Atta boy, Clarence!

Well, how did this happen? We're just four weeks away from Christmas Day! It'll soon be time to break out the festive movies (if you haven't done already!) I'm already itching to get the decorations out and I thought you'd like an early gift. You can download this pattern FREE from my Payhip shop.

This sampler is a bit of a clue to my favourite Christmas film - It's A Wonderful Life. If anything's going to give you that warm and fuzzy festive feeling then it's the scene where George Bailey is reunited with his family and friends and is made to realise how loved he is by them all. Just then, the little bells on the tree start to jingle.

"Look, Daddy! Teacher says 'Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.'"

Clarence has finally earned his wings after saving George. Hurrah!

If you've seen this movie in colour, you'll know that the bells on the Bailey family tree are gold but I stitched this before I'd seen the colour version. Please feel free to stitch them in gold instead of silver if you wish. The bells motif is also perfect for greeting cards and other smaller projects.

I feel I've really made progress this year in many ways so I though this would be a nice way of saying thank you for all the support I've had.

Have a good weekend and happy stitching!

You can find more Christmas designs and free patterns on my website: hawthorntreedesigns.com

Robins are for lfe, not just for Christmas!

Here we are in September again. It's almost a whole year since I rescued that poorly hedgehog* (wonder what it's up to now?)

I've been very busy for the last couple of weeks re-formatting all of my patterns and updating my shops with new versions. I've also built a brand new website. You can find links to both my shops and this blog as well as the two free patterns in my Payhip shop.

hawthorntreedesigns.com

So, you're wondering what this all has to do with robins? Well, I've just added a brand new pattern to my collection...

This sweet little robin redbreast compliments my bullfinches. I have several more which will be available in the near future and others in the planning. (Did I mention I love birds?)These bird designs are really easy to stitch and I would have finished the robin in one afternoon had I not decided to change the shade of orange I was using. I was also distracted by Frodo and Sam making their way through the Dead Marshes in The Two Towers so you may well finish it sooner than I did!

Like the bullfinches, this robin has been designed to fit into a 4-inch hoop but he also makes a great motif for Christmas cards, should you want to get a head-start on making some of your own before things start to get really busy.

However, as the title  of this post implies, robins can be seen all year round so he is definitely not just for Christmas! To stitch him for yourself click here.

*To read about my hedgehog rescue, click here.

New Pattern - Festive Bauble

 

I mentioned in an earlier post that I was giving my Festive Bauble design a makeover. I released the original last autumn, along with two other Christmas designs. While I'm happy with the Noel Sampler and I Will Honour Christmas, I felt there was some room for improvement with the Festive Bauble.

 

 

 

I decided to change the colour scheme to give it a different look to the other Christmas patterns. It now has a modern silver, purple and turquoise palette and a touch of silver metallic thread to add some sparkle. I have also resized it so that it fits neatly into a 7-inch hoop.

 

 

Everyone has their own preferences for Christmas colours and you may have your own ideas on how you'd like this bauble to look. You can make it look as modern or as traditional as you like. Match it to your own festive décor or make it look completely different.

 

 

If you're not a fan of metallic threads, you can always use stranded cotton or attach some beads instead. A length of narrow ribbon would also work well.

 

You can buy this pattern either by clicking on the listing at the top of the page or click here to go to my Payhip shop.

Making Plans

My floss box

It's that time of year - the Summer Slump, but that doesn't mean I'm not capable of creating heaps of work for myself. I've been really busy making plans for what I want to do over the coming months.

 

You may have seen my Leopold B design. Since I first stitched it, I've been planning to create a whole alphabet but until now I haven't got around to it. I've decided to shrink the letters so they each fit into a 6-inch hoop. It's going to take a while before they're ready to go on sale but I'm very excited about how they're going to look.

 

 

I'm also creating a series of bird designs to go with the bullfinches which are already on sale. Here's a sneak-peek at some of them. There's also a robin which will be ready later this year.

