I know! I'm sorry to have mentioned That Word already, and it's only September - but there are some things you need to prepare for, and I have about SIX WEEKS to get some stuff ready to sell. I have spent nearly three weeks finishing the Large Wool Cushions, which may or may not be taken by someone who spoke to me at the Letheringsett Craft Fair. I just don't know when to stop once I start embroidering!
Still waiting to get round to finishing these three large cushions, buttons are made, they are all cut out and ready. I set to and completed this Blue Bird cushion over about three days hard stitching, as usual, my camera does not show the green up very well.
My thoughts turned to Christmas wreaths, and I am working out how to make them in felt, yet have a little bit of weight and substance to them. Yet for what I could charge for them I don't want to spend too much time and energy making them! With that in mind I began on a prototype this week....it needs tweaking a bit, more appliqué, and a swifter way of construction. I'm not too sure about the background colour either, but it can't be green or red..... decisions, decisions!
Cards are another option, I need to speak to my friendly local printer who is very amenable to all kinds of ideas. Tons of ideas run through my head the minute my head hits the pillow, but there really isn't too much time to be experimenting with things which may not work and need to be rejected. Felt tree decorations are one idea, but to be honest, people are not prepared to pay more than a couple of pounds for a decoration, and so they would be pretty sparse and mean-looking to make them worth making. It really is a fine balancing act between materials cost, and effort, and what you can ask for your wares.
I have an Angel panel commission too, and I should like to make some modified panels for the craft fair. Meanwhile, I've begun work on another smaller cushion .
Entirely removed from sewing, I'd just like to say,I sat up and watched all but the final hour of the Referendum last night/this morning on BBC Scotland Live. Fascinating. Personally I am glad we still have the United Kingdom, as I believe we are stronger together, but it is time the politicians pulled their fingers out and opted for BIG CHANGE. More transparency, more accountability, less cronyism, less cosying up to Big Business and doing deals behind doors which do not benefit the citizens of these fair isles. But there are a lot of Scots out there hurting at the moment, so much passion, emotion, hard work, on both sides, and so many dreams dashed. I hope the breach can be healed and we can move forward to change government for the better.
Have good weekends, be creative, be political, engage!
I am with you all the way on the Scottish issue. Time to stop the posturing and start dealing with it. As for the C word, not from my lips or fingers till October, mind you i am happy to get a peek at what others are doing. You have stirred my little grey cells up and made go ooooh I like that.
ReplyDeleteWith you there, Pam, I am totally against mentioning THAT WORD, only because of the craft fair which is a XXXX craft fair! Lx
DeleteI hope the politicians stick to their promises now. I'm sure the Scots will bounce back soon, just hope there is no hard feelings towards each other. Love the wreath, what about yellow or pale blue as a background, or a little bit of stuffing?
ReplyDeleteI hope we can keep the bad feeling at bay. It is there simmering, but then it always was. There is a bit of padding on the wreath, I didn't want to go the merely stuffed version as I thought it would be too light. Hey ho, not entirely satisfied, but then it was a first try. And I'm not a very crafty person, not good at actually making three dimensional things.
DeleteI wonder if I'll manage to find you at a Christmas craft fair? I'll try.......
ReplyDeleteBe great if you could, Jay - full details later of course but it is in Shipdham church 1st November - I think! Oh, and thank you for your other comment - I did publish it but I can't find it to answer it! Sorry! Lx
DeleteSeptember, October......whenever, I just love your creations Lynne, always so colourful. You are forgiven! ;) xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks Ada - I think it was just about allowable, don't you? Lxxx
DeleteI too am grappling with the materials time price equation. I want to start selling some of my makes a bit more seriously. If our stuff ever gets here and I can find my sewing machine... Looks like it might be late next week. Fingers crossed! I like the wreath. What about a more creamy back ground? Eleanor xx
ReplyDeleteHi Eleanor - big Red Letter Day when your belongings arrive hey! I think the background felt is quite creamy, but you know, I laid the wreath on some blue wool to photograph it, the same wool I am using in the flower cushion - and I rather like it - I like contrast, I think it will go nicely with the reds and greens. Sorted! Now just the materials/time/cost equation to solve! Lx
ReplyDeleteHave you ever timed your makes? They must take ages. Love the bird ... I read pipe insulation makes a cheap wreath base, I'm going to give it a go. Ho ho ho xx
ReplyDeleteIt's difficult, Ethel, because I tend not to work on one thing at a time (Adult ADHD!!) but sometimes I make a rough note - the huge floral cushions (unfinished) took almost a week each to design, cut out, applique and embroider, and make the buttons. And they haven't been sewn up yet! Yes, I have seen some wreathes using pipe, I'd have to find some pretty large bore ones though.... let me know if you have any success! Lx
DeleteOh my Lynne, that's indeed early ... but I know : making things takes a LOT more time than most people think !!! So it's good to be "prepared" ;-)
ReplyDeleteLove the peacock-y bird on the cushion ! (and when I see your embroidered flowers ... I see my (your) pin cushion hanging here in the livingroom )
Hi Els! I love to think of that pin-cushion swinging round and round in your living room - your Mandala sits at the side of my sewing table, right in view! Yes, only 6 weeks to make enough to sell - always supposing the DO sell! Lxxx
Deletelovely photos as well lovely stitching - i don't mind the c word personally - i've got a few dates already for my card sales so i got the old christmassy box down this week - just got it down you understand i have to pace myself!!! my favourite photo is the one of the work in progress as it were - do you work to a pattern or is it all off the top of your head? - know what you mean about thoughts at bedtime - i don't think we are alone with that one!!! i switched off to the scottish vote long ago - i just got so bored with it all BUT i felt incredibly sorry for them today because i can imagine a lot of very sad people as of course there would also have been if the vote had been yes!!! i hope everyone can forgive and come together now and even though i didn't think i had an opinion i am glad we are still a united kingdom!! take care xx
ReplyDeleteHi Lynne, the Christmas thing is because I hate the way the shops rush things upon us, so I try not to be engaged with it until the event is almost upon us! I have a young relative who decorates in October. Yes, really! MAD! My feelings about the Referendum are exactly like yours - I had not planned to stay up at all, and was getting quite fed up with the constant chat, but in the end it was quite fascinating and I'm glad we had the result we did. Now then ...get on with those cards! At once! Lxx
DeleteHi There Lynne, I love your Blue Bird cushion . . . your work always makes me smile:)
ReplyDeleteOh, and that pair of scissors . . . they look like they were custom made with you in mind.
