The return of the owl,

It has been quite a while since I did anything owlish, and this is why,

...the mini owl has arrived.  The Anchor kit is now available here, and contains all the instructions, templates and materials required to make one owl.

There is still time to join in the giveaway, just leave a comment on this post!

Right, back to work on some new patterns, my softie portfolio is beginning to look a little depleted, new designs are on their way!

Toadstool tutorial (and some big news)...

This is a project I've been meaning to try for a while, and decided this morning to give it a go and photograph it at the same time.  So, if you'd like to make a little toadstool all of your very own, you will need...

fabric, size 10x8cm for the stalk

circle of felt, size 3cm diameter for the base

2 ovals, roughly 9cm wide by 8cm tall, one in felt, the other in fabric for the toadstool top

embroidery thread

polyfil stuffing

small smooth pebble

selection of buttons (optional)

Take the fabric rectangle, fold in half, right sides together and sew 0.5cm in from the edge, then turn the 'tube' the right way round,

turn the raw edge inwards and pop a little polyfil into the open end to help it hold it's shape,

place the felt disk over the end and oversew with the embroidery thread.

Next, remove the polyfil and replace with a small, smooth pebble wrapped in some more polyfil to weight the base.  Continue stuffing the stalk until it is full.

Now you will need the 2 ovals shapes, cut a small circle in the centre of the felt one (this is for the stalk to sit in)... 

place them together, right sides out, pin and then sew all the way round the edge in blanket stitch.

At this stage, you could add some buttons on the top for decoration.

Turn the toadstool top upside down and stuff with polyfil through the hole, careful not to overstuff as this will make it top heavy.

Place the toadstool top over the tip of the stalk, and attach by oversewing,

you can also add some extra, decorative, stitches underneath...

and voila!

Have fun!

EDIT TO POST, BIG NEWS...

The two latest craft kits I have designed for Anchor are now available to buy,

PATCHWORK ELEPHANT

PATCHWORK OWL

and all going well, and my small owl will also be available as a kit later this year!

If you make something from one of my tutorials please do join the Flickr group, Lucykate Crafts... pattern pieces, to show off your creations.

Tidying up...

I've been having a bit of a tidy round in my sewing room, and it occurred to me that there are too many things collecting dust...

I designed these two stumpwork greetings card kits a few years ago now, each one includes all the thread, fabric and instructions to complete and mount the embroidered portrait, and I'm going to give them away.  Leave a comment and let me know which you would like, the prince or the princess, and I'll draw two winners on sunday.

And again, just for fun, can you also let me know what sewing machine you use or recommend?.  My machine is going bang, bang, bang, instead of sew, sew, sew, I think I may be in the market for a new one!

PS, You may (or may not!) have noticed over the last few weeks there have been a few changes to my blog layout and colours.  I've started learning a bit about how web sites are put together and how 'html' code works, it's very confusing at first but is gradually all starting to make sense.  For anyone with a Blogger blog, try this site for ideas and ways you can personalise a basic minima blog template.

Kits...

Yesterday morning I made a quick trip to the NEC for Craft, Hobby & Stitch International, only had a couple of people to see, and to check out this...

My patchwork toys were launched as kits!  I'll add a link in the sidebar once they have made their way into the shops.

It's half term this week, my head hurts from all the squabbling already and there is butter all over the sitting room floor from Luke's toast, good start hey?!

Felt Toy Kits

My three felt softies, Cleo the Cat, Ruby the Rabbit and Blue the Dog.

Rag Dolls

Here are the three rag dolls which have been made into craft kits by Anchor, from left to right Emma, Lucy and Katy.

Below, is from the packaging of the kit, available to buy from Anchor or Coats Crafts UK.

My own take on stumpwork

These are four of my stumpwork designs which appeared within the range of 'Card It' products. Someone obviously liked them as the originals were pinched from the trade fair stand at the NEC, Birmingham!.



Here is a close up of the 'Just Married' gift card.

In the begining... and starting a fresh...

After 11 years as a designer, and latterly design manager for a leading UK based needlecraft kit manufacturer, Coats Craft UK, I now work freelance.

Under the Anchor brand name, I produced needlecraft kits covering a wide variety of techniques including, cross stitch, embroidery, applique, tapestry, and many three dimensional crafts. I also had the opportunity to create many items for editorial features with a variety of magazines including The World of Cross Stitching, 'Stitch' with the Embroiderers Guild, and Classic Stitches. Whilst in the role of Design Manager, I worked on a selection of external projects with The Embroiderers Guild, putting together 3 kits for them as a special project; Ehrman Tapestry, I co-ordinated the manufacturing process from initial design through to the completed kit; and Marks and Spencer, I designed a tapestry cushion to match a range of stationary which was made into a kit.

As LucyKate Crafts, I am continuing to add to my portfolio with some book work, and branching out into other techniques including feltmaking, papercrafts, more stumpwork and doll making.

Whilst with Coats, the majority of time was spent designing counted cross stitch kits using a wide variety of imagery such as animals, birds, countryside scenes and also some licensed products including brands such as Humphrey's Corner, Forever Friends and Newton's Law. Here are some of my favourites and most successfull.

Owl and Woodland Wildlife, in response to the use of sepia toned work in illustration, greetings cards and books at the time, I decided to see if this could be translated into cross stitch. This design was extreamly successful as a kit, became one of the first designs to be launched in the Anchor Premier Range, and still features in the current catalogue today.

Border Collie Sampler, also using sepia tonal work.

Countryside, you will be able to see clearer on this image how the sketchlike effect has been achieved using backstitch.

Some quirky bathroom mini kits on green aida.

One of a set of figures coupled with intricate borders and backgrounds.

Two examples of licensed products, here is Newton from Newton's Law, a range of greetings cards and gifts.

Something for the less experienced stitcher!.

Cross stitch used for more crafty items, a range of needlecases, pin cushions, scissor keeps and bookmarks.

CROSS STITCH MAGAZINE EDITORIALS

CROSS STITCH GOLD issue 30

CROSS STITCH COLLECTION issue 119

CROSS STITCH COLLECTION issue 127