 

 

I'm also giving my Festive Bauble design a makeover: I'm changing the colours and resizing it as I wasn't completely happy with the original. That will also be available later this year.

 

I've been commissioned to make a wedding sampler which I have to keep secret for now but I'll show you how it turns out once it's been delivered to the happy couple. The wedding is in October so you'll have to wait a bit longer to see it!

 

I also have plans to give my online shops a new look. It all needs freshening up a little bit so this is another ongoing project for the next few weeks. I can't wait to put all the pieces together and when it's ready I'll tell you all about it here on Beneath the Hawthorn Tree.

 

As far as the blog itself is concerned, I want to add more tutorials and hints and tips etc so I'll be making a list of ideas for that. I'm also planning on launching a new personal blog for nature notes and musings as I want this blog to be focused on embroidery and crafts.

 

This is only part of my to-do list so as you can see I have plenty to keep myself occupied! I'll keep you posted on everything. In the meantime, you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook as well as popping into my Etsy and Payhip shops.

 

Make the most of the long days while they last!

 

Happy crafting! 

New Pattern: Gallia, Goddess of Gaul

We've been enjoying beautiful weather here in the Amber Valley for the last few days so I've been working with the window open. As I write there are swifts, swallows and house martins flying over and the roses are in full bloom.

 

It's that time of year when we can enjoy crafting outside for a change. I have just added my latest pattern to my Etsy and Payhip stores: meet Gallia, Goddess of Gaul.

 

 

This design is based on an image found on a Roman coin dating from the middle of the first century. The region that the Romans called Gaul covered much of central Europe from France to Switzerland and parts of Italy, Germany and the Netherlands. You may also have heard of it as the home of Asterix and his friends!

 

There are a number of variations on this image on different coins. Some are described as being a captive Gaulish woman but others are said to show the land of Gaul represented as a goddess. There is a reference to Gallia in an inscription on the remains of a Roman garrison near Hadrian's Wall called Vindolanda but very little is known about her. It may be that she was more of a symbol, like Britannia or Marianne.

 

Whatever she may have meant to the people of Gaul, she is a strong image of ancient womanhood. Rather than being made to look pretty, she has dishevelled hair and a defiant gaze which speaks to women in the 21st century.

 

You can buy the pattern by clicking on the Etsy listing at the top of the page or by clicking here to go to my Payhip shop.

 

(c) Karen Eley/The Hawthorn Tree

 



Wise Little Owl - A Free Pattern

I have just reached a little milestone on Instagram by gaining my 100th follower. I am very grateful to everyone who has supported me and my work so far and I now have a little treat for you all.

 

Last year, I bought some cute little owl buttons from Pocket and Pin, an online haberdashery full of exciting things. As soon as saw the little owls I knew I wanted to use them - but how?

 

Looking through a magazine, I found an article on antique samplers and one of them, made by Sarah Doggett in 1815, featured many motifs of plants and birds. One of them was of a bird perched in the branches of a tree. I knew then how to use the owl buttons!

 

 

I have adapted the motif so that it fits neatly into a 4-inch (10cm) hoop and there is a little space for the owl to perch.

 

As a thank you for all the support I've had so far, you can download this pattern for free from my Payhip Shop.

 

If you'd like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me as @HawthornTree_xs

 

Thank you and happy stitching!

Something Old, Something New

If you've already had a look of the patterns I have available, then you'll know I have one based on a carpet page from the Book of Durrow. This is an ancient manuscript dating form the 7th century and is believed to be the oldest of its kind. It is currently housed in the library of Trinity College, Dublin.

 

 

A carpet page is a page that is covered in artwork rather than script. You cannot help but think of the monks who meticulously marked out the design before carefully drawing it and adding the right colours. The palette for such designs was fairly limited at the time as the colours were all derived from natural materials, and some of them were very expensive.

 

The modern stitcher has no such problem, we can choose from hundreds of colours and several different threads. I have stitched both of my Durrow-inspired designs in modern shades.

