tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10427745314557902162024-03-08T17:00:24.460-08:00threadheadsewphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517925260881331589noreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042774531455790216.post-40278724779793645072016-03-02T14:12:00.001-08:002016-03-02T14:12:22.109-08:00Stumpwork painted bunting<br />
I have recently finished this little embroidery of a painted bunting. I have been feeling a bit lacking in inspiration recently so I decided to revisit an old favourite subject and stitch up a stumpwork bird. <br><br />
I knew I wanted it to be colourful so I put a call out on Instagram for ideas and now have a whole list of pretty birdies to stitch up. They don't come much more colourful than this little guy though!<br><br><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sewphie/25143867225/in/datetaken/" title="IMG_20160219_150500"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1445/25143867225_efbf3d7667_z.jpg" width="300" height="480" alt="IMG_20160219_150500"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><br><br> I have already started the next bird- a cheeky blue budgie. It's going to be a fun one :)<br />
sewphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517925260881331589noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042774531455790216.post-22591112802187325082015-04-30T12:47:00.000-07:002015-04-30T12:47:25.931-07:00Scrimshaw skull<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3MoAkj0wHCc1aFmWrTxK_eCnzfTDVBhxQJlhq64BCacmFMWcXb_ayM35OrTXTt0H47SUyrO-GWr4c8sWJDq6GeEPn6Qjcpbo3Ymr7xyAwR68rnPMKLCOIOsjmoRR49kx8Tvn8T_TfV_b/s1600/IMG_20150426_161030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3MoAkj0wHCc1aFmWrTxK_eCnzfTDVBhxQJlhq64BCacmFMWcXb_ayM35OrTXTt0H47SUyrO-GWr4c8sWJDq6GeEPn6Qjcpbo3Ymr7xyAwR68rnPMKLCOIOsjmoRR49kx8Tvn8T_TfV_b/s1600/IMG_20150426_161030.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Look I finished a thing!!!<br />
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At the start of the year I decided to do a sketch a day for a year. It didn't last very long as I quickly accepted that<strike> most </strike>some days I don't have the time or the inclination to do it, BUT I did end up with a nice little pile of 'to-be-stitched' sketches and this is based on one of those.<br />
This idea has been blowing around my headspace for a while and I actually have few sketches on this theme. This wee guy is a child's skull with traditional-ish scrimshaw design on it. It's fairly small, about 4 inches high and stitched with 1 strand of floss.<br />
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I initially didn't have the clouds but am so glad I added them- they made it work. The seagulls make me laugh because my art teacher at school absolutely hated birds drawn as 'm' shapes! I had to sneak a whale in there too hiding in the water.<br />
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I sort of love the back of it too- I always have messy backs and they remind me of sketchy drawings.</div>
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So now it's back to the sketchbook to pick something else to stitch...</div>
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sewphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517925260881331589noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042774531455790216.post-52522952220131173472015-01-14T11:08:00.001-08:002015-01-14T11:08:20.827-08:00Robin and whale<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A big hello to anyone reading this- it's been ages since I last posted. I have moved down to Cornwall, started a new job and there has been a lot going on lately, which is why I haven't been posting regularly lately but I thought I'd pop by and share some recent stitches.</div>
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I stitched this little guy over Christmas whilst I was feeling festive! It has reminded me how much I love stitching birds.<br />
The colours aren't perfect because I just used what I had to hand but I quite like the orange flecks through his red breast.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRVm1L_toxBqSfHAil4YEFAKgqILz5qpNsK2vswezgKQKURR4zoPkr6dL5Ykmve_jY8IzNzwVxAJFO9AGFng15mCsRMHSLYSQ_lDqCYiGSSHNN13Vlv8j2XjtFZ-pfgyJvIps3izV5bfN/s1600/P1111715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRVm1L_toxBqSfHAil4YEFAKgqILz5qpNsK2vswezgKQKURR4zoPkr6dL5Ykmve_jY8IzNzwVxAJFO9AGFng15mCsRMHSLYSQ_lDqCYiGSSHNN13Vlv8j2XjtFZ-pfgyJvIps3izV5bfN/s1600/P1111715.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I've also been sketching whales a lot lately- I've fallen in love with them! I made this tiny felt embroidery based on a sketch. </div>
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(Scuse my bony fingers- they are there for scale ;) )</div>
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I might make him into a brooch- I think he is cute.</div>
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I have the feeling whales are going to feature in my stitching a lot this year. It's about time whales were 'in'; we have had an owl trend,a fox trend, birds on everything, everywhere so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a whale trend!!</div>
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sewphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517925260881331589noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042774531455790216.post-33191328594375470082014-10-14T14:47:00.002-07:002014-10-14T14:47:33.214-07:00Mitch O'Connell Lil'Death<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJWR-nS_kzSeL5ye12UGsKBqMb6YCv2A_keSx8g1EKz-jAC-GieiWtO6e4JQZqk_nUQGyKZqsPFIErRSdZQu5fy6IIeBRc6nC9LBdZyoUkTKII6KPoqBQ41pSnRBLi8Bk-CC7Ua-eEZNX/s1600/PA101623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJWR-nS_kzSeL5ye12UGsKBqMb6YCv2A_keSx8g1EKz-jAC-GieiWtO6e4JQZqk_nUQGyKZqsPFIErRSdZQu5fy6IIeBRc6nC9LBdZyoUkTKII6KPoqBQ41pSnRBLi8Bk-CC7Ua-eEZNX/s1600/PA101623.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
It's been a while, I know. I have lots of things on the go and not much getting finished right now, plus I am moving house so some half finished things have been packed away. Despite this... drumroll.... I have finally managed to finish something.<br />
This little guy was started over a year ago but I hadn't done much other than the outline- I am really glad I decided to finish him- and in time for Halloween! The pattern was a freebie from<a href="http://mitchoconnell.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/unearthed-sublime-stitching-treasures.html"> here</a> . I originally had the idea of stitching all 4 and making them into a quilt but to be honest this has taken me so long to finish I'm not sure it will ever happen. This one was very fun to stitch though- I am still working on my boxing hares on and off as well as a handstitched quilt so it is nice to have a break from them to do something cute and silly! </div>
sewphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517925260881331589noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042774531455790216.post-15014022456980522012014-07-29T00:25:00.002-07:002014-07-29T00:26:37.545-07:00&Stitches in the park<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUcChpWW5ylxQo8nniPb6irXigZb2STxI8cS6plBThg2vc-o0rozIlTsCCK4GKLerhxH7M2UL9A0AeBGZE3sKnbasBlxXCcp2tYCgVcem13KgrrW3WYI7TBBPT8axGUeaezkzrhZb8Zi4/s1600/andstitchesinthepark.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUcChpWW5ylxQo8nniPb6irXigZb2STxI8cS6plBThg2vc-o0rozIlTsCCK4GKLerhxH7M2UL9A0AeBGZE3sKnbasBlxXCcp2tYCgVcem13KgrrW3WYI7TBBPT8axGUeaezkzrhZb8Zi4/s1600/andstitchesinthepark.png" height="89" width="320" /></a></div>
On the 5th of July I got to meet up with the rest of the &Stitches gang for a stitchy picnic. It was the first time I had met any of them in person so I was a bit nervous but I'm pleased to report they are all lovely.<br />
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We met in Kensington Gardens- I was ridiculously late due to getting lost (which was quite an achievement because once I found the right entrance to the park I spotted a glamourous group of stitching girls straight away- if only I hadn't gone in the wrong entrance and spent an hour wandering round completely the wrong part of the park!!)<br />
