I am interrupting the regularly scheduled blog posting to ask for some help.
I have just discovered a new line - Jubilee by Bunny Hill Designs. It seems a number of these fabrics have bunnies on them. I can only find three of them! I've found the bunnies medallions in mauve, the bunny damask in mauve and bunny damask in light grey, but it seems these fabrics were printed in 7 colours? I can't work out if they're a new line or an old one!
So to all my UK friends, if you come across this line in any UK online shop, can you please let me know? Comment on any post and I'll see it. UK only as I can't afford US postage.
Thank you!!
Friday, 11 April 2014
Thursday, 10 April 2014
El Mosaic
I think I showed you a snapshot of this when I was working on it? It was a kit I got for a birthday or Christmas that was waiting for me to start it. The tray was provided in the kit, along with the tessarae which are tiny tiles for this piece. I traced the design onto a sticky sheet using the carbon paper provided, peeled the back off and stuck it to the tray. I then peeled the top off in sections which gave me a sticky surface to put the tiles on.
Now I just need to grout it and paint the tray. Jojo asked why I didn't paint it first. The honest answer? Piss Poor Planning.
This mosaic was different to the house number kit I did as that used glue to stick the tiles down. Also, you could cut these tiles with normal scissors, and I had to cut loads of them as the pattern is so curvy.
Now I just need to grout it and paint the tray. Jojo asked why I didn't paint it first. The honest answer? Piss Poor Planning.
Tuesday, 8 April 2014
Save the Stitches - can I save MY stitches??
You may remember that I've done a bit of blackwork embroidery. It's a technique I really love. It's done on evenweave linen (or Aida if you prefer) and consists of straight stitches in a variety of combinations to make filling designs. It doesn't have to be black either.
I came across a wonderful blackwork blog, Blackwork Journey. Elizabeth Almond is writer of the blog and a pattern designer. She has designed a huge blackwork project where sections are released one at a time.
I've had in mind to do a larger sampler-style piece of blackwork for a while, so I bought the recommended materials and got to work. Above is one of the blocks. Each of the squares has a different filling design and metallic threads and beads will come into it later.
Stitching this is a little fiddly as it's 28 count linen, that means 28 threads per inch. It's small. Very small.
See what I mean? And that could be a problem... it was pointed out to me that it should be stitched over 2, whereas I've been stitching over 1. I'm just awaiting confirmation from Elizabeth but I might have to rip out this 4-5 hours work....
Update: Yep, I did it wrong. Cue lots of cursing...
I came across a wonderful blackwork blog, Blackwork Journey. Elizabeth Almond is writer of the blog and a pattern designer. She has designed a huge blackwork project where sections are released one at a time.
I've had in mind to do a larger sampler-style piece of blackwork for a while, so I bought the recommended materials and got to work. Above is one of the blocks. Each of the squares has a different filling design and metallic threads and beads will come into it later.
Stitching this is a little fiddly as it's 28 count linen, that means 28 threads per inch. It's small. Very small.
See what I mean? And that could be a problem... it was pointed out to me that it should be stitched over 2, whereas I've been stitching over 1. I'm just awaiting confirmation from Elizabeth but I might have to rip out this 4-5 hours work....
Update: Yep, I did it wrong. Cue lots of cursing...
Sunday, 6 April 2014
Craft Book Review - Spring on my wrist
The lovely folk at GMC sent me another book to review. If you usually click away from my reviews, I do always make something from the book, there are photos further down.
The book this time was Jewelry For All Seasons. Yep, Jewellery is spelt wrong...
Before we go any further, the disclaimers. I was sent the book for free to review but I was not told what to say and all opinions are 100% my own. I didn't receive any monetary compensation. Links in this post, as with all my book posts, are affiliated. If you click over and buy something, I get a few pence towards an Amazon voucher.
This book is beautiful. I have flicked through it countless times already as the photography is gorgeous and the projects are inspirational. This is a bit of a first for me as I don't usually make projects from jewellery making book, other than beadweaving and polymer clay that is.
At the start, there is the usual equipment and techniques sections, covering all kinds of materials you can use to make jewellery and giving some basic techniques for wrapped loops and other essential components. Then it goes a bit further and shows you how to make your own clasps and shows the methods for working with shrink plastic, moulds and casts, resins and paints. Some great information there, a lot of it new to me.
The book is split into 4 sections, one for each season, and each season begins with an inspiration double-spread like the one above.
There are 24 projects, each with a photographic step by step. Only one or two projects are earrings which is great for a jewellery book as obviously earrings are quicker and easier projects to include (and of course earrings freak me out).
