Tuesday 1 January 2013

Happy New Stitchy Year!



A very Happy New Year to all of you, and let's hope 2013 is a good one for all of us. And whatever the year throws at us, let's hope we meet the challenges head on, and with the love and support of good friends and loving family members.

The last few days has seen me feverishly stitching away at one thing or another, but mostly I have been stitching felt and/or felted wool. I had a cushion to finish off for Katy, a friend who has left the UK to live in France. She had expressed interest in the 'One Bird...upon a tree...beneath a star' cushion, which was a hot favourite at the craft fair earlier this year.



 I have already made another one for S&B friend Victoria, and thought I would do a slightly different one for Katy. For a start I have run out of the lovely grey wool I used for the background. I did however have a lovely pale blue blanket which I knew would fit the bill. I also decided that the text should be 'en Francais' so worked out the words I knew and put out a facebook call to friends I knew would be able to help with the ones I didn't. And this is the result:


Slightly different but I don't like to do exactly the same thing every time! And here's the text....sorry it was a bit difficult to catch on camera.


It reads "Un oiseau, sur une colline, sous une etoile" (can't do the accent on my keyboard.) If Katy reads this before it arrives , no worries, it should be with her tomorrow!

The other bit of stitchery I've been doing is a cover for my Molly Dancing top hat. I saw a photo on Pinterest which took my breath away...I can't put it on here, but you could google JaffaGirls and find it there. It was a top hat covered with brightly coloured felt shapes, and I just knew I wanted to do something similar. They had glued their shapes on which wasn't an option for me as my hat is on loan. And anyway, I wanted to be able to embroider mine as well. Now I haven't quite finished it, and since taking htese photos there is more stitching done, and there will be even more later today. But you can get an idea how it is going to look.


I didn't have enough black felt for the band, so this is really a prototype, the next one will be entirely on a black background.


And the top:


This is how I stitched the top on; next time I shall use black thread, I deliberately used a heavy, variegated thread which I knew would be visible. Now I think it would have looked better 'unseen'. But hey, that's what a prototype is for.


Ah, when I say variegated I mean green variegated! And next time I will applique and embroider as much as I can to the 'lid' before attaching; the stitching was quite awkward at times, despite felt being a very malleable material! However the shapes which overlap the joins will have to be added when the whole thing is constructed.

And a final view:



I have to say I am thrilled to bits with it, but am desperate to make another on black felt, with the flowers appliqued in a less 'ordered' fashion. And I have ideas for other shapes......moons and stars, leaping hares....birds......creeping vines with leaves and flowers....oooooooohhhh! Mouth-wateringly exciting ideas are filling my mind! Watch this space - I will put up a photo of the finished article with the final embroidery and added 'bits'.

I do hope you will be going into the New Year with a passion and enthusiasm for something you love. Catch up with you again soon!

19 comments:

  1. Happy New Year Lynne, Now, I love that cushion, but that hat is out of this world. I must show my son, although I don't think flowers would be appropriate for him. Actually, maybe I should just make one....
    Happy fiddle/accordion playing in it :)
    Sue Xxx

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    1. Well hey, Sue, I've seen lots of male dancers with flowers on their hats! But perhaps it would have to be a bit funkeir to appeal! Thanks for the comment, I loved making this. Lx

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  2. Yeah, love the hat too.
    (short but sweet this time!)

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    1. Short and sweet is fine, Maggie! Thanksfor your comment!Lx

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  3. I love them, could even take up hat wearing myself! Happy New Year Lynne, hope it's a good one for you! :) x

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    1. I've just remembered, Ada , reading your comment, that I DID make a hat some years ago, black wool, with appliqued green wool leaves (not felt). I wore it with pride for quite a while, I must look it out and pop it on the next post!

      And a gret year ahead for you too, Ada, Lxxx

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  4. I love the hat! Excellent would make a lovely Easter Hat too.
    x

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    1. Thankyou - it seems to be hitting the spot with quite a few people - facebook is humming a bit at the moment! Yes, I can see all sorts of applications for this technique.
      Lx

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  5. Love Love Loving the hat!!!!! Happy New Year :) x

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    1. Hello Lovely Lizzy! I'm thrilled with how it's going, myself, glad you like it. I'm thinking, maybe buy a couple of inexpensive berets, and cover with felt flowers and leaves and.......vines maybe....gosh I'm really getting carried away here!

      All best wishes for a great 2013! Lx

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  6. Oh Lynne - your hat is divine. Totally get carried away - it's where the best creativity lays!
    Claire

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    1. Hiya Claire, thanks for that...I'm on a roll now, more felt supplies acquired yesterday, more ideas spinning round my head...YAY! Lx

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  7. Hi there Lynne, Happy New Year to you and your family ! and lots of stitches for the year to come !
    Missed probably a lot because of my felting-frenzy in the last weeks of the year, which made me a lazy blog reader .... :-(
    Love your felt appliqué and embroidery ! Really joyful hat !!! Certainly nót for a "Mad Hatter" ..... ;-)

    (and finally: daughter and baby are doing só well now !)

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    1. Hello Els, thanks for 'following'! And lovely to have your comments. Felt is so lovely to work with, isn't it? I have become quite addicted to it!

      So pleased to hear your daughter and her babay are doing well, you have been brilliant parents/grandparents. It all comes back to you eventually. Happy New Year to you all.Lxxx

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  8. Lynne, you are so talented with all your stitchery.I love the way you use felted wool and your colours are always so classic and beautiful. Here's wishing you a wonderful and creative 2013, oh and lots of light and sprinkles of glitter too xox Penelope
    ps. get collecting all your blessings in a jam jar of sorts I don't think you'll regret it :0)

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    1. Hiya Penny! Thanks for your comment, and i think we will all be getting our creative acts together this coming year. I plan (he he) to be more organised too!

      I just loved the idea of your Blessings Jar, and so pretty too. Lxx

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  9. Happy Crafty New Year!
    The cushion is so special but what a fabulous idea for the hat makeover..... it will really bring fun and joy when you wear it. If you cannot get felt easily I can get it for you no probs and cheaply as the fabric warehouse I use sells felt by weight (wide) or by the yard and not just in small pieces. All colours to but it would be best if the black was all one piece around the crown. Just let me know!
    love jo x

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  10. your hat is super! Don't forget to let me know if you want black felt or any other colour!
    If I don't contact you before you leave... .have a wonderful trip down under. Fun and sun..... ooooh! loverly,
    Jo x

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    1. Jo sorry to be late responding....I missed your comment once I put the new post up. Yes, I'd be interested in talking about some felt with you...can we have a chat when I get back? Is that ok? It'll be mid-Feb.

      Many thanks for thinking of me, Lxxx

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