Sewing In Progress... "Stitchbook" so far

I'm enjoying a bustle at this end, sewing cushions and assembling kits then sending them off to their new homes. Excitedly this includes  2 new shops (Teasel and Tweed  Home /gift shop  in Aberdeen and a Jinty and Baa Needlecraft shop in Argyll, opening on Dec 2nd) 
It's so great to see that people are following their dreams in the form of  a bricks and mortar shop, and a great honour that they want to include my items!
Anyhoos point to that is I've been busy and had little time for much else other than what I've been stitching away in the evenings...my "stitchbook" (my new take on a sketchbook which I explain here). So I'm sharing the "pages" I've completed so far..... I'm really liking where some of these spontaneous creative notions have taken me!

This last birdy one is my favourite so far , but there are still plenty "pages" left which are half done..... more to show soon! :)x

A new take on a sketchbook....

Its taken me a long time to get into sketchbooks, but over the last year or two I've really enjoyed letting loose amongst the pages. The phrase "letting loose" has been key to my enjoyment, as for so long sketchbooks have intimidated me with their blank pages full of expectations! 

Now they are simply a place to splurge, explore and play around without much focus or direction at all.

As you can see from the little snippets below,my sketch books pages are full of  mess and colour, as well as different mediums - paint, pencil, pens, paper and fabric amongst them....

Lots of ideas and projects have sprung from the quick sketches and splurges of creativity, but the best bit for me is the pure and simple happiness that comes from creating without agenda. 

You see I find myself often falling into the trap that has come with being a self employed artist... you know, the one where you seldom find yourself creating for creativity's sake, but rather with an end product in mind. Somehow the hobby (and love) gets replaced by a full time FULL TIME job, where there is never any down time (and not much room for love either!) 

I noticed myself falling into that little trap again recently, so decided to pull out the old sketch book again..but this time with a twist!

Evenings (especially in winter) are a time when I love to curl up on the couch with a little sewing project on the go. So my thinking was to create a sketchbook where I could stitch and doodle, add mixed media, splodge paint and draw with pencil as the notion  took. A sketchbook I could perch on my knee with the required bits and bobs on hand and work on in the evening "down time".

You can see what I came up with below.......

I got a long strip of fabric and divided it up into squares for "pages". This will turn into a book when I'm done, but for now is like a very long scarf! (see! exactly what a winter evening requires!) I began by dabbing, stamping and sticking a few bits of paper and paint onto the fabric with no specific plan in mind,  then the little step by step ideas /experiments/explorations begin. Turns out I'm doing a brown/blue and pink colour theme....it may change! 

These are a couple of close-up  "sketch book" pages, where things are in the beginning stages....

I'm look forward to coming back and sharing what this little winter evening project of "letting loose" will bring!

What are your plans for the upcoming wintery evenings? Have you got a little something planned to bury yourself and keep (creatively) cosy in? Hope so :) xx

Sewing in Progress......in need of sprouting an extra pair of hands!

That's the thing about sewing...it's super relaxing and peaceful-making (have I just made up a term?) , because it's S.L.O.W.
However with all the different sewing projects I'm trying to get finished (new embroidery pattern pdf's to introduce, new kits to get out into the world), the SLOW sewing is beginning to feel like one of those running on the spot dreams.... except I'm sewing on the spot!
Atleast I'm too "zenned" out from all this slow sewing to get stressed out about it! Ha!

So I'm still stitching this pretty pink flower and background circles....

I've been trying to create some designs that are simple and don't take ages to sew... failed on that one! I always seem to add more detail, or fill in more than perhaps necessary, but I'm loving the effect so far especially the variegated thread I'm using to fill the circles!

I've actually completed this stitchery project....a hand sewn purse made from applique, embellishments and embroidery. It's to be used as an example for an upcoming workshop.

Still stitching away on a halloween inspired design I created for this months newsletter.I'm almost done and am going to turn it into a quirky pincushion.....why not hey?!

