Happy New Year!

I hope everyone has had a wonderful start to 2016. I spent New Year's eve the way I like, in the studio. I worked up a new brooch/pendant piece.

It's modeled after the Australian Aboriginal dot paintings. I used this combo of colors for the notebooks I did earlier. I like the juxtaposition of the earthy, organic feel of the dots against the formality of the Victorian leaf shape.

There's still a little fine tuning to do. I want to re-whip stitch the veins on the leaf with a lighter shade of teal, add the pin backing and embroider the back. I'm debating a delicate lace edge next to the leaf to emphasize the two parts of the piece.

On to more stitching! Ciao!

Notebooks!

I finished up a batch of notebooks. I don't think they turned out half bad. They don't take particularly long to make, just a little fiddly.

Most are 2 signatures with a small set of three. I used card stock, covered in a basic abstract painting for the covers. That way they're soft and easy to slip in and out of a pocket. I used some half-way decent drawing paper from Dick Blick for the pages that way it's suitable for a batch of different techniques.

These things are fun to make!

A mellow day

Today I'm focusing on making up notebooks.
And here's my playlist. I'm editing it as it's playing.

It's a lovely day for some lounge covers of music. The one of "Get Lucky" is brilliant.
https://open.spotify.com/user/12184335223/playlist/0RWlEI4N2TnvYHFeQgoVJJ

Blue vest

I'm having significant posting difficulties. (One would think that software you pay for might work...and yes I'm venting. Until they fix the problem, with attaching a photo crashing the app, avoid Blogaway Pro) (why yes, I'm peeved I had an actual article written about my thought process on this embroidery. I even typed it out twice. This is my 7th time attempting to post this picture)

Notebooks

I'm just making up some basic notebooks. Nice little sketchbook to carry around.

Almost done!

The end is in sight! I *think* it will be done by Saturday (or on Saturday)

For those who like statistics. ... There are 25 to 27 rows per inch. And there are about 45 stitches per inch.  And, also, I've done a little over 100 hours of stitching.


Progress!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I've been getting a lot of stitching done on the "On the Road" project. Also titled "Walkabout".

Last night I realized there's only about 60 days to get this done and had a bit of a panic attack. This morning I realized I can still get it done, and if I miss the deadline I can jury it with the League.  (It takes a huge weight off my mind)

Now, back to stitching.  Ciao!

Inspiration

Branded Butterflies http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/colossal/~3/Trmorev6eFM/




This makes me want to look at butterflies and moths again.


Next project

Some sketches for the next heart/milagro.  The one with the lion is my current favorite.


Finished project!

I've finished another heart/milagro. I'm particularly happy with how the edge turned out. I'll be starting the next one this afternoon. This only took twelve hours to do, so I'm very happy with the speed on it.
Happy Stitching!

Flower project

Both the new milagro, and the flower project are coming along well. The flower petals are getting backed in detached buttonhole stitch, before I add a buttonhole border. (possibly with lace picots).

I'm filling the milagro with white random stitches. (sometimes called drunken filling) I think it gives a texture and variegated sheen that suits the piece nicely.

Today will be a focus on Or Nuè.

Happy Stitching!


Attaching the wire edge


The flower petals are coming along well. I'm attaching the wire edge now. after that I'll do the embroidery on the back. I use detached buttonhole to cover the back of the stitching so that it looks good. I'll probably run gold thread  in the stitching for a bit of glitz.


Progress!


Both the milagro and the vest are coming along. Yesterday more pearls happened to the vest. I am absolutely loving these 2mm pearls. they just sit so well on the fabric. I'm also having a lot of fun with the textures of the little heart. I think it's turning out not half bad.

I'm trying to get as much done as I can this week on these projects because next week I add another. I will be doing calligraphy on fabric, and then embroidering over it. This should be entertaining.

Happy Stitching!


Blue flower


The flower is coming along nicely. Today I should be able to attach the wires, possibly even cut the petals loose. I'll also be working on the vest. I'm not showing as many pictures of it, as progress is slow.