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Saturday was the monthly Embroiderers' Guild meeting in Headingley. It's been a year now since I started going with Hayley and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. There are so many talented ladies and loads of inspiration each and every month.
In the morning we have a stitch group. It is organised by a member each time and has different themes. This month Hilary put together an applique kit for us to work on. I'm hoping to get it finished soon so I can show you later this week.
Remember the chain stitch maps we did a while back? They had been stitched together to go on display and are now back with us. Mine is in the top right corner. We'll be getting our own squares back so it might be the start of a new project for me!
Just a quick update on the Images of Japan project. I received the kit for block five in the post last week ... and I have nearly finished making block two.
The second block has some butterflies and leaves ...
At the Knitting and Stitching Show last year I saw a beautiful quilt called Images of Japan. It is a block-a-month programme run by Village Fabrics.
After umming and aahing for a while I signed up in February and have now received the first four packs, all complete with fabrics and instructions.
Last week I decided I had better make a start on this project, so out came all the bits for block number one.
It features a geisha, wave and flowers, and was a rather tricky one to start off with!
The images are all built up using applique, so out came the iron and the Bondaweb. It was like putting a jigsaw puzzle together and rather frustrating at times but I have all the pieces in place now.
I finished the wave off first, adding in some embroidery and sparkly threads.
The geisha and flowers are at the just bonded stage and ready to be embroidered and embellished.
I am very pleased with this project so far as it allows me to explore hand embroidery, something I have been neglecting in favour of patchwork recently. However, as I am blanket stitching round each applique piece I may soon tire of that part!
I've become a bit slow on the blogging front again, but with all the excitemen I haven't a clue what day it is!
This year I've had several Christmases with different friends and parts of my family. I'm pleased to report that Santa is not on Facebook or Twitter and is therefore still under the impression that I have been a good girl! So I got several fantastic presents, and some money which I have spent on underwear and craft goodies!
Am also loving my hire car - so much fun being able to drive myself around wherever and whenever I want.
Anyway, on to a gift I gave. You have seen this before, but it was finished off and given to my mum.
It's the peacock art piece I did at a workshop with the Embroiderers' Guild.
Hayley mounted it on to a canvas for me so it is now a work of art for my mum's wall.
She was rather impressed!
In other news, the Japanese hexagon quilt is coming along nicely and I am pleased to report that I have very nearly finished all the pieces. Then to sew all 298 of them together ...
Last Saturday I attended an all-day workshop with the Embroiderers Guild in Headingley.
The original plan was to make a little book, but I ended up creating a work of art (I use the phrase loosely).
I love peacocks, so I had taken along some feathers and a load of matching threads, wools, buttons and beads.
There was a lot of Bondaweb and some tea staining involved to build up layers on the calico and create all sorts of textures.
It was a great day and I really enjoyed letting my creativity out with no particular purpose or reason.
A couple of weeks ago I attended the Jaboean embroidery workshop run by the West Yorkshire Federation of Women's Institutes at their office in Rodley.
I love these day classes - you get to learn new things alongside fellow crafters and we have lots of fun too.
Well, with all the chatting and faffing about with the wool (I didn't really like working with it!) I didn't get much done, but I finished my piece off over the weekend.
Most of the stitches I had done before, but I learnt some new ones called coral stitch, spiderwebs and pinwheels, which are fab, and practiced my blanket stitch, which I've never been very good at.
The coral stitch is the ling thin stems. It's kind of knotted over itself every cm or so. The little blue flowers are the web and wheel stitches. Very impressed with these two so must remember to use them again in future.
I think the laid trellis work is a lovely effect too, although I did get a bit muddle with the couching down so the pattern went a bit wrong in places!
Lots of French knots for the middle of the flower and the yellow things at the outside that look like caterpillars are called bullion knots.
Don't think I'll be working in wool again anytime soon, but I'm very pleased with the finished piece.
Firstly, an apology to my big bro, Matthew. It turns out he does read my blog and his wedding anniversary is not until the end of July, so I have spoiled the surprise of the card he will be getting from our mum! Sorry bro! Maybe she will send a different one instead ...
And further apologies for being a bit lax with the blogging recently. I have been super busy with one thing or another, mostly the WI! Having taken on the role of Editor of West Yorkshire News I have been chasing copy, designing layouts and battling with budgets so far this week! There is fun WI stuff happening too - today I am doing a Jacobean embroidery workshop for the day and later this week I will let you in on some super exciting Buns & Roses news!