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We were joined by <a href="http://teasemade.blogspot.co.uk/">teasemade</a> and <a href="http://lacer.wordpress.com/">Mrs Lacer</a> and a pigeon called Steve! It felt great to be sitting and stitching with people who are interested in embroidery- we chatted about different techniques and styles. I loved the range of projects people were working on including ribbon embroidery, paper piecing and blackwork. It was fun having a nosy at what other people were working on.<br />
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I was too busy stitching to take photos but you can see us all <a href="http://andstitches.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/a-very-enjoyable-afternoon-in-hyde-park.html">here</a> on &Stitches.<br />
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If you think this sounds like fun then the gang are meeting again very soon on August 2nd details <a href="http://andstitchesinthepark.blogspot.co.uk/">here.</a> Don't be shy -everyone is really nice and I promise they will make you feel welcome. Unfortunately I can't be there next time as I'm on holiday but I hope you can make it for a fun afternoon of sun and stitching!!<br />
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sewphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517925260881331589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042774531455790216.post-4116998538120525622014-07-01T14:24:00.004-07:002014-07-01T14:28:23.209-07:00Blog hop<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There is a blog hop that is doing the rounds of creative blogs right now. the idea is that you answer the questions and then tag up to 3 blogs you follow and admire. They then do the same -ta dah!- and it goes on and on. I was tagged by Keeley of <a href="http://stitchandcolor.blogspot.co.uk/">Stitch & Color</a> who blogs about a range of creative topics including her cool embroideries.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWIGStaZELnL7Ii2_5hgRIPu2P1MHjhqW9gKISXjUO_-ONpQGszALU6F6UATubYXVf6EAhscKx1VtIUDIv_t3zFRmq3L09Oz5Vi_L2l2NJJDrVxQWRfsm0cZwcc7C4cWGbMAlwGuolsHV/s1600/P7011445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWIGStaZELnL7Ii2_5hgRIPu2P1MHjhqW9gKISXjUO_-ONpQGszALU6F6UATubYXVf6EAhscKx1VtIUDIv_t3zFRmq3L09Oz5Vi_L2l2NJJDrVxQWRfsm0cZwcc7C4cWGbMAlwGuolsHV/s1600/P7011445.JPG" height="245" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i> crewel skull</i></div>
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1. What am I working on?<br />
I like to chop and change so tend to keep a few projects on the go; I am still working on my boxing hares piece, it's giving me problems- I forsee a lot of unpicking in my future as the legs have gone all wonky. I had a mammoth stitching session and forgot to 'stand back' from it, it wasn't until I saw it from a distance that I realised it has gone a bit weird.<br />
I also have a crewelwork day of the dead skull which I turn to when I want something easy to work on and I also have just sketched up a little anthropomorphic tap dancing mouse that I plan to stitch up for a friend. The crewel work is an iron on from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Iron-On-Transfer-Patterns-Dover/dp/0486491277/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1404164056&sr=8-1&keywords=day+of+the+dead+embroidery">this book</a>. I don't often stitch from patterns but find it very therapeutic when I do. It is so relaxing to focus on each stitch rather than having to make all those decisions about shading, weight of line etc.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjC-RKBaE0-nw_gROfkjbAiHWS2nD3dTfBta83U6BVMm1ISaJjELZOYWN8Pp8E25vcV0FiruNIdIasijT4dfJ-BV0oZYbLm51SHP5rqcHDgQ5hbnoS4agVi-WI7rLOmMXbuKvNWOsvnrUY/s1600/P7011453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjC-RKBaE0-nw_gROfkjbAiHWS2nD3dTfBta83U6BVMm1ISaJjELZOYWN8Pp8E25vcV0FiruNIdIasijT4dfJ-BV0oZYbLm51SHP5rqcHDgQ5hbnoS4agVi-WI7rLOmMXbuKvNWOsvnrUY/s1600/P7011453.JPG" height="320" width="224" /></a></div>
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<i>boxing hares WIP- the legs have gone all wrong and need some unpicking</i></div>
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2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?<br />
I stitch for me so don't need to worry about uniqueness - as long as I like what I do it doesn't matter if it is derivative or predictable. Having said that i am fairly resistant to 'trends' i am only now coming round to the geometric and pastel trends that have been all over craft blogs forever!<br />
Embroidery is still a pretty niche craft so I think that just by working in stitch I am making something different from the norm and I love to see all the innovative ways the online stitchy community use their embroidery to create art. I like to use techniques like goldwork and stumpwork which are less 'common' forms of embroidery. This isn't me trying to stand out, I am just a total embroidery geek. Having said that my stumpwork pieces tend to be the ones that get the most attention - I think people see stumpwork as being a bit 'magical'. Let me share a secret about stumpwork with you... yes it is fiddly... yes it might take a bit longer... but difficult?...nah, not so much. It is so much easier than it looks- I would love to see more people using stumpwork.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiBF_TYdr5JkOyNUa4mf0EjIsywMj6kOisJGS_cjdrKtDQLwU0MsbG7OXo3QsrN-o_BdUZKKk2116EsJTt3od5F64CEs7u8X40gTsbtLYz2kKB-TBgnbMfnB2jvjSpH0ErLSpTHwihyphenhyphenuR/s1600/P7011446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiBF_TYdr5JkOyNUa4mf0EjIsywMj6kOisJGS_cjdrKtDQLwU0MsbG7OXo3QsrN-o_BdUZKKk2116EsJTt3od5F64CEs7u8X40gTsbtLYz2kKB-TBgnbMfnB2jvjSpH0ErLSpTHwihyphenhyphenuR/s1600/P7011446.JPG" height="217" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>detail of crewel skull</i></div>
3. Why do I create what I do?<br />
I trained in Fine Art so making stuff is important to me, I then went on to do a second degree in Occupational Therapy which is what I now do for a living. As an OT I believe that the things we do are what give our lives meaning. Engaging in embroidery fulfills so many purposes for me: through embroidery I connect with others, feel achievement as I learn new things and master skills, it relaxes me and I can be totally absorbed in what I am doing. I can focus on the moment and forget everything else- so important in my busy life. Having some form of creative outlet makes me happy and being an introvert I need to express my personality somehow- stitching fits the bill for me. So I really do see my embroidery as a meaningful occupation, I have had a few breaks from stitching over the years where I have lost my stitchy mojo (it happens to us all I think) but I always miss it eventually and come back to it. Recently I have recognised how much I value it and if I lose that urge to create embroidery I join a swap/ stitchalong and that always gets me inspired to stitch again. <b>Embroidery is good for you</b>- In fact I could write a whole post just about this!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEiDaf9abDdBNwHu_R-FYXB6ZywCu11fhFoshdaBaMC5BrG3NtiIP8WpNdFm3e0N2qLtpufmyndSxgdgOapN1NPJPJekXSb9Yh8wAN-8BJQ7H-RW_prB_UPArTDC03k-jzyZX_ScXHSU_7/s1600/P7011447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEiDaf9abDdBNwHu_R-FYXB6ZywCu11fhFoshdaBaMC5BrG3NtiIP8WpNdFm3e0N2qLtpufmyndSxgdgOapN1NPJPJekXSb9Yh8wAN-8BJQ7H-RW_prB_UPArTDC03k-jzyZX_ScXHSU_7/s1600/P7011447.JPG" height="277" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>pudding</i></div>
How does your creating process work?<br />
Sometimes I just have a random idea that develops into a piece. I like to sketch stuff out first. I will use photos for source material- often I use google image searches to find photos to use.<br />
Then I will often transfer a basic outline to fabric and get stuck in, I sort out the details as I go along. I rarely pick out a colour palette before I start or plan what stitches to use. Making it up as I go along feels natural to me and encourages me to try new things which is good for creativity.<br />
