threadhead

Oliver Jeffers

2012-01-17T08:15:00.000-08:00

My 2 year old boy is a huge fan of Oliver Jeffers kids books, for anyone not familiar with Oliver Jeffers this image is typical of his style - look here . He does the most amazing stuff, I particularly love his lettering.
As Jake is also currently obsessed with space this image from 'How to catch a star' was ideal for his room. I never have much luck transferring images onto dark fabric (this is a quilters cotton) so I redrew the image, this also enabled me to resize the image to fit my hoop. I then stitched in back stitch, split and satin stitch and added some double-x stars to finish. The star looks more blended and less stripey than it does in the photo- the flash has highlighted where the colour changes.
Jake's verdict? I got a "clever boy mummy" which I think means he likes it- unless he has mastered sarcasm at a very young age!

Oh and while I'm on the subject of Oliver Jeffers, here is a fan who expresses her love for Oliver's illustrations using a different type of needle!
http://youtu.be/sU-JXk3yq48
Cool huh?

'love' Emily Peacock

2012-01-04T07:52:00.000-08:00

Emily Peacock did two gorgeous cushion cover designs for CrossStitcher magazine. This is the first one and I'm about to start the second, I'm planning to make them up as they were shown in the magazine with a red polka dot backing and red pompom trim. I really enjoyed stitching this one- no half stitches!

Emily Peacock has done some really great designs several of which are on my to-do list and I'd really recommend them to others as they are really simple to stitch, there are some lush woolly cross stitch kits on her website that I am in lust with.

torpid with ennui

2012-01-04T07:41:00.001-08:00

this is for a friend, I may add a border or motif... or then again i might not ...

Happy new year

2012-01-03T07:41:00.000-08:00

These are some little christmassy things I made. I used a pattern from Crosstitcher for the houses. Everywhere seems very bare now the decorations are down.

once wounded twice shy

2011-12-02T08:09:00.001-08:00

This is a cross-stitch from the Ed Hardy pattern book. Shoddy camerawork I know and yes, it could do with an iron- but who has time to iron?
It was sort of nice to just switch off and follow a pattern instead of working up my own creation but boy was stitching that heart boring- one big block of red. It will make a nice cushion though I think with some pompom trim around the outside.
Am working on another cross-stitch cushion now, an Emily Peacock design, will post some photos when I'm done.

magpie

2011-11-12T09:08:00.001-08:00

one for sorrow, two for joy

Magpies are my favourite bird, superstition says that singular magpies are unlucky and should be greeted with a salute and 'good morning Mr Magpie, How's your wife and children?' but I just give them a big grin and they seem happy enough with that. This fella is blackwork and is my own design - there will definitely be more magpies to come.

oooops I did it again

2011-10-14T05:50:00.000-07:00

Well its been a while since I've been spotted round these parts. The reason for my prolonged absence was due to feeling ill ill ill whilst pregnant with baby no 2 who was born in June. There ain't been much stitch happening round here lately. Now the dust has settled I'm starting to craft again and look forward to sharing my new projects with you.

Lets start with this little lady;

oh how I love me a bit of geisha tattoo flash xxx

embroidery of Inuit stone cut (Tudlik)

2010-06-30T12:12:00.001-07:00

Stitched in wool on linen- the design is a beautiful print by Tudlik, see here. It's all split stitch except for the 'v's I used on the bird. Sorry for the rubbish photos, I haven't ironed it yet so it's a bit crumpled.

I love this and think I'll do a few more based on Inuit prints- because it's wool it was very quick to do, less than 2 evenings and I think the medium suits the image. The combination of the abstract image, orangey wool and brown linen is nicely retro.

Oh and the title of the original print is 'Bird Dream Forewarning Blizzards' I like that, I can imagine some surreal dream about being chased by a huge bird

I love leigh

2010-06-24T13:38:00.000-07:00

I have long admired the late Leigh Bowery. This cross stitched portrait has been a WIP for ages (ahem, 3 years or so) and is finally complete. The reason it took so long was all that black- yes I could have stitched on black aida but I like the way it is completely stitched, it's like a tapestry.

It is based on this image, I first got into Leigh Bowery when I was at art school making soft sculpture masks. I was told to look at him by a tutor and was captivated by his fantastic costumes. Now many years down the line it was fun to make a more obvious tribute to my favourite artist/performer/club kid!

mexican style skull

2010-05-23T00:50:00.000-07:00

Oh how I love skulls, especially floral mexican(ish) day of the dead style skulls.

