12/19/2012
the first one....
This is the first of my last minute gifts, stretched,stuffed, titivated and waiting to be wrapped. What do you think? As you can see in the hoop the second one is in process. So far that has a bullion seam, a French knot seam and a few web stitches scattered here and there. I think I can safely say number two will be ready in plenty of time. There are plans for mirrors on this one and I am still cogitating over the outer edges....
You may have noticed that I am a little late today. That's because I was putting together a mini newsletter which should be clogging up your spam mail filter as we speak. If you are lucky and escaped the mail shot then you can read it here....
12/18/2012
stretching
My two spur of the moment gifts were getting a well earned stretch last night. The piece nearest the camera is now backed and waiting to be stuffed and titivated . Tomorrow it should be finished and I will let you see...it doesn't matter if I put it on here because I'm not saying who it's for. Get the thumb screws out, put me under a spot light, I still won't talk.
This afternooon is wrapping time. Quite a chore really, funny that I don't enjoy wrapping gifts.
(the table runner in the top image was hand made for me, a gift, from Sweden. It comes out every Christmas)
12/17/2012
piecing cloth.....
There are still two people I need to buy gifts for. What do you buy someone who has everything? Nothing....you make them something. That only dawned on me last night but I am happy it did. I was struggling to think of something to buy I can tell you. So the piece I am making from my London cloth, (the cloth I showed you last week) and this piece here are for gifts. You will see them finished, definitely. I have until next Tuesday.
There is also a video today, the process of piecing this cloth together.
It is my 29th wedding anniversary today. Can I just say that the legal age for marriage in the UK is 16 and I would be happy to concede that I consider myself to have been a child bride. So please don't calculate my age to be greater than it is which in my world is actually only around the 16 mark anyway!! In all honesty I can't get my head round it. Do I remember what my life was like before? No. Do I love the huge bouquet of flowers I just received? Yes.
12/16/2012
eyes....
Yes,
I now have eyes to go with my hooks. Truly I can't contain my
excitement because now I can play with things like this. There are two
separate things here...a new page for doodle doo and a French knot seam
that I embroidered last night whilst I was having an NYPD Blue
marathon....I love that show but then that's another story.
Going back to the doodle doo work..............I say another page but I'm not sure. I may have this one as a 'stand alone' piece of work inspired by doodle doo..........the jury is still out on that one. I will know better when it has progressed.
I keep wondering if I should have a Christmas break and if so when. Of course I won't be here on the actual day but at what point do I stop for the holiday? Do I even need to stop for the holiday? Class is technically finished although I will still be involved there on a casual basis. My gifts are mostly bought. My tiny house may need a little clean but that won't take long. I intend to stitch even on Christmas day. Perhaps I don't need a break at all. I do know that I don't consider this to be work and definitely not a chore so you may be stuck with me.
12/15/2012
meditative
I have been losing myself in this piece of cloth. Cross stitch hearts and lace applique, simply applied and relaxing to embroider. I sit and stitch just thinking. Mostly thinking about all the other things I should be doing and telling myself I will do them later then panicking because Christmas is nearly here and my ''to do'' list isn't getting any shorter.
Yesterday I deliverd gifts and I also collected gifts. Today I have mail to answer, tomorrow comments to answer. This morning I did my supermarket chores as I couldn't do them yesterday. Later today I have to pop out to buy a gift and there is housework to be done. First of all though, thank you for the response to yesterdays post....happy memories in that one. And to answer Amanda....the little colourful things in the last image are these.....I love them.
to all my friends in the U.S.A. there are no words........
12/14/2012
looking back
12/13/2012
hooks and eyes and doodle doo
Doodle doo has been added to, moved on, has a new page. Hooks and eyes along an edge of applique and bullion knots. Well actually....I say hooks and eyes but I lie, there are no eyes. There would have been eyes had I had any. How does that work? Hundreds of hooks....no eyes. Never mind, it didn't stop me and I have ordered more. I guess it's all part of not being 'normal' having one without the other.