The little beetle embroidery above is something I made last week- it is called 'pudding' because my son had a 'pet' beetle he found and christened Pudding. So we could distinguish Pudding from other beetles we marked him with gold glittery nail polish- he looked FABULOUS. Sadly the nail polish might have been what led to poor Pudding's demise- we found him dead that night and had to get rid of the ex-Pudding whilst my son was asleep and make up a story about him going to live in the garden. I wanted to remember Pudding in all his glittery glory, so have added some goldwork bright check purl to my stitching to make him sparkle.<br />
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Ok... after the fabulousness that is Pudding are you ready for some ultra-fab blogs?<br />
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First up is Lisa of <a href="http://lisasteatime.blogspot.co.uk/">A Cuppa Tea with Me</a> she is a kindred spirit, a tea-fuelled stitcher so we were destined to find each other over the internet! Lisa is a really talented embroiderer and is doing some gorgeous things with felt.<br />
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Next we have Crystal whose blog is <a href="http://crystal-fiberartsy.blogspot.co.uk/">Fiberartsy</a>, I can't quite remember how I found Crystal- maybe through blogging or maybe via Craftster but I have been following her blog for years. Her stitching is immaculate and I love the conversational way she writes about her embroidery.<br />
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Finally can I introduce you to <a href="http://flaming-nora.blogspot.co.uk/">Flaming Nora</a> (which should win some sort of best name for a blog award). She makes beautiful arty embroidery and has a job making costumes which she shares titbits about and which I am incredibly jealous of.<br />
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Please give them all a visit (and don't forget Keeley up there at the top of the post) they were all kind enough to be tagged in this chain letter style game and I am looking forward to hearing their answers to the questions above. You can also trace the 'chain' back through peoples posts to hear different peoples thoughts about their creative process (I did this for ages last week- it was a good read!!)<br />
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sewphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517925260881331589noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042774531455790216.post-17629606830318056992014-06-15T12:26:00.000-07:002014-06-15T12:27:34.716-07:00Toms Diner<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<iframe src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sewphie/14242882660/in/photostream/player/" width="375" height="500" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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My last post featured the piece I made for the &Stitches swap and this is the piece I received in return. It was made by the fabulously talented <a href="http://www.broidrage.com/">Broidrage</a> who in her own words is a New York pop culture junkie so it was fitting that she stitched me a NY icon; Toms Diner- y'know the one from the Suzanne Vega song and from Seinfeld.<br />
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It was a perfect choice for the 'Places' theme and I love it!<br />
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</div>sewphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517925260881331589noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042774531455790216.post-24112734101227947152014-06-12T12:09:00.000-07:002014-06-15T12:27:16.692-07:00Battersea Power Station<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtJaMGl-7fewQroyR-zc-wTE5zOUshtBIoXUyxRmnsTZn2wfcp0-jYQrRDK8Y0pKLWDLr-m_HbILwe5HIXxzVSd30sBrlTNTSaH9xiLPNmjRcxJ5mepZs2yXm6M0FHm2C1clQcrIvfGLf/s1600/P5301204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtJaMGl-7fewQroyR-zc-wTE5zOUshtBIoXUyxRmnsTZn2wfcp0-jYQrRDK8Y0pKLWDLr-m_HbILwe5HIXxzVSd30sBrlTNTSaH9xiLPNmjRcxJ5mepZs2yXm6M0FHm2C1clQcrIvfGLf/s1600/P5301204.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Over at <a href="http://andstitches.blogspot.co.uk/">&Stitches</a> there has been a swap going on. The theme was places and I was assigned a lovely partner who makes the most <a href="http://www.broidrage.com/">awesome things</a>. After much ummming and ahhhhing I decided to make an embroidery of a British landmark- Battersea Power Station but given a bit of a twist. I have stitched it as a silhouette filled in with fossils for no other reason than 'fossil fuels'. Now I know that these fossils probably aren't the type commonly found in coal (a quick google suggests coal has mainly fossilized ferns) but I chose ones I liked and thought would look good. The main part is using silks but I switched to white embroidery floss for the famous white chimneys. When I first finished it I wasn't all that sure whether I liked it but looking at it now I think it was quite successful. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had to send it a bit crumpled because the purple fabric pen was taking a long time to fade out - you can see it round the chimneys above, and I didn't want to risk 'setting' it with a hot iron (I have know idea whether it would does anyone know?). Hopefully my partner won't mind a few wrinkles</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'll be back soon to share what I received from my partner.</div><br />
</div>sewphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517925260881331589noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042774531455790216.post-18362795771021106772014-06-08T11:47:00.000-07:002014-06-15T12:27:56.116-07:00Work in Progress<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuu4uUFFqLe8HO_cs5tfLOKabfWFt9yCe9fZqsoJgXJQhQZTkD95oarJs3pzSrhT-KZcWYTG68h1Xz-RmifEeQYn5kKt2mwz00Vrw12EvcmJpk9GPm5EJKH7w1343rOILskTMS_NOHZrKz/s1600/P6081324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuu4uUFFqLe8HO_cs5tfLOKabfWFt9yCe9fZqsoJgXJQhQZTkD95oarJs3pzSrhT-KZcWYTG68h1Xz-RmifEeQYn5kKt2mwz00Vrw12EvcmJpk9GPm5EJKH7w1343rOILskTMS_NOHZrKz/s1600/P6081324.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>WIP</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is what's in my hoop at the moment, a few years ago I made something similar for a swap and I really liked it. My style of stitching is more intricate these days and I have altered the face to give better detail. I might have to unpick some of his skinny leg later if it looks too odd and give him more muscle!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It is also a lot bigger than the original, when finished it will fill an A4 frame.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am using a dark grey floss, I am tending to use dark greys, browns or blues for this style of single colour embroidery. I just prefer it to black right now, but I may well go back to black at some point in the future.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The lines I'm following are drawn on faintly in pencil- I just draw on the outline and freestyle the rest - I'm using a print out of my original for my pattern and tweaking it as I go along (the original was drawn from a vintage photo of boxers and a photos of hares)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsinxvpba39BUl8nk2jdDWETJeaSpHOYjb3PjPGdBtE5a4fJCleKnTDc0Y48_1C87I22T74Q1dU7mnDwsFZMx0EhZ7fTdM-HA9meo96fgCnhz-Z-c_YkHKpn8_bddea6fpb2VfVJKp9468/s1600/DSCN0653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsinxvpba39BUl8nk2jdDWETJeaSpHOYjb3PjPGdBtE5a4fJCleKnTDc0Y48_1C87I22T74Q1dU7mnDwsFZMx0EhZ7fTdM-HA9meo96fgCnhz-Z-c_YkHKpn8_bddea6fpb2VfVJKp9468/s1600/DSCN0653.JPG" height="320" width="299" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>the original</i></div><div><br />
</div></div>sewphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517925260881331589noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042774531455790216.post-17563457634001453842014-04-14T14:22:00.000-07:002014-04-14T14:45:01.675-07:00Wasp<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A while ago I signed up for a Phat Quarter swap... erm quite a while ago actually, I had to contact my partner (the very cool <a href="http://www.mrxstitch.com/">Mr X</a> himself) and ask for extra time because I was making something odd that I had no idea how to make.<br />
