News from the Stitchy Community

Illustration SAL 3 From top left clock wise: Wrightson Frankenstein by Sandy, H.R. Giger illustration by PixieFey, Totoro hoop by Rebecca and St Trinian's by Meredith. See the whole gallery here which includes photos I couldn't use here due to copyright.

The Illustration Stitch Along is already in it's third round! This time people who have joined in are free in their choice of which illustrator/illustration they are going to tackle and so far the results are very impressive! You can still join in this Stitch Along or perhaps you'd rather wait until the next Illustration Stitch Along starts in October? If I remember correctly we'll be making embroideries based on the illustrations of Dr. Seuss then. I think I'll embroider a Dr. Seuss pillowcase for my daughter. :) 

Another fun challenge is up on the &Stitches blog! Last Thursday I announced our Back to School Stitching Competition there. A fun theme and fab prizes by Penguin & Fish, Lucky Jackson and Septemberhouse! There is still plenty of time to enter as the contest closes the 15th of October. Check further details here.

Tim Burton Stitch Along: Jack the Pumpkin king

I finally started stitching my piece for the second Illustration Stitch Along which started back in April. Luckily it lasts until July so I have some time to finish this small stitchery. Jack Skellington is the main character in 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' one of my favourite Tim Burton films. Jack is actually quite endearing as he tries to take over Christmas but gets it all wrong. My kids love the film as well and both wanted to claim my Jack Skellington embroidery for their rooms. I think I will just keep him for myself though. ;)

If you want to join in the Stitch Along, or want to see what others have made (in the past and more recently) with the same theme, head over here.

Gorey in Stitches Roundup

Top (left to right): Brodwaith, Murder Bird, Flaming Nora Crafts

Middle: Sewphie, Sew Technicolor, The Stitch Emporium

Bottom: xsilverdaisyx, me, Cherry and Cinnamon

I am so impressed with the fabulous interpretations in thread of Edward Gorey's work that were posted in the Illustration Stitch A Long group! While being proud of my talented Stitch A Longers, I'm also slightly embarrassed that I didn't finish my own piece in time. I seriously underestimated the amount of embroidery work that tiny embroidery brought me, especially 'translating' the cross hatching in stitches. As soon as I'm done  I will dedicate a post to my little Doubtful Guest embroidery. The mosaic really doesn't do the embroideries justice. You must click on the links above and view (and enlarge) the photos to be able to truly appreciate (and comment on) the great work the Stitch A Longers did.

On the first of April our New Stitch A Long started. It's all about the art and animation movies of Tim Burton this time and Bridgeen (my co-host) and myself are counting on more fabulous work from you guys. Everyone is welcome to join our Stitch A Long group here!

A Gorey Update

Last week I made some good progress on my Edward Gorey Stitch Along piece. I was a bit worried about embroidering on the seam where I joined the 'wallpaper' to the 'floor' but that went ok. Except that you still can see the line through the Doubtful Guest's fur. I think I will just make him a bit more furry to cover it up. :)

Some of the other stitchers are already (nearly) finished with their pieces! How about this little skeleton guy beautifully embroidered on a pillowcase by Sophie?

Read all about her Gorey project here.

It's not too late to join us in the Stitch along group on Flickr and make your own Gorey Piece. Or maybe you'd rather wait for the next SAL (starting in April) which has the work of Tim Burton as theme.


P.S. Brie, one of the other Stitch-along-ers, pointed this Edward Gorey Google illustration out to me, in honour of his 88th birthday yesterday:

Just so you know...Stitch A Long coming up!

Doubtful Guest being especially Doubtful..

Last weekend I posted an update of my Doubtful Guest embroidery on Instagram (find me there! I'm Followbunny) in honour of the addition of the fringe on the scarf (great excuse to use the Turkey Stitch!). Most of my Instagram pics are forwarded to Twitter (where I happen to be Followbunny too!) and I'm not sure how it happened but for some reason the subject of a Edward Gorey Stitch Along came up on Twitter. Not now, now is not a good time for a lot of people (with Christmas Stitching to do etc) but starting the first of January 2013!

So I just thought I'd let you all know... If you are not familiar with Edward Gorey's work take a look here or here. I have created a Flickr group for those of you interested in Stitching A Long next year (what a great way of starting 2013!) you can find it here.  The Stitch A Long after that will be all about Tim Burton's work. I can't wait!