'Oh dear! Oh dear!

... I shall be too late!' said the White Rabbit - Alice In Wonderland

Unheard of - two posts in the same day! It was actually E who suggested that I blog my progess on this FPC (fabric post card)... Not my design unfortunately but it just lent itself to my FPC swap over on stitchin' fingers. As usual I am running behind with this swap - but the people who are involved already know that like the white rabbit I'm running late. And as far as I know they don't come over here so I am safe with showing you progress reports...

I have used a combination of water colour paints and Derwent Inktense coloured pencils for the base coat of the rabbit - once they are dried I may do a second coat and then I shall embroider in the whiskers etc. Applying watercolour to fabric is like 'dancing with the devil' as you can pay the price if the paint is too wet - it will 'bleed' over onto other areas. I used a fairly dry brush and 'neat' colour rather than watering it down into a wash. The card size will be pared back to the pencil lines. Doing this sort of thing really makes me come alive - I can feel the inspiration bubbling to the surface washing away the everyday humdrum for a couple of hours as whatever I'm doing 'comes to life'.

Stay tuned for further updates...


S xx

Stitching and Surprise

I thought it might be time for an update on my stitching... Whilst it doesn't look much I have been putting in the time when and where I can... I am determined that this one shall be finished in time for the Tapestry Guild's 'Inspirations' exhibition in Oct. I have been going to their Sit and Stitch sessions on a Saturday - well, I have been twice this month which is a great improvement on 2010 when I went three times for the whole year. I do enjoy the couple of hours I spend with like minded people having a stitch, a coffee and a giggle - not exclusively in that order. They are a bunch of lovely ladies and Bob - our one male member - who stitches beautifully, I might add. I feel so fortunate to have this group just about on my door step so to speak.


This little surprise turned up in my letter box last week... I had been pointed in the direction of this online site last year - http://www.peppertreehousedesigns.com/ - and I had duly visited and registered. Apparently they had a been drawing winners for something which they were a part called the Great Aussie Shop Hop... I was one of the lucky weekly winners and won for myself a needle case pattern. Since I have been talking about making myself a needle case for ages obviously the Universe heard and made it so... Now I just have to make it sew - play on words here :-}...

Alright enough from me...







Until later


S xx

Stash win...

G reminded me yesterday that I haven't shown you a photo of my stash win. Some weeks a go now L from Chloe's Place was having a 'stash reduction' clean up... I was the lucky recipient of it.

The stash arrived in a large plastic bag and since then I have had many happy moments rummaging through - each time I have tipped it out on the desk I have found a new piece - it is like a treasure trove for stash hungry pirates...
Yesterday a pale flesh colour glove (right hand side of photo) tumbled out. It was curled up like a caterpillar and as it unfurled the 'butterfly' was revealed. I slipped the glove on my hand and I mused about the dreams that may have gone with it. Was it for a special occasion, perhaps a celebration, a ball or a wedding... Who was the wearer? Was it L's mum or did it come from further afield??? This photo doesn't do it justice but you can get the general idea.

I do know that L's mum was a dressmaker and crafts person too and the stash is reflective of her talents. The stash shows L's tastes as well - her favorite colours coming through time and time again. There is an assortment of laces, threads, little packets of beads and bit, material off cuts - some fussy cut with pictures obviously destined for other things...

There are some hand dyed bits - I just love this - again photo doesn't do it justice as the colours shimmer when the light catches him. I have always wanted to do an underwater/fantasy 'crazy' - this little fish could be the start of that - a brain storming motif..



What are you going to do with it you may ask??? I can't give you an absolute answer on that however I am toying with an idea. What if by this time next year (or some time in the future - less than the year) I haven't done anything with it or I taken my fill of what it offers I could add some of my own stash and again send it on its way to a new owner who may do as L and I have done.

Perhaps we could name it (borrowing unashamedly here) Sisterhood of the Travelling Stash... It would be interesting to see the stash's progression and what each recipient does with it's content...What do you think?


Until later...

S xxx

not my work...

... but I just had to share this with you.... This amazing work belongs to Jude of Spirit Cloth . I have been reading her blog for quite awhile now and I am constantly delighted at her work.. Jude is part magician, part story teller, she a producer of pieces of work which seem to "grow" and speak a subtle, even hidden language which can touch the viewer in many ways. After viewing her work I come away feeling refreshed, reinvigorated and revitalized... Jude offers is no pretentious explanations - just images which convey a depth of feeling and grace...

This image of the heart speaks volumes to me on some inner level... Perhaps it is because I have just finished The Lightkeeper's Wife by Karen Viggers which is all about love and sacrifice... Of old love which has worn and endured and of new and unexpected passion which offers promise to perhaps something finer...

Have a read of Jude's blog - it is an adventure all of its own...

Until later

S xx