Behold the 'sort of' stumpwork stiletto wasp:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszazZSkvC1V3e9AB3PNIHZskexhXPtIxHzMkuXbLmc3gHTHm1yEDiBdoPID6jOngQjNvskh5t1bzjQHiGgZrAugRptnrRr0zWQtfAfQLz3e9Z3oKu7i7ayD74ToL7cx-U8eVfiIj7nclN/s1600/P4011140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszazZSkvC1V3e9AB3PNIHZskexhXPtIxHzMkuXbLmc3gHTHm1yEDiBdoPID6jOngQjNvskh5t1bzjQHiGgZrAugRptnrRr0zWQtfAfQLz3e9Z3oKu7i7ayD74ToL7cx-U8eVfiIj7nclN/s1600/P4011140.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJldKNXpF0nAUr1YtmyqiXZFq2WNCc93U1_6bmxOzeeTq33YCJwXbxECchZkCH3AxotBiePBwPk-9rpfFK6kAfe880bQwj6qIybN51KODv7iwC0dT3VWChWm_UPV_phXiN2EsVNt855iR/s1600/P4011135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJldKNXpF0nAUr1YtmyqiXZFq2WNCc93U1_6bmxOzeeTq33YCJwXbxECchZkCH3AxotBiePBwPk-9rpfFK6kAfe880bQwj6qIybN51KODv7iwC0dT3VWChWm_UPV_phXiN2EsVNt855iR/s1600/P4011135.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3UnzAfuno_-fmVXw3dftgEhNnrdDKY72uNdrEbViAXS4ICKrG6H0tX0yffxSfFDRahyphenhyphenpSJL3rxZHclZ5uvg71MChdLv4H3k_sgCOCszQSFGv3wgeQmyMWdFhJnD9DquhwYf72JOw0pPx/s1600/P4011139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3UnzAfuno_-fmVXw3dftgEhNnrdDKY72uNdrEbViAXS4ICKrG6H0tX0yffxSfFDRahyphenhyphenpSJL3rxZHclZ5uvg71MChdLv4H3k_sgCOCszQSFGv3wgeQmyMWdFhJnD9DquhwYf72JOw0pPx/s1600/P4011139.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJh5HPXeLPQ81on446nrZ2qH_oyi7ucvjbCWW-9dfqdcTlQQYCoxJxMnfKGvjfw39H9zYbRRDNsLDbMgbQfwSEFfQQvgYd3AIdy0brt_es879baSIr8vzYPY7t0c1Xz7iYkQq6rGfTNKD/s1600/P4011136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJh5HPXeLPQ81on446nrZ2qH_oyi7ucvjbCWW-9dfqdcTlQQYCoxJxMnfKGvjfw39H9zYbRRDNsLDbMgbQfwSEFfQQvgYd3AIdy0brt_es879baSIr8vzYPY7t0c1Xz7iYkQq6rGfTNKD/s1600/P4011136.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIyGg3k_oht5JEf7GbN6CSsH9BeMNXknY1IdH0zfzZWnMUXRLNmbySFoxY_HeShcsD1brs1i63qSGIstpxu1S1G0RjgGHK836rHrgGTfIk1J2509WoaJMLfAFUPjZCvIpOt7PCp1sYEnM/s1600/P4011125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIyGg3k_oht5JEf7GbN6CSsH9BeMNXknY1IdH0zfzZWnMUXRLNmbySFoxY_HeShcsD1brs1i63qSGIstpxu1S1G0RjgGHK836rHrgGTfIk1J2509WoaJMLfAFUPjZCvIpOt7PCp1sYEnM/s1600/P4011125.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The main part of the body is embroidered in floss, the face is fake leather appliqued onto kid leather, the legs are wire and the wings are tracing paper stitched on gauze with paper covered wire stitched on for the veins. It is huge because stiletto wasps are a mythical beast from the Scott Lynch book <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Seas-Under-Skies-GOLLANCZ-S-F/dp/0575079673/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397510028&sr=8-1&keywords=red+skies+over+red+seas">Red Seas Under Red Skies</a> - it's a great book, the second in a series (the first The Lies of Locke Lamora is even better)- I used a description of the wasp in the book to design my version.</div>
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I was pretty pleased how it turned out - not bad for a first attempt at something like this. It was very challenging, as I was making it up as I went along. I had to make the wings twice as my first set didn't have the tracing paper and were awful- they needed something to give shape to the gauze.</div>
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Next on my embroidered object list is either a fish or something like an urchin or starfish (think french knots and plenty of em) whaddya think?</div>
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sewphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517925260881331589noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042774531455790216.post-41644606900384248982014-03-17T13:13:00.000-07:002014-03-17T13:13:42.824-07:00my stitchy watch<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfKVXOHmpgwIDnVPKEuzgZ7KILjEsnWYovx2VTBxAy9bi1YcVvgwYaXxfbAmHCl6lEmtyxSA-dp7woyhyLnmFkACjRTsdUauVVdtDjLsqA6OyXaGVSi4Xf5PQcW52U7QEoUeIx7lmQkvm/s1600/may+28th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfKVXOHmpgwIDnVPKEuzgZ7KILjEsnWYovx2VTBxAy9bi1YcVvgwYaXxfbAmHCl6lEmtyxSA-dp7woyhyLnmFkACjRTsdUauVVdtDjLsqA6OyXaGVSi4Xf5PQcW52U7QEoUeIx7lmQkvm/s1600/may+28th.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Surely every discerning stitcher needs a timepiece featuring cross stitched flowers. I've had this baby for a while- isn't she a beaut?</div>
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but if that doesn't meet your stitchy watch needs how about this little number?</div>
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<a href="http://whipup.net/wp-content/images/2009/01/retrodigitalwatch1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://whipup.net/wp-content/images/2009/01/retrodigitalwatch1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://whipup.net/2009/01/17/make-an-embroidered-digital-watch/">tutorial here</a></div>
Speaking of time- I know a lot of time is passing between posts right now- there is real life stuff eating away at my time that I won't bore you with but there are also lovely soon-to-finished objects I can share with you very soon.<br />
I will be back in a tick ...</div>
sewphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517925260881331589noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042774531455790216.post-37754830466682959052014-02-24T09:34:00.002-08:002014-02-24T09:34:26.146-08:00Johnny 5 is alive!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBGpe3PiMoA9Ppa1kiDcpV0YDwscbbsmmmndK_hJezL6wXXprGyC602shZcNIHN_D7qI1_Yid6TdxYaFAGVIggbQgic5230B0pwKNI1S_0cN8cGpRyHN5Qg1XY_f0PID7KjUmRLuD_EY5/s1600/johnny5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBGpe3PiMoA9Ppa1kiDcpV0YDwscbbsmmmndK_hJezL6wXXprGyC602shZcNIHN_D7qI1_Yid6TdxYaFAGVIggbQgic5230B0pwKNI1S_0cN8cGpRyHN5Qg1XY_f0PID7KjUmRLuD_EY5/s1600/johnny5.jpg" height="400" width="346" /></a></div>
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Do you remember this film? Short circuit!! Me and my brother watched it all the time as kids.</div>
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I watched it again recently with my oldest, Jake, who is a fan of robots- he was very taken with Johnny 5.</div>
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So I made this- it's on a pillowcase. I simplified him down quite a bit but think he is still fairly recognisable. I wanted it to look like a tattoo design but could have spent more time planning out the arrangement of the leaves underneath- my original sketch had a better layout but I didn't trace it well and just freehanded it in the end, oh well.</div>
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The stitching isn't a smooth as I would usually make it because it is a cheap pillowcase and fairly thin so I didn't want the stitching too heavy- you can see at the bottom of the leaves it is puckering a bit. Now the best thing to do would have been to unpick and back the area that was going to be stitched with stabiliser to make it stronger but I wasn't too bothered about a little bit of puckering on this piece so I just tried to keep my stitch length long and not make my stitches too tight to keep the fabric as flat as possible.</div>
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Now it is in use the pillow smooths the puckers out mostly. It fits in well in his robot themed room.</div>
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sewphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517925260881331589noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042774531455790216.post-64185050530521945262014-01-17T12:24:00.001-08:002014-01-17T12:24:10.361-08:00Finish-Along with &Stitches!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrAqICvxMgX-NLnecflmjZo-7kvm3XvRMo-prYwKC4pyheEQKqGSnZEr9lnedJ1Wk6KzhpkaYzWUKIlvMH0uy4AUbKik0BT2afSWccYbx9CvAD1fHsTKCSf0MryaIX7kZO-bYDhy1s5grP/s1600/ahardanger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrAqICvxMgX-NLnecflmjZo-7kvm3XvRMo-prYwKC4pyheEQKqGSnZEr9lnedJ1Wk6KzhpkaYzWUKIlvMH0uy4AUbKik0BT2afSWccYbx9CvAD1fHsTKCSf0MryaIX7kZO-bYDhy1s5grP/s1600/ahardanger.jpg" height="190" width="400" /></a></div>
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Over at &Stitches there is a different kind of stitch-along taking place- the <a href="http://andstitches.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/join-finish-along.html">Finish-along</a>. The idea is simple- lets use all those good intentions we have at the start of the new year to tackle some of the neglected UFOs (un-finished-objects) lurking in the bottom of your craft bag/pile/pit.<br />