Last night, sigh. Last night I did what I said I wasn't going to do. I knew it would happen. I stitched on the cloth I joined on yesterdays video. I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself. It's a compulsion, I have no self control, what can I say. There are other, more pressing things that need doing embroidery wise but show me a new piece of vintage cloth and some form of trance descends. You will get to see it soon, when I get off the naughty step. (which is getting quite full now, (the naughty step that is)) Double brackets???? Is that allowed? Is that even grammatically correct?
Earlier today I was over on my old blog. It was quite sad to be honest, I miss it, half of my life is over there. I was looking for a particular image and spent longer than planned having a look round. There are some amazing pictures over there, things I had forgotten about. If you want to have a look just go here. Then I got to thinking, I am not here tomorrow. I am off 'up North' delivering gifts. What if I put some images from there on here for a Friday trip down memory lane? No words, just pretty pictures? I could put that together this evening......if I get all the ironing done.......
12/12/2012
cloth......
Today is all about the things I bought in London. I didn't buy a lot, just things I needed and less vintage cloth than I bought last time but hopefully I now have enough to keep me going until next time I go. Also, the last image, my wrapping cloth in progress. This was on the table yesterday as I was making a video for class and I thought you might like to see it. I love how it looks, how it's progressing. (and did you spy my Christmas tree sneaking into the second picture?)
A flood update now...basically it is drying out. The carpet is getting there, the ceiling will require a new coat of paint. That will happen after Christmas there has been enough disruption for this year.
Enjoy the video.....
12/11/2012
mix and match....
Remember I said I had big plans for doodle doo? Well the first part of those plans is here...mixing things from various pages and combining them in different form, on a different scale. The actual embroidery isn't placed in it's new design form yet, that will happen later. First of all I need to draw and then I can add the bullion strip and the applique metallic silk tissue to doodle doo. There are other things that will find their way into this piece but I think seeing is better than imagining so I shan't say anything about that until it's done.
Tomorrow I will make you a video about some of the things I brought home from my trip to London......
12/10/2012
normal?
So the general consensus is that you don't want me to be normal. I understand that, I get it. In fact after a little thought I am sure I can safely say that I have never been normal anyway so that's a result for all of us. I will therefore strive to return to my ''usual self''. Will that do? The embroidery looks ''normal'', cross stitch words now finished with a lace trim added for extra titivation.
My house is moved around a bit, furniture out of place to accommodate a christmas tree etc so I no longer have a surface handy for taking pictures in front of the window. I could of tried balancing my work on top of the fairy but it was never going to work. Instead I placed it on an open ledger page........
I woke today to a mini flood.....yes, a mini flood. 6.45 am and a tap left running all night in the bathroom. Happy days.....a ruined ceiling and a soaking lounge carpet. What did I do? I got dressed, had a coffee, laid towels on the floor and...........went Christmas shopping. The bury your head in the sand (or shop) trick.
12/09/2012
funny......
I'm back....did you guess? I'm a bit ''off'' though, number five in this definition is the most appropriate.....
I don't know why, can't put my finger on it....anyhow that's not for you to worry about.
Leaving that behind...I had a wonderful break. Got lots of Christmas shopping done, bought some rather nice things for myself, (I may make a video this week to share those with you) spent time with my little girl, ate good food, saw some amazing sights. I rode the new cable car which travels across the Thames...that was amazing! I did take pictures but silly me took them on my phone and I can't easily transfer them to PC because I am technologically challenged!! What I will do though is add them to my facebook timeline along with some that are already there so you can just go here later today and have a look if you want. (give me an hour or so)
Embroidery? There is some....this is more for my veil/festooned thingy. I have also been working more on my white cloth, pictures soon and I have big plans for doodle doo. In fact I have the first tea towel planned...in my head...on paper too before the week is out fingers crossed. Alchemy is now available again.....and to my embroider, embellish, create girls........expect a mail later today....for clarification purposes.
