Finished Stitches with Wendi Gratz

Want to join me in a fun little challenge?  The amazing Wendi of Shiny Happy World is currently offering up her embroidery samples with the aim for YOU to make them into a finished product.  Be it a pillow or bag or quilt or whatever, it doesn't matter.  All you have to do is finish something within the month and send her a picture to go in the running for some prizes.  FUN!!

I jumped online early this morning to grab my favourite (sleeplessness sometimes has its perks), Duck Duck Robot.  I am soooooooooooo excited.  Fingers crossed it doesn't take all month to arrive.

I have literally been drooling over this fun pattern for the longest time so am stoked I now get the opportunity to play with it.  Stay tuned to see how I finish it off.

Want to play along?  Then get in quick because, at only $0.01 + postage, the samples are selling out FAST!  Click on this link for more information - Finished Stitches Embroidery Challenge

Now QUICK, run, and grab yours.  GO!

E.

WIP - Poor Sick Laurie

I had high hopes this week to crank through some WIPs, namely the quilting on...

Donkey quilt - yet to be named

... and ...

O(rnamental) Christmas Tree quilt

... but, unfortunately, Laurie, my machine, had different ideas and is currently enjoying some R&R in rehab hospital.  Fingers crossed he is better very soon.

So, I have had to re-plan my week and am now working on...

Two donkey softies for the Softies for Mirabel campaign.  Read more here.  I actually only started these on Sunday, when Laurie decided to take stress-leave, so not much progress has been made but, at least, I can get those tails finished.

Secondly, I've been enjoying a bit of couch time (and a Die Hard marathon, truth be told) while trying to get this gorgeous little donkey embroidery, by the lovely Lucy, finished.  Check out her fabulous original version and get the FREE pattern here.

AND... I'm also mulling over a few secret projects for my turn in the Thursday Think Tank Holiday Hop, organised by making rebecca lynne.  On Thursday 6 December, I'll be featuring two tutorials on small gifts that kids can make for their friends - perfect for classmates, team mates, neighbours etc.  Be sure to pop back then to see the goodies.  I promise - no donkeys!  ;)

Lastly, don't forget that the Donktober linky party is still open til Friday.  Awesome prizes are up for grabs so get your donk on and enter!

E.

Linking up to Work In Progress Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

DONKTOBER - Stitch This

This post is part of Donktober 2012.  For more information please see here.

Great news - I've finally managed to track down my embroidery hoops amongst the millions of boxes yet to be unpacked.  Funny how I am quite happily living without things like plates and cutlery but have made sure that 99% of my craft supplies are now accessible.  Priorities and all that.  ;)

So, I've been able to make a start on Lucy's awesome FREE embroidery pattern (available here).  I'm looking forward to having this purple cutie hanging in my new sewing room.  Makes me smile and think of Lucy every time I look at it.  :)

To transfer this design to fabric I had a play with my new Sulky Iron-on Transfer Pen (I got mine from Cookies and Cream Craft.  Thanks Sandy!).  I'd never used it before and though I made a few minor errors (smudges) I'm confident I'll master it before long and, may I say, it will be awesome!  Trace, iron, stitch.  Easy!

If, after finishing Lucy's pattern (and entering her Jack & Jenny giveaway!), you find yourself with a bit of a need to stitch up some more adorable donkeys then, never fear, I've found a few more freebie patterns to keep you amused.  Yay!

What do you think of this gingham-style cutie found on TipNut...

Or this little sweetheart (and many others like her) from My Vintage Mending...

Or how about this handsome fellow from BarnCat1 on flickr...

So, there you go - a few lovely embroidery patterns  to keep you busy.  Hope you like them!


Please, please, please (yes, I'm begging you) come back this Friday to see my FINISHED Jack & Jenny quilt, made especially for Donktober.  There might even be another little giveaway announcement.  I'm soooo excited!  ;)

E.

Linking up to WIP Wednesday with Lee at Freshly Pieced.

DONKTOBER - A Denim Donkey?!

