It's an image heavy post today. It's proof I haven't been constantly eating chocolate over the holidays or twiddling my thumbs.
I promised a little shop update, a rare shop update and here it is.
The buttons you saw in detail yesterday, they're here if you missed them.
Three little hand embroidered cloth books finished and now listed in the shop here.
I hesitated with these, selling them at this time I mean. The reason for that is I was asked to teach and exhibit in France this year but had to decline because of Covid and our local restrictions. I did however ask to be considered for next year and hoped to take these with me. Since then there has been huge interest in these pieces whenever I show them on here so I figure if I do get asked to go to France again I can make more. (it's a long shot that I will be asked, I'm not holding my breath but you never know)
I also want to say thank you to the recent late comers to class. It's great to have you there! It's not too late for anyone else to join us either and if you are even slightly tempted you can read more here.
I hope you are all having a good weekend. It's cold and wet here but I'm not going anywhere. I am knitting and making lace cloth, staying warm inside!
Meanwhile.....a very short video with visuals of these three little books.
It's finished, a little book of stitch worked on gingham fabric and liberty prints.
The pages are small, just four by four inches.
I'm getting quite a little collection of these, this is the third in the series where I have used gingham.
I will photograph them all together at the weekend.
More buttons have been made, gingham buttons this time. These will be used to adorn pages in this cloth book, one may find it's way on to the inside cover.
The class where I used gingham is finished, my love for this work isn't.
There is still almost a yard of gingham ribbon to create, to hand embroider too.
I'm not constantly working on this piece, this cloth book of embroidered samples. By that I mean I don't pick it up every day. If you are wondering why it's taking me so long that's the reason.
I am alternating each day between embroidery and crochet at the moment.
When I am on an embroidery day I could be working on this little book or doing prep for my next class like I shared here yesterday.
Yesterday was embroidery day and the front cover of this was embroidered as were two new pages.
There are still two pages needed before this can be finished and a lining needs to be pieced for the front cover.
Today is crochet day and I will show you blanket progress next time.
The second embroidered stitch book I showed you yesterday is finished now, that makes two fully embellished little cloth books with the third in progress.
I have embroidered another little book over the past couple of months but haven't used gingham in that one, that's why it isn't shown here.
For the next book I am going to use the bolder Liberty print which I have used for the applique here.
The gingham is a smaller print too and it will be interesting to see how both those patterns live together.
I am going to London tomorrow for a few days.
Registration for my new class will remain open whilst I am away.
I'll see you on the other side. Stay safe x
Gingham has featured a lot on here lately. That's because I have been making a table covering in 'sewing circle' inspired by memories of my nanna's. Those memories include gingham.
What particularly appeals to me in this work is how 'web stitch' appears to be perfect as a filling for those little squares.
(I'm hoping you notice the little isolated squares of web stitch dotted across the open gingham areas.)
The pieces here are 'ingredients' for my next cloth, stitch sample book.
I have one more page to embellish then I can start to put all this together.
Please take a look at my new class which begins in a few weeks.
This one is project specific which may appeal to some but as always in my classes you are free to work on any embroidery project, the guidance and support I provide remains the same whatever you decide to create!
This is the opposite edge of the cloth you saw here earlier this week.
I have used the hand embroidered ribbon from this post to cover seams and there are more embroidered gingham applique circles too.
Also here are the newest pages for my next little cloth sample book.
This little book will be pieced together in a similar manner to this one.
I'm almost there......
Registrations for my new class are going well, thank you.
You can read more about that here.
It's becoming a theme isn't it? Gingham mixed with embroidery and Liberty fabric.
There is my work from class of course but I can't show you any of that.
Meanwhile, in addition to the class work which I can't show you I am creating another of these little books.
Another piece of my cloth book puzzle is finished.
Strips of Liberty fabric have been edged with French knots and laying between those are French knot flowers.
The pocket piece you have seen before, here. Then there were just threads nestled in the pocket, they are now joined by buttons which are also scattered on the white space.
I have two more pieces to embroider for this little book before I can begin to put it all together.
If you are registered for Interactive Sewing Circle which began today you should have received links and passwords from me earlier.
If you didn't receive those please let me know.