Dupion I bought and my sampler cloth is taking shape quickly, being added to almost every day. This work started out as a simple exercise to start off ''simply stitch''. It has now evolved into a large project as I have worked on it and grown to love it a little more every time I add a stitch. I'm not sure if any of the girls who are taking part in simply stitch are making one too. I do know that there are a lot of beautiful pieces of embroidered cloth appearing in the group but the makings of a sampler cloth?? I shall have to wait and see. There are no set outcomes for ''simply'', it is merely a relaxed stitch along. A bit like a sing along without the singing!! If you want to creep up on the group and have a look at what they are doing then just pop over to flickr and if you think you want to join on our next ''stitch along'' then you can read about that here.
The bottom two pictures here are for Rose, a request. Hope these are OK Rose....Later today I may just have a rummage through the cupboard you can see here. I may find a little treasure I forgot about that will spark the next section of my sampler cloth. Better order the silk first though or I will have nothing to stitch on!
07/09/2013
cross stitch
Do you remember, ages ago, when I said I would love to cross stitch myself a full yard of cloth and then have it rolled up ready to snip bits from to use in my embroidery? Well I still hope...I'm not even nearly there. I haven't even started actually. It is a dream of mine though and you know I may just start it later today. I will get a full yard of white cotton cloth, mark it off and begin. It will be a slow process so don't hold your breath. It may take a year, it probably will. Perhaps it will take longer than that. I don't care, I can hang on to the dream whilst I go.
These two pieces are roughly 5 inches square, worked on a scrap and then cut in two. It's surprising how far this cloth goes, it can serve several purposes and is always, always useful. There is a video today, me damp stretching this and wittering on about not much really.
Tomorrow I will hang my cloth again. Rose asked that I photograph it in a different way, still hanging but more visibly so. I will try and do that later...I'm not very good at ''long'' shots but I will do my best.
and whilst I'm here...a gentle reminder about simply stitch 2.....
eight weeks of chat, stitch, sharing and fly on the wall creativity....
07/08/2013
simply stitch 2
As promised here are my sampler pieces in progress, hanging together and looking like they live easily together. I think they do, I think they compliment each other perfectly and they tempt me so much to get off here and go work on them some more. My ''sampler'' cloth is the most exciting thing to happen here for a long time! I need to find a little patience and self control from somewhere as I do have other things in progress that are equally as exciting. It's just that these pieces are hanging here, in my field of vision. Put them away then Karen....yes I will, I will.
Cloth hanging in this way, in the manner of domestic cloth, kitchen linen, towels, has always appealed to me. It seems to me that as my motivation has always been the domestic, (in an historical sense), this is the only way to really present cloth. Far better to drape and appreciate than hide away or put behind glass....
Today my throat is less sore but I have developed some sniffles, sneezing and such. I will do my best to be brave. (can I have a sticker???) I'm still working hard. More domesticity this morning and videos for simply stitch. Later today there will be a little damp stretching and a video for you, yes you...here...tomorrow. But the big news.....simply stitch 2........read about it here....and here....it's a fly on the wall follow me as I work experience....a class that isn't a class.....
07/07/2013
evidence
I went out for a meal with my husband last night.....again....! I know, I know, I'm not supposed to leave the house until October but he insisted. My conscience is eased though as look at everything I did before I went. So much damp stretching, so much work going on here honestly.
This morning I was up very early, too early. It was so hot and I woke with a sore throat :( which I still have :( and which is getting on my nerves. I ordered it to go but it's just ignoring me. It didn't stop me cleaning the windows or washing the kitchen floor though and because I finished those chores and in the absence of anyone giving me a sticker or a lollipop I can now play all afternoon as reward.
Yesterday I said I was going to show you the sampler pieces so far, all phptographed together today. I am going to do that tomorrow instead. It will be more appropriate to do it tomorrow trust me.
07/06/2013
applique petals, the beginnings of an applique sampler
The sampler theme, the pieces for the sampler cloth are continuing with applique. So far there is one flower and two stray petals. I am hoping this will evolve unexpectedly or at least not in a predictable way. Only time will tell.
It's pleasantly surprising how quickly these pieces are becoming more than just a random selection of unfinished pieces. When they are all damp stretched and laid side by side there does appear to be an actual body of work taking shape, evidence of time spent working on them and ensuring their cohesiveness. If I can get my act together I will show you that tomorrow and then you may get a sense of that too.
07/05/2013
four hoops
These are the constants in my life at the moment, creatively and otherwise. It doesn't matter what I am doing, housework, cooking, supermarket, these are ever present in my thoughts. I love all of this work equally. Silk embroidery samples which will one day become a bigger cloth, a sampler cloth and a new pouch. The pouch is a gift, I can't say any more on here as it is a surprise.
The pink gingham is here as it is so pretty I always want to pick it up and add a stitch or two. That will be slow to complete but I'm not in a hurry.
I feel as if I am late today. I tackled the supermarket earlier and I know that I was longer there than I hoped to be. The girls in simply stitch are waiting for me...I am coming honestly.....and there are one or two chores outstanding but I think as it is such a gorgeous day I am happy to be slow....er....than usual.