This post is part of Donktober 2012.  For more information please see here.

Today's Donktober hostess is the amazing Lucy of Charm About You.  From her own donkey embroidery design to an up-cycling tutorial to a book review - Lucy has a bit of everything.  Oh, and, did I forget to mention a GIVEAWAY.  Get over there.  Quick sticks.

Disclaimer - sorry I don't yet have an example of her gorgeous embroidery design to show off but I seem to have misplaced my hoops in the move.  Doh!  Planning to do a big hunt today so will hopefully be able to remedy that soon.  Sorry Lucy!

Speaking of giveaways though, don't forget that Kelle of Ann Kelle Designs has a half yard of each colourway of her Donkies fabric up for grabs.  Enter here

And, before I leave you to begin searching for my embroidery gear, I've just received an update from Deirdre the Donkey.  She has arrived safely in the US and is currently out having a lovely meal...

Photo courtesy of Laura of Quokka Quilts

...and making new friends, including Danny from Mommy for Reals.

Photo courtesy of Laura of Quokka Quilts

Great to hear from you Deirdre.  Look forward to seeing more of your adventures at Sewing Summit soon!


Next up on the Donktober schedule is moi - with an extremely ridonkulous (but oh-so-cute) softie tutorial.  Look out for that, this Monday!

E.

I'm a Winner!

One of the nicest feelings you can get after a shitty day, is a phone call, text message, email or the like from a friend.  Even just a little "Hi.  How you going?  Thinking of you." is enough to start seeing a little sunshine peeking through the clouds.  So, imagine my joy when I awoke at 3am (ugh!) and had an email from the lovely Lucy (yay!).  What a nice surprise.  Thanks chicky.

But then it got even better as she was also writing to let me know that I'd won her latest giveaway - a free embroidery pattern from Sublime Stitching.  Yippeeeee!

I have been meaning to start a new embroidery project for a few weeks now so this might just be the kick-start I need.  I mean, I haven't done any stitching since finishing this owl waaaaay back in January.  Shocking!

Of course, before I could get started, I had to first choice a pattern but - Oh. My. Gosh. -  with sooo many lovely designs they sure do make it difficult!

There's these gorgeous critters...

Forest Friends

Or how about a little bit of caravan love...

Camp Out

Or maybe you'd prefer this cheeky guy...

Monkey Love

In the end, though, I had to go with my original choice...

Gnomes & Fairies

I just can't get over that little minx.  Makes me giggle every time.  I just can't wait to get started on her.

Thanks to Lucy for a fabulous giveaway and to Sublime Stitching for the gorgeous designs!

E.

TGIFF - Owl Love

This week I only have a small finish for show & tell - and just in time too.

For January's block for the Quilt Block Swap Australia group, my partner, Melody, asked for any block featuring an owl, either pieced, stitched, printed etc.  I decided to use this opportunity to try some embroidery... so...

after transforming this -

to this -

I came up with this -

I have to admit - I am in love.  In fact, I am umming and ahhing about actually sending it away.  Am I crazy?  Maybe a little.  So, Melody... if you don't like this then please feel free to send it back and I'll happily whip up another owl block for you.  Seriously.  Seriously.  :)

The pattern itself is called Owl Love You and is available for free from Stitchy Britches.  As you can see, I used a variety of thread colours to match in with the Delighted by Riley Blake border and, due to my lack of skills, the whole design is completed in back-stitch.

This project was really enjoyable so I am definitely keen to increase my repertoire.  As such, I have signed up to Shiny Happy World's Embroidery 101 and am looking forward to receiving the weekly emails introducing me to new stitches.  Wish me luck!

I'm off to the post office now to send this lovely away.  I really hope you like it Melody.

E.




This week's TGIFF linky party can be found at What a Hoot! so jump on over to check out everyone's awesome finishes.  AND... don't forget to come back here next Friday as it's my turn to host.  Uh oh... I'd better get a-sewing.  ;)

WIP - Bit O' This, Bit O' That

I have to apologise for the dual posts today... but whilst Weigh In Wednesday continues it might just have to be like that.  Afterall I don't want to miss out on Lee's fabulous WIP Wednesday linky party.  Hope you all don't mind!

