Works in progress

I've had a very busy week so far. On Monday we had a Project meeting at our Embroiderers Guild branch to move forward with the 17th century embroidery project we're working on. I have already done my slip for the large tree of life which will be the central piece in the exhibition (if we ever find a venue for it), a couple of pieces of lace and a blackwork tree of life of my own. All of these I believe I've shown you in the past. I'm now working on a hexagonal casket which will have pieces of lace worked for each section of the raised lid. At least, in my head that's what is going to happen. We'll just have to wait and see if I manage to make it look good enough to show to others.

I've also been working on a second kit which my wonderful son gave me as a Christmas gift. This is another Jane Greenoff book, but this time only the front cover is worked in embroidery.

It's really quite tiny but there's a surprising amount of stitching involved and, this time I've really quite enjoyed doing the hardanger section. There is still a border of couched gold thread and then two rows of pulled thread work to go around the edges yet but this little beauty should be completed by the end of the week I think.

Two years ago I went on my holiday of a lifetime to Russia (some of you may remember) and ever since I've been promising myself that I would do some embroideries based on what I saw there. It's taken me quite a while to get started, though designs have been brewing in my head and in my sketchbook for some time. Anyhow, the first piece is now in progress.

A little goldwork icon. When it's completed you won't be able to see any of the yellow felt. That's just there as padding to raise up all the gold wire chippings and beads. The red hands and face will remain, however. We saw many icon frames in the Armouries inside the Kremlin walls and all the paintings had been removed, leaving just the frames worked in precious metals and jewels, so that's why this piece is the way it is.

 I've also been working on my 48th scale cottage stores. There's now a bed upstairs, which just fits in the alcove to the side of the boxed in stairs. The shop has a counter and some shelving, both of which hold items for sale. There's a stepladder and pot of paint in the section to the side, and, if you look really closely, you might be able to see that there's even a paintbrush in the paint pot.

  

There are baskets of fruit and vegetables and some other items on the windowsill.

And I've also made three little hats to go in my Etsy shop - all ready for that spring sunshine, which I know is just around the corner.

Finally ... Willow's birthday portrait ...

Four today. He looks quite cross about me taking his photograph doesn't he? But at least he stayed still for me.

Handbags and a village shop

I've been busy on the miniatures front this week - due mainly to not having been out as a result of the snow that fell last Sunday night and has never melted ... and there's more coming later today apparently. I know that this is very normal for some of you but I hate this feeling of being trapped in the house. I know that I could go out but I'm so nervous of falling on the ice and the pavements are never cleared around here. Anyhow ... enough moaning about the weather ... here are my mini creations.

 I've been making handbags and suitcases and all of these are going into my Etsy shop. They're all made from the finest kid leather.

 A large tan bag

 A deep turquoise handbag with matching suitcase

 A black suitcase with matching handbag

A sweet pale pink handbag

 And two pale tan bags.

I've also made some fittings for my cottage stores - some shelves ... 
 

and a little corner counter.

And this is the shop completed.

Oh, and yes, I've been trying to finish off some more stitching projects. This piece of lace is complete now - just need to decide where I'm going to put it.

More work on the Cottage stores

I've been working on my little Cottage Stores building again today and have just a few more pictures to show you.

This picture shows the front of the building with its windows in place and the rough coating on the walls. The front of the building is glued to the pavement section and decorating that will be tomorrow's job I think.
That shop window is really beautiful and just begging to be filled with all kinds of delights. I just need to decide what ... yes, still no final decision made and I think it's because I'm not really sure what I am able to make in this scale. A decision will have to be made soon!

Here you can see the inside, complete with the partition walls in place and the doors which lead to the 'staircase' up to the room above the shop. There are decisions to be made here too. Will it be living quarters for the shop owner, or will it be an office where he does his paperwork, or a store-room for additional stock? You can just see, if you look closely, the floorboards marked out with a fine-tipped pen. The walls of the upstairs room are actually painted a pale blue colour though that certainly isn't clear here.

And finally, here is the view of the end wall.

My 1/4 scale cottage stores

I couldn't wait any longer to make a start on those wonderful 1/4 scale kits from Petite Properties! This is the basic shell of the Cottage Stores.

Cute isn't it? It's taken me a while to decide what my little shop will be selling but I think that because it's a village shop it should stock a little of everything. I've made a little partition for the back left hand corner of the shop area and another for the top floor, each with a fake door, which is where the staircase would be.

I don't know why I imagined that this would be quick to build as, of course, there's just as much detail involved as there would be for a larger house, but much much smaller. 

This is a canvas work kit which I was given as a Christmas present. I couldn't wait to get started on that either. I'm undecided whether this will end up framed as a picture to hang on my wall, or as a book cover, or mounted onto a cushion cover, or on the lid of a box. Any ideas?

Happy New Year!

Wishing all my followers 

a very happy 

new year.

I hope that 2013 is kind to each and every one of you

I've been doing a little stitching over the holidays but with family coming to stay there's not much to show yet and I'll wait until pieces are completed before giving you picturess. One piece I did get finished is this lace butterfly. It's worked in a thicker thread than I usually use so worked up really quickly and is destined to be stitched to a cushion cover to sit on my bed.

Since the new year I've been trying to get some more pieces completed to put in my Etsy shop (link in the left hand margin of my blog).

As it's so cold outside (though no snow here in Yorkshire yet) I knitted this little scarf, hat and mittens which are being sold together with the sledge and pile of snowballs - all ready for the first snowball fight of the year.

Looking towards spring, I made this dresser for a gardening fan with lots of seeds, plants and flowers together with a little bird house and an adorable little gremlin garden ornament. There's a jug filled with plant labels on the bottom shelf along with two empty vases. Shells and other ornaments complete the display.

There is a little shelf unit for the bathroom - complete with razor, toothbrush and some false teeth - all in blue ...

... and a similar unit in pink.