Two week catch up....

6th May 2018

The last 2 weeks have been spent home sitting for these two lovely pets....

....unfortunately the first week was 'back to winter' weather wise and I didn't have my boots and thick waterproof coat with me!!!

The last week was much better and I enjoyed many walks along the  Thames river bank.....

....some amazing house boats....

.....Hampton Court....

....rowers being trained....

....a lot of activity on Sunday morning....

....even 2 people swimming!

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The blossom has been been really beautiful....

.....this lilac had the most wonderful scent...

.....and shades....

....these fabulous tulips were in a pot in the garden of the house where I was staying, so very pretty!

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I started this piece in Cornwall, layered silk and organza on a calico backing....

....I didn't have anything in mind, just played and machine stitched...

...the finished piece, free machining on top based on the printing blocks I designed in Cornwall. I will certainly use this abstract fabric background again also a great way of using fabric off cuts!

I started this for a very special little girl who will be 2 in June!

Still a lot of stitching to do!

A Busy Few Weeks...

18th April 2018

I have done two home sits since I last blogged, both with lovely animals.

While I was on the home-sit I enjoyed listening to a book on Audible and stitching.....

...I spent yesterday afternoon making my small embroidered pieces into cards....

....hand stitched on hand made felt....

...silk embroidery on old linen.

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Had a great day in Kew last Saturday with family members....

...love these huge pots at the entrance...

....the beds were magnificent.

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Think I will Kantha stitch this Shibori fabric which was an Indigo experiment from a couple of years ago using clamps and a tin lid!!

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Finished Miss Mousie, made up the pattern based on Luna Lapin, just need to make some clothes for her!

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Also tea/coffee dyed pages for my  book of  stitch samples.

Lots to do on my  home-sit next week.....

Weekly Catch Up.....more embroidery samples

8th April 2018

A funny old week weather wise here in London!!

A lot of rain but a couple of really warm and sunny days when I was able to sit in the garden and soak up some sun, today however, probably because I had decided to go to Kew to see the blossom and Magnolia in flower, it is POURING with rain so have been doing some more embroidery samples for the book I have yet to make!

Fly Stitch.....

....added more in various thicknesses of thread...

....also experimented with the size of the stitch and direction....

....this is my Chain Stitch sample....

.....Blanket Stitch with variations!!

Today I made this using very simple stitches, think I will mount onto a card.

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Yesterday I went over to Brockley to see my son and wife, just over an hours journey on the tube and train, very relaxing. There is a Farmers Market there every Saturday and as we had sun instead of the forecasted rain we spent a very pleasant half hour tasting/choosing our lunch! Lots of catching up over hummus, fresh cheeses, olives and of course Prosecco, a brilliant way to spend a Saturday.

Off on another house sit very early tomorrow, just hope the tubes are all running!!

Hand Embroidery

2nd April 2018

Another wet, dreary day in London!!

I have been enjoying hand embroidery during my house sits.....

....my Shibori indigo dyed fabric and Kantha stitching....

.....close up...

....also embroidered these flowers onto old linen to make into cards....

....this was made with a lovely variegated silk thread...

....a posy....

....I follow Anne Brooke textile artist and she has started to make a spool of fabric showing embroidery stitches so have made samples of stitches to keep in a hand made book.....

...Stem Stitch, a very useful stitch...

....variations on Cross Stitch....

.....Seed stitch, great for texturing...

....Running Stitch, so simple but so useful....

....I marked out my 2" squares with this really useful pen. The blue marks on the fabric can be easily removed with water on a paintbrush!