New embroidery patterns!

I'm in the midst of so many sewing projects here, and full embracing it....there is a sea of cushions going on in my studio space, getting orders ready for posting. I will share a photo of the mountain when I'm not too lazy to get the camera out of its case! (disgraceful!)

There has also been a whole lot of sewing related stuff going on over on my new spangly website...Did I tell you I'd had a re-do?! I've gone all fancy pants and  got a rotating photograph and all! oh lala!  Here is the link! 

With the introduction of my embroidery kits, I wanted to create a little online sewing classroom which offered links to the sewing related tutorials I've done, and pdf's to download. A great place for those who are new to embroidery and a little nervous! There are some free embroidery patterns too which you won't have seen before:

If any of these take your fancy you can download them here.

Last on the sewing front is a new kit without the "Frills" which I've added to my etsy shop (here).

Unlike the other embroidery kits I showed you recently, this kit comes minus the packaging and guides/instructions, needle and embroidery hoop. I liked the idea of this as it not only makes it cheaper, but also giving the freedom to stitch with your own choice of colours and stitches, and letting you use your already existing large pile of embroidery supplies! The finished piece fits a 4" hoop. Sweet!

 Phew! I think that's enough stitchery news for one day.......time to dive into that cushion mound x

Sharing...

I'm relishing the quiet that surrounds me right now, nothing but  birdsong...peaceful bliss!
I'm also finding it quite amusing that the first day we have had for weeks without sunshine meets the first day back to school! A gloomy day to match the kids' mood..how thoughtful of the weather :)

I thought I'd pop in and share the rest of the card designs I've created (some others can be seen here).

There have also been a couple of things that have popped into my inbox that I've thought "how great is that!"... and so wanted to share in case you may have missed them.

The first one is Andrea Schroeder's  "Lets give your dreams wings"  FREE e- course. Its a dip into the techniques and tips that she offers and is more than enough to get your dream up and on the road (and in a mere 10 minutes a day!). I've used Andrea's techniques for several years now and am a fully fledged member of her Creative Dream Circle. I love Andrea  and her work....some may find it a bit "out there", but if there is anything I have learned since starting this business journey of mine is.... growth requires doing the inner work, which for me was letting go of a crazy load of limiting beliefs and fears!

The next one on receiving, created the immediate response: "YES!.... How to write  the ultimate resume....
or ..... your "Really wild Bio"! I love the idea of a CV containing more than just the previous jobs worked/ qualifications gained... one that honours those moments and experiences in life that make you uniquely YOU, and highlight the unique and wonderful skills only YOU have! You can download a FREE copy that contains all the juicy ways to dig in and find out what your Wild Bio would contain here!
Seems so fitting at this time, when my eldest is at the stage of having to make subject choices at school , which to her feels like such a defining moment....I'm tempted to email the link to the school :)

So that's all I've got to share for now....all I have left to offer is a hug of the hairy variety...but I think that should suffice.... after all what better kind of hugs are there?! ;)x

A pleasant little interlude...

"Admiring from afar"

To counteract the feeling that everything I'm trying to put together is taking so long, it felt great to do a bit of tearing and gluing, painting and drawing, and end up with something to show for it...albeit  a bit teensy!

(A little jiggery pokery computery collage added to the mix!)

"Footprints"

I am really excited about showing you the goodies I almost have ready to launch into the world. But for now I offer you these little mixed media pieces. I love how they have turned out, especially the bear below..but you know I have a soft spot for these furry fellows!

"Friend..?!"

The tea bags even got involved in these ones...yet another excuse to pour a cup!

Hope you're all getting back into the swing of things again after the hols...did they even happen?! xx

Behind the scenes

While I wait for the printer to send my little christmas card collection (a whole 4 designs!), I've very little to share other than snippets of what I'm working on at the mo. I'm developing a range of new items which may even include cushions (Oh my!) .So I've been sketching a lot, and developing this further on the computer. It's purely experimentation on my part, seeing what works and what doesn't. I'm having a blast!

 

Mr Owly owl got some digital colouring...I'm not not too keen on him (sorry Owly owl!) Usually if  I keep going I eventually get whats in my head to match what I see..so it's back to the drawing board for now.

Anyhoos, hope your week is wonderful. Autumn is most definitely in the air!

Exhibition Part 2: a pair of birds!

This is Monty, he's a good friend of Pip's ..but more conservative in nature and thankfully both eyes intact...

though  I do think a monocle would look rather fetching on him!

And below is the bright spark of a birdie who spreads sunshine and blooms with her beautiful song ...

Thankyou all so much for your words of support and lovely thoughts towards me, my work and exhibition...I really do feel blessed by each and everyone one of you who takes the time to visit this little corner of cyberspace. An ether hug is winging it's way to you right NOW! .......

  Did you feel it?:)xxx

My first exhibition

Finally I have some photos to share! In the end I popped back to the gallery to take some to show you, as it turns out the ones mum had taken from the opening evening were more a sea of heads rather than pieces! (You'll see what I mean later) I'm afraid these aren't the greatest of photos but I hope you'll get the idea...