07/04/2013
doodling and adding knots
A little glimpse for you today of what's been happening here lately. As you can see i've been colouring in!! Well doodling to be more precise in my Swedish book. Then there are bullion knots, lots of bullion knots edging a frill, a flounce.
At the moment I have hit a bit of a block with my latest pouch. I'm not quite sure what I want to do to it next. I think perhaps I am ''over thinking''. That can happen a lot and maybe I should just go with it...let it evolve....There is also a distraction, the sampler cloth. It's OK to allow creativity to feed new ideas and inspire but is distraction necessarily a good thing? I also think I am a little ''out of sorts''. That could be because my house is upside down, no order, untidy. That's because my limping son has just returned from Glastonbury with a stack of dirty laundry, it is raining constantly so I am struggling to get it all dry. Also, he is moving out soon and there are various items here that he is acquiring for his new place, being stored until the day he moves. I'm not complaining about that but it does unsettle, makes it difficult to get clarity elsewhere if there is too much foreign clutter.
Still, all this shall pass and order will be restored....at least I hope so.
Finally, remember the adult colouring book? I picked the winner this morning and it is MARICA. Address please!
07/03/2013
cross stitch and patches
I'm still very much feeling my way with this new piece of technology. I'm not 100% happy with these images and I had a bit of a nightmare this morning with my video software. I am more than ready to accept that the glitches are down to my stupidity I'm just hoping that I wise up sooner rather than later.
That aside I am delighted with the embroidery. Small areas of cross stitch have been added to my cloth with the patches. This piece, or should I say these pieces, my sampler pieces are exciting me so much. Yes I know, I don't get out enough.....but I don't want to go out. I want to stay in and titivate cloth, samples and pouches to be precise. From the smallest of ideas, a starting exercise, a simple exercise which began as an introduction to simply stitch I am now working on a completely new piece, a new large piece, a sampler cloth. Excited? Understatement.
07/02/2013
all change....
It's been quite some morning. As you can see I managed to set up my new computer all on my own!! I think that earns me a lollipop? a sticker at least? I am amazed at myself...who knew. Pretty straightforward, up to a point. My image editing software has all changed so I'm a bit rusty with all that. I'm not sure how good these images are but I will play, practice so please bear with me.
I am lagging way behind with simply stitch. I haven't been over to flickr for some time and dread to think what they're getting up to unsupervised. That is my next job......I'm coming....soon!
Thanks so much for all the birthday wishes yesterday for Mr Karen...he appreciates them. I think he had a good day. We didn't do the birthday cake because we went out to eat and then some friends turned up unexpectedly and you know how it is...time flies. So it will be candles, singing and cake later today.
07/01/2013
I have a plan
My
little sampler collection is steadily growing bigger. I have a plan for
these, very much in its infancy and one that will require a few more
pieces. Not a problem, I could do this forever.....and a day,
It's a quick one today. I'm not really here. It is my husbands birthday so I am probably out somewhere eating cake.
Happy birthday Paul xxx
06/30/2013
still sampling
Play time continues over at my place, well at least where embroidery is concerned but more of the patience testing issues later. My sampling is evolving, it's is changing all the time. That's what sampling is for isn't it. It is...trust me. Work evolves and develops as you play, new ideas just pop into your head from nowhere. If your name is Karen then you just have to stop everything and go where the sampling tells you. Turn the oven off, shut your eyes so you can't see the dust, ignore the pile of smelly socks in the corner of the bedroom. ......you get my drift. So that's where I am creatively today.
Psychologically, on the patience front, on the count to ten front I am being sorely tested. I am a patient person....it's just as well. Someone has told my PC that it is being put out to pasture tomorrow. Who was it??? It won't do a darn thing today, not easily anyway. The arrival of it's new and much younger, yet to be born little sister couldn't be more eagerly awaited. With that in mind I want to pick your brains. I have already moved the important stuff from ''my documents'' to the safety of my sewing basket (metaphorically speaking) I now have to do the same with the contents of ''my pictures'' and ''my downloads''. What I would like to know from you is....should I be doing the same with anything else? Is there something I will need, any folders I am forgetting? What folders do you have?
thanking you in anticipation.
(look mum I remembered my manners)
06/29/2013
more.....
I have been adding to my second sampler, working on it and if this was a colouring book I would be going over the lines!! I haven't stuck to my boundaries at all....oops. I'm not in the least bit bothered, I like it with a little bit of rebellion going on. It flows, it is soft, it is encrusted with embroidery....I'm certain it fits the dictionary definition of a sampler.....well it does in Karen's world.
You will be happy to hear that the PC problem is solved. Well you may not be happy but I'm happy. I have a new one coming on Monday, all singing all dancing in fact the only thing it won't do is put the kettle on and make a cake. I did ask but apparently technology hasn't quite advanced that far yet. Thanks for all the advice too and a Mac??? I wish.....far too expensive for little old me. Don't you know I've got a wedding fast approaching? Anyway, I now have to get all my important things off this one and put them somewhere safe until I can transfer them to the new one. I wonder will my sewing basket suffice?