I'm trying to do a bit more embroidery based on my own designs rather than using found imagery. I drew this little skull and decided to stitch it up on some bright cotton. It was nice to do something in my usual style as a break from a few weighty WIPs that I've been working on. I used one of those spidersweb-like stitches for the yellow flower and was really pleased with how it looked so will making use of them again in the future.

Now must get back to stitching that teeny tiny banner...

(squints)

...

(pours large mug of builders tea)

...

(picks up needle)

...

kick ass-isi!

2010-05-20T09:11:00.000-07:00

Its tiny, so very tiny. This is the start of a border for a banner for this blog. Assisi work skulls of my own design, if you aren't familiar with assisi work check this

If anyone wants the pattern I can chart it for you

Working on such a small scale is ridiculous- I'm gonna end up cross-eyed

the mermaid and the star

2010-05-17T12:42:00.000-07:00

I showed this little lady as a WIP recently. She is now finished and although I'm still not sure about the heavy black outline it does look more balanced now the border is on. I'm glad it's finished, I wasn't really enjoying it much. The wave was particularly tiresome as the darker blue floss was sort of woolly and kept breaking. Her scales are a bit of a cheat as I used variegated floss and I think it looks pretty nifty. The image is a copyright free image I found online.

She's going to hang out in the bathroom with this Sailor Jerry mermaid I did ages ago. She was stitched on a bag but the bag never gets used so she is going to be framed and hung on the wall instead.

Splish splash x

crewel work trees

2010-04-20T05:50:00.000-07:00

This post was going to be titled something like 'too crewel for school' but I couldn't quite bring myself to do it :)

My first go at using crewel wools on linen, I used a pattern from this book and the threads are Appleton crewel wool which comes in the most delicious colours. Not too bad for a first attempt- I was going to leave it in the hoop and put in on the wall but Stu thinks it is 'too boring' hmmmph! So I guess it will be patched onto something instead.

I've also finished this- just a wool tapestry using a DMC pattern for Jakethepeg's bedroom. It was one of those patterns that is printed directly onto the fabric and has got me thinking how supereasy it would be to design your own tapestries this way. Am thinking maybe a sugar skull or swallow cushion would be a simple enough design to start with... watch this space

Door bunnies

2010-04-01T01:08:00.001-07:00

These are little door plaques that I made for our guest room (V.I.P Suite) and our bedroom (Servant's quarters). I guess I have bunnies on the brain with it being Easter and Bowie bunny just hopped into my head and wouldn't leave until I stitched him, I think he would make a cute stuffed toy for Jake too so will be added that to my list of things to make.

I really need to work on my lettering though- it's fine here where it's supposed to look a little 'off' (and is in that weird textured glow in the dark floss) but is something I really cannot get right. I feel a sampler coming on ...

yes sir, I love to fill stitch

2010-03-30T04:46:00.000-07:00

A little baby vest embroidered with the Lucha Libre wrestler from the Sublime Stitching craft pad. There was much deliberation over whether the nose piece should be orange or green, in the end I agreed with my fella and I think that maybe, just this once, he was right ;)

Oh and there absolutely has to be an action shot, right?

wise little owl

2010-03-25T03:05:00.000-07:00

This is a little felt owl I made using a pattern from the Doodle stitch book, I have also got the stuff to make the raccoon featured in the book as well.

photos of what I've been up to

2010-02-28T12:16:00.000-08:00

This post is going to be heavy on pictures and short on words - just a quick catch-up of my most recent stitches...This is a work in progress- not sure about the black outline (a little heavy?) but hopefully it'll look better when there is more detail added

A real simple tote using a sublime stitching 'viva las vegas' pattern

a make-up bag with day of the dead skull, sublime stitching again, I'm stitching the skeletons on the back- Jake seems to like it :)

a kokeshi doll card- this was a freebie kit with a magazine. I might use this pattern again with different colours on a bag

Christmas tea towels - I was stitching close to the wire on these and they only just got posted in time

Currently on the go are: a Pop-eye baby vest, a Sublime lucha libre baby vest, Skeletons for the back of the make up bag, the mermaid, leigh bowery in x-stitch (he's been on the go forever) and a knitted bag

I also have a few finished things that I haven't photographed yet so will have to update soon with those

Regaining my stitching mojo

2009-11-04T07:42:00.000-08:00

Well things have been a little quiet around here (by which I mean here on my blog, my homelife has been anything but quiet as you can imagine)

Since having Jake it has taken me a while to get back into the swing of things craft-wise. For a few months he seemed to be in my arms 24/7 (when you are breastfeeding you never seem to put your baby down!) so there really was no time for crafting. Then things started to calm down a bit and I found I had my evenings back.

