You're never too old to play with dolls, right? I bought these lovely wooden beauties from Goosegrease Undone, and now I get to turn them into amazing works of art for myself to play with. Or something a little bit fun anyway. I have been scouring the interwebs for ideas, and am learning as I go, my goodness some of you are so clever! I am particularly loving Goosegrease, Temple 7e and the lovely Wunderkind. I thought I had a pretty steady painting hand, but some of my lines are laughable. I am going to try some mixed media, some watercolour pencils and fine line markers over the paint (as you can see on Alice). I'm yet to work out a face style I am happy with, but hey, there's no rush right? Oh, Dear Reader, what fun!
Plus, because you are so awefully well behaved, here is s sneak peek at something else I am working on. Soon, my prettys, soon.
So this is my 113th post, and today is the 13th December, what better time to give a gift away! All you have to do is leave a wee comment between now and Wednesday midnight (ie the 17th December), and I'll do the magical pulle a rabbit name out of a hat type thing to reveal the winner. Then the crowd will applaud, I'll take my bow and things can go back to un-normal! And what is the prize, valued reader? A Changeling Doll, made specially for the event, of fabric most divine:
Wow, I hope someone comments. It could be rather embarrasing otherwise (heh, heh)
So here's a little update on some things been occupying my fingers of late. I am diggin' the whole book cover thing at the moment, and I'm going to make a few to pop in the shoppe. Speaking of the shoppe, I have decided to make a few less-creepy, more cutey things, and because I wouldn't want to corrupt the kookiness that is Crypt Stitch with pastels and florals, I have decided to open another shop, Shady Bower (in honour of my Grandfathers property) to showcase these items. Yes, I'm as surprised as you to find a girly-girl underneath all this black - mayhap it my age and interminable cluckyness. We'll see how it pans out, anyhow. I may end up trying for a stall at the farmers market in Newcastle too. Best I get a creative move-on! In any case, for your consideration, a couple of covered books, a pear and strawberry pin cushion and my first attempt at hand-bags - a slouchy shopping bag, and a pleated bag I'm very proud of for my first attempt!
I'm yet to enter these in the shopppe (I have to work out postage), but here, for your consideration, some finished cryptic cross stitch (complete with wooden frame):
Still quite cool in the evenings, but there was a hint of spring on a warm(ish) north-westerly breeze the other day. I am taking part in NikkiShell's "Handmade Zine" swap, and being that I have not ever published a zine, and the only example of one in my posession is the Mixtape Zine, I'm actually finding it harder than I thought to find my groove! I can't decide what I would like it to be, ohh, the drama! I think the problem is I have TOO MANY ideas - I need to focus on one and run with it. I think. I'll post mine, and the ones I can't wait to receive from the other members when they arrive. Going back to muck around with what I already have. Again.
Yup, still having problems here at stupid computer central. It's enough to make a person batty I tell you.
I've had a week off work, and have been sewing like a demon. Were that there are demons for whom sewing is a compulsion or indeed a genetic imperative. I digress. There is a bunch of things I haven't photographed yet, but for your consideration please find my padded pouch - perfect for protecting your Tarot deck (thus far in a lovely black tapestry with suede like interior and a vibrant skull pattern with red and white striped interior):
What do you think?
I'm off to walk my bum off on the treadmill while listening intently to my Spanish language CD's. Cross your fingers, I might be able to post again later, it's a bit of a luck of the draw. Got some finished cross stitch to show you too...
A little more gold and this one is DONE. Looks good, huh? A little fiddley, but worth it in the end. Of course I have no idea what I am going to do with it. Perhaps a frame? A magpie graciously left me a feather as it walked past checking out what I was doing (they are such sticky beaks – and ever hopeful of a snack), so I figured it should be in shot. Here is a photo of it where Ms Magpie left it for me. Pretty.
I can’t remember where I found this little gem, though I do know it was on one of those clearance tables book shops often have, and I picked it up for a steel. I don’t know what possessed me to use this scrap of material. I think I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to do it properly, and would end up tossing in the towel. But I think it will look good when it’s finished. But Good Goddess is it time consuming. Cross stich is like sprinting in comparison. And I must hold the ring funny somehow (I need two hands to make knots, I don’t know about every-one else!) because my little finger on my left hand cramps up after a few minutes. As you can see, I free handed the pattern onto the material, as evidenced by the BIG mistake I made on one corner. Thankfully it will all be covered up. One day. Oh to have the patience (and time) to make loads of these.
I have been enamoured of the “Subversive Cross Stitch” site and book
for a little bit now. I was cross stitching long before I taught myself how to sew, and was thrilled with some of her uncouth samplers after wading through books of cross stitch cuteness. In that vein, I am going to stitch up some pagan/witchy and gothesque samplers, frame them and pop them in my shoppe. I made my Aunty a “Crazy Cat Lady” one a while back, and liked it enough to want to do more. They’re a little time consuming, but perfect for keeping my fingers occupied while I half watch whatever crap offerings the TV networks slop up on our plates at night. Last nights was this one – “A Pox on Ye!”. Not sure how I’ll finish this one off – I intend to keep them all in black (I like the monotone for effect. Plus it’s black. Black is awesome. Right?). Mayhap I’ll offer one of these up for my 100th post which is only a month or so away! My, how time flies....
