Zentangle Fish

Last week I was definitely struggling to know which stitches to use on little fishy, but I feel that I've had a bit of a break through - less is more!!! I realised I don't need to completely fill him in (I could be stating the obvious) but I had thought I would stitch between all the lines but actually I think that would just be too much! Which means that he is probably near completion.  So tomorrow afternoon while we are vegging out in front of the TV watching the next James Bond film I should get him finished. I will link up with Kathy's blog Slow Sunday Stitching tomorrow so you can see what everyone else is stitching.

I've also had time to sew another little Indian elephant. White Stuff (a UK clothing store) have been asking people who sew to pick up a piece of fabric from their shops and to create a picture with it. I chose the above fabric and decided an elephant would suit the pattern. Every one that is returned to the shop before 10th March get entered into the competition to win £50 in vouchers and the shop will donate £5 for each one to a local charity! Seemed like a good deal to me. I took mine into the shop today and they have a clothes line of little pictures behind the till and they looked really sweet.  They will also be made into charity quilts at the end. With lots of shops around the UK it could be a huge earner for local charities so I hope lots of people take part! And if you live in the UK there is still time to make one!

Slow Sunday Stitching

We had a lovely long walk along Hengisbury Head this morning, but boy o boy was it cold.  That wind was blowing off the sea and straight into our eyes, ears and noses! Sooooo cold! When we had walked around the headland it got slightly better - helped undoubtedly by the coffee and fruit cake in the café before heading back home.  Lola as usual had a wonderful time.  I had better just say at this point she is lucky to still be part of this family as on Friday she ate my DH new passport.  When we came home from shopping and opened the front door there was Lola wagging her tail with glee, the passport hanging out of her mouth minus a large chunk from the corner! Lets just say we were not very happy with her!!!!

Last Sunday I finished assembling my Happy crochet flower (Attic24 pattern) and that now hangs in my work room. And I did a little more of my zentangle fish. Trouble is I'm just not sure where I am going with him, so I might concentrate on doing a bit more this afternoon or he may well go by the wayside!

I will link up with Kathy's blog for Slow Sunday Stitching and get some inspiration for zentangle fish. Have a great Sunday! xx 

Pottery

For Christmas I bought DH a day course at a local pottery and here are the results of his labours!

6 bowls - various shapes and sizes
1 plate
1 milk jug
1 candle holder
1 soup bowl

For a first attempt they are brilliant! And I love the colours he chose to glaze them with.  All the pieces that should hold liquid do - no cracks (although the jug does dribble a little) So an excellent result I think!

My blog is a totally self indulgent pastime and I really enjoy posting pictures and sharing my craft projects and it is always nice if someone pops in to look and posts a comment. I always take a look at the blogs of those who leave a comment and that can lead to lots of wonderful exciting new ideas and inspiration. Inevitable one blog leads you to another and so on..... Todays blog hop led me HERE Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe and oh how I loved her threads and samplers (it really makes me want to start a sampler!). There is a wonderful giveaway also. So thank you Cathie J for the link!

Happy Valentines Day!

I've spent this week working on some heart themed projects in honour of Valentines Day! And consequently I have two finishes to share. Last Sunday I finished off this little heart wreath by sewing on the buttons and then attaching the flowers and leaves to some pipe cleaners.  It's very cute and I am rather pleased with the outcome.  You can find the link to Attic 24 in last weeks post.

I also completed the fifth heart in my red work project.  I find red work very relaxing and I can watch television easily while stitching and of course the results are always rewarding! Now all five hearts are complete I can start assembling the nine patch blocks that will go in between the embroideries.

And here are the other four blocks.  The block with the stitched hearts (and the keys block above) stand out slightly because its on a brighter fabric than the others.  Unfortunately I ran out of fabric and had to re-order but I am hoping when its all together it won't notice!!

The red work patterns come out of a book by Mandy Shaw who is a wonderfully talented English designer. And I absolutely love her work (it features frequently in this blog!). Last Saturday while DH was up in London at his Astronomy exhibition I indulged in watching some create and craft TV and it just so happened Mandy had an hour long programme which featured these patterns. I just couldn't resist!!!

I am linking up with SLOW SUNDAY STITCHING so you can see what other people are sewing this Valentines Day. And what ever it is you decide to do I hope you have a wonderful day whether it be with the ones you love or doing the things you love!

Slow Sunday Stitching

It's been an interesting week, especially the last couple of days.  After joining the gym I was determined that I would actually go and I'm extremely proud to say I went to one class and one gym session.  Bring on next week I say! Friday and Saturday my DH went up to London with our son to Astrofest.  It's two days of spacey and astronomy things, including lectures and an exhibition (for us sewers it would be the equivalent of going to a show where we had textile and embroidery experts sharing there experiences and then being able to buy goodies at the end - BLISS) as it was for the boys.  It meant that I had two days on my own to slob in front of the TV with TV dinners (check), sew to my hearts content (check), eat biscuits (check) and read in the middle of the night (check).  Great fun but if I did it longer than two days I would be a wreck (apart from anything I wouldn't want DH away longer than that!!

So what did I amuse myself with?  I finished my fourth heart (one more to go and then I can start assembling the quilt).

I crochet the leaves for my little valentines heart, you can find the pattern from Attic 24

I also finished the leaves and add on for this little piece of nonsense.  This is also an Attic 24 pattern. This afternoon I will pin it out and glue it ready for assembling next week.

and made several pots of marmalade!

So what will I be sewing this afternoon? I might carry on working on my zentangle fish or start my next redwork heart or sew the flowers and leaves on to pipe cleaners for my valentines heart.  But what ever it is I will be relaxing in the company of DH and mustn't forget Lola the dog! I am linking up with Kathy for Slow Sunday Stitching so pop over and have a look to see what others are sewing today and what ever it is have a great day!

Textile class - Lichen

Yesterday I had my textile class and we are doing a study of Lichen. We made the components for a book cover or to stick on a stone for a paper weight or I might use mine as a door stop (depending on Lola of course - if she finds it irresistible and can't leave it alone it will have to be kept off the floor, so not much use to keep the door open!)

We started off with silk fibres and tops in colours to match our Lichen inspiration and used a glue to make them more like silk paper.  Dyed scrim was used to cover Tyvek which we had coloured and then used a warm iron to make them bubble up.  I've tacked my piece to some organza and started placing the Tyvek and scrim and added a few stitches.  When I've got something worth showing I will but at the moment it doesn't look much.  Great fun though!