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So this is my project for the Finish-along. This is my hardanger sampler- started January 2013. The patterns are by <a href="http://www.mabelfigworthy.co.uk/">Mabel Figworthy</a> from a stitch-along she did last year, there was a pattern every month and unfortunately I fell behind in February and never really got back into it. I would like to get it finished and although I don't intend to stitch all 12 patterns I would like to do four or maybe even six. So I've printed some of the stitch-along patterns out and I will try and make a bit of progress on this one over the next few weeks.<br />
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I find this style of stitching quite difficult- the stitches need to be very even to look nice and there are some bits that I will probably unpick and re-do. There is a lot of bare fabric between the counted stitches- so lots of counting holes to get the stitches in the right place- this sends me a bit cross-eyed and makes me a cross when I keep losing count. Some of the patterns also involve cutting the fabric which is a bit scary- I am worried I might snip through my stitching. I will probably finish it as a sort of mat/runner type thing to go on top of my sideboard which means that although some of the patterns include beads I will probably improvise with french knots or something.<br />
The patterns all look quite traditional- I think if I stick to this grey, cream and mustard yellow palette it will look rather lovely. It is perle cotton if you are wondering and the fabric is hardanger cloth which seems very like Aida but I think it perhaps has a different weave.<br />
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What's your oldest UFO? I have one that I started in 2008- maybe once my sampler is done I will try and get that finished!<br />
If you are trying to get some of your old projects completed come <a href="http://andstitches.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/join-finish-along.html">join in!</a><br />
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sewphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517925260881331589noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042774531455790216.post-67077114784443083862013-12-16T08:50:00.001-08:002013-12-16T08:50:39.943-08:00Woolly bullion knots<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2h1uvBGNdyQsTYUUVcBdzmmd19ZhdDph-d4IJVC7askqTaxd7uCdaMK_Iln9IHD8j_rkTGA_bxhvlI5wcoX_IMP6ESTYyw0sa9dEL1-Q-8R3DZuGJwWc7YB9pT9jcYkryUI6-LWPck-Wx/s1600/PB090826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2h1uvBGNdyQsTYUUVcBdzmmd19ZhdDph-d4IJVC7askqTaxd7uCdaMK_Iln9IHD8j_rkTGA_bxhvlI5wcoX_IMP6ESTYyw0sa9dEL1-Q-8R3DZuGJwWc7YB9pT9jcYkryUI6-LWPck-Wx/s320/PB090826.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm making the reindeer pillow from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Folk-Art-Needlecraft-Clare-Youngs/dp/1908862661/ref=la_B003VO5GVU_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1387211905&sr=1-5">this book</a> by Clare Youngs. It's not finished yet but I wanted to share how great the bullion knots look when stitched in crewel wool. They are so tactile- it's tempting to cover a whole cushion with them- maybe that's a future project! I would like to see what these knots would look like mostly in white but with the occasional coloured one scattered amongst them. why does every embroidery project seem to result in more new ideas? I feel like I will never find the time to make all the things I have planned.</div>
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I am using my beloved appleton crewel wool and the fabric is actually wool fabric from an old coat!</div>
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Hope you are all nearly done with your Christmas crafting- work those needles ;)</div>
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sewphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517925260881331589noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042774531455790216.post-963201821718058232013-11-27T14:10:00.000-08:002013-11-27T14:10:00.136-08:00I'm dreaming of a stitchy Christmas...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Wouldn't you be thrilled if you found these beauties under your tree on Christmas day? Sadly as far as I know the man in red doesn't read my blog so I'll just have to make do with smellies and chocolate!! </div>
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<a href="http://img0.etsystatic.com/000/0/5865526/il_570xN.221270468.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img0.etsystatic.com/000/0/5865526/il_570xN.221270468.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/68629762/tiny-stork-scissors-and-beeswax-heart-by">Beautiful embroidery scissors</a></div>
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<a href="http://kelmscottdesigns.com/images/blackbird.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://kelmscottdesigns.com/images/blackbird.gif" /></a></div>
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I'm not sure I need a <a href="http://kelmscottdesigns.com/needle-minders.htm#nmind">'needle minder' </a> but that doesn't stop me coveting this</div>
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<a href="http://img0.etsystatic.com/019/2/5146299/il_570xN.489899876_4tk4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img0.etsystatic.com/019/2/5146299/il_570xN.489899876_4tk4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/159514501/heart-in-hand-embroidery-floss-organizer">how cool is this?</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ehrmantapestry.com/Images/Tamerlene-Dark-500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.ehrmantapestry.com/Images/Tamerlene-Dark-500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ehrmantapestry.com/Products/Tamerlene--Dark-Embroidery__TAMD.aspx#.UpPItcQ72cs">these</a> embroidery kits are so beautiful</div>
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<a href="http://www.cottonpatch.co.uk/acatalog/th7348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.cottonpatch.co.uk/acatalog/th7348.jpg" /></a></div>
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and how about some <a href="http://www.cottonpatch.co.uk/acatalog/Olympus-Sashiko-Needles-7348.html">sashiko needles</a> as a stocking filler?</div>
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What are you hoping for this year- any crafty goodies on your Christmas list?</div>
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sewphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517925260881331589noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042774531455790216.post-34878231357859400332013-11-25T13:45:00.000-08:002013-11-25T13:45:23.463-08:00My first quilt!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQv5E-BX31xfnOq__Jsm2ygSyh1mO0yAIyXjwidp9nrsf8PQv-gZSP6Dt_yHf408J6MhBpkoNR1wVzWZsu-pkhLv3yn4Cg4TNjSiuHx16vJNq-ozGsiBDqpoGKQ7pVDv14OF8if5xRIz-/s1600/PB240887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQv5E-BX31xfnOq__Jsm2ygSyh1mO0yAIyXjwidp9nrsf8PQv-gZSP6Dt_yHf408J6MhBpkoNR1wVzWZsu-pkhLv3yn4Cg4TNjSiuHx16vJNq-ozGsiBDqpoGKQ7pVDv14OF8if5xRIz-/s320/PB240887.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I recently became an auntie (yippee!) and wanted to make something for the new arrival. I've also been wanting to try quilting for a while now so I decided to make a pram quilt. With hindsight an entirely handstitched paper-pieced quilt might not have been the easiest choice for a novice quilter but I'm glad that's what I chose because I really enjoyed the process. Like hand embroidery it is a craft you can do whilst sat in a comfy chair, with the tv on in the background and a <strike>glass of wine </strike> cup of tea</div>
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I won't lie it took ages- there are many hours of work here but it wasn't difficult and I felt a real sense of achievement when I finished. In fact I can't wait to get started on another and plan on tackling a throw sized quilt next time- I have a pattern in one of my books for a folded japanese quilt using <a href="http://craftycreativefriends.wordpress.com/2012/12/15/japanese-folded-patchwork-block-tutorial/">this</a> technique that I think would be really attractive in my favourite colour combination of grey and mustard yellow.</div>
