Hello 2016

Hello 2016,

I'm not quite ready for you I think. December went by so quickly, just like the whole of 2015 actually. Often at the end of a year, I feel like I didn't do much, but looking back at 2015's projects and photos, it's not too bad. :)

The Simply Shading Class was a project close to my heart because shading is one of my favourite embroidery techniques. If I ever get to write a book about embroidery it would probably be about shading! I also had some more of my patterns professionally printed as iron-on patterns and in May the project I made for Australian Homespun Magazine, a Doe with flowers embroidered on a skirt, was featured on the cover! I experimented a bit, embroidering with sewing thread (the 'knitting bear') and using just one colour ('fish and anchor') and releasing a 'Fowl Talk' PDF pattern, inspired by Shakespearean sweary quotes. In October ('Inktober') I really got back into drawing and found out that I really enjoy drawing with fineliners.

I'm not exactly sure what I'll be doing this year. I started a new shading project just a few days ago that I think could turn out real nice. Maybe I could do a themed series in the same style. I'm also secretly hoping to receive an amazing, embroidery commission (Penguin Book Cover or something else completely unexpected!) In March I'm teaching my first embroidery workshop, hopefully it'll be a success. And next month I'll start attending a drawing class locally. I can draw a little but I want to learn more, possibly even master new techniques. Oh and I'm working on a new website, but more about that later.

Nicole

Fawn on a Skirt

It's was a big surprise when I received an e-mail from my Homespun editor to let me know my Fawn was chosen as cover photo for their May issue! Last year Homespun asked me to make a design that could be embroidered on clothing. In my own wardrobe you'll find lots of animal and flower prints on skirts and dresses so I combined the two in this Fawn & Flower design.

And no, it's not Bambi. In fact the text on the left says 'it's so sweet it would put Bambi to shame'. That wasn't my intention because Bambi has had such a difficult start in life already, but there you go... ;) I used a black skirt to embroider on because the dark background contrasts so well with the colours. The stitching is far more 'chunky' than my usual one-thread-only pieces but it works well for embroidering on garments I think. You'll find all the stitch and colour details in this month's issue. If you are not in Australia you can buy digital copies through Zinio and Newsstand. And there's lots of other good stuff in there too like an article about Guy Whitby, he makes pixelated images (digitally) using crochet granny squares.

Have a great weekend everyone! :)

On the Cover of a Magazine

I'm so excited that my 'Wave Goodbye' embroidery (as it's now called) has made it to the cover of this month's Australian Homespun magazine!

I had this idea to make an embroidery with a Volkswagen Van for quite a while. I even had a fairly detailed drawing of it on my 'must make a pattern of this one day' pile. As it turns out production of these VW vans ended last December but at least you can now still make your own with needle and thread! Anyway, I'm glad Homespun liked the idea as well so I went on and adjusted the original sketch quite a bit to give it a bit of a Surf and Beach theme. That maybe an odd theme in September for us in the Northern Hemisphere but in Australia it's nearly Spring! Maybe it would be fun if I'd made a wintery version as well...

P.S.
Tomorrow I am finally posting a review of the IKEA 'Sy' Sewing machine I bought for my daughter earlier this year!