Sunday 28 October 2012

Blooming Daft

ThreeBloom

What was I thinking… the deadline I set for my first attempt at a little giveaway was far too short. Especially as it’s half term, I hadn’t realised. Sorry, I’m really not with it at the moment.

So I hope nobody will mind, but I’ve decided to add on a week. Follow me and leave a comment by 9 a.m. GMT on Monday 5th November to enter the draw for a Bloom brooch (see previous post).

Friday 26 October 2012

Hand Stitch Perspectives and a little something extra

A new stitchy book! It’s a rare thing these days. My shelves are already close to collapse, it’s one in, one out. And to be honest, most of the new releases don’t appeal – so often full of the same old basics, simple projects to copy, and “discoveries” that us old hands have seen (and done) before.

hand-stitch-perspectives

Hand Stitch Perspectives has been compiled by Alice Kettle and Jane McKeating. It’s the natural companion to their previous book, Machine Stitch Perspectives - a serious consideration of hand embroidery from various points of view. Whilst there are plenty of photos, this isn’t a “picture book”; it’s a collection of thoughtful essays. I haven’t read much of it yet, and I think it might make my brain hurt, but some of the subjects look fascinating – such as Embroidery and the F-Word (feminism of course!), and Tom Lundberg’s personal journey.   

Ooh, and at the back there’s an “inventions stitch glossary” – exciting samples including cable chain stitch in clay, rubber bands couched onto cardboard, cross stitch tent poles on grass. You can see some of them here.

So if you love embroidery and fancy giving the grey cells a bit of a work out, it might be one for the Christmas list.

And my little something extra? Well it seems this is my 100th post – ta-daah! I’m still only a beginner at this blogging business (just as everyone else is spending more time on Facebook, ha), and I’ve slowed down recently as life has got tough. Also, my blog has very few Followers, although quite a lot more people (especially in Russia and Turkey!) seem to read it.

BloomBroochSo I’ll combine a little giveaway with a shameless bid to gain a few Followers. Leave a comment on here by 9 a.m. GMT on Monday 29th October, and if you’re also a Follower you’ll be entered into a draw to win this “Bloom” stick pin brooch. It’s my own design, built up from layers of lacy free machining on dissolvable fabric. Similar ones are for sale in my Etsy and Folksy shops, but those have different brooch pins – I’m still not sure which I prefer. 

Go on, you can always un-follow me after the draw… but I’m hoping you’ll forget!

Friday 19 October 2012

Winter Lux

Winter-Lux-invitation

Tomorrow sees the opening of this Christmas exhibition at the lovely Platform Gallery in Clitheroe, Lancashire. There’s a nice little slideshow here to tempt you along.

 StarLace

“Star Lace – Orion” (above) is one of my framed pieces that’s included, along with a selection of Bloom embroidered brooches (below).

ThreeBloom

The lacy brooches are also available in my Etsy and Folksy shops if you can’t get to Clitheroe!