Sew Nerdy

 G'day mates!  As I type this, I sit in my brand spanking new craft room, I'm giddy over it.  I can't wait until every last thing is in it's place so I can show you! 

So, I never shared the super exciting news that I'm currently being featured in my first professional show, at the Bear and Bird Gallery in Florida.  I could hardly believe it when I was invited and practically fainted when I first saw the flyer.  There are some major names on there.  I'm talking huge!  Check it...

Now can you see why I'm so starstruck?

 

This is my piece.  (This picture is actually from the gallery's flickr account.  Typical me, my hasty last minute photography job turned out terrible.)  I started it back when we were visiting Vegas and it took forever to complete.  I'm aware that it is not my best work but I am happy with it, overall.  I managed to incorporate some nice detailing in the speakers, which I weaved to look more realistic, and the screen glows in the dark!

The wood grain was actually a last minute addition.  I wasn't happy with just the tinting and thought it needed a bit more something.  I'm glad I added it though, it seems to be the part everyone likes the best.  (This photo is from my phone but shows the true coloring a little better.)

I had hoped to complete a few more pieces for the show, but this one took soooo long.  Lucky for me, that mean's that I have rad, nerdy, project that's about three quarters of the way done, just waiting to be finished up.  Yay!  Crossing my fingers that this one sells, that would be so amazing.

Well, that's just one of the many things I've been meaning to share with you guys.  Will my new workspace bring me a new burst of creative energy and motivation to blog?  Let's hope so.  Can't get any worse, right?  Bye, off to finish beautifying the new space and give myself a mani-pedi.

Quotable

Guess I should have made this a "Words on Wednesday" post, but you guys have waited long enough for me.

As promised, this is the quote I'm stitching techni-color dream style for my shop.  I laugh pretty much every time I think of it.

The lighting is a bit off since it's late here.  So, in case you can't read it well it says, "It's hard to stay sucker free in the land of the lollipops."  My guy and I were watching a prison documentary, one of those terrible "behind bars" type reality shows on MSNBC or Discovery when I heard this.  (And this is why I watch TV with my notebook.)  The interviewer asked an old pimp how he ended up in prison and that was his response.  I couldn't help but think it was hilarious and terrible, all at the same time.  Pretty much classic.

Yeah, I guess I'm pretty ridiculous for stitching the wisdom of a crazy ol' pimp, but seriously.... I love this quote.

Oh, Geez!

My goodness, it's certainly been a while.  Far too long in between posts lately.  I promise I didn't forget about you guys, I've just been busy.  I know that's a pretty lame excuse considering that some of the best bloggers out there wear a million hats at once.  Add to that feeling a bit down, and it doesn't leave much motivation for blogging.  However, there are a ton of things to share with you.

Here's one!

 I've been making a ton of stuff for my etsy, including some more "paper doll" pieces.  As soon as I can get a good picture of it, I'll share here and list it.

Besides stitchy stuff there is lots of other interesting stuff going on in my life.  I'm on the hunt for a new job and a new roomie.  I still have my current job, I'm just looking to move on.  As for the roomie, that's kind of a long story.  It's not working out with the current one at all, she's pretty much a joke.  After her black-out drunk incident that ruined my super nice Calphalon counter-top grill and filled my entire house with thick smoke....at 3 in the morning, we could no longer tolerate her stupidity.  It never ceases to amaze me just how far some people can go on empty.  Anyways, change is in the wind.

Enough about that business, here's a happy looking preview of something I'm adding to my shop.

Intrigued?!  I'll share the rest with you tomorrow.  It's a hilarious quote that I will probably never forget.

Bye for now!  I promise from now on I won't make you wait weeks in between posts.  Pinky swear.  Have a craftastic night, lovies!

In a Pickle

 Today's post is brought to you by the word, pickles.  Yay for pickles!  I love 'em, do you?!

When I found out my partner in the Phat Quarter Food swap had the nickname, Gherkin, I knew I had to go with it.  So I made her a pickle jar, with my attempt at a label.  It says, "Leslie's World Famous Gherkins.  Petites with a punch."  Originally it was to be a patch, but I think this came out better.  Now if I could have just got a good picture of it.  Taking pictures of round things is hard!

 I guess the fabric I used for the words was too thin, I've never had it stretch out like that before?  Any suggestions?  It didn't seem like that when it was one the hoop.

 I started by plotting out a pattern on the computer, mainly to play with all the different fonts.  And to get the oval shape even, I'm terrible at that sort of thing.  I transferred it onto the green fabric with my trusty Clover pencil and stitched away.  Somehow my stitching turned out a little crazy in the word, famous.  However, I'm learning not to beat myself up and obsess over every little thing, so I went with it still.  Once the stitching was complete I cut it out with pinking shears and stitched it onto the orange felt.