So where have I been?

.... well there was the small issue of motivation; I just didn't have any, after a day of looking after Jake I was tending to flake out in front of the telly with a large glass of wine . Until one day I was on Facebook (probably whilst breastfeeding, again) and I clicked into a link Mr X-stitch had posted to his blog, I spent a bit of time there and then revisited all my usual haunts in the crafty blogosphere. I realised how much I missed it and that, cheesy as this sounds, it was time to be 'me' as well as 'mum'.

So I picked up a UFO that had been languishing in the bottom of my craft box for ages- this Mitch O'Connell pattern from Sublime Stitching (I'd stitched the outline a long time ago and then lost interest). It might not be the best thing I've ever done but boy, does it feel nice to be stitching again! Crafty mates- I have missed you- it's good to be back :)

baby jake is here!

2009-06-20T05:21:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd show you all why my blog is neglected of late. Baby Jake arrived on 6/6/09 - 11 days overdue.
We are all loved up in our house- he is such a cutie!
I won't leave it so long before I post again- who knows, I may even find time for some embroidery at some point!
xox

IYP swap

2009-03-28T10:33:00.001-07:00

Here are the bits and pieces I made for Amyracinrose in the Craftster Invite your Partner swap:
A sailor Jerry framed embroidery- I've wanted to stitch this sassy showgirl pinup for a while.
A doll house tea set necklace- I wish I had an action shot to show youand my favourite; a Mitch O'Connell poodle tea towel (or bar towel)- I wish I had a creepy-cute pink poodle who drank martinis - if I did I'd call her Talullah or maybe Roxy...I was so pleased with how her 'fluffy' bits came out (that sounds a bit wierd doesn't it?)
Anyhows, thanks for stopping by- my baby bump is progressing nicely (baby crafts progressing less well), I'll post some pics soon :)
x

Flight of the Conchords

2009-03-22T10:25:00.000-07:00

I am patiently waiting for FOTC season 2 to appear on British T.V - why is it taking so motherflippin long?! I am just managing to resist the urge to watch all the new songs on youtube. So to fulfil my need for a little bit of FOTC action I thought I'd share some things I made for the FOTC swap last year:

Jemaine ' business time' paper-cut clock (of all the swap items I've ever made this was the hardest to part with!)
boom boom necklace:

and embroidered tote bag;

FOTC + embroidery = happy soph .... I so need to make myself one of those bags
x

little stitches

2009-03-18T04:16:00.000-07:00

For the Invite your partner swaps I did two minature embroideries that I put in the back of handbag mirrors. They are both based on old tattoo flash designs.
Because they are tiny I was able to do each of these in just an evening each- making them an ideal craft for my current pregnancy-addled state. The cross stitch kit I've started for the baby's room is not going well, I can only cope with it for very short periods of time and am regularly distracted by Alien like goings on around my midriff!

IYP- the amazing Lily!

2009-03-10T02:57:00.001-07:00

Lily did this incredibly detailed embroidery for me in the Invite your partner swap. She's so beautiful and just my style. The stitching is just perfect- I love the stripy trousers.
And that wasn't all she also sent me this tote- very apt for the English weather!
so cute!

In other news Amy has recieved her package so I'll post pics soonish...
see you later x

Invite your partner swap

2009-03-02T14:48:00.000-08:00

I was lucky enough to snag Lily (Lilyvanilli on Craftster) as a partner for this swap. She sent me an awesome package- which will feature in my next post (I have yet to take photos) but if you can't wait to see the amazing goods you can see them here . Fellow Craftsters take note- next IYP be brave and ask someone you admire to swap with you- it is well worth it!
This is what she got from me in return:
ready for your close up?