Christmas . . . I don't want to talk about it, yet.
Connie :)
Hi Connie, thank you, I really enjoy this stitching with wool/felt. I totally agree with everyone NOT wanting to think about You Know When - I don't either, but as this is a CHRISTMAS Craft Fair, I had to mention The Word! Mea Culpa!! Lxxx
Deleteyes, already Christmas sewing here. I do like your work, the embroidery on the bird is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kath, I keep thinking I wold work so much faster on the machine- but then I love the hand work. Ah well! What are you stitching? Lxx
DeleteStunning embroidery as always. The Holly Wreaths are fabulous, I have never seen any like that they really are unique and so cute :-) xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Karen, yes, the wreath is an original - and in fact I'm still working it out! A bit of a faff though..... Lxx
DeleteHi Lynne. I love your unusual scissors in the last photo!
ReplyDeleteHi Ali, aren't they pretty? And they are just a cheap little pair, but I love them! Lx
DeleteOh, but Christmas is a wonderful word, provided it isn't followed by 'shoppping' which I think should come after my Mother's birthday on Dec. 17th.
ReplyDeleteI have begun on Christmas projects even though, at the moment, we have no house as ours is being underpinned. It is part of being an (ex) primary school teacher - we began planning for Christmas projects as soon as the summer break was over because the weeks just fly by in the 'autumn term.'
I found your post thoroughly exciting and inspiring. Christmas! Hurrah!
Jenni
Hi Jenni, yes, I agree, I hate the false, commercialised take on our festivals and so don't think about them until I need to!. And of course, if you work in schools the seasons come round in their own time and you HAVE to prepare for them!
ReplyDeleteI did look at your blog(S) but not sure which is your "everyday" blog! Your cottage looks lovely. Where about in Wales are you? I do love Wles, being an exiled Liverpudlian I use dot visit a lot. Lxx
Hello Lynne. I have your blog bookmarked but I don't seem to have read much of it till tonight! Your cushion caught my attention its lovely, you're very clever. I have a felt wreath I got a few years ago and I think it has a cardboard circle inside which is surrounded by some kind of stuffing. It's been fairly robust and has survived being tightly packed in my christmas cupboard every year so far (I love christmas but perhaps not quite this early). I know what you mean about not taking too much time over your crafts to sell. I've been making clocks to sell but you can only get so much for them which was a subject of discussion in our house recently as hubby (who cuts the mdf shapes for me) came up with quite a complicated pattern for me to try and I had to dismiss it as there was no way I would be able to charge enough to justify the time spent on it. It's a pity but unless you are a 'name' these days it's very hard to make a living on crafts I would say. Also, being Scottish and living in central Scotland I would like to say thank you for wanting us to stay! In general it has all been very peaceful but unfortunately this weekend some stupid idiots have caused trouble in the centre of Glasgow in the name of the No vote! these people are muddling up their voting with their 'religious' beliefs, as I'm sure you know there is a huge celtic/rangers mentality up here and this is behind the trouble, however it was relatively small I believe and the majority of us have accepted the result and wait with bated breath for Mr Cameron to get his act together and start doing what he said he would. I think more than just Scotland need some action from him. Anyway, now that I've taken over your comments page (sorry) I will bid you goodnight and I will enjoy visiting you again soon. :)
ReplyDeleteHello Marksgran, lovely to see you here and thank you for your comment. That is more or less how I made my wreath, but it was such a faff I need to re-think it. I'm interested in your clocks, because I was thinking of making a vilene and felt clock case and attach the clock 'fixings' which I know you can purchase separately. WHo knows?? And on your Scottish comment, well, you know I have left a reply on your blog.There is a strong consensus here in England at least that we are glad you are still in the Union but that there is much work to be done - the politicos have had a kick in the backside I think! I really do hope there will not be huge division in Scotland. Meanwhile - come back soon, as I will see you at yours! Lxx
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