The Applique of my Eye

Way back in May my good friend in Aus-land sent me a voucher for The Make Lounge. I ummed and ahhed for ages over which of their fabulous courses to take and eventually picked Machine Embroidery & Applique. I'm so glad I did.

Here are my 3 final pieces that I took home after the evening course. And I have to say I am pretty pleased with how they turned out. The course was set out perfectly- small class size, lots of sewing machines and ironing boards, well paced activities with room for taking your own angle on the tasks and, most importantly, the most glorious selection of fabrics to play with. 

I am so chuffed with my tea cup and I can't believe how perfectly it fits the embroidery hoop I've had stashed away. This has gone straight up on the craft room wall. The cut out technique used here is definitely one I will use again. Here's a close up:

As soon as we sat down I spotted this city scape fabric so I knew I had to use it in some way. 

On the course they suggest that the applique samples could be made into coasters so I have used this fabric to make one for my new office. Just need to finish stitching up the sides and it will be ready to show off at work!

I am not 100% sure what I am going to do with the final piece but I think I might frame it. I really like the way it looks like russian dolls and I even managed to give the middle one a little machine embroidered crown.

What an amazing birthday gift- thank you so much Helen B! I am now so glad I have kept hold of all those little scraps of fabric- I think the heat n bond will be coming out this weekend...

Speaking of Helens and applique- I was able to give my cousin her birthday cushion when she came to visit last weekend and I am pleased to say she liked it.

The background fabric is a lovely, soft herringbone patterned flannel I got on etsy and the flower applique has been cut from Slim's families old camping curtains. Upcycling, recycling and reusing does make me happy.

Front detail

Back

Close up detail on back

I don't know if you can see it on the pictures but the flowers have been outlined in gold thread. It was certainly a labour of love and it's a good thing there were so many episodes of The Sopranos left to watch but I'm really glad I persevered because the detail really makes it special (so says me..) 

That about wraps up my craftiness this week but I have been planning my next set of cushions which have been commissioned by my mum. She has picked some of my favourite fabrics and so I know I will enjoy coming up with some ideas for them. 

Hope you are all enjoying the beautiful sunshine in the UK x

Drawing Challenge- The Great Reveal

That's it. My days of commuting from Brighton to London are over and my 19 day drawing challenge is complete. I am going to miss the drawing challenge a lot. I really felt I improved towards the end and became a lot less dependent on using words as part of the illustration. But my word it was hard. The rules I set myself were that I was allowed to think about the drawing during the day and even look for inspiration but then I just had my evening commute to complete the drawing and I couldn't go back to work on it. 

And so without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you the fruits of my drawing challenge labours...drum roll...

(Please click the images to enlarge them if you would like a closer look)

Here are the tools of my trade which I carried with me for the drawing challenge. Oh Sharpie pens how I love you...

The Challenge

Day 1: Myself

Day 2: Favourite Animal

Day 3: Favourite Food

Day 4: Favourite Place

Day 5: My Best Friend

Day 6: Favourite Word

Day 7: Favourite Plant

Day 8: A Couple

Day 9: Just a Doodle
Day 10: Something Orange

Day 11: Something I Want

Day 12: Something I Miss

Day 13: Something I Need

Day 14: My Most Recent Accomplishment

Day 15: Scenery

Day 16: Something I Don't Like
Mushrooms!

Day 17: Something I Love

Day 18: A Place I'd Like To Go

Day 19: A Congratulatory Banner For Finishing!

So there you go. I would love to see if anyone else has completed this or the 30 Day Drawing Challenge so please comment with your link so I can check it out! x

Autumnal Colour Palettes

Maybe it's because I am inside when I would rather be outside but I have come over all whimsical about autumnal colours. So today I have brought a little outdoors indoors with this autumnal colour palette blog...I hope you enjoy.

Hampstead Heath

Poppy in Brockwell Park

Horniman Museum, London

Rosehips in Battersea Park

I will find out the artist's name who made this tile

Threads at the Market, Leighton Buzzard

Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire

This could equally be a blog in praise of autumn light- every photographers dream. x

A new Twitter fledging

That's right. I have joined the world of Twitter. You can follow me @LauraCraftyBird. Just what you wanted- more insight into my tiny little mind. And just what I needed- something else to procrastinate with!

I know I promised you pictures of my bank holiday makes but the truth is I didn't do much more that fix a hole in my leggings and that wasn't very blog worthy (despite the fact I have just told you about it...)

I have been working on some birthday presents and also taking commissions for some card designs which has been fun. Once they have been distributed I will share them with you but till then it's all very hush hush.

Here is the one I did for Trisha Gee. The remit was "Things specific to Trish, cycling, shoes, boys, drinking!!" and here is the finished card:

The background patterns are images of the specific beverages under a microscope

The feedback I received today was that awesome was used twice to describe it which is good enough for me.
I hope the other birthday bods like theirs just as much!

My new hedgerow foraging book arrived last week so at the first sign of sunshine we were out looking for things to infuse in booze.

I can recommend this lovely book- next purchase
will be the Jams and Preserves one in the series...

So far elderberries and sloes have been gathered, pricked and frozen and are now ready and waiting for the magic to begin. My new place of work is surrounded by woods so with any luck I will be able to do a spot of foraging on my lunch break...might need to take my wellies!

Here is a little Esty titbits I have collected to celebrate hedgerows & foraging:







You may also have noticed that I have a new neat and tidy little chart for this treasury. This is thanks to Craft Blog UK's tutorial. I recommend that you check out the blog- just the ticket for some blogging inspiration.
That's it for now. happy Tuesday everyone x