Somewhat predictably it is based on an Angelique Houtkamp image (well her artwork is amazing). So much fill stitching- I like how the shading on her dress turned out. Her hair is done in lines of satin stitch to add texture- you can't see that on the photo as it's black so you'll have to take my word for it.
I also made an embroidered handbag mirror - which I'll post pics of at a later date and these little extras;
Lily has been a great partner (as you'll see when I post photo's of the beautiful embroidery she sent me) and this has been a fun swap, and guess what the best thing about the swap is? It's not over because I was greedy and signed up with two partners! I'm also swapping with Amy from SwellStitches (Amyracinrose) so there are more of my crafts to post once she receives (don't want to ruin the surprise).
Thankyou Lily- it's been fun we should do it again some sometime!
Night all!
x

because every little boy needs a spacesuit...

2009-02-26T08:16:00.001-08:00

busy busy

2009-01-21T14:45:00.000-08:00

I'm stitching up a storm at the moment. I'm in the middle of the 'Invite your partner' swap and have two great people to craft for. I have a couple of items nearly done and looking at them am beginning to wonder how much of my life is spent doing fill stitches! Am pleased with how they have turned out though- don't want to say too much and give the game away to my swap partners!
Other than that am wondering about trying to knit again as various family members are knitting away for the baby and I feel I should get in on the action. Me and knitting haven't got on so well in the past so if anyone has any ideas for an easy baby project let me know (by suggesting ideas you are volunteering to be my knitting mentor and I need a lot of help!).
Oh and as I'm craftin' for two these days I've also picked up a winnie the pooh cross stitch kit for baby's room- I don't usually do kits but this is sooo cute (my brain is turning to baby mush- too much baby shopping). My Mum has chosen a cute birth memento cross stitch to do for the room too- we are quite the crafting family- my dad is even talking about making some wooden baby toys as he's into his woodwork and woodturning. Nursey design craftster style!
So no new pictures to post right know but expect picture heavy posts once I've sent my swap packages, and if I pluck up the courage to get those evil knitting needles out I will post in progress pics of what is bound to be a knitting disaster.
x

Inny ansome? (that's Cornish for isn't he handsome)

2009-01-08T10:41:00.000-08:00

that's my boy x

A christmas best forgotten!

2008-12-31T07:48:00.000-08:00

It has been an eventful Christmas for me this year. On Saturday I had a car accident on the motorway. I was checked over at the hospital and luckily the baby is fine somehow my stomach is the one part of me that escaped injury. I have never been so scared as I was waiting for a scan at the hospital but baby was happily bouncing around on the screen seemingly unaware of their lucky escape! I am covered in magnificent bruises, very sore and my car is a wreck- thankfully no one else was hurt and I escaped without any serious damage.
It hasn't all been drama though- here I am pre-accident on Christmas day- check out that bump! I'm definitely showing now and wearing very fetching maternity trousers. And baby is making their presence known by wriggling and kicking in the evenings. Better get started on some baby crafts soon- I'll be finding out the sex next week so might pick up some babygros (onesies) to stitch on after that.

Also the time off work whilst I'm recovering from the accident is giving me chance to get stuck into my stitching- it's helping take my mind off things and is one of the few things I can do to keep busy that doesn't hurt! I finished up a bag I've been working on for my mum:
The design is from a transfer, I enjoyed doing something traditional and it was pretty satisfying to tackle this design because it proved to me how much my stitching has improved (the back of my work is still bloody awful though- but who cares what the back looks like right?)

And I'm now getting started on some pieces for the Craftster 'Invite your partner' swap where I am swapping with two people whose work I admire greatly Lilyvanilli (Lily blogs) and Amyracinrose (Swell stitches). I'd better do a really fantastic job as they are both supertalented. I have plenty of ideas for the smaller pieces I'm going to send but am going to have to get plotting on what to do as the main projects.

As for NYE, I be having a quiet one, I've had quite enough adventure for now.
Happy new year xxx

where's sophie at?

2008-12-06T12:45:00.000-08:00

Well you may have noticed I've been missing. The reason is that I've got a WIP that has left me absolutely exhausted:

It might not look like much to you yet but I'm sure that when it's finished it will be the most perfect thing I've ever made! Yep I'm 15 weeks pregnant and until recently had been feeling pretty rotten which is why I've not been about much lately. Luckily my energy levels are starting to pick up (I no longer have to be in bed by 8 o'clock) and I've started to craft again. So between eating lots of ice cream and having strange emotional outbursts whilst slobbing in front of the telly here is what I've made:

The bag is a subversive cross stitch pattern although I've changed the colours- I used the waste canvas method. The penguin is going to be an Xmas card and the pattern was a freebie from Andrea Zuill's blog
It's great to be stitching again- I've missed it so much (although I have to admit there were a few days when I was feeling so sick and had to finish stuff for the tea towel tour where I was cursing the day I'd decided to take up embroidery a hobby!). I'm now working on two other totes before I try and finish some of my long list of works in progress. I'm also sketching some ideas for a magpie embroidery which will be the first thing I've done for a while based on my own design. Oh and maybe some cutesy baby crafts will start making an appearance... well hopefully not too cutesy, I promise not to go all pastel coloured on you ;)
x

TTT4

2008-11-09T04:51:00.000-08:00

I have finished up on the Craftster tea towel tour my last piece of stitching was for Nannetta her towel had a sun, moon stars and astrology theme. So I did this:

Underneath the star is the constellation for Virgo (Nannetta's sign). It's a fairly simple design but I think it fits in with has already been stitched on the towel. I hope she likes it.
And I have recieved my finished towel- it is so fantastic.

Thanks to (left to right below) Sewsew-a-gogo, IamSusie, Timpani~Jax, UrsulaDiamond and Nannetta

I love everything on my towel- the designs are all very 'me' and the quality of the stitching is amazing. I was lucky to get a great group who have been fun to swap with- I really hope to swap with each of them again some time in the future. I feel sad that this swap is drawing to an end but it is great to see all the finished towels springing up on the Craftster gallery (it's a big gallery but you can click on 'show images only' to just view the pics)

Read about me on Brook's blog!

2008-10-11T13:24:00.000-07:00

I was very flattered when Brook contacted me via Craftster and asked if she could interview me for her blog. Naturally I jumped at the chance to be featured on one of my favourite blogs (and also felt totally stressed that I would give uber-dull answers). Well, Brook sent me a great list of questions and answering then was fun (and not at all stressful) you can read the interview here
Oh and while you are there be sure to check out Brooks other blog entries, she's got a great sense of humour and has also posted some seriously awesome work. Brook really knows her way around a pin-up girl (I'm referring to embroidery here!)
Big thankyou to Brook for asking me to do the interview- I promise to return the favour some day

Cupcake flash embroidery

2008-10-09T13:05:00.000-07:00

This is for SewSew-a-gogo on the tea towel tour. The embroidery is actually on an apron which is for her daughter. Sewsew gave the group a list of her daughters likes and among them were rub-on tattoos and baking. So I customised some old school flash of a heart with a dagger through it and a snake and came up with this. It was mega fun to do, I went loco for the effects floss and used metallic, rayon and glow in the dark on this piece. And for anyone debating trying the glow in the dark floss I say go for it, it's really not too bad to work with and it really glows bright- I was most impressed!

Assisi work

2008-10-02T04:12:00.000-07:00

I recently recieved UrsulaDiamonds towel in the TeaTowel Tour. It is the rebel towel on this tour as instead of following an embroidery theme it is evolving into a sampler of different types of needlework. When I received it it had been stitched on by IamSusie with a cross stitch design and by Timpani-Jax with a blackwork design. I was totally confused, what should I add? So I looked through some embroidery magazines for inspiration and finally a light bulb moment; cross stitch + blackwork = Assisi! Basically Assis work is a type of cross stitch where the main motifs are voided and outlined with either holbein or backstitch (I used both) I used patterns from http://www.dunmanidesigns.co.uk/

It took forever to do and to be honest I'm not sure about the out come but that's possibly as I've been staring at it for so long whilst stitching it! Also because of the symmetrical design I rotated the piece whilst working on it and this led me to make a few mistakes, the crosses don't all sit the same way. I just hope Ursula likes it. I used waste canvas which I tacked onto the towel. It was my first time using waste canvas and the result wasn't as regular as using aida but I think it would probably work better with a less 'filled in' design (or one with fewer straight lines!). It's been fun trying something new but I'm looking forward to getting back on more familiar ground with my next project, I'm sure I'll try Assisi again in the future but with a more modern twist (maybe pixel art, pacman, skulls or logos?)

Great personal swaps with Katie and Nicole!

