Bird and Foliage Embroidery

I've got soo many projects on the go and can't seem to stick to one, but I've been itching to post, so I thought I'd share my progress on one of them. I've never really done embroidery in the style I'm doing it, although I did some cross-stitch when I was younger.
Anyway, all I did was draw straight onto the fabric with pencil a design I liked - a bird sitting on a cherry tree branch (inspired by the cherry tree in my garden) - and have been stitching according to that sketch. I'm sort of making it up as I go. This all white, but I'm already pondering the possibilities of realistic stitchings of birds with all their natural colours. Could be wonderful methinks.
Well here is the half finished piece. I'm a bit proud really :)
The idea right now is to make it into a cushion.

More and better pictures to follow when I'm finished.

Knitted Owl Cushion Cover

The knitting side of this project has been finished for a long time, and I have just recently found the inclination to finish it, which was to sew and stuff an inner, and sew the knitted cover around it. I have found that the addition of an inner lining made out of a non-stretchy material (rather than simply stuffing the knitted cover directly) is essential, or the pillow stretches and refuses to stay "cushion-shaped".

I used the following pattern for my cushion cover which is simply a drawing I did on plain grid paper, and then used the grid to create the pattern. Each square on the paper corresponds to 4 stitches, as can be seen fron the way the pattern is staggered. I then only had to choose my colours and pay close attention to the pattern as I went.

 So here is the completed project from the front. I chose colours that I hoped would suit the seating area I planned to put it. I also went over it afterwards with a darning needle and some black wool, giving it an outline.

I decided to do a striped back in the same colours. I rather like it.

And this is the side. I sewed it up by hand, and the stitches were really handy in making sure I was sewing in a neat, straight line, I only needed to follow the knitting.

Here is the cushion in its new home. I think it suits the curtains and vases, but I may have to do something about that other cushion, it's cramping my new cushion's style ;)

Christmas Watercolours

I couldn't share these paintings before Christmas as they were gifts for my darling parents, and it would have somewhat ruined the surprise. But now here they are.

This one is a Tomtit, for my dad.

And this is a Rock Wren, for mum.

Both found in my fabulous home country, New Zealand. The bird and insect life here continues to inspire.

Bob Dylan painting

This painting had been sitting on my easel for about 6 months and today I finally go around to finishing it. It's about 50cm square and is acrylic on canvas.

I just love Bob Dylan.

Origami Portrait - progress

Well, it has, once again, been far too long since my last post. But exams are over and I'm beginning to regain ownership over my brain so I just wanted to share my progress on my origami portrait. You can find the original post with the method to my madness here.

It's starting to look quite impressive I think, and I've recently realised how huge it's going to be, which is daunting but exciting. Wish me luck, a few thousand more boxes to go

Another Yarn Winding Project - Cactus

I bought this cute little cactus a while ago, but the pot it was in was nothing special, and I'd been meaning to wind some yarn around it to make it look pretty. There are so many possibilities for this crafty idea. It's just a matter of gluing as you go. I imagine I'll be doing a lot more of it. Anyway, here are the results.

See my other yarn winding project here

Inspiration from my garden

The weather is paying attention to the seasons and today is a beautiful sunny and crisp spring day. I haven't been in the garden most of the winter (except for some half-hearted hoeing) so today I got stuck in. It's the first time I've had a garden of my own and it's great to see some of the fruits of my labour come into play. Not to mention, Mother Nature has been out there doing some work of her own. Anyway, here's some inspirational (I think) pictures. I'd be doing some watercolours from such inspiration if I didn't have stupid university work to do :(

Our cherry tree is blossoming!

We have a beautiful bushy lemon tree with loads of tiny wee lemons on it. They're good to look at and dynamite in my cooking.

This the new sprouting of my pumpkin seed, that I got from a pumpkin I used for soup and dried out. I had almost given up on it sprouting, then one day I looked and there she was. Seeing a new plant sprout is as wonderful today as it was when we grew beans in primary school.

My cabbages are growing like crazy. Can't wait to eat them.

I bought a whole bunch of snow peas and only one has survived. But that one is rather lovely.

And finally some other general greeny goodness.