My Embroidery Learning curve

I have been teaching myself 

free-motion machine embroidery

and really enjoying the process.

This is my chronological embroidery journey.....

So that's is it in a nutshell.
Some of it is on Etsy and some I am putting in
Reverse Garbage's upcoming exhibition
"Thread Count".

If you want to keep up I post much more regularly on Facebook and instagram (elle and lou).

Reindeers and Elves: Handmade Cards

Well, there is a reason for my blogging absence...

Work.

Life.

Family.

and Instagram is faster and more immediate :)

Another reason is my commitment

 to making and gifting handmade this year.

No "Made in China" for me this year.

Oh,  one exception:

 I can't handmake a trampoline for the kids.

Here is a card I made tonight from

a vintage 1976 Golden Book 

 "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer"

Are you into Christmas this year?

Or maybe you just couldn't be christmarsed!

(got to love the Urban Dictionary)

Indie Designers Market- D-day

Last Saturday the skies cleared in Brissie,

 just in time for the

BrisStyle Indie Designer Markets.

I have never been part of any market before so I decided it was about time I took the plunge with my vintage eco-wares.

When I went through uni I supported myself by working in retail and the hours dragged...boy did they drag.

But having my own stall did not feel like retail at all.

I enjoyed meeting the customers and seeing old friends who made the special effort to support my stall and meeting the other stall holders of course. 

I am so inspired by their creativity, quality and processes.

As an art teacher I am intrigued to find out how resin or laser cutting or spinning is done!

Little Chrissy

Kate from Mixed Bag of Threads

I may not be buying that cottage in the Bunya mountains yet (or any time soon actually) but I feel like I am learning all the time and to me that is more valuable than money!

3 Little Kittens Bunting in a Book

The Three Little Kittens

 story has always been a favourite with me.

So when I happened upon this 1974 Golden Book publication it was destined to become "Bunting in a Book".

I did leave out the pages of the mother cat

 spanking the kittens over her knee, however tempted I was.

I can't wait to find out where this bunting is destined for-

hopefully a sweet little nursery or child's room.

I'd like to think that the new owner will end up loving this story and much as me.

  

I'll bring this bunting and other "Bunting in a Book"

 to the BrisStyle indie Designers Market 

on the 14th July in the heart of Hamilton, Brisbane.

Birthday Cards and Movie Moments

Yes, here I am

 days later and still working on my 'Birthday Issues'

My actual birthday came and went I am proud to say without a tear nor tantie.

 The same cannot be said for these

 beauties of the silver screen:

Bette Davies

 (...we love you- I always think of the Madonna song Vogue)

Audrey and Katherine Hepburn

and Catherine Deneuve.

Oh Katherine is it oh so bad?

Here's hoping that someone out there shares my slightly distorted sense of birthday humour, either that or my girlfriends are getting these cards for quite some time.

On the flip side..

Hope you are having a Doris Day!

Birthday Issues

My birthday is a in a couple of days.

It isn't a significant one -  just one of those in between years.

These are the ones that I like best!

The birthdays that end in zero come with the pressure that you simply MUST celebrate in a befitting manner.

Lots of people, lots of food and drink,

lots of organising, lots and lots and lots of stress!

Its enough to give you birthday issues.

Joan Crawford -Birthday issues

I was a lot like Joan Crawford when I turned 40

 (minus the glamour unfortunately).

 I'm over the trauma drama now of course,

really... I AM!

Joan is part of my new range of cards entitled 

"Birthday Issues". I've been really enjoying making these cards in the lead up to the BiDM markets in July. I have a little chuckle as I collect the melodramatic images.

Hopefully the recipients will see the humour in the drama too.

What about you?

Ever had a Joan moment?