 

It occurred to me that not everyone is as obsessed with Celtic design as I am and not everyone would want to take on a project that is as large as my original pattern. So, I have adapted it to fit into a 7-inch hoop and I've stitched it in a fresh set of colours to give it a different look to the original. Of course, if you would like to choose your own choice of colours then please feel free to do so. Simply use my pattern as a guide. 

 

 

You can find the pattern in my Etsy shop by clicking on the listing at the top of the page or you can click here to go to my Payhip shop.

 

 

I'm currently working on a fun little pattern that I'll be releasing as a freebie very soon. If you'd like to keep in touch you can find me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

 

Photos (c) Karen Eley 2015

Etsy May Day Bank Holiday Weekend Sale

"Arise, arise, you pretty fair maid

And bring your May bush in..."

 

Today is May Day, another of the year's markers. The hawthorn, or May, blossom is not yet out in my part of Derbyshire but it should only be a couple more weeks. Here in the UK we're about to celebrate the May Day Bank Holiday and so to celebrate, I am having a sale in my Etsy shop.

 

 

To get 20% off all patterns, simply enter the code MERRYMAY20 at the checkout. You can visit my Etsy shop by either clicking on the Etsy Mini listings at the top of this page or by clicking here.

 

 

 

The code will be valid until midnight EST on 4th May. If you live in the UK the deadline is 5.00am on the 5th May (due to the different time zones).

 

 

After that, I'll be on holiday for a few days and so my Etsy shop will be in vacation mode until 13th May. In the meantime, enjoy the May Day weekend and happy stitching!

 



Spring Cleaning

This beautiful weather that we've been enjoying of late has inspired me to have a bit of a spring clean in my shop. I've decide that some of the designs need a makeover and so I'll be making a few changes to the listings in the coming months.

 

Dale Abbey Alphabet Tile is now available in a fresh modern palette that gives an interesting contrast to the ancient style of the Lombardic lettering.

I'm also going to introduce a smaller version of my Durrow Knots pattern with a different colour scheme. Of course you can stitch any of these designs in other colours if you wish by using my original pattern as a guide.

 

My current WIP is inspired by Alice In Wonderland via Jefferson Airplane. Here's a sneak peak at the Bargello-inspired background. I'll show you the whole thing when it's ready.

I do love to stitch by the window at this time of year. At the moment there is a pair of blackbirds collecting food for their growing chicks, which are at least 8 days old as I write. The nest is in a neighbour's garden. A cheeky jackdaw has been eyeing up the fat pudding on our bird table and a buzzard has just soared overhead.

Spring has really gone to my head this year and I love April even more than I did at the start of the month. It's so easy to be distracted by the wonders of nature but I really must get back to the stitching!

Just one more note to leave you with - I am now on Instagram and you can find me here.

Happy stitching!

Joys of April

"Oh, to be in England

Now that April's there..."

 

April is my favourite month of the year and I love walking in the countryside to see how green everything is becoming. The birds are really busy at the moment building nests and the summer migrants are starting to return. I saw my first swallow on Friday as I was walking down Ogston New Road, alongside the reservoir. On the opposite side of the road to the reservoir, there is a colony of herons and for the first time I got the chance to see some of the chicks in their nests. This was a real thrill and the colony seems to be thriving. Chiffchaffs were singing from all directions. If you look on Google Earth, you can see this road in its summer glory.

 

Having come home in a really good mood, I was greeted by the sight of a large parcel waiting for me. If like me you used to buy New Stitches magazine, produced by Mary Hickmott's company, you will know that late last year the publication came to a sudden and premature end due to unforeseen circumstances. Subscribers were given two options: either have the subscription transferred to a different magazine or have a 'lucky dip' of fabric and threads. I chose the lucky dip and so when I saw the parcel, I knew it must be full of stitching goodies!

 

 

I wasn't expecting to receive as much as I did and so I was really excited to discover what was in the parcel. There were five pieces of various fabrics, six skeins of DMC stranded cotton, a kit of a classic Mary Hickmott floral design, a booklet about Lagartera embroidery, a John James pebble containing an assortment of needles and a reel of gold thread (which I forgot to include in the picture).