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sewphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517925260881331589noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042774531455790216.post-66817001806494177512013-11-09T06:47:00.000-08:002013-11-09T06:47:14.822-08:00Honeycomb 5 by Olisa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBqyvQhKQ0YuXXb5NhcVbE1N0A0vRnXAPRjpEbYCQT8FG2lvPVLG9gl8bOM-PqCNCT7Snt9pzBnp__AoPi13qV4643LqcycS5DJcB3XRZj7CR2uMqVFXMA0tu8bCr9-VsbNipQfNrIs0g/s1600/PB090854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBqyvQhKQ0YuXXb5NhcVbE1N0A0vRnXAPRjpEbYCQT8FG2lvPVLG9gl8bOM-PqCNCT7Snt9pzBnp__AoPi13qV4643LqcycS5DJcB3XRZj7CR2uMqVFXMA0tu8bCr9-VsbNipQfNrIs0g/s320/PB090854.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
This is the piece Olisa created for me in the Phat Quarter swap- Honeycomb 5.<br />
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Isn't it beautiful?<br />
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Olisa has stitched over a watercolour background. Different colours of floss spring to the foreground depending which colour they are lying on. The yellow floss demands attention against the purple but recedes against the green. I like the contrast between the repetitive grid and the watercolours blending into each other.<br />
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It's one of a series of stitched grids that Olisa has made;<br />
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<a href="http://cocoaeyesthestitcher.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/scenes-demaking-marks-with-paint-and.html">http://cocoaeyesthestitcher.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/scenes-demaking-marks-with-paint-and.html</a><br />
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<a href="http://cocoaeyesthestitcher.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/so-many-colors-so-many-grids.html">http://cocoaeyesthestitcher.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/so-many-colors-so-many-grids.html</a><br />
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I love Olisa's abstract stitch experiments- each one is so different. The stitched grids would be amazing on their own but with the addition of the painted backgrounds they come alive. I was so pleased that she made one for me!! </div>
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To see all the swap pieces have a look <a href="http://www.mrxstitch.com/stitchgasm-phat-quarter-five-themed-swap/">HERE!</a><br />
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sewphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517925260881331589noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042774531455790216.post-67494600804029949352013-10-21T15:26:00.000-07:002013-10-21T15:26:09.657-07:00Tall ship<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg24whNZ6FXQt_c0HJVNLsey68E1PBjocBq0kIgGxXbxtgXKwfr_nEWu88FSWphVlN7VR8KxNZ2yG2ddOZRgiAzSLJ3e29dX0wRpl_Rc1Z6kOVOXuWCWvPQOOKZ_2Q1bN0ZZa-ava7X5KhS/s1600/PA180737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg24whNZ6FXQt_c0HJVNLsey68E1PBjocBq0kIgGxXbxtgXKwfr_nEWu88FSWphVlN7VR8KxNZ2yG2ddOZRgiAzSLJ3e29dX0wRpl_Rc1Z6kOVOXuWCWvPQOOKZ_2Q1bN0ZZa-ava7X5KhS/s320/PA180737.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Another scrimshaw influenced embroidery- this time of a tall ship. I am really enjoying using stitch to imitate engraving all those little lines. Really, really loving just playing around with shading and the effects it creates. Do you think if I did a large piece in this style using crewel wool I could ink up the embroidery and print with it or is that taking things a step too far?! (I am seriously considering this!)<br />
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This little ship is tiny - the embroidery is around three inches wide and is worked in a teal silk on white quilting/craft cotton. In the next one the waves will be more precise and will be stitched in minuscule sashiko. I think I'll have to go slightly larger though to achieve that- not massively bigger but enough to be able to fit in a few short stitches to create the shading on the waves.<br />
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Thanks for visiting, please say hello and if anyone tells me to go ahead and try printing with a crewel embroidery I promise to give it a try ;)<br />
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sewphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517925260881331589noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042774531455790216.post-51162055018633771572013-10-10T03:28:00.001-07:002013-10-10T03:28:38.195-07:00Diva Plavalaguna<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sewphie/10185584245/" title="P9300705"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5330/10185584245_5ab42864cd.jpg" alt="P9300705 by Sewphie T" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sewphie/10185584245/">P9300705</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sewphie/">Sewphie T</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>I made this for the Phat Quarter "5" swap. Both me and my partner like the Fifth Element so I though I'd do an embroidery based on that. I originally started an embroidery of the films main character Leeloo but that didn't turn out so well! I ended up abandoning it part way through as I could tell it wasn't going to look good. I am glad I did because I love how this piece looks- Plavalaguna is blue so I chose blue cotton to stitch on. I am really into engravings and graphic novels at the moment, the use of repeated lines and cross hatching to create shadow and shape- and you can see I played around with that a lot here. These techniques really work for me in stitch and I am using them in my scrimshaw pieces too.<br />This was so much fun and I'm pleased to say my partner loved it which always make me happy :)<br />Now I just wait to receive my piece from the wonderful Olisa!!</p>sewphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517925260881331589noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042774531455790216.post-81425246882510536582013-10-06T14:23:00.000-07:002013-10-06T14:23:28.779-07:00Treasure!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I've had this little embroidered bag for years, I picked it up at an antique fair for about £8. I've always thought it was pretty but it's only since I've tried working in goldwork I can appreciate just how lovely it is. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6eN4wgAwxl94NwVwOZqU7hFAXLIkn6nyoo-SfSNOUX70sS5Ae6M9dzqeVCcWBTMSkTgn3z_T641XgTZONZj4-9Eax15zWG8AwNc4SBXq19ancwjVak4O_fjg8okPFO-Ulr0-nKnQgk3e/s1600/P9300711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6eN4wgAwxl94NwVwOZqU7hFAXLIkn6nyoo-SfSNOUX70sS5Ae6M9dzqeVCcWBTMSkTgn3z_T641XgTZONZj4-9Eax15zWG8AwNc4SBXq19ancwjVak4O_fjg8okPFO-Ulr0-nKnQgk3e/s320/P9300711.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The goldwork wires are all laid down so neatly- no little jagged bits sticking up at all and I love the stylised detail on the tail. There are loads of small pieces of check purl stitched down like in the leaf above which catch the light. I don't know anything about this bag- I don't think it's particularly old or valuable but to me it's a bit special. </div>
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sewphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517925260881331589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042774531455790216.post-44747743647823892212013-09-21T11:47:00.000-07:002013-09-21T11:47:01.161-07:00Illustration Stitchalong piece<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This quarter we did a free choice on the illustration stitchalong and I chose to stitch up a <a href="http://mattsewell.co.uk/">Matt Sewell</a> illustration from the book Our Garden Birds. I thought it lent itself to wool embroidery- these are all Appleton Crewel Wool threads. The bright sunlight here shows where I've used two colours together in the needle for a blended, tweedy effect- it's actually a lot more subtle in real life. This little guy is so cute it is begging to be made into something else- I think it might end up on a tea cosy or something.<br />
