Old Projects part 6

Another unframed but finished project. Bought on holiday in Wales again in the late 1990's along with the Carew Cross. This I did first but then lost it therefor the cross was framed and this not.

A traditional blackwork but worked in different shades of green and highlighted gold thread.

Very simplistic but very effective I think. The unstitched  parts give the piece more depth.

This next piece does not really warrant a post of it's own but I wanted to share so I have added it onto the bottom here.

 A small cross stitch for one of my daughters.

Sew Vala. x

Hello again and Hello Kitty

Wow I had not realized how long it had been since I last posted or even looked at your lovely blogs. Seven months have past, and I did not notice.

When I was last here I had just begun my Myth course for my degree. This I had to stop a few months back. Some years ago I became ill and now I am not the same person. Stress causes me to shut down. The course was proving to be too much, so I pulled out. They have said I can rejoin at the same point next year, which is really cool of them but it is something I will have to think about.

Anyway a few weeks ago I finally lifted off the dust cover of the machine and made something

From this image I made this for my best friends daughter.

A close up of the face

The technique I was is called stained glass window applique. Which is actually quite easy however not as easy with the tight curves of the bow and the thickness of fleece. The face alone took three days and just two days to put the hoodie together. I used a flower button for the nose and added a little heart shape button on the bow.

This is not something I will be doing again soon, Hello Kitty that is. I used the same pattern as I did with the Picachoo hoodie (yep I have forgotten how to spell it). Her mum has asked me to make her something in purple and surprise her with the style/image. I am thinking about what to do to make it unique. The daughter an 18 yr goth girl, loves it I am happy to say.

Now I am no longer studying I have lots more time to carry on with my passion of making things as well as job hunting. After seven years off work, I think I will be well enough to go back to work, part time at least. So fingers crossed on that that.

Next time I have some exciting news to share,

Happy Sewing Vala. x   



 

An old love rekindled.

While I have been writing these posts on old projects, I remembered how much I love embroidery. It seems to have sparked a new desire to do more again.

So on came a new internet search while I was supposed to be writing my first assignment on Medusa. I am studying Myth in the Greek and Roman worlds, this year. I would like to share with you what I found.

Here is a site that has some lovely free patterns and a FAQ section.
http://embroidery.about.com/  it is heavy on advertising but definitely worth checking out.

http://www.royal-needlework.org.uk/  the Royal School of Needlework, lots of information. I would like to do a couple of their courses next year if  funds allow. In the meantime I stocked up on books from their on-line shop to learn some new techniques.

I have rotated that picture several times however it wanted to appear sideways each time. sorry.

http://www.embroiderersguild.com/
who have two magazines -
stitch and embroidery , which are both worth looking at.

For those of you who are interested the exhibition below is taking place at the ashmolean museum in Oxford.
On the Saturday 1 December there is a  big stitch event. I also hope to attend.

Threads of Silk and Gold: Ornamental Textiles From Meiji Japan Exhibition | 9 November 2012 – 27 January 2013 | Galleries 57, 59 & 60 | £6 /£4 Concessions Many of us are aware of the beauty of the traditional Japanese kimono: Threads of Silk and Gold introduces the less familiar but equally spectacular ornamental textiles that were made in Japan for the foreign market in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Intricate embroideries and tapestries, dyed silks and velvets entranced Western audiences with their sophisticated designs and brilliant craftsmanship. The exhibition highlights Meiji textiles from the newly-acquired collection of the Sannenzaka Museum in Kyoto, one of the finest and most comprehensive collections of its type in existence.


Wow so many events to do, we also have comi-con/expo (just found out Matt Smith, Doctor Who will be there) and hyperjapan that we want to attend.

How do you decide what to do when there are so many good things going on, On what to visit / do and what not to do. Perhaps we should play Diceman.

Sew Vala. x

Old Projects part 5

Another kit from the 1990's. Not something I would have bought myself, I remember it was a present, and I can not remember who from. If you, the giver, are reading this I am sorry I did not like it, but please read on. This is a printed canvas tapestry and it looked very blocky. I could not figure out how the blockyness (?) could create the smooth hair or the flowing dress fabric. But I was determined to give it a try.

Yeah, close up it is blocky. But I have come to realise this piece is best viewed from a distance. The original dress had some kind of swirly broach at the centre, this I did not like so I just carried on with the dress pattern.

Once it was finished, I thought a little more of it. It was ok.


   

And today when I went looking for it to photograph I have decided I love it.
So whoever you are who bought me this present Thank you very much. And I promise one day to frame it and display it lovingly in my home. That will not be for a while yet, it is quite large and will cost a pretty penny, but one day I will. In the mean time this fair lady is carefully wrapped up and hidden from daylight.

Sew Vala. x 

Old Projects part 4

This was my very first cross stitch kit started way back in 1990/91 when I was pregnant.
And yes it is still not finished.

And I doubt it ever will be finished.

You see I did not realise until after I had run out of thread, that the stranded cotton is meant to be split. So I just used all 6 strands through out. When I figured out why I did not have enough, no problem I thought just go buy some more after all you have the chart listing the make and colours needed.

I carried on regardless and it took some time before I realised the shading was different. Well of course dye lots, I know that now and I also know to read instructions a couple of times over.

So now my work lies in a box in the sewing room. Every now and again I 'find' it, remember it, and smile.
Although I do think it would have turned out rather good, if I had paid attention in the first place. These days I take much more time on things. Was it youth, impatience, loss of brain cells in pregnancy. More likely all three.

Next time I have something special to share.

Sew Vala. x  

Old projects part three

This time I have a tapestry to share

This I made many years ago but the kids seem to think it became somekind of oracle.

Grainy close up of the ginger and white cat.

Muffin can be seen in the lower part of the cat climbing frame.

And Charlie who we adopted at the same time as Muffin, from the same person.

A coincidence or not ?

Sew Vala. x

Old projects part two

Another of the pre-sewing machine projects,

This time a picture I made for my daughters room. She was a toddler in love with Strawberry Shortcake, due to a quiltcover bought at a charity shop. This daughter is now 21 and still asks what happened to her favourite quilt. I have no idea.

This is also hanging in the hall way, although the little girl looks out of place. As this is where I hang all my signed Sci-fi pictures and my signed drumskin of the chili peppers.
And yet I am still proud of her as she made my little girl so happy when I put the picture in her room.



Sew Vala. x