When it came to choosing what I would make, it was a little difficult as I didn't have all the materials required to make a full project and I wasn't willing to go shopping as I have enough jewellery making supplies to kit out most of Nottingham in accessories. Instead, I chose to make the bracelet structure from the project above, and free-style the decoration, heavily inspired by the book.
This project in particular provided a lot of inspiration, although it looks nothing like my finished piece.
I threaded loads of these lucite flowers onto headpins, held in place with a seed bead for the small ones, or a seed bead and a larger bead for the larger flowers. I then added some of the seed beads to wire, threaded on the flowers on their wrapped loops and wrapped and wrapped and wrapped! Some areas are thicker than others!
As you can see, I went for a rainbow effect. And we had some sunshine last weekend when I took these photos! The bracelet was made to 8" as directed, with the ends of the wire coiled back. My wrist is tiny. Did I scale the bracelet down? No. No I didn't. This meant that when I added the clasp and loop, it was enormous. I had to remove the loop, attempt to open the wrapped loop I'd made and use that as the loop to hook the clasp through. Not my best work.
I love that clasp though. It was SO easy to make, I honestly don't know why I haven't made my own clasps before.
I've worn it out in public already. It is quite big and I wasn't sure if I could pull it off, but I enjoyed looking at it and that's all that counts. Some of the wires I used to wrap it jabbed me though, I should have taken more care tucking them in.
Next up I want to have a go at something based on this lovely wintry necklace:
Book details:
Disclaimer:
I was given a review copy of the book by GMC however this review and all opinions are 100% my own, I was not told what to say. Amazon links are affiliate links.
The book this time was Jewelry For All Seasons. Yep, Jewellery is spelt wrong...
Before we go any further, the disclaimers. I was sent the book for free to review but I was not told what to say and all opinions are 100% my own. I didn't receive any monetary compensation. Links in this post, as with all my book posts, are affiliated. If you click over and buy something, I get a few pence towards an Amazon voucher.
At the start, there is the usual equipment and techniques sections, covering all kinds of materials you can use to make jewellery and giving some basic techniques for wrapped loops and other essential components. Then it goes a bit further and shows you how to make your own clasps and shows the methods for working with shrink plastic, moulds and casts, resins and paints. Some great information there, a lot of it new to me.
The book is split into 4 sections, one for each season, and each season begins with an inspiration double-spread like the one above.
There are 24 projects, each with a photographic step by step. Only one or two projects are earrings which is great for a jewellery book as obviously earrings are quicker and easier projects to include (and of course earrings freak me out).
When it came to choosing what I would make, it was a little difficult as I didn't have all the materials required to make a full project and I wasn't willing to go shopping as I have enough jewellery making supplies to kit out most of Nottingham in accessories. Instead, I chose to make the bracelet structure from the project above, and free-style the decoration, heavily inspired by the book.
This project in particular provided a lot of inspiration, although it looks nothing like my finished piece.
I really wish I'd taken a photo of the bare bracelet structure for you as it was a new-to-me technique and it's pretty much covered up in all these photos! However, it was getting towards evening and I was really unwilling to stop and leave it until after the weekend!
I threaded loads of these lucite flowers onto headpins, held in place with a seed bead for the small ones, or a seed bead and a larger bead for the larger flowers. I then added some of the seed beads to wire, threaded on the flowers on their wrapped loops and wrapped and wrapped and wrapped! Some areas are thicker than others!
As you can see, I went for a rainbow effect. And we had some sunshine last weekend when I took these photos! The bracelet was made to 8" as directed, with the ends of the wire coiled back. My wrist is tiny. Did I scale the bracelet down? No. No I didn't. This meant that when I added the clasp and loop, it was enormous. I had to remove the loop, attempt to open the wrapped loop I'd made and use that as the loop to hook the clasp through. Not my best work.
I love that clasp though. It was SO easy to make, I honestly don't know why I haven't made my own clasps before.
I've worn it out in public already. It is quite big and I wasn't sure if I could pull it off, but I enjoyed looking at it and that's all that counts. Some of the wires I used to wrap it jabbed me though, I should have taken more care tucking them in.
Next up I want to have a go at something based on this lovely wintry necklace:
Book details:
- Paperback: 168 pages
- Publisher: Gmc (26 Feb 2014)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1861089562
- ISBN-13: 978-1861089564
- RRP: £14.99
Buy it here: Jewelry For All Seasons
Disclaimer:
I was given a review copy of the book by GMC however this review and all opinions are 100% my own, I was not told what to say. Amazon links are affiliate links.
Related Posts
Friday, 4 April 2014
April goals
Needlequest
This month is "Spring". I have a few ideas. I have the pattern for a crewel alphabet in very spring like colours which could be a contender. I'm also working on an applique of a vase of flowers. I'm using lots of different stitches and some bead embroidery, so that could fit the bill.
