Fruity Fun ★

so yesterday i finally went back to college!

i am a naughty HNDer for missing a whole week last week so i tried to be good yesterday and start a new sewing project

now you are being warned... this is a sewing based post so if you came her looking for colourful fruity times and stuff like that, i'm sorry to disappoint you! it's about embroidery so yeah, you've been warned!

right so my friend Annie left some wonderful old embroidery books on my desk so i thought it was about time i had a go at some different stitches

so i actually left my desk (shock horror) and crept upstairs to root around in the textiles room for some printed fabric

i found an old sample book full of funkily printed swatches so i picked this fruity little number...

aren't the colours in it gorgeous! i just loved how rich all the red and oranges were!

now i'm not the best stitcher in the world, i can just about do blanket stitch and after about an hour can produce a wonky french knot, so before i attacked the fruit bowl i did a tiny chain stitch sample

success!!!

after that it was the fruit bowls turn

next i fancied a bit more colour so orange got added in to the mix as well...

i intended to whip stitch it (since i can actually do that...) but decided on another stitch called pekinese since it looked like fun

leaves next, whip stitch and a lovely shade of green

i also got the chance to test out my new mini flexi hoop (i know... this post is SO exciting!!!) since the pattern didn't fit on this hoop properly

so this is how it all looked by the end of the day

and that's how it still looks since i have spent all of today working on another logo design commission which (fingers crossed) is almost finished!

* * *

in an attempt to cheer myself up i also brought two new friends along to college with me

these are mini 'lalaloopsy' dolls i bought while i was away in Coventry

yes i know i might be too old to be playing with dolls but i just thought they were so cute!!!

there's a whole bunch of them and each one has a different name and back story (you know how much i love a good back story...) and they're designed to look like they've been hand stitched together and made from buttons, ribbons and bows (now you'll understand the appeal)

there are also HUUUUGE versions of the dolls which have the most adorable outfits and big lolita-esque dresses

they're each supposedly made from a different type of garment that relates to their hobbies and likes

now i'm not going to lie... i bought one of the big dolls as well!!! (don't hate me)

i have this one, apparently her names is Crumbs Sugar Cookie, she was sewn from a cooking apron and she loves to bake cupcakes... 

oh i wonder why i chose that one! hhmmm

she's happy at home on the shelf in my room now and i have to say, she's brightened up the place superbly

anyway, the two mini ones i took to college are called...

Peanut Big Top (sewn from a circus performers costume)

and Bea Spells-a-lot lot (sewn from a school uniform)

anyway, they kept me company and i urge you all to get one since they are so goddamn adorable!!!

i intend to get as many of the mini ones as i can! judge me all you want but i do not care... i always said i'd never truly grow up!

for more info about the crazy colourful world of Lalaloopsy Dolls, check out their website here - Lalaloopsy

* * *

not much else to tell, busy busy busy at the moment

logo design commissions and tattoo design commissions and all other manner of new commissions

+ 3 college essays!

until next time

that's all folks...

◕‿◕ ♥ xX 

ps - have you entered the Giveaway yet??? well you'd better hurry up because there are only 3 days left to enter!!!

GO GO GO - ♥ Giveaway ♥

Threads and Thimbles ♥

so i know i've been absent for a few days, i've been busy busy busy working on some new embroidery pieces for college

the good news is i've spoken to one of my tutors and she seems to really like the idea of the embroidery project

the bad news is... it takes me FOREVER to complete a piece!!!

i spent most of last night sewing and stitching away by myself, listening to my iPod

i gave up at about 11:49pm and ended up adding some funky rococo style frames to my little digital cakes on my macbook instead

i don't know about you but i kind of prefer them WITH the frames!

anyway, i HAVE been working on little embroidering pieces based on these images, i said i was going to embroider them so... i have!

in fact, the first one is already finished...

it's taken me about 3-4 days to fully finish it but i'm glad it's done

it turned out quite cute i think + i had great fun doing the spiral stitch on the icing and the ribbon banner

the other one is still a work in progress...

i'm not sure how to finish it yet but i'm thinking... seed beads for the cherry and the icing, if i can find the patience to sew them all on that is!

i ALSO have a better pic of my 'Love Hurts' canvas embroidery piece from this post - Endless Embroidery

and just to fit in with the whole sewing + embroidery vibe i'm rocking at the moment, i also made this...

sadly he isn't from my own design, my mum bought me a little keyring making kit the other day (yes... it is for children, so what!!!) and i made him yesterday afternoon 

it reminded me that i actually have a box full of felt swatches so you never know, i may have a go at making some of my own designs into little felt creations soon as well!

