“Kids don’t remember what you try to teach them. They remember what you are.”
– Jim Henson
Three of my very favorite fiber artists showed these kids what it is like to be super excited about fiber art. Job well done, ladies.
I just learned about a new e-zine all about embroidery that launched just in the last week or so. It’s called &Stitches. I am not really up on all of the embroidery blogs (I am not sure why not!), so I am glad I heard about this!
The blurb on the &Stitches website says:
This issue (the first one!) is all about colour! How to find colour inspiration for your stitchy projects, a bit of colour theory and of course we have patterns too. One pattern is by our guest contributor and first interview-ee, Corinne McHie of SeptemberHouse.
We also asked a few other stitchers where they find their colour inspiration and we also manged to fit in a couple of book reviews.
&Stitches is written by Carina Envoldsen-Harris (Polka & Bloom) and Nicole Vos van Avezathe (Follow the White Bunny), both avid stitchers and embroidery pattern designers.
I was intrigued and so I bought a copy. (You download it as a .pdf. Super handy. )
The verdict: It is beautiful! The color theory article is worth the price alone. I know color theory pretty well, but trying to explain to other people is sometimes a challenge and this is a really visual guide. I am going to add a link to this “Colour” issue to some of my class handouts as a reference. I also learned a new embroidery stitch that I didn’t know and I really like Corinne’s fishes pattern (but you know I am pretty fond of fish). I am really looking forward to future issues.
If you read the comments for that previous post, you will see that Corinne is one smart cookie. Both patterns were made from this photo of a butterfly, taken while walking the dog this summer.
I like that second pattern well enough that I think I am going to order some printed fabric and make a summery blouse.
What did these lovely patterns start as? Any guesses?
A few months ago, my friend Donna tweeted about this software called “Repper” for making repeating patterns. I checked it out, thought it was cool and got busy and forgot about it. While working on something else last night, I thought of it again and decided to call it a business expense and purchase the software (It’s priced in euros, but it worked out to about $38.) It is a really fabulous tool that lets you create repeating patterns based on triangles, squares and hexagons from any starting image. Try out the free demo! I promise you will have fun.
I love finding the perfect handmade thing for someone special. These are a few of the gorgeous things I found this year. Big thank yous to Omar, Jacqueline, Bethany, Denise & Paul and Tom for creating these great pieces.
My youngest sister and nieces got custom initial rings from maldonadojoyas.etsy.com. He was lovely to work with and the rings are awesome.
My sister-in-law got this bowl from MorrisPottery for her birthday (in December). She is devoted to her horses and I knew she would love it.
My geeky sister and equally geeky best friend each got Pixel People pattern by weelittlestitches. One each Serenity and Princess Bride.
Andy got this beautiful beautiful glass shark from sanctuaryglass. Did I say beautiful? He wants to hang it in the window at his office, but then I never get to see it.
And finally, my daddy, the architect, got a blueprint tie from Cyberoptix Tie Labs. He hates to wear a tie, but on those occasions when you really just need to wear one, I like for him to have something fun.
My parents are plagued with ditzy deer. The deer come right up on the front step and eat flowers out of pots. I am pretty sure they would let themselves in the house and sleep on the couch if the small schnauzer that lives there would let them in the door. I saw this pattern on Kirie’s Shape Moth blog and knew my mom had to have a something with that deer on it. It was supposed to be a rug. She says she’s not putting it on the floor, she’s going to hang it by her desk at work. It’s made from faux suede, which has been paper pieced, and a nice upholstery fabric. (The photo is from my phone, I forgot to take a decent one.)
just what to say…
And for this year, my wish for each of us is small and very simple.
And it’s this.I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.
Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re Doing Something.
So that’s my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody’s ever made before. Don’t freeze, don’t stop, don’t worry that it isn’t good enough, or it isn’t perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.
Whatever it is you’re scared of doing, Do it.
Make your mistakes, next year and forever.
Quoting Neil Gaiman…
May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.
I posted this several years ago and decided it was really appropriate to post again. May you also share special moments with good friends. (Today is the 20th anniversary of my first date with my husband. 20?? How did that happen?)
Mittens in mismatched stripes. Knit with a double strand of Cascade 220 from this very favorite pattern (Ann Budd Knitters Handy Book of Patterns) and lined with polar fleece liners. They are very warm and cozy. I have a pair that I wear every day in the winter than are the same stripes, but in plum, 2 shades of orange & 2 shades of green.
