Bonus find

Tags

colours, Embroidery, thread, unexpected heirloom

As a bonus, as I was putting away my pink embroidery thread from the sunset scene below, I spotted this in my tin filled with threads:

 

 

 

 

 

The threads at the top of the pile were given to me by my aunt over Christmas… They’re embroidery threads that belonged to my Grandma.  (Who died when I was about five years old.)  So I have these family treasures to look forward to using in coming weeks/ months/ years!

Does anyone know the correct way of unravelling embroidery thread?  Is there a way you can do it whilst keeping the shape/ tapes in tact?  Please comment below if so!  Thanks.  Otherwise I may have to Google… My threads tend to get very tangled and messy as soon as I start using them!  Which isn’t the best.

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Splendid sunset

Tags

art in the country, Cotswolds, sunset, tree

I’ve finally finished – and framed in a clip frame – my latest piece of embroidery.

It’s been a while since I embroidered an image.  Years in fact.  I really enjoyed it.  I was inspired on a walk with some friends in the Cotswolds around the time of my birthday last year.  On our walk, we saw an amazing sunset.  & We returned to the friends’ art studio and I tried to paint the scene on canvas using acrylics.  I’m not very good with a paintbrush, and still haven’t quite finished the scene to my satisfaction.  But not long after coming home, I started embroidering the same scene!

For the foreground and background, I used the bottoms of an old pair of pyjamas, so the lace was already attached to the material.  I embroidered the tree and then started on the clouds.  Using embroidery thread and some Double Knitting wool.  It’s a bit slopshod but I like the 3D effect of the clouds and the lace for the foreground.

Here’s a photo I took of the scene itself:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So I you can see I don’t do it any justice in this piece of embroidery!  The colours were out of this world.  & As you can imagine, it was even more awe inspiring through the naked eye.  I was amazed by our creative Creator God – the colours were fleeting but spectacular.  An artist imitating creation can never really do it justice!  Well, speak for myself anyway 🙂 . Anyone else been making anything inspired by nature/ the outside world recently?

 

Hip, hop, hooray

Tags

around the world blog hop, blog hop, creativity, international

So i’ve been nominated by my friend, and sewing ‘Sensei from afar’ Georgia, over at Georgia’s Geornal to participate in the ‘Around the World Blog Hop’, where creative types share something of their process and inspiration and work.  To do so, I’ll answer three questions:

1.  What am I working on?

I’m currently trying to make a tissue box cover, combing the general technique from this tissue box tutorial, with the same opening as the peg bag I made a few weeks ago, which I’ll mention later.

2. What got me started?

Last year I was given a sewing machine (from this lovely lady- you can see the website she shares with her husband).  Within less than a week, I was sewing up bunting triangles for a shared Church project with other ladies.  And I had a mind to make some more lavender bags, having made some with my Mum on her sewing machine with lavender from her garden the previous year.  In our first round, I remember Mum sewed on some ribbons as decoration.  This time, I decided I’d hand-stitch on a design.  I really enjoyed the arty side of it.  & Later my housemate and another friend suggested I used embroidery rings.  & I discovered I was actually embroidering.

I love bags & was first taught how to make one by Georgia when I was out in Japan.  Trying to think when that was – must be 12 years ago now!  I’ve since made more little tote bags, including some I’ve embroidered.

3.  What sparks my creativity?

It’s often presents for friends.  I might have an idea to make something and then set myself a little goal, depending on whose birthday is coming up and when.  Sometimes doing one little projects makes me think about a similar project.  For example, my latest sewing piece was this peg bag I gave to my friend Richard.

From that, I thought, “Maybe I could make a tissue box cover” based on the bag’s opening.  (So watch this space!)

Otherwise, sometimes nature itself inspires me – maybe from things I see in my garden, such as mini creatures and colour combinations.

Next up, I’d like to nominate my good friend and a local crafty teacher of mine.  She’s often very busy so not sure if she’ll find time to post.  But just in case or why not anyway, check her out at Barefoot Originals.

Bank Hol Wkend

Tags

BitStressfulAtTimes, creative, pjs, relaxing

It’s been a fairly productive weekend on the creative front.  First a pair of pyjama bottoms:

Then some shabby chic ing (finishing off the picture frame):

Interspersed with some needlework to adorn a friend’s engagement card:

& Now to bed!

Lined at last

Tags

bags, embroidered, friends, lined, personalised, tote

I’m incredibly proud that I’ve finally made a lined tote bag.  This time, a birthday present for one of my friends.  Complete with a personalised, embroidered pocket inside.  Here’s a sneak peak:

It took hours and hours and I have a crack on my thumb now, but turning it inside out and seeing the bag take shape… it was worth it.