The page stack is getting taller but not yet nearly tall enough. I'm in no hurry actually, I'm taking my time, enjoying. The black and white bug bit me yesterday. There was printing, cutting, doodling, pattern and lettering. (and if there's any mention of feet.....you know who you are...I will not be responsible for my actions)
My attention is moving to pockets again this afternoon so pages may well take a back seat for a while anyway....... We begin our pocket/body bag/ledger adventure again on Monday. You can still join us....justgo here and take a look. We will be making all kinds of things just like this, this and this....
Out of sight I am working at gettingthis finished. It needs a couple more petals, a doodled lining and something whoop de doo for the final titivation. Don't ask me about the whoop de doo bit yet...I'm still thinking about that one.
Red dots....and some red stitch, chain stitch, running stitch, French knots...all red. It's mainly white, the red lifts it I think. Later today this will morph into a simple pouch with prairie points at the edge...she says. That's the plan. I don't have much of the dotty fabric left so it's a case of how far that will stretch for creating the prairie points.
My plans for a ''collection'', (spoken about yesterday), I left those to one side last night to finish this. They may be laid aside a little longer whilst I progress other things but I did give the main piece from yesterday more attention and that is ready to be finished, hemmed. I am however making notes, collection themed notes....on a scrap of paper accompanied by scribbled doodles.
I hadn't intended to add colour to this, it was going to be a white pillow. I then decided, like I said before that I am a little ''pillowed out'' so this became the start of a white pouch. It already has lots and lots of lovely bullion loops but last night I decided it needed spots too, red spots. I am now considering adding lemon to the mix to lift it, to cheer it up a bit. I most likely feel as if it needs lifting because of my cold....yes, still feeling sorry for myself. Thanks for all the hints, treatments, tips yesterday. I had a VERY early night last night. This morning I am less congested but more headachey with eyes that won't stop burning or watering.
That hasn't stopped me having fun though. This morning I had a wonderful time doodling and playing with ledgers. You can see some of those images on my instagram feed. It was quite rhythmic at times, doodle, sneeze, doodle, cough, doodle, blow my nose, sneeze, doodle....you get the picture. This mornings efforts were for the girls in ''swathed in stitch'' but they have given me more ideas for the new class, ''reinventing the page''.Don't you just love how the brain continues to tick when the body just wants to lie down....
It's red again....but it's different. There are now tabs, another row of cross stitch, a cross stitch seam and a large applique circle. The biggest news today though is that I am actually here, in the flesh. I'm nowhere near the M6 Motorway which is a true delight in my eyes. I swear my car could find it's own way to various points along that route. It feels like today is the first day of the rest of my life. Well technically it is anyway but the first day of the rest of my M6 free life...until the next time.
The biggest news of last week was the announcement of Alchemy 2014. Friday it was...you may have missed it. I had intended to list that today but impatience got the better of me, excitement took over. I do apologise...note to self, learn how to contain yourself girl!
The spotty, dotty, red and white piece has had a little more attention. The new additions here are the spotty loops bridging the white piped strip. The bullion loop edge is also finished and I even managed to get this one damp stretched before showing you. No naked embroidery today!
I love the red and white cloth. It was a gift, purchased from who knows where. My mission is to find out so I can buy more as there isn't much left. The white, the gorgeous vintage white was also a gift. I do know where from but there won't be more of that. It's a one off, a rare find.
I have been asked if it's possible to purchase simply stitch 3 even though that class is now over. I hadn't considered it before I was asked the question but have decided that yes, why not. All the info is over in the shop (link above, just under the header image)
Today, later....I am creating for simply stitch 4. I am having so much fun over there with blue and white. I will show you tomorrow.
Normality? Well I guess I'm almost back to that if I was ever that in the first place. I basically just grabbed some cloth, thread, needles and scissors and ignored the madness unfolding around me yesterday. It worked....I think. I have some nicely titivated cloth to show for it anyway which is the perfect result as far as I am concerned....nothing else matters does it?
The dotty piece, the spotty piece....I have added binding and so far a half edge of loopy bullion knots. I apologise profusely for the fact that it isn't damp stretched. Shocking I know. It's almost like appearing naked in public....oh the shame.
The next big thing today is my new mini class, pillows and pages. This has been brewing for a while. I'm finally there, ready to open the doors. (the kettle isn't on though and there is no sign of cake yet)
pillows and pages is a mini online learning experience taking place over a three week period and consisting of unlimited access to a private group blog, an online photo sharing group and a minimum of two videos per week (a minimum of six videos in total). During the course of our three weeks I will be demonstrating the creation of three pillows. The size of these pillows is determined by you. That is to say that you can create a small pin pillow or a larger pillow for your bed or perhaps your special sofa. That decision is entirely your choice. Using various techniques of fabric manipulation I will demonstrate how these can be used to create unique and fascinating surfaces specifically for pillows. These processes however will be easily transferable for other uses such as throws, wraps, bags, anything you wish. Alongside each pillow I will be creating ledger pages, inspired by each pillows surface these small paper based art pieces would live happily within a ledger, a sketchbook or would make a lovely additional gift if you intended to present your pillow to someone as a special keepsake. Commencing Monday March 24. Please allow 48 hours from registration for receipt of welcome mail. Images illustrate technique which will be demonstrated during the three weeks of this course.
This class begins in just over two weeks time. Welcome mail will be sent from Monday 10 onwards.
The sampler cloth....it needs more. I need to make more sections before I begin to think about joining them, finishing, adding seams, edges....I took all my pieces out yesterday and assessed.....what does it need more of? embroidery? applique? patches? The answer was it needed a little simplicity. This is the beginning of that simplicity. Dupion silk dotted with motifs...random motifs. A few French knots, a few detached chain stitches, a little bit of cross stitch and the beginnings of the alphabet....an ''a'' to be precise. The ''b'', ''c'', ''d'' etc will follow.