* * *

on another note, i should be telling you all that there are only 8 days left to enter the

 > > > Giveaway < < < 

but to be honest...

i'm THIS close to just abandoning the whole thing!

i've only had about 5 or 6 entries so i'm really not feeling too optimistic about it

i appreciate those who have actually bothered to enter but out of 55 blog followers, 5 is just... pitiful!

i'm sorry if you have entered but don't worry, when (and if i ever do) reach 100 followers you will ALL get your entries automatically added to that comp! so you could easily end up with about 7 chances of winning!

i have a list of who's entered so for being so awesome, you'll stand an even better chance of winning the next one

AND i promise to add even more awesome little prizes to the bundle

it's not necessarily cancelled... yet

but if i don't get some more entries soon it will be!

read about how YOU can enter it here - Giveaway

* * *

that's it really, back to college for me tomorrow

yet another day of sewing!

ok until next time dudes and dudettes,

that's all folks...

◕‿◕ ★ xX

 tack och hej då

(that's thank you and goodbye in Swedish on behalf of Sweden, thanks for stopping by ♥)

Stars and Sparkles ★

so it's my 'crit' tomorrow afternoon at college. Crits are sort of like assessments only not as formal and often a lot scarier... however I'm not scared because i have to stand up and talk about my work to everyone, I'm scared about the lack of it!


don't get me wrong i have done SOME work this term... it just doesn't seem to be as much as what everyone else has done!


in light of this i have spent the past 2 days working my 'bum' off to finish another digital piece


and it's FINALLY done!!!


trust me, yesterday afternoon/evening i was just about ready to throw my macbook at the wall (i worked on it for 8-9 hours straight before giving up) because photoshop makes everything else run so SLOWLY (no snide 'mac' comments please Mike...) 


it was the same today but after another 9 (yes... NINE) hours working on it i think it really is finally finished


i'll no doubt hate it tomorrow and spend another few hours 'fixing' it but for now...


may i present the 'Midnight Burlesque Girl'

you'll have to click on her for a full view, well... 

for a fuller view since the actual file is about 3200x5120 at full size!

now you'll understand why photoshop was so FREAKIN SLOOOOW!

i guess she can be another Halloween themed Pin-up... maybe... perhaps, if you squint a lot!

nah maybe not! but  come on... she is a bit creepy looking, uber pale and all smokey eyed, she could pass as a vampire or something... right?!

she was also inspired a lot by Moulin Rouge

you see... she was supposed to be all colourful and happy and circus themed

but then i watched Moulin Rouge (about 3 times in a row) and this was the result

you've got to admit she has a definite 'Satine' vibe about her

and as always i 'tested' the image on Mike first...

he's my sounding board i guess, he always gives an honest answer and opinion about my artwork so he's a good pal to get feedback from

anyway if i remember correctly his response was something along the lines of...

'BABE... 

i would... 

nah its epic. 

colours work. background's not pixelated... some would say it was geniouse'

ahahaha, see... always an honest answer!

oh and that isn't a typo, 'geniouse' is a sort of joke in reference to another college dude called Meg (sorry i mean Chris. his name is actually Chris yet everyone calls him Meg... as in Meg Griffin off Family Guy... what can i say, it's a long story)

* * *

ok enough rambling about my friends, i'm sure that's not why you read my blog so apologies for that shred of normalcy!

 time for some tea and a bit of 'Mad Men' now

by the way... if you would like to be even more of a star (you're already a star because you're here reading this but there's always room to be even more of a super star) then pop over to my 'art wanted' account and help boost the views for this new 'Girl' - Midnight Burlesque Girl

cheers m'dears

that's all folks...

arrivederci mia amicas e amicos!

◕‿◕ ★ xX