soft map quilts

Loving these gorgeous Soft-Maps, quilts of cities and neighbourhoods made by Emily Fisher.
I wonder if I would have the patience, but I want one. (You can get a DIY kit here) Or a patchwork with my favourite neighbourhoods. Like a geography memory quilt.

Found via Emily's studio neighbour, the ever-lovely swissmiss.

vroom vroom

I don't know about you, but I tend to ignore my body and assume that it will keep going, like a beat up car. Yes I know it's a cliche, but I guess the analogy works or it wouldn't be a cliche, would it? Most of the time I don't pay much attention to my body and generally just take the whole lot for granted.
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I made my own book with a blue Volkswagen stitched on the front. 'Cause if my body IS a car, I would like it to be a quirky, cute, independent, striking and comfortable love-bug. (but not inspired at request of a murderous dictator. not that part.)

and yes, that is a embroidery hoop crease you see, not ironed out. Damn impatience.

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I'll use this book for open letters to body parts ( for example my knees. under-appreciated.) a journal of what i actually eat (yes, other people's Easter eggs count) and how I move. The idea being that by paying attention I'll take better care of myself, eat better (harder to eat junk if I find myself apologising to myself continually), and be more aware of how I move; also to foster some love for those little heralded bits (knee example works here too); before the whole thing breaks down on me.

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It's very pretty, and much easier than I thought. The inside is lined with brown paper, and I just stitched around all the edges using my sewing machine (popped in a ribbon for a bookmark first), then stitched in some paper.

And just to show you the back. I really liked it, seemed a shame to cover it up.

And something else I stitched this weekend. Cheese, I know.

reclaim your brain pattern

A pattern I drew for stitching. Ironically I was watching TV at the time. Then I realised and switched on music instead.

I feel very vague today. Hmmmm. vague. See? Having trouble writing a sentence. Feel the need for chocolate and hugs. Maybe a hug MADE of chocolate. Mmm. Keep truckin' on. (Ooh that gives me an idea for another pattern...)

mix tape stitchin'

I stitched a mix tape. I like it.

First I drew it, then I taped it to the window to trace onto calicao. Then I watched back-to-back scrubs and stitched it.

Juniper helped. Bit tricky to stitch with a pair of green eyes watching every tremble of the thread.

I was thinking of adding some tape spooling from the bottom and into a love heart- too cheesy? Or just right?

Now thinking of all the things with lines, cords, ropes etc. to spool into words. More to come.

But what shall I do with this one now? Turn it into- a card? a just-for-show piece on the wall? a tiny eeny cushion? I'm open to a vote..

this is how I roll

I know I haven't posted anything crafty for ages and ages, but I have been doin' a few things quietly.

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Workin' on the scarf I started a while ago. 'Cept I misjudged the width, and it is now more akin to a small blanket. It shall be my airplane snuggle shawl scarf. Just gonna take longer, is all. This picture doesn't do the colour justice.

I was inspired to do some stitching after reading a post by my sister (hers was also the first blog I ever read, and it is beautiful.) I really like embroidering. Only done a few so far, and I tried out a few new stitches in this one.

again, this pic doesn't quite do it justice! Maybe I should turn them into polaroids...

Embroidered deer

I am in complete awe. You might remember my first attempts at embroidery.

it was stitched by Merry Calliope, but I found it on Feeling Stitchy, one of my fav blogs.

embroidered owl

my owl is coming along, I grab minutes here and there to add a few more stitches. He still needs a little more detail though, and some words 'if i were wiser'...





Check out the bloody excellent patterns and kits at sublime stitching. If you haven't seen their stuff already, take a look- this ain't your gramma's embroidery! I've ordered a few patterns- coming from the US and I'm wondering how long it might take? Plans for some teatowels, a bag or two, maybe the back of a dress or a singlet. The possibilities. I may even get a head start on christmas presents this year and stitch a bunch... Yuh, 'cause we're talking about possibilites..



Saw this pic submitted by a stitcher- LOVE it. I like the simplicity and black lines.. I'm going to keep my eye out for pictures and photos I can sketch over and stitch from. I'll need a bigger embroidery hoop, but that's all (I like that my new favourite thing doesn't need much. I have calico and a heap of thread- I'm good). I have gorgeous neices and a nephew, perhaps I will have a go at one just like this..

Oh they grow up so fast! Time to plant out these babies.. My new system seems to be working- as fast as our house can eat eggs, that's how often I have empty egg cartons to plant seeds into. Otherwise I tend to plant heaps and then nothing..

New Years Resoluton #12: That point when you're out at the pub with mates and you go 'yep, good night, should probably go home now'- actually go home.

bird cage stitchin'

well here it is, I had another go at freehand stitching and had a play with colours too. My birdcage is a bit wonky (but so's life, so - meh). It would be cute to do tiny sketches for buttons and badges..

sketch stitchin'

last night I tried out some sketching with stitches, this is how it turned out. I quite like it, though his neck is a little too long! I love the feel of the stitches on the taut fabric when I run my fingertips across the top. I'll have another go today, I'm excited about the possibilities - different stitches, coloured threads, backgrounds, the thicknessess of threads. I'll let you know how it goes!

On an excursion to the garden shed, I came across this little birdy I stitched last year. He's been hanging out outside and has a weathered look that suits him.

Also found my baby frangipani has it's first flower- it was rescued from the bin at the Horticultural College, and has lived (barely) in various pots on balconies, until now when he has his very own spot in the sun- so he' finally flowered. (Not sure why my frangipani is a he, but it fits!)

straight on my birthday wishlist is a better camera, never noticed until I use these shots and go hrrrmmm....