2008-09-23T13:41:00.000-07:00

I have recently done two personal swaps with people I know through Craftster and it's been such a good experience. They both managed to tap into my personal taste and make very cool things for me. KatieKutthroat was the first person I did a personal swap with- we like similar themes and are both avid stitchers. I was blown away with what I recieved from her- this bag has been in constant use since I got it. Her stitching is really beautiful and I loved how she had used a different thickness of thread to give texture on the hair (I'm stealing that idea x)

She also sent me a sassy pinup in tattoo flash style- those little swallows are metallic, very cool indeed. I think the patterns are all by Sublime stitching- Katie picked out great choices for me as I love anchors...
... speaking of anchors look what I recieved in my personal swap with Nicole! I have no idea how she did this; the glass is frosted with an anchor design. I guess you must be able to get some spray on glass frosting stuff but I've never seen it before. I think this will be my Rum glass for when I'm being a pirate. I love it so much. She also sent me this great personalised card she made-coincidentally we both picked a nautical theme (the bag in my last post was for Nicole).
Ladies if you are reading- I hope we swap again as I love my new goodies. Getting stuff in the post that other people have made for you is so much fun and I had a great time making things for you both x

Hello Sailor!

2008-09-16T10:42:00.000-07:00

Ahoy there me hearties! I made this for a friend on Craftster. It's on a tote bag - I hand appliqued the patch on which was a bit silly as I own a perfectly good sewing machine but it does look quite nice!
She recieved it today and has been in touch to say she likes it so I'm very pleased. The design is taken from Sailor Jerry flash- the handwriting is my own (and could be better!). I really enjoyed adding the tiny details like the ickle anchor tat and gold bracelets.
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum x

Tea Towel Tour 4

2008-09-15T14:26:00.000-07:00

Seriously this has to be seen:
http://www.craftster.org/pictures/data/500/medium/sailor_girl.JPG
How great is that?! Nannetta picked the most perfect design for me. I am a sucker for all things nautical. I can't wait to see how the other talented stitchers add to this towel, who would have thought a tea towel could make my heart race?
And here is my humble contribution to IamSusies towel:It's pretty different to my usual more filled in style because I wanted it to fit in with the rest of the embroidery on the towel, and I wouldn't usually go for something so cute but I designed it myself and am pleased with how it turned outThe rest of the embroidery on the the towel (bird by IamSusie and squirrel byTimpani~Jax) is so beautiful. One of the best things about the swap is getting to see everyone else in your groups work in the flesh - although it's quite intimidating when you get a towel where the stitches are all so pristine and you think 'Oh shit, I can't stitch anywhere near that neatly- I'm gonna mess up this beautiful towel' But I'm sure all the other swappers get that feeling too.... right?!

It's Mitch, bitch

2008-09-13T08:51:00.000-07:00

I am so pleased with this, it's based on an image from the Mitch O'Connell tattoo book. He's kind of creepy isn't he? When I was sewing it I kept telling Stu I was going to make it into a pillow case so he'd wake up in the night and see this scary clown grinning back at him, ha ha!
I'm actually going to frame it and hang it somewhere in my house- but it will have to be in the bedroom or guest room as one of my best mates has a clown phobia and this would totally freak her out if I hung it in the lounge.
I would really recommend the Mitch O'Connell tattoo book as a pattern book for stitchers- there are so many cool images in it and they'd all look great as embroideries.

Oh and just cause she is finally finished, here is my Angelique Houtcamp sailor girl hanging in my dining room. It took me ages to get around to filling in the rope and when I sat down to do it, it took less than an hour. There is hope for that long (and ever-growing) list of unfinished projects. Oh and if you've never heard of Angelique she is amazing, check her out here: http://www.salonserpent.com/Home.html

Louise Brooks

2008-09-12T11:08:00.000-07:00

I had to stitch something flapper/20's themed for the tea towel tour. I had absolutely no idea what to do so started browsing photos online. I ended up deciding to do a pic of Louise Brooks and then ordered a DVD with her in from Amazon. So I sat stitching this whilst watching her on screen.
It's not the best likeness, but, the necklace - its FRENCH KNOTS- hell yeah!

tea towel tour 4 (and more)

2008-09-03T14:27:00.000-07:00

I love embroidering on tea towels- it's such an old fashioned thing to do and feels like 'proper job' craft.
I am taking part in the Craftster tea towel tour; there are 6 people to a group and 6 towels doing the rounds so everyone stitches on each others towels- At the end you get your towel back and everyone will have made their mark on it. Here's how Ive started my towel:the lettering is rubbish but I'm pleased with the anchor and birds (which are flying all the way to Germany right now). If you want to see more goodies- and there is some seriously good stuff going on in this swap- look here http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=263926.0

and here is a little extra which is not my usual style but is for a gift, technically it's still a work in progress as the design is repeated on the towel.
Shrooms and strawberries- random huh? It's from a vintage transfer, I scored a huge envelope off EBay for a few quid. I'll try and scan some in at some point.
TTFN
x