(You can sign up for the newsletter on the sidebar if you want to receive a free monthly design along with inspiration and updates)

You would of course be right in thinking there are more unfinished in progress projects lying in the wings.. the hazard of becoming so Zen is that they may just remain that way ;)x

Tilly and the Buttons to the rescue!

Its now nearly 3 years ago (wow!) that I left my post as a midwife and became a self employed artist. Which means it's also nearly 3 years that I've been promising to make some clothes for myself.  I would like to say that the colourful collection of fabrics I have gathered (below) have only been sitting around gathering dust for the same length of time...but truth is it's been waaay longer than that!

I have been the BIGGEST procrastinator when it comes to making my own clothes....... Ok. ok. I take back the procrastinator bit.....I've been the BIGGEST scaredy cat!

Yes I'm more than at home with a sewing machine...... but deciphering patterns and sewing with precision (it is helpful that arm holes actually match with the sleeves) gulp! Add this to a very poor history of following patterns (did I ever show you the knitting pattern I tried?...supposed owl mitten turned into wierd mini blanket..aherm)

So I have decided to "take down" (insert fist pump) the scaredy cat, and tackle the fear of sewing my own clothes which has now grown horns and an extra head. To do this I have armed myself with a worthy ally.....the book "Love at first stitch" by the very adorable Tilly Walnes (of Tilly and the Buttons fame).

Photo Credit: Tilly Walnes

Tilly started a blog several years ago as she voyaged into making her own clothes and shared the adventure, along with tutorials to help demystify dressmaking jargon (Hello! this is EXACTLY what I need!) She was also a contestant in The Great Sewing Bee (which I never saw myself but have been told was highly addictive to watch!) She now runs a blossoming business selling her own patterns, holding workshops, and of course publishing a book. If you go check out her blog you will be instantly pulled into the lovely world of Tilly and want to stay around to see what she is creating whether you dressmake or not!

And just like her blog, the book is full of the same bold and beautiful visuals (which definitely helps a reluctant seamstress like me)

Photo credit: Tilly Walnes

Photo credits: Tilly Walnes

Photo credit: Tilly Walnes


(c) Tilly Walnes 2014

See what I mean!

The projects in the book walk you through projects and techniques working from the simple to more complicated...... I'm jumping right in (so may end in disaster) and making the Megan dress! 

I've got some sweet navy polka dot cotton for the job......

The girls are now off school for their 2 week October holidays.. it is my mission to send the girls back to school wearing a polka dot dress.... 

:)

wish me luck! xx

Sewing in Progress (S.I.P) - Autumn fruits

There is no denying that Autumn is on it's way, the trees heavily laden with their fruits are testament to that.....

Skye and I had to stop our bike ride the other day to hunt for conkers.....

Which ties in perfectly with what I'm currently sewing.... (loving the term S.I.P...as opposed to W.I.P.. the slow leisurely description feels far more fitting to the pursuit of sewing!)

I'm working on some new kits and considering a slight seasonal theme.....along the lines of "gather ye acorns while ye may"!

I've got a load of threads I'd ordered for my other kits and never used, so wanted to incorporate them into a new kit...however I think I may still have some playing around to do. Especially when my eldest commented that the cones below looked more like Easter eggs! ...yes well I'm going for seasonal...but not that one!

The idea is that they will be a little "decoration" that you can stitch for your home for the festive season ( I'll not mention the C word just yet), and beyond.  The acorns come with a word to stitch within each design so that not only are you gathering "acorns" but  the fundamental good things in life too ;)

If you've any ideas for words you'd like to see on an acorn I'd love to hear! I could only come up with the highly original ones: LoVE, JoY, PeACE, HoPe & ComFort (which is too much of a squeeze to fit in!)

-X-

PS..The Giveaway is on till  Fri 20th Sept so go here if you've not entered and would like to be in with the chance of winning an embroidery kit!