Taking it to 3D

Not all stitching needs to be framed... infact, I prefer things that are a little more useful than and as my finishing skills needed (& still need) more practice.
Mother's day created an opportunity for this creation:

I found this pattern & instructions in a book, probably from one of the very many I buy from second hand shops. My Mum plays Bridge, so i thought it was appropriate.

Then I bought a kit from the Fox Collection as my Mum has a craft shop in Oamaru:

This was a lot finer to stitch & then then put together with the help of some of the plastic mat stuff. Attaching the roof was by far the trickiest part. But I got there in the end and it made a nice "Thanks for being Awesome" present for my Mother :)

When my awesome mother was in Canada, she picked up this kit for me... it comes from an Australian Designer - Janie Hubble and part of her "The Cat's Whiskers" Designs, which unfortunately are no longer available, there were 3 in the set & if you find one (&can afford it) I recommend getting it!

This is now one of my prized possessions, now I have something to stick my pins into, instead of using my own couch's arms.

Sometimes, I get an internet inspiration & do something little, just for fun, to give to people for being awesome:

I give blood as often as I can, & the last time I gave a few of these to the nurses, to give away or keep.

My Baseline - getting cross

I don't recall doing any stitching during high school, or University. I did pick up the crafting bug again while living in Dunedin & was given this to do:

This was quite an interesting turn to my stitching, as previously I had never sought advice, only used standard Aida, & this project while started when I got it, I didn't finish it for about 6 years.

AFTER finishing, I showed my mother, who commented it was probably meant to have been done by stitching over 2 thread (that's why it was so tricky!) & she taught me how to frame it myself.

Other than being a bit tricky (& 1/4 the size it was supposed to be) it took me so long, mostly due to becoming a mother - small children, kittens (not that i had a kitten) & threads don't mix too well.

So, with this one under my belt & being inspired by my mum in regard to gifts I started making these:

Since I did these, I was then commissioned to do this one:

Then there have been some other gifts, this first one, was an online challenge & ended up being sent to the UK through livejournal

Then I joined a group of crafty ladies through mutual friends & facebook - anyone can join the "crafty foxes" there may even be a chapter in your location. We get together - people from all crafts & skills, a theme is picked & you choose to join or not & create something for someone else in that theme. The first I did was an 'anti-valentine' theme:

 this one was for an 80's theme.

Then there have been the little gifts, where I've been particularly poor, but felt the people deserve a little something:

Pretty much all Cross Stitch... don't worry though, there has been more! Through the above items, I have moved from kits, to book patterns to my own drawings on graph paper. Or blending them all.
Most things I have managed/remembered to photograph before giving, but there are a couple of items where I didn't - 1 was a crafty fox swap & the other was a commissioned piece which went to Canada.

Finished product

Many many thanks to Janine for making this kit so my Mum could send it to me :)

I now have a fabulous book to put photos of my own stitching in (although I am hopeless at printing out any photos!)
Although relooking at other images of the same compendium/book I may have missed the diagonal stitching - oh well, every one will be different anyway. And I will probably secure the flowers a bit better.

 

Sorry, photography is not my strong suit, but i'm sure you get the idea.

Of course there are always more projects to get on to, but first I need to go back to my baseline - cross stitch, my next 'big' project is still in mental development phase, it's coming together, but needs more time.

Update on my Easter project

I'm pretty pleased over all - there has been a couple of erg moments, but that is part of the learning curve of stitching & overcoming these is such a great feeling!

These next parts were all things I have never done before and due to some impatience on my behalf, (shops closed on Easter Sunday) I free handed the tree part of the design. Of course it took me several re-readings to work out how to even start this part! Finally, it clicked, & here was my result. Couching rouched tape to create the start of a trunk. Then I couched on another thread with a gimp. (after some giggling & mental references to Pulp Fiction I worked out what it was)

I can admit I should have been blonde on occasions.

Next came the base - which was fairly simple as I have done this style before, and then split backstitch leaves & beading - neither of which I had done before but worked out extremely well - even if I say so myself. (Again free hand with some tailors chalk to help)

Oh and while beading, I managed to toss about 50 beads on the floor, but could only locate 3 of these - why???

Now that part is finished, I made a cord & fastened everything to the front:

Next is some final finishing parts - the backing to this... I hope within a week to have the project all done & ready to fill. (there are some parts which I think look a bit off, but it's too awesome to be perfect)


Oh and by the way, if you want to see more examples of this - check our Janine's blog, should be to the left under "Other Inspiring Stitchers" as she is the creater of this project.

Once upon a time there was a young girl

Who was frequently given stitching to do - kits, with instructions.
From time to time these would come out of the round butter biscuit tin from my wardrobe & worked upon.
I'm not sure of the order things were completed & I know I am missing my favourite piece, but if/when I find it again, I'll share.

There was a long stitch piece:

I'm pretty sure the next two pieces were the kind which had the image painted on the fabric:

Then first cross-stitches:

The K is showing signs of age... but this could because it is about 25 years old.

You may see a bit of a theme, of purple & cats, my family knows that purple is my favourite colour & they think I like cats... I'm not sure why, never had one as a kid - although I have been known to sneeze like one.

Easter Friday Stitching

After doing all the things that will distract me (including some FB, housework, reading, & starting a blog)
I got down to my new project.

Firstly I had to organise the items in the kit, read the instructions for the 3rd/4th time & work out what goes where & how it all gets put together - construction is not my forte.
So with a big breath & realising that it's ok, if it all goes wrong I can buy new material. I set to putting some parts together:

Pinned & then tacked.

Next I had to make flowers, & this is where Karenisms kick in. The instructions said to copy the pattern onto "freezer paper" & iron on to the fabric. simple enough? no. I tried it with baking paper & a transfer pencil (brand new transfer pencil too) no go. I guess baking paper is different freezer paper - makes sense when I think about it. Sigh.
so, not out done, I did my tracing & carefully cut it out. Then had a gem of an idea! I'll colour around it! - not draw exactly, but create like a negative of the image.

 

And it worked :)

then Finally some actual stitching...

and a little more, before stopping for the evening.

After today I have a much clearer idea of where & how this is going, so I feel much less in the dark.

Tomorrow I'm not sure what I will get done, as I am off to town - a few things to do, including Craft 2.0 at the New Dowse!

Getting Started

There are so many things to do in life, that sometimes it can be hard to find the time to learn things our mother's just seemed to know.

If you want to get stitching, here are a few things I find invaluable, although not all absolutely required. 

Firstly, how to get started?

I clean my house first, that way I feel good that I have done a chore, before settling down to something for me. Also it means that I have clean surfaces for where my work goes & less distractions.

Then I have a coffee & something to eat:

then wash hands - always try to have clean hands before starting.

Inspiration can come from many places, including blogs, websites & books... 

A couple of things I find, just make the job easier are a good iron & ironing board cover. I don't overly like ironing & mostly have one for sewing, so why not Pink?

my ironing board cover came from a home & garden show & is super thick - makes ironing even easier!

Sewing machine... I got my first sewing machine when I was about 4 or 5, it was plastic & really worked... until the needle broke :(

Then for my 21st (I think) my Mum bought me this one, which was second-hand & fully reconditioned. I don't use it often, but it still goes & fairly well - not too fancy, does what I want it to do.

And as I am a chronic multi-tasker & mostly organised person, these zip lock bags have been great to keep almost a whole project together.

   

As you can see i have the above project on the go... but for Easter my amazing mother gave me this:

looking forward to starting.. although there are parts which have me scratching my head... but I'll get there - the woman who made this kit, has a blog - which I will link to, & is a member of the North Otago Embroiderers Guild (with my Mum).