I was really determined that I was going to write a post this week and not leave it so long, so I have managed
six days so I have just about fulfilled my brief. I seem to have been really busy with visits for x-raying Mr T's knee (which is no longer giving him pain), the chiropractor and the hairdresser as well as spending a good few hours with the Nutty Knitters. I actually did some knitting this week, but ... well I might share it with you... I don't think I shall be knitting again for a while. I have finished an order for a couple of book covers and a purse for a friend and a couple of mini-journal covers, but I think this cycle of making has almost come to a close. I had to remind myself that my Etsy shop is somewhere I can offer for sale the things I make rather than feeling I must make things to sell, which was not the point. A little part of me feels I ought to exploit the Christmas present market, but only a little part. It has made me also realise that my urge to create is much stronger than my urge to make money.
So I am going to share with you my next project, although the final idea I am keeping to myself for a while.
This is my sketch book developing the idea of a tree in each of the seasons. I sketched them onto four 8cm x12cm rectangles of pelmet weight vilene.
I then coloured them with some Koh-i-noor watercolour dyes
and then enhanced the colour with my lovely soft, waxy, blendable Karisma colour pencils which are no longer available.
I then free machine stitched each panel over layers of coloured voile and organza .... but just as I finished with the orange/yellow thread on the foliage of the autumn tree my sewing machine seized up!! I cleaned all the fluff out of all the accessible bits but that didn't help... oh no... B*******!!! have I done something wrong, or is it a fault with the machine? I bought it locally from a very long established supplier so I do hope Mr Theobald is able to help me tomorrow. Luckily I had finished my orders.
The little panels are ready for hand stitching, I want to build up lots layers of embroidery and I have in mind something to make with them, but I'm keeping that quiet for the moment. My Honesty Seed head book cover is more or less finished, I've added quite a bit more stitching since the last picture, so it is waiting to be made up into a book. I don't need my sewing machine for any of these things thank goodness.
(Up-date: as the machine is still under warranty it is back to the manufacturer, so only hand stitiching and paper projects for a while)
I've just noticed that I have 97 followers, so when I reach 100 I shall have a special give-away so watch this space.