''unfunny'' ''cured'' ''normal'' Karen will be back tomorrow........I hope.
12/02/2012
Doodle doo continued part two
So this is where I am up to with doodle doo. My bullion knots are now placed within a page and other work which was loosely slotted in is permanently fixed. I adore this book, this ledger. I am determined to fill every page. It may be that I use it to work in, to inspire me and investigate pattern, shape, colour and stitch for more than one project....I will keep using it until it is full. As promised I have made a short video, a recap.
See you next weekend.
***please note....I am using a bought book as a background for my embroidery. I cannot and do not want to claim credit for the pages here. They are copyright anthropologie.***
12/01/2012
doodle doo continued.....
Doodle doo has been receiving more attention. I have permanently placed things into the book that until now were just loosely inserted and I have been embroidering bullion knots for the next page. Later today I hope to cut the next page and place these blocks of knots into their permanent home. I am hoping to have doodle doo part two on video for you tomorrow. Basically it will be a recap of the work I have done in here up to now. It will help me to focus, help me decide where to go next. This afternoon I am also planning to work a little with my veil/festooned thingy. There is scrim with lace tacked on it ready for the sewing machine. That will be followed by mirrors and titivation this evening.
This next bit is kind of like a public service announcement......I am going away on Monday.....for five days, to London. I will be staying with my little girl, shopping in heavenly establishments where I hope to buy lots of glorious vintage bits and bobs and if I have any money left after I have seen to my needs I will also get some Christmas presents....I know...I'm selfish. What can I say, who can resist vintage???? Anyway....Alchemy 2013......it is almost full.....I will de list tomorrow as I can't forward the mail to you if you buy when I am away. If you have already been in touch asking to sign up later then you don't have to worry. You will still be able to do that but whilst I am away I cannot stand behind the metaphorical shop counter so have to pull the shutters down.
I will however be here tomorrow...hopefully with a video.
11/30/2012
this and that......
There are a few things going on at the moment. As I had to clean up after the decorator left yesterday I thought I should do some ''sorting out''. Consequently I found artwork that has been hidden for a while. Some of it was thrown away, other things I kept. This piece I am keeping. It's not that I think it's amazing or anything...it just has memories attached. The pocket (long thin piece on the right) is out because I was talking about it in class the other day. You can read more about that piece here and there is also an old video about it here.
Last night I started adding web stitches to yesterdays cross stitch. I also made a few puffs in readiness for edging my white cloth. There was momentary panic too.....I have been talking about a plaid/gingham cloth for my white phobic brother. Then it dawned on me....doodle doo.....I have plans for that.....tea towels. When are they going to get started???? This weekend I will refresh my thinking re those...they are too important, they can't be forgotten. Neither can my festooned veil/thingy. Oh my, there has been and is so much going on here that I'm in danger if forgetting my own name.....
P.S. following a request...thanks for the interest!!! My new wallpaper can be seen here....
11/29/2012
snatching stitch
It's still a little upside down here...decorator wise. He has finished, about ten minutes ago so later I must clean and put the house back together. With the spanner in the works that is a disrupted house I have only been able to do the tiniest amount of embroidery, snatching a moment here and there. We have cross stitch and a single hand bound buttonhole. The cross stitch is for my brothers wrapping cloth. (the one in Sweden) The buttonhole was purely meditative......actually, so many people have said that the other ones I made look like lips that it has put me off them. This one is flatter, a little lace in the opening......non lip like I hope.....
Thanks for the input yesterday re the gifts for brothers. Neither brother is aware that they are getting a cloth. I am confident that they never come here so shhhh, don't tell them. There was quite a debate about small pieces for frames....thanks for that suggestion but the white phobic brother....well I want to make him a lap quilt kind of thing. I think he would prefer that too given the option. The minimalist brother is getting the white cloth that I have nearly finished so no problems there.