 

 

This was such a treat and I have already sent a thank you message to Mary and her team. You may be interested to know that Mary now has her own blog which you can find here. I am so glad that she will still be sharing her knowledge and beautiful designs with us. I have learned so much from her over the years, particularly from her Masterclass articles, and I can honestly say she has been a huge inspiration to me.

 

As if all of that excitement wasn't enough, a male reed bunting landed on one of our feeders and had quite a good feed. Reed buntings look very handsome in their spring plumage and it was such a delight to see one through the kitchen window.

 

 

I can assure you that in spite all of this, I am still working! Two of my current designs are having a spring makeover. The new version of Dale Abbey Alphabet Tile will be available very soon and the second pattern will be available in time for summer. This is on top of several new patterns which I have already scheduled for this year so keep checking my shops for updates.

 

Reed bunting photo (c)Roy Eley 2015

Spring is here - and so are the bumblebees!

 

As I write this, it is Good Friday. Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day but today is quite cold and damp but at least we seem to have left the strong winds and heavy rain showers behind - so much for March going out like a lamb! Nevertheless, it is officially spring and we are now on British Summertime - more hours of daylight for us stitchers!

 

As you know, I love nature and the natural world is one of the biggest influences in my designs and spring is my favourite time of the year. It's so exciting to see the countryside and the garden coming back to life. There's frog spawn in the pond, the birds are all pairing up and preparing their nests and the first bumblebees are out and about. You know that spring is truly here when the bees venture out of their winter burrows and begin their search for pollen.

 

This sampler depicts three queens of the most common species of bumblebees found in the UK. I am lucky that my garden is full of life throughout the seasons and there are numerous types of bees buzzing here and there in the summer. You can recognise queen bumblebees because they are quite a big bigger than the workers.

 

On the top left we have the white-tailed bumblebee. Along with white-tailed bumblebees, these are the first to emerge from their winter slumbers.

 

 

On the top right is the red-tailed bumblebee. The workers have the same markings but are much smaller. This is my personal favourite bumblebee and it's always a delight to find them in the garden.

 

 

At the bottom is the tree bumblebee. This is a continental species that was first recorded in Britain in 2001. Since then it has made a steady progression northwards. Twice they have nested in my garden, once in a wall cavity and once in an old bird box. Unusually for bumblebees they can become aggressive if you get too close to the nest so it's best to be cautious when observing them but they are fascinating to watch. They particularly liked our plume thistles.

 

 

When worked on 16/32 count fabric, the design fits perfectly into a 5-inch hoop. You could also stitch and frame them separately in three 3-inch hoops. They are also perfect for other small projects such as greetings cards, coasters, pin cushions and much more.

 

If you would like to buy the pattern, you can either click on the Etsy mini listing at the top of the page or click here to go to my Payhip shop. Happy Easter and happy stitching!

Tips on turning a photo into a pattern: the Ladybird Poppy

 

Cross stitch software is hugely popular now with hobby stitcher as well as professionals and this is a great way of exploring your interest in embroidery and making your own designs. You don't have to be a professional to benefit from design software and it can be really fun to play around with. If you're thinking about buying a package, start with something basic and don't spend too much. I only progressed from my first basic package when I became serious about publishing my own designs. Before you buy anything, look for free trial versions to download. That way you can decide if you like them first.

 

Even basic software will offer you plenty of features to allow you to create good quality patterns, whether you're starting from scratch or working from a photo. Scanning in a photo and converting it to a cross stitch pattern is really easy and all you have to do is follow the onscreen instructions. However, if you want to end up with a workable pattern, you will need to make some changes before you print it. Here is a little insight into how I work with photos and some tips on how you can make great patterns from your own pictures.