Swap item for Katie- tattooed lady

2008-08-26T14:16:00.000-07:00

I'm doing a personal swap with KatieKutthroat via Craftster. She has made me a beautiful tote http://katiekutthroat.blogspot.com/2008/08/swap-stuff-for-sewphie.html and a pinup picture - this is what I've made her. The image is based on an Angelique Houtcamp http://www.salonserpent.com/Home.html illustration (again!). It's in a simple hoop frame at the moment but I'm toying with patching it onto a tote instead. I'm not even sure it's Katie's style- if you're reading this please let me know whether you like it- I'll happily make you something else if it's not really your thing (oh, and let me know if you would prefer her to be on a bag- I have some nice thin cotton totes that would be perfect)
Her hair took an age to do- it's loads of little satin stitch lines with the odd bit of sparkle thrown in- you can sort of see it in the close up (the little white bit's are tiny gaps between the stitches that lit up with the flash- you can't see 'em in real life). My photography skills could use a little polish ;)
I really loved stitching this and am happy with how she came out. I like the colours and they work well with the light brown fabric. I've also made a teeny extra piece that I'll keep a suprise for now. This is my first personal swap and it's been a lot of fun. I'm hoping it will be the first of many.

lots of balls in the air

2008-08-24T10:11:00.000-07:00

I really need to get projects finished- I have far too many on the go. Here is my current list of works in progress:
A knitted scarf
An embroidery of the cover of Goo by Sonic Youth
A tapestry chihuahua cushion (a really ugly chihuahua cushion from a kit, horrendous)
A Sailor girl embroidery
another sailor girl embroidery
a cross stitch of Leigh Bowery (my hero <3)
Sewing my MoC Hillbilly angel onto a cushion
A Tea towel with vintage mushroom transfers
My tea towel for the Craftster tea towel tour (eeek deadline for this one)
A cross stitch needlebook
A teeny tiny skull embroidery
A 1950's eyeglasses embroidery (to make into a sunglasses case- I started this a year ago)
I also have a pile of finished embroideries that I don't know what to do with just sat in the bottom of my craft box

I start so much more than I finish- it's a problem I have. I am gonna try and tie up some of the loose ends. I really wanna finish Leigh but there is so much black to fill in and I am sewing on tiny count Aida so it makes me go cross eyed.
I've just bought series 1 of Californication so may have to have a dvd and stitching marathon (if I can tear my eyes away from David Duchovny to glance down at my work every now and then that is).

Ok, off to dive into my ever-growing pile of unfinished projects, wish me luck- it's dangerous in there
Soph x

Miss Mistake and WIP

2008-08-12T12:13:00.000-07:00

Here is what was meant to be a Sailor Jerry flash cutie. I did her a couple of weeks ago. She looked so lovely on the flash sheet but when I stitched her she came out all wrong. I am not at all happy with how she came out- my stitches look so messy argghh. And those lips- so wrong. I think I just attempted to do her too small (4'' tall)- I may try her again at some point but a little bigger. For now she is christened Miss Mistake - poor lass.
I had intended her as an item for part of a trade I'm doing but she ain't going nowhere! Luckily I have had time to start something else which I'm pleased to say is looking grand so far.

On a more successful note here is a WIP- another sailor girl <3. I had thought she was finished but have decided to fill in the rope. She will be framed and hung in the hall at Stu's request (I think he's fallen for her). She is based on an Angelique illustration- I think I may have an Angelique addiction right now.
thank you and goodnight
soph x

2008-08-11T12:37:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd give this blogging lark a go. I've been inspired to do so by KatieKutthroat who I met via Craftster and who has a supercool craft blog.
So yes Katie I am shamelessly copying you- I saw your blog and thought I want want too! ... but they say imitation is the greatest form of flattery right?
So to start me off here are a couple of recent pieces my entry into the Craftster needlework challenge and a piece based on a Angelique Houtkamp http://www.salonserpent.com/Home.html illustration of a sailor girl. Both have already been posted on craftster.
The sailor girl is one of my favourite things ever- I have a big weakness for nautical themes. She is now living on a big blue and white striped tote bag and seems pretty happy there.