This round of the stitchalong has been a bit quieter than the Edward Gorey and Tim Burton ones but I think more people will join in next round for Dr Seuss stitching!!<br />
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sewphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517925260881331589noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042774531455790216.post-20883784753341056832013-09-07T07:08:00.001-07:002013-09-07T07:08:45.000-07:00woodpecker still in progress!<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sewphie/9692775764/" title=" "><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3736/9692775764_e14378197d.jpg" alt=" by Sewphie T" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sewphie/9692775764/"> </a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sewphie/">Sewphie T</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Thanks for all the advice on how to salvage this piece. I decided to fill stitch the background and I think I like it but I'm not totally sure so I have decided to have a break from it. I'm sort of tempted to go mad with texture on this piece ... we'll see</p>sewphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517925260881331589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042774531455790216.post-34820481057420278192013-08-15T14:53:00.001-07:002013-08-15T14:54:31.012-07:005 of my favourites<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well this five posts on the theme of five has been fun, although it has been hard work posting every day! I'm glad I set myself this challenge to mark the achievement of five years blogging. This last post is my favourite- the five embroideries of mine that I am most proud of. They aren't my most technically impressive but are all pieces that I felt excited to stitch. Several of them are things I have made recently but some were made years ago.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWUmdNDqA_qzypHEQYZ3VbTSZ1ew3UGNTzHS84U1hHo6Mlrs_AuKclngWhjwUh0vHzInIQBLic5Fjd1fO83F4UCscFFqjah6Uq61dEnKLuYejcP_UPrM1ZC2CM3EOJNTeo3r2u6_sfvX6/s1600/IMG_2895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWUmdNDqA_qzypHEQYZ3VbTSZ1ew3UGNTzHS84U1hHo6Mlrs_AuKclngWhjwUh0vHzInIQBLic5Fjd1fO83F4UCscFFqjah6Uq61dEnKLuYejcP_UPrM1ZC2CM3EOJNTeo3r2u6_sfvX6/s320/IMG_2895.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I found an image of a disarticulated skeleton and couldn't resist embroidering it, whilst I was stitching I decided to mirror the image and then fill in baby blue and pink. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRynzJL1nSKm5zyKEeSHKVXu_dTw9f08phGUv4wKZy8oGuegWk2f1xHiOZLAwmEpuptkvhFbbV1lXSCwv0jw4lkQi2IUqIwjTliDSSW4IhZui5x9L1K98ZLbaHL8MksHnEhuYgvxq747rW/s1600/DSCN0401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRynzJL1nSKm5zyKEeSHKVXu_dTw9f08phGUv4wKZy8oGuegWk2f1xHiOZLAwmEpuptkvhFbbV1lXSCwv0jw4lkQi2IUqIwjTliDSSW4IhZui5x9L1K98ZLbaHL8MksHnEhuYgvxq747rW/s320/DSCN0401.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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My first ever stumpwork piece - I was overwhelmed by the positive feedback I got for this piece- I have had so many lovely comments about it. It is one of my most viewed images on flickr too! </div>
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This is an embroidery I did of a Mitch O'Connell design - I think the use of the yellow fabric with the design is really successful. I must use this idea again at some point!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUFR7LC0aDBEByeF6KjTiJvY1Q1eE0RFUy87XgUryk6kM4Pv74eVpdcXAoSdmoPoXlRhX-YaJlAPJk9Bve0t1k2Zq6f8vskDtQlIc1VNV_SSpITGuhVY1GhFKvAWdA3EVbqCUfA9gNJX6/s1600/DSCN0653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUFR7LC0aDBEByeF6KjTiJvY1Q1eE0RFUy87XgUryk6kM4Pv74eVpdcXAoSdmoPoXlRhX-YaJlAPJk9Bve0t1k2Zq6f8vskDtQlIc1VNV_SSpITGuhVY1GhFKvAWdA3EVbqCUfA9gNJX6/s320/DSCN0653.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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The reason this piece is one of my favourite is because it was my own design. I found an old photo of bare-knuckle boxers and adapted it to become boxing hares. It was a detailed piece worked in only one colour and this is a style I've used a few times since. It was made for a Phat Quarter swap on the theme of 'Spring'</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ZIMstHhiToh6OnVobRpxM-HmAl5BPVJxJNwT3uyWIdQ5AWWjwj6fDzdsBkMrmaf_aa_hKz8ZFVS_fX_HnISAL_sSukL8xZp8JJbNxmrUAtejXVgIyrBtiLoCwQWPaf63kjZn0JfeS-ll/s1600/P1014549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ZIMstHhiToh6OnVobRpxM-HmAl5BPVJxJNwT3uyWIdQ5AWWjwj6fDzdsBkMrmaf_aa_hKz8ZFVS_fX_HnISAL_sSukL8xZp8JJbNxmrUAtejXVgIyrBtiLoCwQWPaf63kjZn0JfeS-ll/s320/P1014549.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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There used to be a free cross stitch pattern generator on a site called Dark Lilac- sadly its not there any more. This cross stitch pattern was created using a photo of the actress Anna Karina- it was a black and white image but came out in these great greens and greys- It took a really long time to stitch- I used absurdly small count fabric for someone who was a beginner. </div>
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Looking at these I think I still haven't found a style that is all my own but I can pick out common themes and techniques that I have continued to use. I was surprised at the volume of embroidery I have done over the years, there was so much that I found it hard to pick just five! </div>
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sewphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517925260881331589noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042774531455790216.post-38552423807651108382013-08-14T14:26:00.001-07:002013-08-14T14:26:29.665-07:005 starting points for embroidery<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We all know that 'blank page' feeling, when you want to create something but don't know where to start. I thought I would explain a bit about how I get started on an embroidery.<br />
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<b>1) Use a pattern</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDV6VHIZd_PZqzgeIKBPCXVTtPFfGf-XISvum52VhOawLwFzsEtAHGliV30waE5yW39vq1qcUys52Hj6tSwX5l7HzpPrMOH3N9T1FjXY-1_AmHaZoX68oZBgCeC28uvqZO7l656O-TQcgH/s1600/P8140657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDV6VHIZd_PZqzgeIKBPCXVTtPFfGf-XISvum52VhOawLwFzsEtAHGliV30waE5yW39vq1qcUys52Hj6tSwX5l7HzpPrMOH3N9T1FjXY-1_AmHaZoX68oZBgCeC28uvqZO7l656O-TQcgH/s320/P8140657.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Patterns from Day of the Dead Iron on Transfer Patterns by Marty Noble (Dover Pub)</div>
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Sometimes I just want to stitch something right away without having to do any planning and this is when I reach for a pattern. I have loads of patterns- I once bought a job lot of vintage patterns of eBay so have a big file of them, I also have patterns from Sublime Stitching and Urban Threads plus books of embroidery transfers I have bought on Amazon. I love the ease of using a pattern, and enjoy putting my own stamp on the pattern via my colour choices, use of different stitches etc. I embroider most evenings for relaxation and after completing a big project working up a pattern feels like a break!<br />
