17 November 2013

All squared up...

I spent some quiet time this morning to finish up the embroidery in the clog, but I've kept the tulip pretty simple. It ain't perfect, but it's fine by me!



I also ran around the blades of the windmill to give it some more pop. Just one strand of brown, but if I was to do it again, I would do it all in brown! The white just disappears in the pale blue...


They are all trimmed and squared now, so I can play with layouts and colours. I don't have a design wall, so I usually take photos on the floor in different combos and scroll through them on my iPad. It would be easier with a design wall, but I just don't have the space!!

I think I will trim the smaller blocks in red first, and the centre block in the mottled blue. Maybe? I just need to separate the two blues from each other to disguise the fact that they are not the same. Or try to, anyway.... Wish me luck!!

16 November 2013

Progress...

I've searched high and low for some remaining background blue fabric, but cannot put my finger on it, so back to Spotlight I went. Do I get an almost match or complete contrast??

Well, I got both, to cover both bases. Now that I see them together, hopefully I can use the contrast to separate the blocks enough so they look the same.... I hope! I'm investing a load of time into the embellishment, so I am NOT doing them again!! LOL!!

So far I have remade the single clog in red -


I'm using the actual red clog I have to design the embroidery - not sure how I'm going to do the windmill! This will take some planning....

This tulip will need a little tizz up, too. Maybe a ladybird will appear?? :)


I created this one with two separate designs spliced together. Originally designed to be in a pot, but got rid of it in favour of a bigger flower. Worked quite well, I think... (FYI, it's actually pink, but my photo makes it look red...)

I need to pace myself with this embroidery, though. Long stints are giving me terrible headaches :( On the bright side, I am actually quite enjoying it! Who'd have thunk it?? 

10 November 2013

Bits and pieces...

The weather has started to heat up, so a lot of time is being spent indoors! 

A trawl through some old mags and I found a gem! Pretty vague instructions, but the image is clear - a shoe!! The mag was printed before visoflix existed, so a bit if tweaking and I ended up with these, all from scraps, I might add (always a bonus!!)


Not sure what I am going to do with them, but they are ready when needed!

I was also keen to find and finish a project I started AGES a ago, with the intention of giving it to my grandma for Christmas, but never got past the "tinkering" stage. Although, quite by surprise, I was actually further ahead than I remembered! All paper pieced...


The idea was to use Dutch symbolism - tulips, delft, clogs, etc - to make a quilt. I knew I had already finished the centre girl, but discovered that I was already done with the jug and partway through the windmill! I somehow remember that I was testing the idea of the blades in embroidery in white, so I finished off the last 2 blades and added the ivy on the front. I haven't done hand embroidery for a long time, but it all comes flooding back. Completely free form....



The jug is similar in style, the design copied from an old Delft tile :



The centrepiece I enlarged from a much smaller pattern. Unfortunately she looks like she has a rugby players neck, but I can ignore it... :)





Not sure on the clogs.... I don't like the colours, something doesn't sit right.... I should have gone with red, not brown, but unless I can find some background fabric, I can't remake anything! I also have a pattern for a tulip, but the same applies. With no background fabric, it makes it more difficult.....

I will stew over these decisions for a few days, and hopefully reach a decision and get it finished!! Yay!!



09 November 2013

Making Faces...

Many months ago, I was give a doll to put a face on. Now, I do not claim to be an expert in any way, but I am getting better.... I think.... Before, she looked a bit like an alien -


- but now I think she is quite sweet -


The doll was made with a molded face and the fabric stretched and glued over the top. The fabric itself is very coarse, and so hard to make a defined line!!!


So, after trawling the net for inspiration, I ended up doing a bit of a hybrid of everything I had seen. It's probably a bit old looking, but I think once she gets get hair on, if will soften it a bit. Given the constraints of the eye socket and lips, I had to make them a little smaller than I am used to - maybe that is why she has an older appearance? I will leave any cheek shading to her creator, if she wants to add it....


I have dressed her in something I already had on hand, not made by me, although still hand made! Her plastic pants are mine, though. I made a bunch it these for CPK's, and borrowed a pair for some photos. So easy using a shower curtain and some poly cotton for lining. Anyway, that is a whole different post....


I hope her owner is happy with what I did. There was no real definite style or colours requested - just give her a face! Ok, done!! She can have her back just in time for Christmas...

Tick that off the list, now for something new!!

03 November 2013

Canning Show 2013

This year I made so many things solely for the purpose of putting into the Show. Although I finished more items, I missed the cutoff period for some, but on the plus side, I'm already up for next year! :)

So, I ended up with 11 entries in all, and got 4 prizes. Not bad, although I thought it would be higher. Perhaps it's because I tried to cover too many categories? I don't know....


Anyway, here is my haul: 2x firsts, a second and a third.....





Mum had better odds, entering 3 items and getting 2 certificates - a second and a highly commended...


The funny part is, I beat her in the Rag Doll section! It's all in good spirits, though. The cash prizes don't hurt, either... LOL!

Pattern books out, planning for next year..... :)