Mandala...mandala......mandala...

I've gone through 4 full bobbins and a whole spool of metallic thread over the last few days...

...having fun machining the printed areas on these mandala pieces.

I got these beautiful print blocks from Jaime at Colouricious...

...who kindly gave them to me and told me to "have fun" with them.

Well.....I have...and THANK YOU!! :-) xxxxx

They are all printed onto a Moda batik fabric...

...and stitched with Madeira thread.

I have a load of Oliver Twists silk threads to do the hand stitching. Yum Yum

Have a great week

x C

Piles!!

I have been out and about...

...and around and around...

...over the last couple of months...

...and I know I've been a bit "slack" when it comes to posting on my blog.

But...

...I have not been slack when it comes to preparing and stitching.

Although all of these are still UFOs...

...and I now need to spend some serious time finishing them off!

Piles and piles and piles of them to be working on over the next few weeks...

...before I'm off out and about again!!

Lots of lovely fun with my Colouricious print blocks (look out for Jamie on Hochanda Friday!)...

...and hand-dyed threads from Oliver Twists.

I will get them finished...

...honest!! :-D

x C

New project - "Celtic Dreams"

Well...

...this weekend I was going to be showing some Winter festive projects...

...but a change of plan has saved you from that one so early in the year!!

So...

...you have this one instead...

...a sort-of Easter festive project (I suppose)...

...in the shape of a Celtic Cross that has been printed and machine stitched.

This is but one of a series...

...that will find their ways into a small book entitled "Celtic Dreams".

Lots and lots and lots of hand stitching still to be done though...

Have a very Happy Easter weekend folks!!

x C

Block Print & Stitch

...with my gorgeous Colouricious print blocks!!

I've been stitching and beading like crazy this last week...

...getting even more samples done for my workshop with the ladies of Bath EG on Wednesday...

...and then to put up on my stand at the NEC next week.

I'll be sorting out details...

...for new small-panel workshops...

...and if anyone is interested...

...then talk to me at the show! :-)

As with ALL of my workshops...

...I always bring loads and loads of Colouricious print blocks...

...plus pots of paint...

...beads, sequins, bits of fabric, threads,  bits of wadding-stuff, colouring pens, etc, etc, etc

...so participants don't have to carry too much.

Enjoy the piccies!!

Happy Monday

x C

Colouricious Medieval Blocks...and MY stitching...

...on Hochanda tomorrow...

Tuesday 19th December at 7 am, 10 am and 1 pm.

Jamie of Colouricious will be selling these lovely Medieval Tile blocks...

...that I have used in these stitched pieces.

Workshops will be available for these lovely projects in 2018!!

x C

Beading......and sketch-booking

I want to get a number of pieces finished before our little break-away...

...so my desk is  "Bead Central" again for the next few days!

I printed loads of pieces with Colouricious blocks quite some time ago now...

...that's the easy bit!

The stitching takes forever!!

This is the final "big" one though...

Preparations have been underway for my "holiday goody bag" too...

...and I've re-stuffed my new sketchbook ready to accommodate  loads and loads of drawing and writing while I'm away. (Well....that's the plan anyway!)

I've packed in extra pages so it's looking quite substantial ...

The bits of card that got cut off to make the extra book pages...

...have been made into tiny books that snuggle into the little pockets that I glued inside front and back covers.

Then I cut a slot in one of the signature covers to slide in a small decorated notebook - small enough to slip into my little handbag if I don't want to carry around the bigger sketchbook.

I loooooove those Medieval Tile print blocks!!

The Schmincke paintbox and other glorious crafty bits and bobs are packed...

...ready to go into Rosa.

All is set for a good trip...

...as long as I can manage to stay upright!! :-o

x C

Back to stitching...

I've been a bit distracted with other things these last few days...

...but I made myself sit down and continue with the block prints that I had been working on previously.

These latest Colouricious blocks are giving me so many ideas...

...and I'm having such fun doing all the twiddly bits!

The bead tray is calling.....

Happy Tuesday lovely people

x C

Sparkling Heffalumps!!

This is the larger one....with sequins and beading finished...

...there are more pieces on my table...

...with a pile of delicious beads to hand!! :-)

I cheated a bit....

....and used some dimensional paint...

....but Hey! ...that's allowed sometimes....surely?!


Running alongside all this stitching...

...we've been making some changes around the house.

The back wall of the lounge was looking....crappy (to say the least)...

...so we've had it clad with some pine boards.

The only issue was that we had to lose the coving...

...and with a new curtain-pole...

...it all looks rather....bare and un-interesting.

But....

...I have a plan...

x C

Heffalumps!

You can't beat a good bit of slooooooooooow stitching...

...while watching some sloooooow TV on BBC 4 (Inner Peace Season).

It all fitted together so nicely...

...and the Heffalumps were great company along the way! :-)

Printed with Colouricious "Jaipur Jumbo" blocks...

...then stitched with various silk or cotton threads.

Beading to follow....

....slowly......

 Happy Friday folks

x C

Oooooooops!! :-o

So...

...all the main panels were done...

...and it was time for the lid.

Printing - Done
Colouring - Done
First stitching - Done
Second stitching - Done
Third stitching - Done

Lovely!

Just one teensy-weensy problem...

Notice the stitching showing at top & bottom?!!

Blah!!!

Did another (smaller) one...

...that fits within the circle size!!

(Just got the beading to do now before making it up.)

I can still amaze myself...

...with just how utterly DAFT I can be on occasion!! :-D

x C

Stages 1....2....3....4....

Just starting a new project...

...with my wonderful Colouricious Paisley Set of wooden print blocks.

Stage 1 - printing...

Stage 2 - adding colour with Spectrum Noir pens...

Stage 3 - shaping, cutting and applying to a felt background...

Stage 4 - machine stitching...

Now for the hand embroidery :-D

Happy Sunday

x C

(Klona Cotton fabric and metallic threads from Empress Mills....of course!!)

Printing with Paisleys

I've been doing a bit of block printing this morning...

...using one of my new sets from Colouricious...

...that is actually on HOCHANDA today - 10am this morning and again at 3pm.


Printing works perfectly on Empress Mills Klona cotton.

...and I'm using Spectrum Noir alcohol pens to add some colour detail.

Stitching will come later this afternoon....

Have a creative day.


x C