Out and About - Wildlife and Wetlands Trust

A couple of new designs have come about after seeing news that, at Slimbridge, they are celebrating one of the longest running animal research projects with its study of swans and their unique markings turning 50 this year. 

I remember visiting Slimbridge as a small child and I have been amazed to see how much the Wildlife and Wetlands Trust has evolved, with other centre popping up about the country, including one near my new home in Llanelli.

I love Peter Scott's stunning illustrations.  He observed that each swan had unique markings on its face making it possible to identify and observe individuals.  His daughter Dafila,  helped him and this pastime morphed into the scientific research that continues today.

Given the intricacy and skill of their artwork I am not even going to attempt swans, but since many other breeds of bird can be found at the different trusts I felt on safer territory with some ducks and geese, especially given that spring is just around the corner and ducklings will soon be emerging from the eggs.

The hats came first, swiftly followed by a couple of sketches that form the artwork for my appliqued motifs.  Thankfully the cartoon approach disguises my lack of artistic prowess.

Those of you following the tips I've been sharing for our design challenge will know about the next steps. First the sketches need to be transferred onto some digitising software that the embroidery machine will understand.

 And once that's done the image is uploaded and the machine takes it from there.

I hope you like them.  They'll be added to our wildlife range soon.  But I've still got to decide whether to add eyes to the hats.  Given that they have beaks which sit below eye-level, something may be called for.  Eye-lashes perhaps?  What do you think?

www.cobwebknits.co.uk

Design Challenge - Inspiration from a cake - Pt 2

Once the design has been drawn it's uploaded into the software where the magic begins and the illustration is converted into a program the machine will understand.

The design has been transferred to the embroidery machine and away it goes.

Can you tell what it is yet?

The completed design is then cut out and quickly compared with the original drawing.  There is a mistake on this one - the eagle eyed amongst you might spot it.

Here's a closer view.  Can you see the mistake?  The great thing is that this tester will hopefully highlight any blips which I can correct before signing off the design.

And once it's been cut out, it's ready to be stitched on to the sleepsuit and cotton hat.

I do hope this is inspiring you to have a go yourself.  Here's a reminder of the challenge and the link to enter.    Happy sketching!

               

www.cobwebknits.co.uk

Design Challenge - Inspiration from a cake!

My sister in law is one of the most creative people I know (and is married to one of the others!)

For her son's recent birthday she made not only this amazing birthday cake but also these absolutely fab cupcakes for everyone to take home at the end of the day.

I know Kim for her attention to detail but there can't honestly be many people who would go to the effort of making unique toppers for each one.  Just love them.

Anyway, it gave me another thought about where you might get some inspiration for your own design in our challenge.  Mine came from her cakes.

I took the basic idea and sketched out my own picture.  I've tried to keep the different parts of the image completely separate by drawing them in different and distinct colours.  This will help when it comes to transferring the image onto the software for embroidering.

You can either draw the different components on separate sheets of paper or do it as one image.

To find out how this turns out pop back later when I'll update the blog with the finished result.  And in the meantime, I hope this has given you food for thought and inspired you to have a go at our design challenge.  To see how to enter click here ....

www.cobwebknits.co.uk

Behind the Scenes - Design Challenge

If you're thinking of entering our design challenge, I thought it might help to show you how I go about creating one of my designs from concept through the finished garment.

First you need to come up with the design and draw it out.  I use simple broad strokes using a chubby felt pen such as a Sharpie (although, as you can see, mine are a cheap version - I get mine from Home Bargains for about a fifth of the price!)

I then scan it and open the image up in Photoshop where I can play around with the design to make sure it will transfer well to the software I use for embroidery.

Once I'm happy with the design, I load it onto the digitising software that goes with my embroidery machine and choose the colours I'm going to use for the different parts of the design.

It's then just a case of copying the file onto a stick and transferring it to my machine.  All that's left for me to do is to sit back and watch whilst the machine gets on with the hard work of stitching my design.

 Once completed, it's simply a case of cutting out the design to create my motif .....

... and stitching it on to whichever garment it's been made for, in this case a sleepsuit with matching cotton cap.

I hope this helps you to see the type of designs we're looking for in our challenge.  

Here's the link again to the website where you can see how to enter.  And remember ...

• Keep it simple - use broad single strokes.
• Keep to an outline and don't include shading and tonal changes.
• Try not to use too many colours - think cartoon!
• And don't forget, the design must be your own original work.

Closing date is 31st May 2014. And .... good luck.

www.cobwebknits.co.uk

Trivial Pursuits - embroidery with Wendy Stephenson

Another find on Facebook.  I wasn't sure whether to put this in the category Meet the Maker or Trivial Pursuits, but since she produces embroidery patterns to complement her adorable watercolours, I thought I'd include it in this section in the hope it may inspire some of you to have a go yourselves.

It was actually the sweet stitched image below that I saw first.  Made by Wendy Stephenson of snap dragon ....

.. a little further investigation unearthed more of her work including these cute little ceramic pots, cushions and other textiles.

I'm not sure if she does illustrations for childrens' books, but judging by these, she certainly could.

And so a little about the artist ...
"I love to take photographs, draw, paint, stitch and watch the clouds. If I can combine all these with a swim, then it's a day well spent. So welcome to my little studio space, and I hope you find something to make you smile!'

All images (c) Wendy Stephenson

Meet the Maker - Rhubarb and Cider

In keeping with our blog about birds, we just love these little creations by Rhubarb and Cider. 

Currently available through Facebook, these colourful handmade gifts are handstitched by Mandy and Wendy in Gargrave, N Yorkshire.

All images (c) Rhubarb and Cider

Boutique and Unique - the Vintage Bazaar, Hartley Wintney

A date for your diaries.  Next Saturday, the 27th April at The Victoria Halls in Hartley Wintney, the Vintage Bazaar will be holding another of their amazing fairs with over 30 traders selling vintage clothing, textiles, collectables and homewares.

The Vintage Bazaar was set up three years ago by Lizzie and Clare who came up with the idea.  They felt that Frome was a perfect venue to sell all things vintage as well as Clare's fabulous cloche hats. The Bazaar has now spread to other towns. 

.      

Exhibitors include Rebecca's Aix  and Les Jolies Choses 

as well as Angela's Vintage with their lovely display of nostalgic items from the 1930's and  1940's which includes English Embroidery, Linens and Haberdashery.

     

Refreshments are available in vintage style thanks to Lavinia's Tea Party 

The Victoria Halls are in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire. and doors open at 9.30, finishing at 3 pm.