 

The first thing to say is that your computer may be awesome at many things but it doesn't have the eyes or the brain of a cross stitcher. It doesn't understand how to select the right colours or create a pattern that works well from a practical point of view. All those annoying little things you don't like about cross stitch patterns - your computer doesn't understand that you don't want them.

 

Here is a pattern I have just recently finished called Ladybird Poppy. I adapted it from a picture my Dad took in our garden a few years ago. As soon as I saw the photo on the screen, I knew it had the potential to be turned into a pattern; the colours and the shape made a really striking image. Flowers make an excellent subject for cross stitch and are great starting point for making your own patterns.

 

I began adapting the picture by removing all of the background. You want the focus to be on the main subject of the piece so by removing all of the unnecessary parts of the picture, you're not only cutting down on the amount of work needed to complete the pattern, you're creating a much cleaner image and a better composition. When I was left with just the flower head, it gave me the perfect sized pattern to fit into an 8-inch hoop.

 

Next, you need to check the colours. The computer will automatically match colours it picks out from the photo with the colours in the cross stitch software's database. This is where you need to be careful. The colours that you see on the screen are likely to look very different to the actual threads. It might be worth investing in a colour card to help you decide if the colours are correct or you might have colours in your stash to compare with the image.

 

The Ladybird Poppy pattern I have now is significantly different to the original and the picture below compares the two stitched versions. You can see that my first attempt (on the right) has brighter tones and even quite a bit of orange in it. I realised as I was stitching it that it looked completely wrong. Ladybird poppies have beautiful rich, red petals with black spots - hence the name. The computer had interpreted patches of sunlight on the petals as an orangey-red colour. This is where you can make a decision that the computer can't and it's also where a colour card really comes in handy. I had to do a bit of 'shuffling' of the colours to get a more realistic palette.

 

I also had to look carefully at the light and shade in the petals. The bottom petals are curled up and this is what gives the image the interesting shape. The computer doesn't understand what a flower looks like and so you have to make sure the colours reflect the light and shade and form of the petals. This was not clear in the original pattern and so I corrected it in the new version.

 

Another very common problem with using software is the 'speckling' that often occurs. This is when you get odd stitches here and there of a different colour to the surrounding stitches. Here, you have to make a judgement about how much detail you want in each area of the picture. For the poppy, I wanted more detail on the green seed-head in the centre in order to give texture but I wanted the petals to look smooth and shiny. The petals of ladybird poppies are not as delicate as those on other types of poppy and are not as transparent. They do reflect a lot of sunlight and so there are quite a few different shades of red in the petals of this pattern. I wanted these different shades to be blended properly in order to get a naturalistic effect but too much speckling can make the pattern more complicated than it needs to be. As much as I love cross stitch I have a relatively short attention span so I like to feel that I'm making progress! Therefore, I keep speckling to a minimum in my designs.

 

While you've checked the speckling, have a look at the colours in your palette. Are there enough? Are there too many? Sometimes you'll find that some colours are only used for a tiny number of stitches. When I checked the shades of green used in the centre of poppy, I found that two shades were very similar and were used for a fairly small number of stitches each. I decided to use just one of the shades for all of those particular stitches. If you're devising your own pattern and the same thing happens, check if you already have those colours in your stash. If you do, then it doesn't matter and you don't necessarily have to leave one of them out. I made the change because I wouldn't want to buy a whole new skein for just a few stitches and I wouldn't expect somebody buying my pattern to do that either.

 

So, you've got a good composition, you've checked the colours and you've decided how much detail you want on the picture. Now all you have to do is check the overall shape of each part. Does anything look a bit weird? If so, simply add or take away stitches until you're happy. Don't forget to save the pattern when you've made changes you're happy with. That way, if you go on to make a mistake you can go back to an earlier point in the design and try again.

 

I hope you find this helpful. If you have any questions or comments, leave a comment below or contact me on Twitter or Facebook. If you'd like to buy this Ladybird Poppy pattern, you can either click on the Etsy Mini listing at the top of this page or click here to go to my Payhip shop.