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<b>2) Designing my own patterns</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQ8PkX2k2tb-ul5J9UQ939r-3ywiZoeyBOhOy7uhKodC_9LQRmmJyLdxJ0_AgJs3378Fti5iVgoOA5wb_zmSWf69MvOt9eXxLduADK-vOqLeXtMYCDOkAgfr0ZfKCTqi9tzUSPKtr_hiA/s1600/P8140654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQ8PkX2k2tb-ul5J9UQ939r-3ywiZoeyBOhOy7uhKodC_9LQRmmJyLdxJ0_AgJs3378Fti5iVgoOA5wb_zmSWf69MvOt9eXxLduADK-vOqLeXtMYCDOkAgfr0ZfKCTqi9tzUSPKtr_hiA/s320/P8140654.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtrGWJppjtd0Vh5VbBblDzhWd-geepUU_yJAXPo7tfq4sfIBILG7HjFluC7eVODVsw_IdVdF6wHBATnC26X-peBi5SBQz1E0vykBD0l5auBjLgPZ47sbQjWkgVmDUafPNSsVXXU_pPpGK/s1600/SAM_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtrGWJppjtd0Vh5VbBblDzhWd-geepUU_yJAXPo7tfq4sfIBILG7HjFluC7eVODVsw_IdVdF6wHBATnC26X-peBi5SBQz1E0vykBD0l5auBjLgPZ47sbQjWkgVmDUafPNSsVXXU_pPpGK/s320/SAM_0020.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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For this piece I wanted to do a Victorian style portrait but with a flamingo instead of a lady! It was inspired by some gorgeous <a href="http://www.liberty.co.uk/fcp/product/Liberty/HOME-D%C3%89COR/Le-Boudoir-Isild-Pigeon-Tray/69074">trays</a> I had seen. I made several sketches experimenting with the position of the head and changing the clothing/accessories until I came up with something that I was happy with. I don't have brilliant drawing skills so I tend to do lots of rubbing out. It is very satisfying stitching up something that is 100% my own and these are often the pieces I am proudest of. </div>
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<b>3)Found imagery</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5T2YttFVrc0_YdfoXKoODGBbPftNDcEqmxh1XitifNBBGwEZDu9GH7CpW5brb8vifs2-_33TTkm3ZkrbX6o7r8idRmQaw3-OzZnqEjzjGiMYRWbjFvm1-m9YDrJIB6KlX4ngFejliAzjt/s1600/IMG_2839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5T2YttFVrc0_YdfoXKoODGBbPftNDcEqmxh1XitifNBBGwEZDu9GH7CpW5brb8vifs2-_33TTkm3ZkrbX6o7r8idRmQaw3-OzZnqEjzjGiMYRWbjFvm1-m9YDrJIB6KlX4ngFejliAzjt/s320/IMG_2839.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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Embroidery of Edward Gorey artwork</div>
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I also love to take an image I have found and stitch it up. I will often stitch up other people's art/ illustration because it suits a project I want to make or simply because I love the image. I also have used vintage anatomical images, nature photographs and photos of people/objects as patterns. I either copy the image by eye or trace the image. If it is a photo I use the sunny window method or a lightbox and trace the outline and a few basic details then use the photo for reference as I work. I can't speak about this without giving the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/2148478@N22/">Illustration Stitch-a-long</a> a shout out here, things seem a little quiet there at the moment but the current theme is a free choice of illustrator - I am thinking I might go for a Spike Milligan drawing or pick something from a childrens book. </div>
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<b>4) Free style!</b></div>
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Sometimes it is fun just to hoop up some fabric and doodle away with my stitching. I don't do this enough but it is liberating! These pieces are a chance to try things out that I might use at a later date rather than an attempt to create something beautiful. I guess I should try and collect some together in a sketch book. I think it would be interesting though to try and 'draw' something using freestyle stitching- no lines on the fabric at all as a guide. It would be scary but playful- and maybe (just maybe) the results would be good?!?</div>
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<b>5) Swaps</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilr0088OnXtXv0laQOrd3gVaYO_hJH9Eiw9U_YlBHdQ0nGv_5ezRr9RbvJ0h5FoP8AOeUeyDw8kYFtHv2Oetrm_9k3_Mf7eWpGMKCzvcym2NZxqp6ANuoSPPjZ1me1rlJNBFS9wSXYlr8n/s1600/DSCN0438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilr0088OnXtXv0laQOrd3gVaYO_hJH9Eiw9U_YlBHdQ0nGv_5ezRr9RbvJ0h5FoP8AOeUeyDw8kYFtHv2Oetrm_9k3_Mf7eWpGMKCzvcym2NZxqp6ANuoSPPjZ1me1rlJNBFS9wSXYlr8n/s320/DSCN0438.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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DOTD owl, own design</div>
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Via the swapping community I have stitched things I would never, ever have thought of stitching ordinarily. Because you stitch to a theme and to your partner's specific interests it leads you in the most interesting directions. Some of my favourite pieces ever were made for swaps and I am so grateful to all my swap partners and the organizers of those swaps. There is something about this process that gets my creative process going. I LOVE being assigned a theme! After getting in touch with my partner and finding out their like/dislikes (and engaging in some mild internet stalking of their flickr/craftster likes, pinterest etc) I can get stuck into some brainstorming, image researching and sketching. Lots and lots of lists of ideas are made. It is like being back at art school. The example above was for someone who liked owls and DOTD, they had a wooden DOTD owl on their pinterest- this is different in style to the one they had pinned but I was fairly sure they would like it. Some swappers give you a free reign and this is quite challenging and always inspires me to come up with something unexpected. I have also received some beautiful things in swaps- I have been lucky enough to be paired with some amazing stitchers!</div>
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sewphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517925260881331589noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042774531455790216.post-30091461590273643732013-08-13T13:57:00.000-07:002013-08-13T13:57:01.132-07:005 embroidery sins I am guilty of<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
1) Licking the thread whilst threading my needle<br />
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Everyone does this right? Apparently over time your saliva can discolour the fabric and floss (ewwww) also it isn't great for your needles because they rust inside the eye and catch on your floss. I am sceptical about it discoloring the embroidery, maybe after years and years there will be a stain but I have things I stitched five years ago that look fine to me. Also I like those needles that have gold plated eyes- flashy huh? No rusting for me. I lick the thread because it makes threading the needle easy and because I like to put blood sweat and SALIVA into my needlework!<br />
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2) Using the thread right down to the last ratty bit<br />
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I like to have a long strand of thread, changing thread constantly is boring BUT that bit of thread at the end that has been through the fabric many times and is a bit scraggy looking can really ruin the look of your work, especially in counted thread work like x-stitch. It just seems like a waste not to use it though! *threadmiser*<br />
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3) Knots on the back of my work<br />
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C'mon they are on the back- who cares ;)<br />
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4) Not weaving the ends in<br />
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Usually because I haven't left a long enough bit to weave in (see no.2) or sometimes just due to laziness. These ends then get all knotted together or even worse get caught on the thread I'm using and get brought throught to the surface of the embroidery.Then if it is a dark thread it leaves lttle fluffy bits on the surface of the embroidery and you can NEVER get rid of them all- ugh. When people post beautiful photos of the back of their work I am always a bit in awe.<br />
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5) Drinking and stitching or SUI (stitching under the influence)<br />
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Yes you might make some 'interesting' choices doing this but that is sometimes a good thing. I think that a glass of wine and embroidery are perfect companions - especially if you have a boring bit like a huge area of one colour to do. It helps get the ideas flowing too- I have to jot them down in my sketchbook in case I forget though! There is one important exception- never, ever drink and cross-stitch everytime I have done this I have made a mistake that resulted in major unpicking the next day .... whilst hungover- not fun<br />
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What are your sins? Or are you a saintly stitcher?<br />
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sewphiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517925260881331589noreply@blogger.com4