Goldwork Octopus

Well it has been along time since I have posted on my goldwork module for the RSN certificate – to tell the truth I lost all enthusiasm for the project during lockdown. But I have slowly started to make some progress. Last time you saw him (and it is a him!) he looked like this…

The design had been placed onto a silk backing and string padding put in place. But now all the felt padding has been applied. The inner section of the top area of the head has been covered in couched Japanese threads with couched mixed threads around the edges.

I have used mixed couching threads down each side of his body and he now has two Swarovski crystal eyes.

The next step is to work on all of his tentacles and then add cutwork over the string padding. He will get there slowly!

Thanks for popping in, happy stitching.

Posing pouch

I joined a sewalong on IG hosted by Larisa of @stitchingnotes and Irina of @nordicrafter. The end product was a surprise, only being revealed a section at a time. It was super fun and we finally ended up with a lovely little dumpling pouch. I got a little carried away and made quite a few – but they will be put away and given as gifts at a later date. Here is a little work in progress……………

The final pouches looked like this……

The pouches came together very quickly and were easy to personalise. I think I might make a few more to put away!

Thanks for popping in. Happy stitching.

A tall tail….

Ooops! Sorry everyone but I missed the posting date. I have made a little progress on the little peacock sewing etui below which was designed by Jenny Adin-Christie.

Last time you saw it, it looked like this………

Now I have added more padding to the tail feathers and started a little long and short stitching and it looks like this…..

Many thanks for popping in and look forward to catching up in three weeks time.

Happy stitching.

We are a small group of crafters using a variety of different techniques. Please check out the fabulous stitching by all the other members of the SAL. If you are interested in joining us you can contact Avis for details.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen

SAL 62: A new start…

Hi everyone, I hope you are all well. I have decided to go with a completely new project for the SAL – it includes lots of different elements and the 3D aspect that I have been missing. The little peacock sewing etui below is designed by Jenny Adin-Christie. As you can see…. there are lots of new and interesting techniques to learn.

So I have actually made a start on this little fellow – albeit I haven’t got that far… I have just started to add some padding to the tail feathers.

Many thanks for popping in and look forward to catching up in three weeks time.

Happy stitching.

We are a small group of crafters using a variety of different techniques. Please check out the fabulous stitching by all the other members of the SAL. If you are interested in joining us you can contact Avis for details.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen

Beetle mania….

Just had to start (and finish) the second little kit that I bought from Mother Eagle Arts (https://linktr.ee/mother_eagle_arts) . This time a stag beetle which is one of the UK’S largest beetle. It is often found in the south of England, particularly where we live!

Stag beetles prefer Oak woodlands and larvae live and feed on old rotting wood. They can take up to six years to develop before pupating and turning into adults. The adults have a much shorter lifespan; they emerge in May, mate and die in August once the eggs have been laid in a suitable piece of decaying wood. Such amazing things!

The kit was very easy to follow and easily finished within a day. It includes both beadwork and goldwork techniques and would be very accessible to people wanting to try these for the first time.

I did my sewing outside in the sunshine with a magnifier. So – note to self – don’t use a magnifying glass on a sunny day. If you look closely you will see were the sun has melted one of the large black sequins.

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But I still think he looks gorgeous! Thank you for popping in…Happy stitching!

Happy Ballet dancing!

Hello everyone, so this week is my Happy Dance, as I have finished the second little mouse in a series by JennyMcWhinney designs, that will be turned into some super cute bunting. So last time my mouse looked like this…..

Now she looks like this…..

I know they don’t look very different – but there is some seeding stitches around the base of the tutu and some holding stitches on the tutu. The ballet shoes have also been finished off. So…….not sure whether to do the next mouse in the series or have a break and try something new. The mice use limited stitches and techniques and I am missing the three dimensional element. I need to think on it…

Many thanks for popping in and look forward to catching up in three weeks time.

Happy stitching.

We are a small group of crafters using a variety of different techniques. Please check out the fabulous stitching by all the other members of the SAL. If you are interested in joining us you can contact Avis for details.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen

Beetlejuice

I recently purchased a little Tansy beetle kit from Mother Eagle Arts who can be found here – https://linktr.ee/mother_eagle_arts The Tansy beetle was once widespread in the UK, but is now very threatened due to a reduction of suitable wetland habitat and food plants, including tansy tanacetum. A small population can be found along the river Ouse in York.

The kit is super easy to follow. Lots of padding work to start with, just like most goldwork projects, and then you can have a bit of fun adding colour and sparkle.

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In the first picture you can also see one of the gorgeous sewing organisers I was sent on my birthday! I can really recommend this kit to anyone wanting to dabble in metal work – it was so quick and easy to do.

Thank you for popping in. Happy stitching!

SAL 60: The tutu is in!

Hello everyone, I do hope you are all well. Boy do the three weeks seem to whiz by at the moment. I have made a little progress on my little mouse design by Jenny McWhinney. When you last saw her she looked like this……

Well now she has her tutu……

To be honest – she hasn’t progressed that much as the tutu is simply straight stitches with a slip stitch band around her middle – but it is still progress in the right direction.

Many thanks for popping in and look forward to catching up in three weeks time.

Happy stitching.

We are a small group of crafters using a variety of different techniques. Please check out the fabulous stitching by all the other members of the SAL. If you are interested in joining us you can contact Avis for details.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen

Another Fair and Square bag…

So here is the third Fair and Square bag that I have made. The pattern is by Rosie Taylor Crafts and is so easy to follow. As you can see, I have used the lime green Essex linen again.

As the bag was part of the #lilheartswap2022 on IG, I made a heart block for the back.

So there you have it, that is three fair and square bags now – and I have another two on the go at the moment! So I might inflict those on you at a later date.

SAL 59: Bullions are back!

Hi everyone – I have managed to get a little bit of stitching done – mainly sewing lots of bullion knots! I have had covid over the last few weeks – not much more than a heavy cold, but with a lot of fatigue and a lack of enthusiasm for sewing. But hopefully I will regain my sewing mojo soon. So here was where I was at the last time I posted my little mouse….

And now after sewing a few bullions, my mouse looks like this….

As you can see the bullion roses are complete, although some look a little worse for wear! All that I need to do now is the tutu, finish off the arms and satin stitch over the ballet shoes.

Many thanks for popping in and look forward to catching up in three weeks time.

Happy stitching.

We are a small group of crafters using a variety of different techniques. Please check out the fabulous stitching by all the other members of the SAL. If you are interested in joining us you can contact Avis for details.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen