OMG Hello

So it's only been about 4000 years since I've had anything to do with the keeping up to date here. I was facing some personal medical issues and haven't really been active online or with crafting. However with fall rolling around (my absolute favourite season) and feeling somewhat better, though still working on my health, I figured maybe I would give'r another go. I may post once a week or so, I can't say that I will keep up an every other day approach; I just want to take it easy for now.

Thanks for your understanding! <3

Owl Needlebook

So this needlbook was actually started long before the last one that I had posted. It was one of those projects that kind of just got set aside and I only really remembered it after I completed that other one for the swap I was in on Craftster.
I really liked that owl so much that I wanted to keep it but figured since I already sort of had my own that I may as well keep my end of the bargain.

This little fella was needle felted; the white part from loose fibres, and the creamy part of crochet fabric. It was kind of an experiment as the fibre content of the felted yarn is actually mostly synthetic (!!) but it seemed to work out just fine, especially in the case of the loose fibres. In anycase, it's been embroidered with crochet cotton from the stash, a few pieces of bought felt. As you can see from the only in-progress shot, my owl has a heart. When I was attatching the wing I wanted more reinforcement, had red felt and thought, "why not, really?"


The embroidery of my name isn't terribly clear in these shots, however you can see that this book can hold both the rediculously large needles and your more standard sizes. (Truthfully though there are only two actual needles in the picture, all my needles are off some place stuck in various pieces of fabric, so I improvised for the sake of illustration with some pins.)

There are a number of different stitches used, back-stitch, lazy-daisies, bullion stitch, french knots, satin stitch, fly stitch, chain stitch that's been run over, misc. running stitches, overcast, and a really lame attempt at Japanese darning (though in my defence sewing through what was once crochet fabric, with varying density throughout the new felt cloth, made it very difficult to keep the more geometric pattern even).

Truthfully I have had this fella done for at least a week, however this week has been an uphill battle to say the least. Between being fought back by my camera, my makeshif light-tent imploding, losing my camera cable, a cat that is pooping and barfing everywhere, finishing my taxes... and the big whammy, I've been laid off; on Friday I was told Monday was my last shift which hardly left me with the ability to make plans for anything else. They think maybe they will have work for me again in a month, but who knows really. I've been left scrambling tring to figure what I am going to do about it all. I have actually been embroidering a lot, and if I can convince my ol' man to come out so that we can get batteries for my camera, I am thinking I will be able to post in progress pictures of that hanky that I have been working on so much lately. Lourd knows now I have the time...

*LE SIGH*

Just a little peek at a matching pair of ACEOs (art cards editions and originals) that I've just finished up recently.

I am sort of aiming towards making a set for the game concentration, or the memory card game. I think that it is a fabulous idea to be playing with actual miniature pieces of art, of course this means that I have to do doubles of each little piece created so that it can be put to play. Sure I could just do prints and then have doubles really easily, but then each little piece wouldn't be its own original. I don't think that I can explain my special sort of insanity but I am hoping that there is someone out there who understands.

I have another design in the works that is a cute duck-girl with an umbrella but for some reason I am not so eager to go forward with it. I think that I will just leave that idea to stew for a little while longer and go onto other things, maybe when I return to the concept I'll be able to pull it off in a way that I like better.

Another thing that I have to consider is how to make all the backs the same so that there is no cheating. The markers that I use actualy soak through the cardstock sometimes which makes it all to clear what card I am looking at. I am considering just designing a back for them digitally, printing the backs and laminating the two together. I'll see how that idea goes too, I wouldn't want the lamination to make the cards larger than the standard size though. Another thing I might try that would be pretty simple is to just use the backs of playing cards and slide the two of them into those litter individual card protectors that you can find a comicbook shops. I think this may actually be a good idea.

Craftster OTT Swap - Owl Pincushion

My partner in the swap actually received a few days ago but every time I opened my image editor, to fix up my photos, it would crash, I got frustrated and left it alone each time. If you click on the picture you can see the full size, but it is a big picture! The item itself is under 4x4" which was part of the rules for the swap, though I don't have any exact measurements. It is, if not obvious, a little owl needlebook; I have one of my own in the works that has been a WIP for some time now actually, and is completely different than this one. Yeah I am lazy it seems like.

This one is made of some bits of cotton from my stash, felt on the inside for a little more structure and felt for the "wing" pages. Embroiderized, I had fun trying out a few new stitches and there she goes!

TheSapphireMoon sent me a lovely little beaded snap wallet in return. It was a really fun little swap to participate in.

PS. I'd like to thank the one or two individuals that keep coming to check my stuff out. I know I am not the most reliable in posting, but I definately appreciate you sticking around to take a look-see.

Craftster OTT Swap - Teaser

The teaser for my part of the One Tiny Thing swap on Craftster with TheSaphireMoon. As before we don't want to give the surprise away too soon, but to build the suspense like a terrible, terrible person. Though I can't wait to see what I am going to get. This was sent out just the other day but I just haven't had the chance to blog about it, and that is really just about it.

Anyway I really find that I enjoy doing swaps. Uh... Take that?

Free Embroidery Pattern

So I have been having a pretty sh*tty go of it for a while now. I am so cross and drained.

In hoping that spring would just warm up and stop snowing already, also in the need for cheer, I have designed a sun-shower set of embroidery patterns. My favourite is the happy sun, with its rosy cheeks (not sure if that is apparent) and its wavy sunrays; followed closely by the very cute cloud. You should be taken directly to the full image by clicking on the above image, that is if I did the code correctly. The patterns are free to use for personal projects, please don't use it to sell, redistribute the pattern, or alter it and claim the design as your own. If anyone uses the pattern I would be absolutely thrilled to see what you make of it! So if you don't mind, email me and show me. :D

Full of Excuses

Yeah so... yeah...
Have been really pushing hard for end of the month deadlines at work, I am even working 6 day workweeks and am totally burning out. I know it is just another excuse. :/