All photos (c) Karen Eley 2015

 

 

Leopold Shakespeare Letter B design

I have mentioned in previous posts how much I love old books and how much of an inspiration they can be when I'm looking for ideas. This design is one such pattern and is inspired by a motif in an 1899 edition of the Leopold Shakespeare.

 

The Leopold Shakespeare is an anthology of the bard's works which list al of his plays and sonnets in chronological order. Originally published in 1877, the volume was dedicated to HRH Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, the eight child and fourth son of Queen Victoria. He died at the early age of 30 from haemophilia in 1884.

 

The edition which inspired my design has my Grandad's name written in the front along with the date 20th November, 1947. This is very close to his birthday so perhaps it was a present or something he bought with birthday money. As well as illustrations of various scenes from the plays, there are numerous arts and crafts-style motifs. This letter B is at the beginning of Scene 2 Act 1 of King John. The letter is used as a trellis for an ivy-like plant which winds around the form.

 

In my design, I have replaced the ivy with roses and simplified them a little. The main part of the letter is worked in cross stitch while blackwork is used to fill in the spaces and also to give some texture to the roses. A sparkle of gold finishes off the trellis. These days, you can use any colours you like for blackwork but I prefer the traditional black because it's so striking and has a classic, timeless beauty.

 

You can buy the pattern from either of my shops which you can find on Etsy and Payhip. You can now also follow me on Instagram, with the same name as my twitter account hawthorntree_xs - I'll be posting behind-the-scenes photos and sharing more about my inspirations.

 

All photos (c) Karen Eley/The Hawthorn Tree 2015

Instant downloads are back!

As you know I had to temporarily close my Etsy shop after they disappointingly decided to make individual sellers responsible for EU VAT. This is the opposite to what HMRC state but until they sort it out between themselves my patterns will be delivered from my Etsy shop by e-mail.

 

However - I am very pleased to announce that I have opened a brand new shop on Payhip which you can find here. Not only do they take care of all the EU VAT hassle for me, you can purchase all of the patterns as instant downloads so everybody wins! Hurrah!

 

I will eventually be adding more patterns - I can now carry on with the plans to release new patterns throughout the year and I am really excited about them. Here's a sneaky peak at the one I'm currently working on.

 

 

(c) Karen Eley/The Hawthorn Tree 2015

Esty shop open again

The good news is I have reopened my Etsy shop but the not so good news is that due to Etsy's disappointing stance on EU VAT I can now only offer the patterns via e-mail, rather than instant downloads. I know that this is a pain in the rear end for you and me but until Etsy offer workable solutions I'm afraid it has to be this way. Very soon I will be opening a new shop on a platform that deals with all the VAT and allows instant downloads. It will take me a while to sort the files out but as soon as it's up and running I'll tell you all about it.

 

I suspect that platforms such as Etsy will eventually have to change their business models as EU VAT will eventually apply to anything sold within the EU, digital or physical and this will effect anyone who trades within the EU. If third party platforms fail to comply with EU VAT then people will simply stop using them. It would be nice though if they showed more of a sense of urgency.

 

That's all for now but this whole issue is an ongoing situation so this will not be the last you'll be hearing about it.

 

In the meantime, happy stitching!

Time to Reflect

 

 

As I write this, we're just a couple of days away from the Winter Solstice, the shortest and darkest day of the year. This is always an important turning point for me as it means that the days will soon be growing longer and lighter again (very good for us stitchers!). It is always a time to reflect on the passing year and looking forward to the swiftly approaching new year. This time I have been reflecting on my first months of trading and making plans for my business in 2015.

 

I've already learned a lot about what has worked and what hasn't. I'll definitely be working to improve my photography and I will be opening a Flickr account to share more of my behind-the-scenes stuff, as well as my inspirations.

 

I'm very excited about the patterns that I'll be releasing next year. There are some Celtic designs inspired by ancient artwork; some designs inspired by the natural world, including my favourite bird, a colourful finch and his mate; there are some fun and quirky ones too. I haven't yet finalised the order in which I'll be releasing them but as soon as each one is ready, I'll be telling you about it here.