Unfortunately, I don't have any finishes to show off as yet (I'm working hard to have something finished in time to link to M-R's TGIFF post) so today is all about those works in progress (funnily enough).


QUILTS FOR BLANKETS OF LOVE

First up, a small quilt I am making for the Blankets of Love campaign.  If you haven't heard about this one, Kat is asking for donations (of blocks to complete quilts) for premature bubs born at the main women's and children's hospital in Perth, Western Australia.  As I live nearby I immediately put my hand up to contribute to this worthwhile cause.

Measuring just 25" x 25" this baby is basted and ready to quilt.  Astute eyes would have noticed the indents from previous quilting, which was unpicked the other night after a disaster with a pieced back.  Um... I seem to have learnt the hard way that squaring up the top and back is hard work.  So, after much grumbling, I've retreated to my usual safe option of a plain back, no piecing involved!

As this one was so quick to put together (as I told myself before the quilting disaster) I've also cut out another 25 5.5" squares to make another.  A good cause is a good cause afterall. 

The second quilt will be quite similar with only one print swapped out and another popped in.  There is a method behind my madness as I wanted to take this opportunity to play with colour combinations - and, in this case, see what difference more blue and less red would make to the overall look.


JANUARY BLOCK FOR QBSA

For this month in the Quilt Block Swap Australia group I've been paired with the lovely Melody who has requested a block incorporating an owl, in any capacity.  As I've been itching to start embroidery I couldn't resist having a play.  Here's a sneak peek of what I'm working on.

This has been a lot of fun and a great project to have on hand when I need to sit and relax.  Might have to get a move on, though, to ensure Melody receives it before the seasons change.  ;)


SHIRRED DRESS/ES

I've been hearing rather nasty rumours that my new little Brother BC-2500, Laurie, wouldn't handle shirring at all well... so I was determined to find out for myself.  I mean, shirred dresses are quick, easy, inexpensive and adorable!  So I stocked up on shirring elastic and sat down with some scraps for a play.  I found out pretty quickly that Laurie can, in fact, shirr... and after a play with stitch length and tension he was doing a pretty good job.  Yippee!!

So I requested some measurements from a friend with a 2 year old... and set to work.  Unfortunately things didn't go exactly to plan.  I'm not sure if I've done something wrong, or if this is how it is supposed to look... but I expected it to gather more than this?  Any thoughts?

Would absolutely love to have some tips if you know of any.  And, no Katy, I don't want to hear that he can't do it.  My beloved Laurie can do anything!  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.


So that's what I'm working on this week.  I'm pretty sure that there are many other WIPs stashed around the place (a certain Summer House quilt, for example) but let's not go there.  ;)

I'm looking forward to checking out all the other projects linked up to Lee's.  Pour yourself a water/coffee/wine/etc and pop on over for a look-see.

E.

TTT - the Embroidery Edition

After all the handsewing I've been doing lately I'm quite surprised that I have a sudden urge to do some embroidery.  The desire is so strong that I've been searching Etsy for days looking for an appropriate pattern to start on.  And, my, what gorgeous designs there are!

Some I've fallen in love with, include:

On Parade by Sarah Jane Studios

Golden Puppy by Penguin and Fish

Birdie by Stitching Always

Cherry on the Tree Swing by Aneela Hoey

Duck Duck Robot by Shiny Happy World

If, like me, you are relatively new to embroidery then I highly recommend checking out the Shiny Happy World site.  Not only does Wendi have some gorgeous patterns, perfect for beginners, but she also has a range of step-by-step YouTube videos in her "Embroidery School" to cover the various stitches you may need.  Perfect!

Before I get started, though, I may need to do something about this.  ;)

E.







I've been a little slack linking up to Thursday Think Tank of late but today I'm managing to surprise myself.  Head on over to Becca's always inspiring blog to see everyone else's thoughts for this week.