Well we're all in the mood for a melody...

So it turns out that (in the main) the teething problems haven't been Shrek's fault: I've been turning the tension down instead of up a lot (?!?!?!) and the thread I've been using isn't very well wound and frequently slips off the bottom of the reel to assume a vice-like grip around the spindle, obviously royally interfering with the tension in the process!


Poor Shrek. We're friends now, and have made something pretty special I think... :)

After a few practice runs, I decided to keep the right side completely black (save the odd gun metal thread poking through during Tension Gate) and use more straight stiching and very fine zigzags (the first more dense piece is really quite heavy for a hat!) [Apologies - the photos here don't quite show the distinction accurately!]

Practice makes...

Perfect!

 Even if I do say so myself! ;)

Dry (wet) run

I realise that the instructions say that this is exactly what will happen, but I couldn't believe my eyes when the aquafilm did actually just melt away to leave the free standing embroidery - it's like magic, and very cool indeed!! :)

On the aqua film

Soaked in warm water for a moment or two

Free standing free motion embriodery! Magic!!

(Luckily, I was advised to make sure there's a warp and a weft in place - if you're going to have a go yourself this is crucial as it's the only thing holding everything firm.)

Fine Tuning

I haven't decided yet whether this one is to be called 'Elton' or 'Liberace' - what do you think? I'm tempted to do another one in glittery thread, so bear that in mind when you're deciding! ;)

Just a couple of seams left to go!

I just ('just' ha) need to add a wire frame to hold the shape firm, sew the final seams up by hand, and perch him on a little base. Oh, and find a buyer / occasion to wear it! ;) Hoping to accomplish at least the first three to show you next Monday!

Cup(board)date
My beautiful crackle glazed handles arrived this week - in the end I couldn't decide on the colour so I got one of each and I love them!

 
And with the Shrek's whirring still ringing in my ears there's just time to show you Alfie's artisic adventures this weekend (rather arty photo opportunities on (and after!) our snowy walks, and his highly accurate illustrations of Chaos Theory in the garden)...

The Handmade Monday crew have been busy this week too - why not indulge yourself too and I'll see you next week! :)

Oodles of doodles

March just isn't my month! It's been another slightly frustrating week, this time care of mechanical meltdowns! My year old Bush machine seems to need some professional TLC / a straight replacement - it's suddenly only catching the left hand side of zigzag stitches!? It was a pretty cheap machine so not really worth a hefty repair fee, but if you've any idea why this is, please do let me know so I can try to fix it myself!

Luckily, a friend kindly gave her old Brother machine to my mum a few months ago, which I have now commandeered - initially until the other is fixed but it's so smooth to use that I think I'm going to adopt it :) After some small tantrums (from both me and the machine!) I've oiled it, defluffed it and read the manual from cover to cover, and now we're getting on famously.

Introducing Shrek: so christened after I removed 'enough lint to fill an ogre's belly button' ;)

"He ain't heavy..."

Here's what we've been working on...!

Last week I was introduced to the wonders of aqua film. It's a water soluble stabiliser for machine embroidery, and my favourite of its myriad uses is to layer it up as a base to create standalone free motion embroidery motifs - amazing! And potentially perfect for a piano hat doodled out of thread... I recognise that this description requires an imaginative leap, so hopefully the pictures will show you what I mean!

Design: Paper mock up

Pattern cutting

Prep

Transferring the pattern

Practice: Small scale in black thread

 

Lid: Black and gunmetal grey thread

 



It's pretty time consuming (and the thread breaks quite regularly, and I've broken 4 needles - Shrek and I are still experiencing some teething problems!) and I do find myself dritfing off into a zigzag daze, but I really love the effect! Keep up with my progress on Twitter and Facebook during the week, and I'll hopefully have a finished hat to show you next time! In the meantime, why not pop over and see what they've all been up to at Handmade Monday, see you next week kids!

A little less conversation...

Oh dear, it's been a bad week. As a result, no hat pictures as such to share, but I have got a few photos to show for an otherwise slightly few frustrating days!

For the high jump

Dave Brill kindly gave me permission to incorporate his origami horse design into a hat for Ascot. I knew it was going to test my folding skills (there are 53 steps in the instructions!), and I'm not admitting defeat, but I'm going to have to come back to it another day when I'm feeling especially patient.

