Embroidered Portrait Satine from Mouline Rouge

I’ve taken a few days off from blogging for the holidays, and now that Christmas is finally over I can show you the stitchery I’ve been holding back on for fear the recipient might see it! This is the first one I ever worked on, which was maybe a bit ambitious, but I had a strong image in my head of what I wanted. It was also my intention to return the hoop I’d borrowed with something in it, so I knew what I had to do.
So do you recognise her?

[caption id="attachment_695" align="alignnone" width="490"] My first ever embroidered portrait![/caption]

This was a gift for my friend Louise who put me onto embroidery in the first place. She loves all things Parisian and one of her favourite movies set during the Belle Epoch is of course Moulin Rouge. The most important thing for me was that she’d know who it was straight away, and I was very pleased to say she did! (RESULT! Although the Swarovski crystals (doubling as diamonds) were a clue). I've made a little album on flickr so you can see close ups if you like, and some of my other recent embroidery projects here: Cult Stitchin'!

This was my first time using Osnaburg to sew on, which proved challenging as it wasn’t quite as neutral a background as I hoped, and I was worried my white stitches weren’t going to show up. I started out knowing a handful of stitches, I studied reference books for more, and if I’m honest, probably just made some up along the way, and I had a lot of fun doing it. I didn’t get hung up on stitch size or style I just whaled away, and the very lovely Louise has described it as ‘sketching with stitches’, which is kinda what it felt like for me. I just viewed this portrait as an extension of my digital sketches;

I found an image from the movie that I liked,

[caption id="attachment_692" align="alignnone" width="324"] Niclole Kindman as Satine in Moulin Rouge[/caption]

sketched over it digitally to capture the details that I wanted to include,

[caption id="attachment_693" align="alignnone" width="490"] Quick digital sketch, in as simple lines as possible[/caption]

and printed this off to make a tracing to form the basis of the embroidery.

[caption id="attachment_694" align="alignnone" width="490"] I used eyeliner pencil as I didn't have a proper fabric marker- ooops![/caption]

It really feels like a new way of drawing for me, and I’d love to do more portraits like this in the future. I’ll be sure to keep you posted when I do ;-)

Have a Chaffy Christmas!

Find Chaffy, by Jamie Smart, is possibly one of the cutest kids books I've ever seen. Chaffies are tiny little fluffy creatures who are forever getting lost, and in a very 'where's Wally?' kind of way you have to find them among the super detailed pages of the books. (Loads of fun for kids to pour over for hours on end spotting the hidden chaffies). They are also adorable. If you are ever lucky enough to find a Chaffy 'in the wild', you must photograph him at your current location before helping him on his travels by passing him on to someone you trust. They are intrepid little things.
Over on www.findchaffy.com they are running a 'draw chaffy a Christmas card' competition, and I was so inspired I wanted to draw a christmassy chaffy using embroidery floss. Too cute! Look at how he turned out! Stitched chaffy makes a rather fetching christmas decoration don't you think?  ;-)


Christmas Chaffy ! Stitches by me, Chaffy by Jamie Smart

Sadly I didn't win  :-( But  I did receive a personal thank you from Chaffy!! -

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Thank you from Chaffy himself!

You can see all the fabulous competition entries here:
All the Chaffy Christmas cards 

Inis Magazine Winter 2011

[caption id="attachment_638" align="alignnone" width="490"] Inis - children's books Ireland- Issue 36[/caption]

Look what I found in the post this morning! Well, isn’t this a pleasant surprise? It’s my contributor’s copy of the latest increasingly beautiful ‘Inis’ Magazine from Children’s books Ireland. ‘Inis’ has recently undergone a makeover and the new format makes for magazine you will want to keep and cherish, with its matt finish card cover to its lavish illustration spreads. I can’t recommend this magazine enough if you are interested in children’s books, either as a parent, a teacher or a book creator.

[caption id="attachment_639" align="alignnone" width="490"] Illustration spread for review of Jon Klassen's 'I want my hat back'.[/caption]

There are so many great articles, interviews and book reviews from the world of children’s literature in Ireland and beyond. ‘Inis’ covers children’s books for all ages and included in this particular issue (no.36) you’ll find an interview with award winning picture book editor Alison Green, well known adult authors talking about writing for children and young adults, in depth examinations on mental health issues in young people’s literature, and a look at the representation (or lack) of non-heterosexual characters, as well as a heavily illustrated book review section (in which I am one of many reviewers!) What more can I say? It’s a beautiful and intelligent magazine, well worth checking out.

[caption id="attachment_640" align="alignnone" width="490"] Spot me in the spread about Vordak The Incomprehensible ;-)[/caption]

Bunny Quilt Completed!

In my recent creative frenzy I’ve also managed to complete my very first quilt, my hexagon bunny fabric sampler. I put the final stitches in it last weekend but neglected to post about it until now. I was a bit worried I might be boring everyone with my beginner’s glee at every small quilting hurdle I overcame. But perhaps I needn’t have worried as I’ve been really touched by some of my friends online asking to see it. OK, so here it is in all its glory.

[caption id="attachment_630" align="alignnone" width="490"] The Bunny Quilt Completed[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_631" align="alignnone" width="490"] Proper Mitered Corners and everything![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_632" align="alignnone" width="490"] And this is the back, showing the road map of my hand quilting.[/caption]

Thanks to everyonewho offered feedback and encouragement along the way. It’s been lovely sharing this, it’s helped keep me motivated knowing I have someone to show it to!

As ever, you can see the range I designed here.  I also have another cause to celebrate this quilt's completion - I'm pleased to say I've recently seen my first sales from this range , a couple of yards of the  Bunny Sprinkles design has sold. I only earn a tiny 10% of comission from the sale, but it's so great to know my fabrics are going out there into the world!!! So go on, pass me the tea and cake!