Sunday 28 August 2011

Any ideas what it could be?


Well it’s been a week. I can’t believe I have been leaving it so long. Most of this week I have been working on a piece that my dad wanted me to sow for some of his art. If you haven’t seen the guest post my dad wrote you have to check it out.

Any ideas what it could be?
Considering it was the first time I have tried to embroider I don't think it's too bad. It looked better before I tried to stuff it. In the picture the long stitch is wavy which I didn’t notice until after I took the photo, I have sorted it now.

Our adorable kittens opened there eyes yesterday. They are so cute. The small black and white one has a home ready and waiting for him already! I’ll be sad to see them go.


Cute kittens

Even cats become "Zombefied" after becoming a mum!
 
In other news:  There’s been pretty much no progress on “Strength” maybe 100 stitches if that. My herbs are pretty much dead. And I’m still finding paint in the kitchen from Connors art.




Sunday 21 August 2011

YAY PICS!!!

Well progress has been made on “Strength”. After starting the black leafy bit, I decided to do some of the green otherwise I would end up confusing myself. There’s still so much work to be done on it, but after adding the recent green bits I have, I think it’s going to stitch up quicker then I thought. I might even be able to – dare I say it – get it finished before I put the finishing touches on the baby announcement I worked on for Steve’s brother.

A kitten pic. Kiki’s kittens are now 5 days old and very very cute. Lately Kiki seems to be a little reluctant to stay with them. I don’t know if it’s because there a little older and don’t need her there constantly, or she’s lost interest in them. If it gets and worse or she stays out any longer then she already is then I will have to start bottle feeding them. Oh well waking up every two hours isn’t anything new to me, just means a little extra cross stitch time.


Next up is chives and coriander. Over the last few weeks I have had this urge to plant and grow things. Flowers, herbs, fruit , veg, trees....,..anything I want to grow it. I have never been a green fingered person, I had an herb garden while living with my parents, and it’s really overgrown now though.


This weekend me and Connor have had fun things planned. We planted the herbs pictured above. Made a sow your own hat, pictured below. Made lots of yummy cakes. Watched films had an extremely late night playing with one of his friends. And did some painting.


Painting the pig I agreed to, painting the walls, himself, the floors and my plants I did not. Oh nearly forgot painting the ceiling. Honestly I was only gone a few seconds. It took me over an hour to clean up. While I was taking the photo he said” look mum!” so proud of his artwork. Maybe he will be an artist just like his granddad!


My dad wrote a guest post for me if you missed it go check it out here

Wednesday 17 August 2011

Guest post - Doug McGovern

My name is Doug McGovern and I am doing a HND course at south Kent College. I am in the middle of a project involving reconstruction of the ready made using soft toys to explore childhood, time and the human condition.
To explore what this means to us and make a connection with time and discovery that it lost to us. I hope to realise my intentions with a sculpture that will represent these ideas and give the viewer their own food for thought.
This past year i have been exploring the ideas and thoughts surrounding the human condition that is time and its different fazes in our lives and attempting to capture moments that have past using different mediums, this is my first journey into sculpture.

These are a few examples of my past work:




Tuesday 16 August 2011

Great news, and update on Strength



I really am sorry that I haven’t posted the guest post, my dad is a very busy man, but he has said that he will have it written up by tonight hopefully. So I thought while were waiting for my dad I would tell you my amazing news!!
Kiki one of our cats gave birth to four kittens early hours this morning! They are so cute and all seem to be healthy. Even the runt of the litter is strong enough to push its brothers/sisters out of the way for milk. I think it’s pretty safe to say that the ginger tom that has been hanging around is the father. I just wish she hadn’t given birth in my underwear drawer!

Simba seems a little lost at the moment, he goes up stairs has a look at the kittens, comes down meows at me, wanders about then finally settles. Only to go and check on them a few minutes later and it starts all over again.

There has been progress on Strength. I have finished the black on the dragon, and started to stitch a small border around the edge of the design. Still no ideas about what quote/poem to put on the reverse, but as Sir Terry Pratchett has a new book out in October I might find something suitable in there. 

Friday 12 August 2011

Sowing machine hell + Gift from Stitching Noni!!!!



I have spent all day swearing at that sodding sowing machine. I hate it with a passion. After convincing my nana that I was completely competent with one I had to phone her to come fix the damned machine. The tiny bit that I practised on was good then it all went to hell after that.

The sowing machine from hell

I have been decapitating teddies for my dad, as part of an art project he is working on. I know, I know decapitating teddies is horrible, I feel like a monster! I had to cut their arms, legs and heads off then sow the pieces together. It’s part of a bigger project which I have asked him to tell you about. So as soon as his written it, he will be my first guest post!!


I lulled the teddys into a false sence of security



There’s been no progress on “Strength” due to teddy mutilation. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to work on it tonight. I’m so excited to finish it.

This morning i received a lovely thank you gift from Stitching Noni. Thank you so much!  A beautiful handmade wall hanging- with a zebra on it! For those who don’t know a zebra is part of the EDS motto. It’s perfect!! The photo really doesn’t do it justice.


Card and wall hanging


The photo really doesnt do it justice


Thursday 11 August 2011

Sowing machines

I FUCKING HATE THEM!!!!




That is all i have to say on this matter!

Sunday 7 August 2011

A small update on "strength"

A little while ago i lost the chart for strength and after hunting for days and days, i realised i had a hard copy on my external hardrive! so instead of halting progress for what seemed like ages i could of printed out a new one and stitched on! i made a bit of progress on the dragon i'm going to finish the dragon then work my way to the rest of the black and then fill in the bulk of the green then the other shades. i have also been considering putting a poem on the reverse about strength, or a Terry Pratchett quote,i just cant decide what! so if you have any ideas feel free to leave me a comment.


"Stength"

A new pic from camping, please excuse me looking so rough



I think kiki might be pregnant, look at that belly!



Simba chilling
Please excuse the stitcky tape around the door in Simbas picture, its there to hold the chicken wire in place, untill the garden is cat safe 

Tuesday 2 August 2011

Camping

Were back from camping. it was alot of fun. campfires, watching the kids play football, watching the "adults" build a tree swing "for the kids!" There was only a little bit of stitching, mainly on the way there. There was too much fun to be had to sit and concentrate. The pic is a stock pic, as im  keeping the way i have finished it as a surprise till xmas.


Quick stitch

My amazing partner

Connor having a rest

Our campfire

Making a treeswing for the kids