Ear apparent: It turns out it is impossible to fold horse ears for the first time when said ears are smaller than one's little finger nail >_<

So near and yet so far: Take two - big enough for the ears but now I'm well and truly stuck!

I know it'll be worth all this in the end but for now this remains a work in progress...!

A place for everything and everything in its place

After putting in the new shelves on Tuesday, Dad and I realised that we'd rather underestimated the weight of the blocks as all the shelves began to bow worringly in the middle! Double thickness boards saved the day, and I spent a happy afternoon belatedly settling my blocks and equipment into their new home. I'm just trying to pick four pretty ceramic drawer knobs out of the hundreds available online (I'm not good at this sort of decision!) and it'll be finished :)

Moving day

 

I even managed to find new homes for 90% of the stuff cluttering my desk, and now have a super wide table space perfect for cutting fabric again - can't wait to get started!

Flower power

I learned how to make these as giant flowers from the blog of one of my favourite crafty places back in the big smoke, Homemade London (which always, always has beautiful windows!). Since yesterday's weather was particularly bleak and snowy, we thought these would help inject a bit of spring into Mothering Sunday - and Mum loved them :)

Handmade Monday

Fortunately other people seem to have had more success this week at Handmade Harbour's weekly update! Favourites this time include Ginx Craft's bumblebee booties; Crochet Eclectics' cloche hat; Fat Monica's cute Mothers' Day card; and Amigurumi Barmy's adorable bunny.

Right, I'm off to channel some positive thinking and ignore origami horses ;) See you next week!

Tweed dreams

What a week! First and foremost, a huge thanks to everyone who has kindly followed me on Twitter and liked my Facebook page this week (61 likes so far - amazing!), as well as people's fab feedback on the new website! I am also very proud of my first magazine moment! I put an advert in March's wedding edition of Warwickshire Life magazine, which also kindly asked me to contribute a top tip for their Making Magical Marriages feature!

After so much computer time / life admin / social networking, it's been great to get back into the studio this week. Here's what I've been up to...

Hubble bubble tweed and trouble

This is the second of the tweed hats for the Linda Harper window display, using my new bubble crown block! I had initially intended the bow to sit centrally on the lower edge of the back of the hat, but (as is often the way once the hat and its personality are born!) I changed my mind as I was about to sew it on after some experimental positioning and much prefer its flirty offset position on the front!

Tweed bubble: Irish tweed on a canvas foundation with cotton shell edged lining, with offset tweed bow

I also used my new cotton lining on the inside - I think I've discovered yet another new addiction! ;)

Spring chickens (well, pheasants)

The two tweeds I've done so far could be considered a little autumnal now the sunshine's out at last (welcome back - we've missed you!) so I was inspired to make a spring hat with some bright dyed pheasant feathers providing the hattitude! The lining in this one is Thai silk, which looks like water when the fabric's flowing over my desk - working with such beautiful fabrics is one of my favourite things about my new occupation! :)

Waltzer: Tufted tweed button on canvas foundation with dyed and curled pheasant feathers

Cupboard love

I'm desperate to have all my new blocks to hand and ready to use (and out for admiration purposes - some of them are so old that they're little works of art in their own right!) so this weekend I got this cupboard from The Lions which is just the job!

This way to Narnia...

I've taken the doors off (I'm pretty sure this was actually a children's wardobe!) and wrapping papered the back; shelves to be added (c/o Dad) :) tonight. And I'm going to paint the front of the drawers with blackboard paint so I can keep a track of their contents. I can't wait for the blocks to be sitty pretty in their new home!

Monster mug!

I've also been drinking a LOT of tea this weekend in my newly fired Crazy Kiln mug - I'm so pleased at how well it's come out! I think the shop was impressed too - three of our pieces were in the window display! :)

Handmade Monday

It's a short and sweet update from me this week with only 6 days to report, so head over to Handmade Monday and see what everyone else has been up to. Top tips: CatkinJane's fabric cards (it seems my tweed obsession is catching!); Free Spirit Designs' nesting bird coasters (just what I need for my new mug!); Handbags by Helen's beautiful fabric buckets and purses; Annie's Table's tea embroidery (so true!); and Tickled Pink's Orange Rice Cake (Natalie - I have sent you the recipe!) ;)

Aiming to finish off some origami projects this week (I've got permission from David Brill to incorporate his amazing horse design into a racing hat!), so have a good one my dears and see you next Monday!