Sew Kitschy paper piecing bom
This month we have a fab teapot, I can see this becoming a mat for our tea/coffee making worktop.
2014 FAL
It's the 2nd Quarter, so time for some new goals. I'm going for the sling-em-all-on-and-one-might-get-done approach again! Ladies, don't panic, I really don't expect to do them all!
1. Chair cushions for dining room
2. Finish the latch hook - ha ha ha! (I'm laughing to myself as it's about a million hours' work)
4. Jacob's quilt
5. Mosaic tray. Yes, it looks done, but it needs grouting and painting.
Something Old, Something New
For my "old" project, I'm going with finishing half of the latch hook rug. For the "new", I'm going to wait and see what happens...
Something New for 2014
I've got a silversmith course coming up, so that will be the first one! Maybe I'll learn something else too.
A Lovely Year of Finishes
It has to be the chair cushions, they've been languishing too long.
Craft Book Sew along
I'm not going to nominate the books I'll use in advance, I'll wait and see what happens.
Rainbow Scrap Challenge
April's colour hasn't yet been announced, but am making scrap buckets for each colour, so I'll carry on with that.
Smalls SAL
Another cover kit, though I'm also hoping to do some more on Quilty Stitches.
Related Posts
March review
March goals
February review 1
February review 2
February review 3
February goals
January review
Thursday, 3 April 2014
shopping handmade, and, erm, bunny fabric
I had the day off work yesterday. I went to get my hair cut and on getting home I went out to see my bunnies. Would you believe, someone (and I suspect it must be one of the reprobates living in the house next door) had dumped a whole pile of dog poo over the wall into my garden?? It was in a pile next to Colin and Ellis and swarming with flies. I am absolutely furious with the disgusting b%^&*ds.
Anyway, I think you all know that I love bunnies? So anyone that also know's Mia's work would probably guess that I'd love it. And I do. I have ordered from Mia before and when she brought out these sweet little needlefelted bunny brooches in a little bunny shopping bag, I couldn't resist! As I'm a return customer, she also generously threw in a snowdrop magnet. How cute?
Anyway, I think you all know that I love bunnies? So anyone that also know's Mia's work would probably guess that I'd love it. And I do. I have ordered from Mia before and when she brought out these sweet little needlefelted bunny brooches in a little bunny shopping bag, I couldn't resist! As I'm a return customer, she also generously threw in a snowdrop magnet. How cute?
I went shopping again. I've lost the little note I wrote telling me what these fabrics are and where they're from. I think they're from Celtic Fusion, but don't quote me. Top left in Anita Hooey's Posy, bunnies in lilac. Top right is Lily and Will but the other one is a bit of a mystery.
Then my Village Stash Society bundle turned up. Orange!! Yay! Clearly Annie was reading me moaning about the lack of orange in my stash (or rather it's coincidence as the colours were decided from the beginning!). Now I'm lacking purples...
The bank manager is really mad at me now, so this month will bring a bit of Littlest, a new FMQ foot and that is it!
Update: A wonderful bloggy friend sent me some more bunny fabrics yesterday! I will post about them very soon.
Tuesday, 1 April 2014
A goldwork decoration
Happy April the first! Here's hoping no-one tries to fool me today as I will fall for it. I finished the canvas work decoration that was challenge for Needlequest's March theme of goldwork.
I am so happy with how it turned out. Yep, that's right, I'm happy with it. There are no major mistakes that I feel compelled to point out. It's about 6" tip to top, not including the tassle.
I hung it up in my craft room to take a picture and it's currently living there until I find a better home for it! I really enjoyed this quick foray into goldwork and I will be doing some more. It's also got me itching to do some more canvas work... If only I didn't have 360 WIPs as it is...
Related posts
Needlequest January - Needlepainting
Needlequest February - Japan (Sashiko)
Needlequest March - Goldwork, starting the decoration
I am so happy with how it turned out. Yep, that's right, I'm happy with it. There are no major mistakes that I feel compelled to point out. It's about 6" tip to top, not including the tassle.
The cream stitches are all Rhodes stitches, which is a lovely textural stitch. The gold squares are leather which I stab stitched in place. That was quite challenging, as was cutting them to the right size. Each one has 2 layers of felt underneath to give it some depth. The outside is sewn up with beads. I forgot to take a picture of the back, but it's just a plain cream silk.
I hung it up in my craft room to take a picture and it's currently living there until I find a better home for it! I really enjoyed this quick foray into goldwork and I will be doing some more. It's also got me itching to do some more canvas work... If only I didn't have 360 WIPs as it is...
Related posts
Needlequest January - Needlepainting
Needlequest February - Japan (Sashiko)
Needlequest March - Goldwork, starting the decoration
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