By my reckoning it will take me a good couple of hours to get my house back to normal. I then have to get ready for class tomorrow but....... after those things are ticked off the list....embroidery here I come!
11/28/2012
progress of sorts
I'm early again. I'm not going out but everything here is topsy turvy. The decorating continues so there are hazards to white cloth. Paint, paste, dust....roll on tomorrow when I am told this will all be over. I managed some constructive titivating late evening yesterday when the intruder had cleaned up and left. He is back now...making more mess. I know...I moan...I'm sorry...it will be worth it. Back to yesterday evening. I pinned sections, I added prairie points, I embellished a new seam with web stitch and I started another pocket. How many pockets does one person need? Unlimited is the answer....I just love pockets and they make me feel good. That's reason enough for me.
The girls in school are keeping me happy too....they work so hard and produce such amazing work. They are so talented. Don't just take my word for it...go have a look.
I have been thinking about my next piece of work. Remember I was talking about spreading the cloth around the family? Well I have three brothers. This cloth is for one of them and his wife. They love minimalist, they live in Sweden, they have an ultra modern home....it's stunning. One of my other brothers is 'white phobic'. That's OK, I still love him to bits but what to make for him? I am thinking plaid, gingham, rustic colours, warm colours, minimum surface embroidery. What do you reckon? Minimal embroidery is the thing but I think I could still titivate with points etc...couldn't I?
11/27/2012
oops....
Oh
dear....cheating today. I embroidered a piece of cloth last night. I
damp stretched it overnight and this morning I don't like it. Don't ask
me why, can't put my finger on it......it's just not working for me so
I'm not sharing. The paperwork here was also embroidered last night. The
good news....I like that. Consequently I have photographed it with old
work. Sorry about that....that's where the cheating comes in.
I'm early today. I have to go out. I don't want to go out. It is however essential that I go out. Only for an hour or so but just think how much embroidery I could get done in that hour...Oh well, best get gone and stop sulking.
11/26/2012
cutwork, bullion knots, box pleats and French pins
A small area of cutwork is now finished on this section of my cloth. Well actually it's what I call half cutwork. There are lace inserts and each ''motif'' is half edged with bullion knots. The pleated silk is an experiment...it isn't for my wrapping cloth. That is also half done...it's a half done post today! I partly played with the pleating so I could use my new French pins...yes, French pins......aren't they posh. I bought those on Saturday and forgot to show you yesterday so here they are now. I do like them a lot but in terms of pinning cloth normal pins are much easier to use. These do look fancy though so it was worth the effort.
I have a man coming tomorrow to put very gorgeous wallpaper in my hallway...no stairs there, just a hallway...because of that I have moved all my lovely stuff upstairs as he will have to paste said wallpaper in here, my work room, my computer room, MY ROOM! I feel invaded already and he isn't even here yet. Anyway...I wanted to get all my sections together today and work out what I still needed to do for my wrapping cloth but sadly that will have to wait. This room is now a dump, shoes, shoe racks, umbrellas, coats....later, if I manage to find the time I will lay my pieces out on my bed. Now that could work......
11/25/2012
chat....
I went AWOL yesterday......where to? Well first of all I spent the day here. It wasn't planned, well it was but I was unsure of which day I would be going and then I spent the evening here....amazing. I love it, may become a groupie and stalk them possibly going AWOL forever as we have laws against stalking. In a pathetic attempt to make up for my absence I have made you a little video...I show you some of the things I bought yesterday too....along with some titivation on cloth of course. I can't hang round today, I have a zillion flickr images from class to peruse and an even bigger number of e mails to answer. Hopefully normal service will be resumed tomorrow....
11/23/2012
Wednesday's ironing board
Spotlight Posts
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Paper doll playSurface design...paper doll.
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Inspirationsurface design
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Sketchbookssketchbooks, design for embroidery.
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Paper sampling, a video.Stitched paper samples.
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Scrim, silk tissue, silk velvet.Scrim, silk tissue, silk velvet. A surface for hand embroidery.
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