06/28/2013
patches.....
This is the work we are doing in ''simply stitch'', the work I didn't want to show you until the group had seen it. Well it's OK because they have seen it today. I have been adding simple cloth patches to cloth that will become a pouch. In terms of the actual pouch I can't say much about the recipient as it is hopefully going to be a surprise.
I have also added more to the sampler piece that was on here yesterday. (sorry, no pictures today. The weather is appalling, dark, dreary, wet.) That seems to be growing so quickly. I had better make a decision soon on what I am going to do with those pieces. I do see them joined in some way, pieced together....that's as far as I have got though.....the brain is still ticking.
Unfortunately I have to announce that I need to leave the house today....:(
my PC is dying before my eyes. It's been a nightmare for ages trying to do anything on here so it's definitely time to face facts, to hand over cold hard cash and get a new one. I'm not happy about it....I had plans for that money (think lace, silk, thread etc etc etc) it is a fact, have no doubt, that I will weep during the transaction.
06/27/2013
the next one....
I've started another white silk sampler,(I have posted a video for you all in simply stitch so check your e mails!!). I intend to make a few of these. How many? I don't know yet. I'm not even certain what I am going to do with them but for now it's enough just to have them around, to pick up and work with when I want.
My silk stash is getting low too so it's time to go internet shopping...not a chore...just a little dangerous for the bank balance. As I'm not leaving the house until October I shouldn't be parting with too much money on a day to day basis so a little internet purchasing can't do any harm.....can it? I need filling too, wadding, on account of all the pin pillows that have been stuffed lately. Got to have a bag of stuffing to hand....you never know when you might need some.
I must also mention how quiet it is here (shhhhhhhhh) with the crutch carrying, limp a lot person being at Glastonbury. Let's just keep our fingers crossed that it doesn't rain down there because I'm thinking....crutches would sink very easily wouldn't they.
06/26/2013
damp stretched and waiting
This piece of white silk is a sampler, kind of. It started as a practice piece for hand embroidery stitches. It developed into more of a relaxing exercise in embroidery. I damp stretched it last night and now it will rest until I make another one. (you have seen this before but more has been added...honest) I have plans for this which include more, similar but not the same. There is other work going on too that is part of ''simply stitch'' but I can't show you that until the group have seen it. Hopefully I can share that on Saturday.
Remember yesterdays appointment? I went. I was on time.....not. It's today....somehow I wasn't surprised. Get your head in gear Karen.
06/25/2013
phew
I really can't believe I made it today......what a morning....you couldn't make it up. First thing. around 8.30, I sent today's video to the simply stitch group.....then my internet connection went down. Never mind, give it an hour or so I can always be sewing. Ha. The collapse of the internet was followed by an unexpected trip to accident and emergency with my son. A sports injury...now strapped up and crutches for the patient. He is going to Glastonbury tomorrow???? Happy days!
It's a good thing I am organised......it makes a change I know. Some floaty, soft, light and fragile scrim with scraps of cloth and a sewing machine. The best combination for half an hours self indulgence. Much better than chocolate.
Later today,in around an hour actually I have an appointment. So much for not leaving the house until October. From 3 pm onwards my aim is for calmness and serenity, wish me luck.
06/24/2013
the white pouch...
I'm back....I'm stopping.....I'm not leaving the house again until the wedding in October. I had a lovely weekend but I missed this. I wasn't back from Sweden for five minutes and then I was off again! Now it's time for a long stay at home and getting my head down, working, embroidering, blogging....and maybe a little housework, tidying, sorting out too.
The pin pillows are finished and you should have your invoices. The white pouch is finished and will be in the shop very soon after the blog is done. You have a very short video about the pouch. A video gives a better impression of a piece I think, you get to examine it closely, in more detail.
And then there is this book. It's for you....yes you. I meant to bring you something back from Sweden but ooops!! Sorry, I forgot. I am hoping a gift from Manchester will suffice instead. I couldn't resist. Please don't enter the giveaway though if you are easily offended. I have flicked through this and I love it. I would have one to keep....I hardly ever get offended, ever. It isn't pornographic or anything but has a couple of ''choice'' words inside. You have been warned. To put your name down just say hi.......in the comment section.
So
that's all from me today. I best get off and list this pouch and then I
have embroidering to do. (I unpacked my case already. I am so well
behaved!)
06/23/2013
06/22/2013
06/21/2013
this week...
It's
all coming together now, this weeks work, all growing and some nearly
finished. I have also started a new class, been to visit my folks,
forgotten a cake, tidied up, done the Friday big shop, ironed clothes
etc etc..... Tonight I will stuff and edge pin pillows and maybe even
finish the pouch. That will mean my list will get even more ticked off
it....happy days!
Tomorrow night I am going here with my other half. It has been booked for ages and came round so quickly that I nearly forgot. Last time I went to see these there was someone in the row in front of me knitting....yes knitting!! I wonder if stuffing pin pillows would be acceptable?
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