Stitching

It has been a little bit quiet around here lately, but as you can see from these photos I have been whizzing along on my machine creating a wee bird themed item for my sister, amongst other things. I've also been tidying up my creative space so that I can get everything into one handy unit, so things are easy to get to and everything has a place. Well it's got to be done at some point!

My sister has returned from her 6 months in the Gambia and I surprised her with a visit last week to welcome her home. It was lovely to see her and drop of this birdy creation which ended up as a quirky cushion for her wee sofa. Back soon with more bits and pieces as I get ready to re-open my little shop on Etsy too x

Through the lens...

Sometimes we all need to just take the time to stand and stare...

Visual Journal (2)

Here are my doodlings from my second page spread.

I am aiming to complete a page spread each week to challenge myself to keep creating and experimenting in my sketchbook regularly. Doodle out all those tiny details and 'things' from inside my head onto the pages and see what evolves.

Robins...

Just a peek at some of the scented bits I've been stitching up for the last few fairs I'll be attending this year as Weft A Bit. (I have new plans and ideas for 2012, so lots of creative time to look forward to).

The robins are filled with bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, star anise and cloves for a fix of festive scent. Pleasing round little birds! (although in reality I know they are fiercely territorial in the wild). What have you been creating for the festive season?

The 52MMMC Week 9

Well hello! long time no see so to speak, I am back again with another make for your viewing.

Quite some time back now I took part in a P I F (pay it forward) Giveaway and part of the rules of taking part was that I would go on to host my own P I F Giveaway and send a wee something handmade on to three more people.
As I have now made and sent off these PIF gifts I thought that I would include them in my 'makes' challenge and let you see what flew off in the post recently......

After much doodling, stitching and creating with fabric and thread it was time to put all the pieces together, the easy part really and the part where everything comes together...

zip being put in


sides being stitched



turning


finishing off


and hey presto a wee zip purse!


well two wee zip purses..


make that three wee zip purses for three lovely ladies!


I hope they are loved and well used! ;0 x

The 52MMMC Week 8

Well hello to you all! I'm back again with another 'makes' post.
I have been meaning to make a larger version of my oval pin for a while now and thought it would be one of my 'makes' for the challenge, a good place to 'test' out ideas I feel.
I have also been promising my mum one for a while too.....
So inspired by this photo in a magazine recently I was ready to try my 'make'


I gathered together materials and threads that reflected the gorgeous colours of the heather



My mum likes my wee birds and so a wee bird the pin would have


stitch upon stitch


teeny tiny snippets of fabrics in lovely deep pinks and greens


And voila! a birdy pin has been made




Yes HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM!!!!
My mum has received this wee pin and I shall wait for her to visit
with it donning her jacket lapel, before I show a 'finished' photo of it.
And *phew wipes sweat from brow* she loved it! x

The 52MMMC Week 7

Well I am finally back with another make(!) Yay!
I feel that I'm a bit behind but then I was told that there was no pressure to produce something each week so I shall just keep going until I reach my goal of 52!!

So here for you to view is something I was asked to make by a friend of mine for her mum's birthday.
She gave me an idea of:
colours she would like - creams, pinks and blues
subject matter - beach huts, seaside
and even some of her little girls outgrown old clothes
with a fab pattern on that she wanted included if possible.

So I set too and here is what I made


wee little fishes


can't go without a bird and bunting!




(check out the pier and beach huts to the top right,
I cut these out from the fabric of her little girls outgrown outfit!)


And voila! finished cushion


My friend was more than happy with the finished item (whew!),
so let's hope her mum likes it too ;0

The 52MMMC Week 5

Week 5 of the challenge.

I had such big plans really I did but I'm afraid I must apologise for this slightly less than complete 'make' as my sewing machine has gone in for a service
*sigh, it was due for one though* and so I have no machine with which to complete my item. Boo hoo......

So anyways I thought I would show you my 'make' so far.....

Out have come the pen and inks, something I haven't used in far too long but which I thought would be perfect for the 'theme' I was intending to draw.


I have been saving little bits here and there and aiming to compile a mood or inspiration board of sorts for the current, dare I say it, Autumn/Winter work happening.
I know we are all still hanging on to the thought that perhaps we will get a few more weeks, days?? of some summer sun but the change of the seasons will be upon us sometime soon. Now as much as I like to be warm I do like the rich colours that Autumn/Winter brings.

Anyhow trying not to diverse, here are a few of my snippets to show my theme.
This 'season' sees plenty of feathers and birds about and I wanted to go with gorgeous feathered owls, all seeing all knowing you know!


After a few sketchy lines in pencil to give a rough outline and idea, I set to with purple ink and pen, I don't want to be 'normal' and have a brown owl! not that there is anything wrong with that mind. Also khakis and purples are making an appearance in this seasons colours.

Perhaps my sketch is a little scary because of the 'knowing' but my owl is going to have attitude!



Now I wanted to transfer this sketch onto fabric. So after scanning the image on to the laptop, flipping the image so I can print it onto the fabric as I had originally drawn it, it was printed out onto transfer paper.


The fun bit of ironing it on to the fabric.


And voila! Sketch transferred to fabric, which is now pinned ready to wait the return of the sewing machine to finish it up into a slouchy bag, maybe even for a few decorative stitches to be added to it as well, we shall see.


I'll show you the 'finished' bag once it's complete. So please forgive me for the half post this week, I didn't like doing it but then I would have felt even more guilty if I had not posted about what I was doing! ;0 x

The 52MMMC Week 4

Well folks it's that time of week again! so I am here all ready with another post about my next make for the challenge.
Over the course of this challenge my posts will include 'makes' that I'm testing out to see whether they might be items I will want to make more of and sell, as well as things that I want to make because I never have and things that I have a go at making just because I WANT too!

This 'make' is one which I may well make more of to sell in my shop and also on my stall (by the way the next Makers Market that I'm at will be the September one, see my side bar to the left for dates!).

Having gathered bits together, fabric was cut, interlining fused and snaps inserted ready to start the stitching
(the sweet little pattern for this clutch is by Ali Foster, she also allows you to make items from her patterns to sell)


using up my hand screen printed birdy fabric (hope you like it!) I screen printed my design onto a large remnant of bright pink fabric I was given, it certainly stands out!


stitching parts


and so the end result!


a peek inside


resting in the sun........


As well as designing patterns for items myself it's always nice to follow someone else's guidelines too, it gives you new ideas and tips you can apply when making other things as well.
Let me know your verdict on this make.
Hope you've all been enjoying your weekends! ;0 x