Return to 'normal viewing'..

...Well, not much has changed since last I posted. We at the shop, are still in a state of flux - we continue to work on knowing that in a while - short of long - we will close the doors. What happens after that is any one's guess...

However...
It is time to return this channel to its 'regular viewing' - that is about stitching... Which I might add has been a little thin on the ground...

I finally finished my January - Year of the Rabbit - postcard for the stitchin fingers fabric postcard group. I have already received both of mine - yes, I was foolish enough to put my hand up for February Bug postcard too... Both of them are below - the bright bunny with the cheeky grin and delicate stitching is from Mary Lou and the beautiful bug is from Hopscotch... Each quite different from the other - each carrying the wonderful workmanship of their owner... It was just lovely to come home from the stress to find each of them waiting for me... I can't help but smile every time I look at that bunny's face...

and the bug just fills me full of wonderment... My thanks to both of these ladies and their works of art - I appreciate them so much...

Now my postcard was less about stitching and more about drawing - as I told you originally I had seen the design for the rabbit on the cover of a horoscope book earlier this year - it fitted perfectly with the theme of Year of the Rabbit. I 'light boxed' the design on to the pale pink fabric and did numerous layers of coloured pencil and then 'dry' watercolour paint... I was undecided whether to add words or more images when I saw another idea for flowers - these were in the shape of cardboard templates which I traced around then again used coloured pencils to colour - I deliberately allowed the colour fixative to 'bleed' giving the overall (hopefully) effect of watercolour painting.

The stitching part was minimal - the rabbits whiskers, facial highlights, the partial stitching around the middle flower, blades of grass and some beading in the centre of each flower. Because of the design I had to rethink of the way I was going to finish the postcard. I made a 'pocket' by joining the back fabric of the postcard to the front leaving one edge open - I slipped a piece of cardboard into the 'pocket' then turned opening edges in and glued them together... This way my original idea of the bunny 'poking its head' into the picture was achieved - almost like when you are taking a photo - only at the last minute- someone puts their head into the shot...

Mary Lou if you happened to read this - I deliberately posted your card here as I wanted to reassure you that it is finished and 'hopping' on its way to you as of tomorrow Wednesday 28th April... Heartfelt thanks for your patience...

If you click on each of the photos you can get a better idea of the details...

Now on with the bug... :-}

Until later, take care

S x

I see a light in the darkness....

...but is it just a b****y train!!! That is where my thoughts are at the moment... What we do know for sure that the shop will close - however whether it is for good or whether it will be short term we aren't sure - infact the way it goes - we will probably be the last to know.... I'm starting to look forward to my little 'forced march' holiday - however long or short it might be... Until later S x

no good news...

... as of Friday the shop was 'under administration'... By the end of April I shall be unemployed if not before... Although we - the staff- knew that Friday decision was the likely outcome it sent us into shock - especially as we the counter staff have to go on with 'business as usual' fielding all the customers questions - plus act in a manner that still puts the business in a professional light - 'just in case' a potential buyer pops up like a rabbit out of a hat... Now you can imagine the pressure that puts us all under especially as we are grappling with what to do next as far as employment goes... I have fluctuated between being positive that a door will open somewhere for me, to being quite depressed.... Given that I am more of an elder rather than fresh faced I wonder if my face will ever again fit somewhere... But we soldier on... The up side - if there is one that I will have some spare time to catch up on a few things that need some attention. A couple of friends have already booked me for lunch... Hopefully I will have some work by the end of May so I am allowing myself a month before things get really grim... Speaking of spare time - I am thinking about all the dedicated stitching which I will have... Well, I have to think cheerfully about something don't I? But if I don't post here regularly you will understand why - not because I don't want to but more that I may be engaged in some more pressing business - like job seeking, resume updating and hopefully interviews which will kick start my 'new' life... Until later S xx