Birthdays and Dragons

Birthdays and Dragons

My birthday is coming up, actually it’s next Monday. I don’t know why but I still have an absolute childish glee around my birthday. When I was working I always made sure I had the day off. I would often spoil myself rotten and and get a manicure and take myself out to dinner and maybe even a deliciously wonderful film that I knew only I would want to go to.

Even now as a young newly-wed trying to live on one salary while waiting for immigration to decide if I can work and live in NZ for another two years I find myself looking forward to it. I know we won’t be going out to dinner and I won’t be doing a day of luxury, all manicures in this house are DIY. Part of what excites me is that this is my first birthday with my husband and I’m actually rather looking forward to being 30 (I’m only turning 29 this year). Every birthday I have now is a reminder that I’ve spent another year with my amazing husband.

I did make myself something a bit special for my birthday I tatted myself a dragon! Now I’m not a huge fan of dragons, and I know there are some amazing patterns for dragons out there, but this guy was too adorable. He reminded me a lot of Pete’s dragon a childhood favourite film. So I introduce to you Brookie’s dragon!

He’s Martha Ess’s paprika pattern done in navy DMC perle 8 with silver lined beads(whichare a bit too big but oh well)  I then permanently stiffened him with gel acrylic(same stuff they put on nails) to use as a bookmark thus why he has a super long tail. I will definitely be making more of these in the future!

P.S. thanks for all the well wishes, I’m still absolutely pathetically sick sleeping most of the day.

A whole lot of tatting

A whole lot of tatting

The thing with being confined to bed for weeks at a time is there isn’t much you can do. If you happen to also have ADHD like myself it can very quickly drive you up the wall.  Luckily I’ve had a drawer fulla tatting to keep me company. I haven’t got a whole lot of things completed like one would expect, mostly cause my energy starts to wane after a few rings and chains but here’s what I’ve been up to.

Tatting 002 

This is my one and only completed item, a simple collar tatted with DMC cotton perle 8 which is all I had at the time. I think this needs a bit of a starching and blocking again.

Tatting 003

This is a border That I have made up as I went along. It’s tatted in Twilleys size 20 crochet cotton and I’m not too fond of the thread it keeps twisting and turning and in general being a PITA

Tatting 004

Finally I have this an edging from Bessie M. Attenborough’s The Craft Of Tatting. I’m really liking how this is coming along I think I might make it a hankie edging. It is tatted in vintage coats mercerised cotton size 20 I originally didn’t like this thread because it was so stiff but have grown to appreciate the crisp look it creates.

For Wendy I stitch

For Wendy I stitch

I met Wendy through the Wellington Embroiderer’s Guild, we joined at the same time. We talked often at the meetings and at the monthly social stitch-ins. Looking at us besides embroidery people might not have seen a lot in common, but I think at times we felt that we had more in common than others. We were both part of a group that at times could be cold and stand-offish  especially if you didn’t fit into their rigid mold. We didn’t fit.

Wendy was not only and amazing embroiderer, but and outspoken activist for people who have mental illnesses something we both struggle with. I had read many articles about her speaking out, and we had several conversations about the work that needs to be done.

Wendy had an amazing eye for colour and a unique style that so very often reminded me of Mexican day of the dead celebrations. Wendy was celebrating life instead. I remember when and how I found out Wendy was sick, it was from her. She had told me she had cancer and was dying with maybe a year to live. She then went back to stitching her piece like she had just told me it was raining and that’s all.

Yesterday Wendy lost her battle with cancer at 4pm.

I wish that  I could have told Wendy how much I admired her strength and courage. How much I loved her wall hangings. how much the brooch that she gave me for my birthday meant to me. How much her style of embroidery and the things she made pushed my boundaries and inspired me.

I kept meaning to go see Wendy, take her some flowers, talk to her, be there. I let my life get in the way, and I regret that, I know though that Wendy wouldn’t want me to sit here and beat myself up. She would want me to sit down and try something new stitch something different and enjoy life.

So today, Wendy, I stitch for you!

busy, busy, busy, girl!

busy, busy, busy, girl!

I fully took advantage of the public holiday and stitched all day(as I plan on doing all weekend) and wow I finished a bunch of things…

First off I did the construction of the needle book not because I was particularly excited about it. In fact the construction stage is usually where all of my crafts go from WIP to UFO’s, this is something I’m trying to work on. For the needle book tho it was pure need that propelled me further. Since the discovery of a rust spot from a needle in my wedding sampler(something I think I can fix) I have seend the need for a book to atleast put the needles of my current projects… so I cranked this out and am very very happy with it!

With that completed and needing something to do in my hands while I watched telly I sought a project to do. Yes I know I have 8 million knitting UFO’s but I just couldn’t get into my knitting I wanted to do some stitching. Then I had an idea (I know a scary thing around this house, my husband practically cringes when I say I have an idea. Not because my idea’s are dumb, or even out right crazy, just usually very very complicated, bizarre or next to impossible feats that I imagine I can accomplish, usually in a short period of time).

Since I have been wearing more Victorian clothing lately I have wished I could wear my great-great-grandmothers cameo brooch of her mother as a young lady that was made for when she sailed over to the states from england in 1879. But the hand carved bone is so delicate it was sheer to begin with in nearly 150 years has not been good to it. What if, I copied it in stumpwork? What if? Hmmm I’ve never done stumpwork before. It’s okay tho I have a book on it! So I sat down with my husband and season 2 of Battlestar Galactica (we have just started to watch this series) and stitched away. a couple hours later I had this. Am i completely happy with it YES! Is it perfect hmm not really but pretty darn good for a first try.

So that was done and we still had more BSG to watch, what is a girl to do? I know I might as well work on my wedding sampler. I know I put this aside for more interesting techniques but simple one colour cross stitch can be really fun. seeing the design come to life before your eyes. Although I think I might unpick that bird on the ground just a bit crowded for my taste. I’ll be adding more green in to the sampler in the future.

Well that’s it for me everyone enjoy the long weekend. Next post I’ll talk about the mystery project that I have needed all the appliqué practice for! As for now I might go do some knitting or stitch more on that wedding sampler who knows!

WOOT! Finished Object and more

WOOT! Finished Object and more

Sheesh it’s been a while. I keep trying to post but have been having a hard time actually getting around to it….  What have I been up to? Rather a lot actually! I have been taking a bunch of business classes and thus trying to grow my business sense, and my business. I’ve been playing with dyeing embroidery threads and silks some more, and in general having fun!

As for actual crafts well I finished my sample socks which really need a new name :-)

I started to work on a small quilt. I’m fairly new to quilting in fact this is my first machine pieced quilt and first appliqué project. The quilt is only 27inches square and is a project for the local hospital. It’s a mothers day gift for a mother who baby was either stillborn or died shortly after birth. I’ve really enjoyed making it. The appliqué was good practice.

I plan on doing some more embroidery along this project but so far I’m happy!

I felt I needed more practice doing some appliqué  and I loved that pansy sooo very much that I started a little needle book… I’m really happy with how this is turning out!

Now what’s all this appliqué practice for? You’ll just have to wait and see!!

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