2013 : resolutions and a look back

Happy New Year

Here's to a crafty new year. This year I will make friends with my sewing machine. I want to try making a quilt and also make some embroidered wall hangings  I'm also going to try and blog more often and add tutorials and free patterns to my blog. 

I have also started a new embroidery piece that I am really excited about, it's quite different from my recent embroideries - will post some in progress shots when I'm a bit further along. doing something different has got the ideas flowing and I have a couple more projects planned out. Looking back over the past year I have done so much embroidery and improved my technique no end. Here are my personal faves from the last year:

I got to be an &stitches cover star (well my koi embroidery did) plus was lucky enough to have my stumpwork sparrow and boxing hare featured on the blog, and was featured on mrxstitch and on the urban threads blog. I even had my stumpwork sparrow included in the featured projects on Craftster. I've made new online crafty contacts who are inspiring and supportive in equal measures and I get to chat with them thanks to twitter. Phew, it's been a busy year. I wonder what 2013 will bring ...

Urban Threads embroidery

I finished this piece I was making from an urban threads pattern. I don't often use patterns but actually really like some of the urban threads patterns. The subject matter and tattoo style of this appealed to me- I used to stitch a lot of tattoo flash. I think I might do some more tattoo style pieces soon. The strong outlines and solid fills work well for embroidery. I thought this would look good framed up in my bathroom!
Christmas seems to be creeping up on me- There is absolutely loads I want to make; some more decorations, stockings for the boys, a few gifts and christmassy pillowcases. I will be working hard over the next few weeks and am not sure I'll get everything done. How are your Christmas crafts coming on?

Magpie finished (probably!)

 I say it's finished but I keep picking it up and adding a few stitches here a few stitches there. If I'm honest I wonder if it is a bit overworked but then I keep seeing little tweaks I could make. I was feeling quite disappointed with it but then I looked at it from across the room and thought it looked nice so I think maybe the really detailed wing is a bit distracting up close. I was enjoying all those blues whilst stitching and I got a bit carried away.

 The magpies body is a padded slip. My favourite thing is the tree stump- it is couched silk strings and wool and is very tactile!!

 I painted the background with fabric paints. This was an experiment and I will make it lighter next time I do this but I like the overall effect.
I have started something else, an urban threads pattern (I don't often use patterns but Urban Threads has some great ones I couldn't resist). It was nice to not have to plan for a change just choose a pattern... transfer.. go! As you can see I have stitched the outlines and I quite like how it looks left plain but I am going to start filling it in using some muted colours.

I should really be thinking about Christmas crafts but am still at the planning stage- have you started your Christmas crafting yet?