06.28.08
Posted in Threads, Drawing, General at 12:51 pm by deRomilly
I decided Thursday on a whim to actually sign up for Sharon Boggon’s new Studio Journal course at Joggles. Since I don’t have a lot of formal art training, I’ve always felt pressured by my sketchbooks… and that I shouldn’t be. So I’m hoping this will give me a new lease on them. I know just the little bit she covered sketchbooks in the Sumptuous Surfaces class helped immensely last year.
So. First week started Friday, and I’m already psyched about this. 
YAY!! This was a good investment for my art and my business, I think.
So Friday I went out to Michaels thinking maybe I’d get a new journal. Decided to use the one I’ve already got. Got the 2 skeins of DMC I needed to finish a sampler (Spots of Fun - by Debbie Draper). I’m doing it all in one color of variegated thread.
Anyway, while I was at Michaels, I saw these little bobbins of ribbon in the ribbon section… Ended up buying 5 of them. They’re intended for scrapbooking and paper crafts. Ummm… if you say so. I’m going to stitch with them, of course. Pictures. Click to enbiggen:
I think my favorite thread is the one in the last picture. It has what seem to be little pompoms every 3/8 inch or so. And of course it’s in blue and lavender, which though I keep trying to expand my color schemes I seem to always come back to: blue, green and lavender. Oceans. Grin.
I’ll keep y’all posted on what I’m doing with it all! If I can actually get to my studio any time soon, that is!
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12.18.07
Posted in Drawing, "Freestyle" embroidery, Dance Accessories, Knitting at 11:23 am by deRomilly
My determination to write regularly seems to have been stymied at every turn over the course of this year. That has got to change. But I’m not sure how to change it. I’ve got several posts started, and I’ll continue to work on them and try to get better. In the meantime…
I’m on a “finishing” kick right at the moment. And I made the decision, mistake or not, of announcing it to my husband before I started it. He jumped up and down and said “Yes!” very emphatically, so apparently my tendency to start projects and take 8-10 years to complete them is weighing on him again! He’s very supportive, but he’s a “finish before you start another project” type of person. And as you can guess, I’m not.
So in any case, I’m quite “knitted out” right now. So I’m trying to finish up several knitting projects that I want the finished garment, but not so much the knitting. Last month I completed my Shapely Tee from the White Lies website. I have to say… if you haven’t knit this? KNIT IT! I have never had a sweater fit so well. I knit it without any ease at all- the other option was a full 2 inches, and I did actually knit that first and just swam in it. Your mileage may vary. I’m so proud of it that I’m actually going to post a picture: (as soon as I can download it from my camera, sigh).
Let’s see. What else have I finished? I got almost all the way finished with a candlewicking project and ran out of thread. There probably was JUST enough, but the last yard had so many knots in it that it was useless for the end of the stitching! So now I’ve got to find about a yard of a candlewicking thread that matches what I’ve got… and the kit’s at least 30 years old. Found it at a garage sale a while back! Then I’ll have a new cushion for the couch.
So. Two down. All I have left is the very top of the back and the hood on Fiona Ellis’ celtic hoodie (not the real name) to finish and of course blocking and sewing together and I’ll have a really neat knotwork hooded sweater. The celtic knots done in cables are amazing on this piece, and I’m looking forward to wearing it, but I can’t bring myself to knit.
I’ve got the sewing up and the button band to finish on a big fluffy acrylic sweater of my own design. One more seam and then the button band.
I’ve finished my first piece for Sumptuous stitches, over for lots and lots of weeks now, and I’m almost done with the sequinned flowers for the dance troupe. I think the next step is to finish the second piece started for Sumptuous stitches. I really like it, and want it finished, too. It’s deer staring at you, based on an experience I had this summer that was simply magical. So. Sequins and deer. Then I can start some of the new designs. Which are… well, VERY different from what I’ve done in the past. Before I can do that, though, I need to finish the sequinning that actually goes ON my dress for the troupe, separate from the appliques.
I picked up a book last month called the Keys to Imaginative Drawing. Actually following imagination has recently been my downfall. This book actually steps through a process and rules for doodling and noodling those doodles into something better. Though it’s aiming at people who want to draw, it’s been very freeing for needlework designs.I’ve now got a stack of so-called doodles that really need to be rendered in thread and fabric; one is crying for goldwork. But I’ve got to finish a few more things first. That’s really gnawing at me right now. (Since I wrote this I actually transferred one of them to fabric and took a break to stitch it. It’s going to become part of a tote bag…)
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10.04.07
Posted in Drawing, Dance Accessories at 3:37 pm by deRomilly
I haven’t had a chance to focus on needlework at all, really. Gotta love “Real Life” But what I’ve been working on these days on rare occasions when I do find the time is sketching and sequins! They’re keeping me sane…
The sequinning project for my dance troupe goes ahead quite well. The first flower applique has been done for a while now.
I need to shorten the fringe on it, but otherwise it’s been approved and adored. Yay! This style will go in our hair. The dress will have flowers with the colors the other way around, turquoise in the middle so they show up on the turquoise dresses; but I had to order more small turquoise sequins and big black ones to do those… And of course, while I was on the site placing the order I got carried away and ordered enough for another project I’m thinking of, too… But it’s gonna be PREEETTTY!!! (Shhh. that project’s a secret! and I still need beads for it.)
And I’ve been sketching when I haven’t been writing help files at the day job. Dancers, mostly. Here are a couple of my favorites. Both ballet and bellydance. I might scan them in properly and design note cards of some of these I’ve done recently. I’m liking them.
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| Ballerina pencil sketch |
Ballerina Ink sketch |
Bellydancer pencil |
In other news, I’ve donated to the Spin Out charity drive. I found the link via Mason-Dixon knitting. They’ve extended the deadline for making a donation and being entered into an amazing raffle until the 15th of October. It’s for a good cause, and buying chickens or cows for a small village is very satisfying.
And my friend CyberBertha found this wonderful video of a seagull shoplifting Doritos in Scotland… Cheeky beastie!
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