I have shared the embroidery part of  the pieces you see above and below before..here they are finished with a pencil sketch added. These pieces are the ones I love the most as I put a mammoth amount of effort and time into each one (plus actual blood on occasion!)  But they also hold every element of what I love ...contrasts, layers, colour and texture..and magic too! Inspired by the saying "coming out of the woodwork" my active imagination wandered to animals stepping out of wallpaper....I have fantastic bamboo patterned wallpaper in the bathroom, and while brushing my teeth often smile at the thought of a panda just casually sauntering out from behind the foliage! ...

"Peering through the patchwork"

"A kingly stance"

"Seeing is believing"

I've been sharing parts of the beach scene over on facebook...I created them with the idea that they all sit together to create the scene but are individual pieces....they make me smile..and keep me dreaming of summer! 

It's the most amazing feeling walking past a window and seeing your work looking out at you :)

There are 40 individual pieces of mine exhibiting, including some books and soft sculpture birds. You've seen some of the pieces before and I've saved a couple to show you another time. I have to add I have never seen my home so clutter free! 

Here are the heads I was on about! :) 

Despite  nerves, the opening evening was incredible. Its hard to put into words how whole heart-FULLY blessed it feels to have people take time out of their own busy lives to come along and support little old me. Actually makes me get a wee lump in my throat at the thought. And still the support continues with visits from dear facebook connections and sweet emails enquiring. Just incredible, and amazingly humbling. So so grateful indeed.

                              
What I also take away from this whole amazing experience (apart from the dodgy photo! ) is the realisation and celebration that I have achieved something  I once thought was impossible...so watch this space for the next " impossible dream" to come true ..yipee!
Thankyou all for sharing this adventure with me too.

holidays and a change...

A change IS as good as a holiday..indeedy. However I might add  a change coupled with a holiday is the total remedy! Oh yes, a self imposed sewing ban alongside the spring term school break has given my weary fingers the full recuperation they required and I'm good to go again!

Of course with 2 girls (and myself) to keep occupied over the bitter cold days where the fingers and toes could only sustain short periods amidst the elements (alas, picnics have been few and far between this year), I decided clay would be a fun thing to play with. 

We started off trying out paper clay,but I'd bought it as a powder and think I'd added too much water as it was quite tricky to work with and VERY sticky....aherm...so another trip to el Hobbycrafto and the faithful airdrying clay seemed to work quite the trick.
Skye sat for an age with a rolling pin and lots of old play dough tools, and made quite a collection of "beads" which are now awaiting some paint. Maia also sat for an age and made this incredible little model below of one of her favourite charcters "Totoro". She's a BIG fan of Studio Ghibli and Japanese animations and this little fellow features in one of their animations...(yep, it's been a learning curve for me too!)

I was so impressed by the minutae of detail, and luckily for her the proud mumma hormones were in full swing on realising his whiskers had been created out of my ancient but all time favourite hairbrush!!

Deep breath :)

I had sooo much fun with clay playing too..... took me straight back to the days when I made brooches and earrings as a teenager, which my mum would so sweetly let me sell at the craft fairs she exhibited at.

As you can see from the top photos I made brooches (and dinky ornaments) in spring colours to brighten my surroundings. I got carried away and made so many I'm deliberating whether to add them to my shop.....I have 3-4 weeks for the brooch blanks I have ordered to arrive and decide!

Thought I'd end on the sunny and recent decor that graces my living room window sill. Skye set them up and insists they remain in their row. I feel like I am about to be serenaded by some yodelling alpine chicks :)

Pip!

 It's such a treat to have our computer back up and running...it appears that computers are not immune to the lurgy either!
So after a new hard drive, several lost photos and many lessons learned.. I'm returning with a friend...

Pip is his name, and he came about over the Christmas holidays when I decided to indulge in the "creating of things I never normally turn my hand to ,but have always quite fancied!"

He's a gentle soul despite his inadvertent "pirate-y" appearance. Pip genuinely lost an eye in his making....one day I left him sitting on my desk with 2 eyes ready to be stitched...to return the next day with one missing!

One of these days, I get the feeling a lone eye will 

turn up in some random place and I'll wonder what the heck I've stumbled across...hopefully Pip will have placed himself in an obvious position with his remaining beady eye fixed on me as a reminder!

Recent makes!

I love this squirrel... "Little sushine" is what I called him..he ended up in The Found Gallery along with the mounted pieces below...

"Song Bird"

"Un-impressed!"

"Call of the Wild"....seemed so fitting to have made this then went to see "Sky Fall" ...homage to 007..swoon :)

I apologise if you're a visitor of my facebook page as you'll have seen these all before! I've been very busy with projects and exciting new ventures..but alas none of which I can share right now.
I can however share that I'm off to the very grand (and recently rennovated) Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh this weekend with my creations...must remember to bring my camera this time as this place is STUNNING! Can't wait!
Hope all is wonderful where ever you are xx

something and nothing....

Sums up perfectly whats been happening here over the last 2 weeks..
So do I write a blog post about it...
About the war waged with my 4 year old and wearing clothes as opposed to turning up to everything either naked or in her pj's.... it remains ongoing!
About the busy creating after holiday hiatus, to fulfill an order for a lovely old hardware store established in 1840's who are wanting to attract a younger clientelle...completed and delivered!
About the exciting invitation to exhibit my textile pieces in The Found Gallery for their winter show and the other flurry of creativity initiated ....remains onging also!

Oh there's been more of course..but I dont think that makes for a blogpost either..so I'll leave it for another 2 weeks hehe!

Hope you are all well and enjoying these cold and frosty mornings!xx