 

I'm also planning to create some one-off pieces. Not necessarily to sell but just to share my love of embroidery with like-minded people and to grow as an embroiderer. Although all of my patterns are either cross stitch or blackwork, I enjoy all kinds of embroidery and I want to make time to really enjoy the craft and learn new things. I'll be sharing my progress on Flickr when my account is set up.

 

The best thing about this year has been the contact I have had with other designer-makers on Twitter. It's lovely to know there are so many creative people out there who enjoy sharing ideas and giving each other encouragement. I am very happy to be part of this community. Working on your own at home can be difficult at times so it's good to know you're all out there.

 

You may be aware that from 1st Jan 2015, the EU have decided that anybody selling digital products to EU countries will have to pay VAT to whichever country the sale was made in. This is mainly aimed at large companies who choose to funnel their taxes through the countries with the lower rates. I have no sympathy at all with such companies and it's about time they were made to pay tax in all of the countries that they trade in. The problem however is that there is no threshold being applied so no matter how small the business, VAT will have to be paid. Businesses will also be required to collect customer data and store it for 10 years. This is extremely difficult for small businesses and will add a huge administrative burden as well as a financial one. It won't affect me as I only sell through third parties but I was planning to eventually trade independently. That will not now be possible. If you'd like to show your support for small businesses you can do so by signing this petition:

 

https://www.change.org/p/pierre-moscovici-a-unilateral-suspension-of-the-introduction-of-the-new-eu-vat-laws-for-micro-businesses-and-sole-traders

 

To end on a more cheery note, tonight I'll be watching my favourite Christmas film It's A Wonderful Life. Last year it inspired me to make an embroidered piece to hang in my room. So all that remains is to wish you all a Merry Christmas and thank you to everyone who has supported me.

 

 

 

New Pattern - Postman Butterfly

I've just put a new pattern into the shop - a stunning postman butterfly which can be found in Central and South America. There are several different sub-species which can be found in different areas. The striking colours on their wings are a warning to would-be predators that they are poisonous. Their caterpillars feed on passion flowers, as do those of various other species of butterflies and moths. The adults feed on pollen and can live for up to three months.

 

 

I worked my original design onto 32-count ivory fabric and at that scale it fits neatly into a 5-inch hoop. In time, I plan to add more butterflies to this collection but for now this is the first of my designs inspired by Victorian butterfly collections.

 

This reminds me, I have a set of butterfly patterns by one of my favourite designers Mary Hickmott which I must get round to stitching. I'm afraid it will have to wait a while yet though as I'm very busy preparing new things for the shop.

 

I hope you like the latest addition. Until next time, happy stitching!

First Sale!

You know how it is when you wake up and realise it's Monday again, especially if like today it's cold and frosty outside. My mood soon lifted when I checked into Etsy and saw that I'd made my first sale! Hurrah! It was a lovely surprise to wake up to and very interesting in several ways. Firstly, it was not the design I expected to sell first as I have others which have been more popular (in terms of favourites) and secondly it was to a man. Don't get me wrong, I know that lots of men love embroidery in all forms as a hobby and I rarely do 'girlie' designs. Yet all the attention I've had so far on Twitter and on my shop feed has been from female stitchers. It is very exciting to know my patterns appeal to both men and women.

 

So, you're wondering what was the pattern? It was (drumroll optional...) the Art Deco Bird, as featured in an earlier post. Click the link to read more about the inspiration behind it.

 

I've been very busy this month working on designs for hand-embroidered cards which I'll have on sale next year. This is partly because I love experimenting with embroidery on paper and also because I have a stack of pretty papers and card blanks that I really need to do something with. I'll have some romantic-themed cards ready in time for Valentine's Day and some nature themed cards suitable for all occasions. I'm also planning to write a tutorial about stitching on paper at some point in the near future so watch this space.

 

Until then, happy stitching!