For now though, male cards.
I was so glad to see the Plane and Simple set in the Stampin' Up! Mini Catalogue. It is ideal for my dad, as he is the treasurer of his local model flying club and loves to build, fly and crash model airplanes! It's also a good alternative to golf and beer!
Now, I'm fairly sure my dad doesn't read my blog, so here goes with the card he'll be receiving for Father's Day! If you see this dad - sorry!
I went with neutral tones and some embossing and distressing to add interest without having to go for the traditional embellishments such as buttons and ribbon. I used the Square Lattice Embossing Folder for the background piece of cardstock.
The splodges were made using the Sprizer Tool and the edges of the card were roughed up with the Cutter Kit. The label (this is one for my stash to sell hence why it says happy birthday and not happy father's day) was attached with a brad for a bit of movement.
Right, time to get busy with a needle and thread!
Yesterday was dedicated to stitching, and very good it was too.
In the morning I got a bit more of my goldwork done from Denman College. It's very nearly finished! Hoping to get the last bits done while I watch the F1 today.
The main event was a trip to the Embroiderers Guild meeting in Headingley. Hayley came with me and we spent a lovely couple of hours chatting to the ladies and making a raggy brooch.
These are quite simple to do, but it does take a little more thought than Hayley and I put in. As a result, ours ended up rather more flat then they should have been. Still, they looked good anyway.
They're just made from strips of fabric, folded up and stitched on to a circle of felt. I added some little rose buds from wrapped strips to the middle of mine, which then made it flatter, but prettier!
In the evening I practiced some canvaswork stitches.
I love the texture this simple technique creates. I used Madeira Lana wool on some evenweave. It's not actually that color - white thread on camel fabric in real life!
To finish off the evening I ordered some hardanger supplies, so expect pics of yet another type of embroidery soon!
I've been trawling the charity shops in search of some bargains recently and have found some lovely things, so today I'm going to share my new treasures.
On Saturday Hayley and I went up to Otley as I'd been hearing all about the many charity shops and an awesome antique place. Took ages on the bus but it was a lovely day out, despite the rain. We stopped for cake and tea as well. Nom.
Anyway, here are my purchases.
We found this little wooden table and letter rack to use as displays for our craft fairs. Just £3 each!
No idea why I bought these two, but they amused me. The wording on the leather pouch reads: "My lady's friend for use at either end". Ooer missus! This caused me much amusement. I am guessing it is intended to hold a nail file. The soap bar doesn't really smell that great, but the packaging is cute. Just 50p each for these!
This is my favourite purchase - a miniature Oriental screen. It seems to be painted on to silk. One side has these lovely landscapes ...
And the other has birds and flowers. Simply beautiful. No idea where it will live but being a big fan of Japanese style I had to have it for just £6.50.
The book on the left I actually picked up at a charity shop in Frodsham last week. The other was one of today's purchases. Both should help me with the WI Embroidery Certificate I am about to start studying for. £1.99 and 99p respectively.
And finally, something completely different - a bright and funky top. Just 49p for a new look! It has a racer style back and is a baggy fit.
I am well and truly hooked on chairty shops at the moment. Will give the ones in Armley a visit this week!
A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by a lady called Sharon, who had been given my details by my step-mum Jackie.
She was in need of some Christening items - customising two blankets and four personalised cards for the Godparents.
Of course I was happy to put my skills to good use and here is what I came up with.
These are the four cards - the babies are twins called Amy and Tom and they each have two sets of Godparents.
Here's a close-up of one. The embossing was done with my Big Shot using a folder I had found at a craft shop in Whitby. I printed out the wording on to Stampin' Up! cardstock, which worked brilliantly! I kept it quite simple, adding just a little flat bow in Pretty In Pink or Marina Mist Taffeta Ribbon.
And here is the blanket! I stitched the cross and name and date on to a piece of white evenweave, as well as a few decorative bits in metallic gold thread and some sequins. The patch was then edged with gold ribbon and sewn on to the blanket (which was a bit tricky with the tassles I must admit!).
I hope Amy and Tom and all the family have a lovely day today! It's strange to think that I may have created some family heirlooms!
I'm always delighted to help with embroidery or papercraft commissions so please do give me a shout if you need anything!
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