The jar is an upcycled Trader Joe's coffee can that I covered with vintage green linen.  I couldn't quite get the back seam right, so I used some coordinating ribbon to cover that up.  Not thrilled about that so I didn't take a picture, ha.  I finished up by attaching the vintage foodie trim with tiny dabs of hot glue.  Then I glued the entire patch onto the jar.  Added some felt to the lid, done!  I filled the jar with goodies and sent it on it's way.  My partner, Leslie, liked it, so I'm happy!

Ok, once I share pics of the foodie pieces I've received lately, I promise- no food posts for a while.

Words on Wednesday!

Today's words are brought to you by The Big Lebowski!  For anyone new around these parts, I should tell you, I'm a "quoter" and a fan of all things Coen Brothers.  So naturally, I quote this movie just about everyday.

However, I don't really get the chance to work this one into everyday conversation....if ever.  For those of you confused, do yourself a favor and go watch The Big Lebowski. 

I made this little piece for stitchy pal, Alaina aka SpidersPaw.  She is such an amazing artist!  I highly encourage you to check out her work.  Please be warned some of her work contains sexual subject matter, so don't check it out at work!

Funny story, I found this in a bag of vintage linens someone gifted me.  It was with a whole bunch of other bookmarks that already had embroidery on them, so I was excited to be able to stitch on this one.  My guy saw it and thought it was some sort of fancy pantyliner.  Ha, silly boy!  Perfect quote to indulge his crazy notion, don't you think?

So, this is my third Lebowski piece, I wonder how many more there will be in my future?  I'm also wondering if my post will be blocked by safe filters, ha!  I'm off to cross of some thing off my to-do list before work.  See you soon.  Have a craftastic day!

P.S.  Don't be uncomfortable, Vagina isn't a bad word!

Grumpy Ol' Guy

I recently stitched a grumpy ol' gargoyle.  More specifically, The Spitting Gargoyle from the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.  I've always had a thing for monsters and gargoyles, ever since I was a kid.  When I was younger I had a bunch of small stone statues of them, too.  I think I had three different sizes of this guy.  That collection seems to have been lost in transit during one of our moves.

 It's hand-stitched using black DMC, ranging from 1 strand to 4 strands.

I framed it so that I could enter it in the local county fair.  I love the frame!  This is the best pic I have of it, I'll get a better one when I get it back.

I didn't win at the fair, but I'm glad I entered.  It makes me feel like I'm actually doing something with the pieces I make, instead of them just laying around gathering dust.  This piece also got something better than a fair ribbon, it was featured as a "Stitchgasm!" on one of my favorite sites!  It's chock full of so much amazing stitchy stuff I can't even begin to put it in words.  Check it out.

More monsters and beasts in the works.  I had a crazy lion I was working on but I took a short break  from it and now the pattern I drew is worn off-boo!  I can't decide whether to scrap it or try to figure out a way to salvage it.  Gahhh, I hate that!  I might take a break from stitching for a few days, I'm craving paint like a mad woman at the moment.  Thinking I'll rest my wrist and get the whole arm moving around in front of a nice, big canvas.  See you soon, my dears!

M-O-M

That title stands for "Man, oh man!"  As in man, oh man, I have to stop writing, "See you tomorrow!" I just look like a flake.  I've been crazy busy with my paper dolls project over the last few days.  I kind of gave up on it yesterday though.  I had washed and pressed it, then threw on a few more beads after tinting.  It was looking great, except for the hoop marks.  I don't know why they won't come out, I've never had a problem before.  Anyway, I decided to submit something else and I'm walking away from it for a while.

Or that title can count for this piece.  You decide.  I stitched this piece a while ago using a Sew Lovely Embroidery pattern, from their Mad Ink set.   

 I used one of those faux wood hoops that everyone loves so much.  This was my first time using one, so I can't really form an opinion just yet.  It's most likely just me, but I had a little bit of trouble with it.  Probably because I didn't stitch the piece it, I transferred it into there.  Let's just say, I need more practice with them.

It's stitched on a vintage bed sheet, the same one that I'm using for the paper dolls project.  I haven't experimented with it too much, but I'm starting to dig stitching on patterned fabric.

Alright lovelies, I'm off to work.  I have no desire to go today.  I'm sore as heck, but I'm going to suck it up.  I'm taking a small project to work on during my break, then back to the big stuff when I get back home.  I'll check in later tonight, this time I'm for reals.  If I don't, I fear I'll never catch up.  Later, have a craftastic day!