It's Halloween!

Thanks to everyone who completed Feeling Stitchy's first ever Halloween Challenge! Here are a few pics of the many Halloween Stitcheries we saw in the pool (along with My Little Mochi's adorable Bear-o-lantern, front and center). Happy Halloween everybody!

center: 1. Bear-o'-lantern
top, left to right:
2. prototypes
3. Crayon Jack
4. Owl Pin
5. Zombie Dice Bag Brain
middle row, left to right:
6. slightly wobbly
7. spookiii
bottom row, left to right:
8. Candy Corn Biscornu
9. Patch Ornament and Pin

Boo! ha ha ha

It's moments away from halloween here in Australia. There's some more scary halloween stitching being posted in the Flickr pool, so if you're too scared to go and have a look, just take a peak here.

This very scary black cat and white ghost have been posted by I am Susie. The black cat looks like a zombie with red eyes!


Pipstitch has been busy this halloween, with some really cute - I mean spooky - stitching. This cute little hanging ornament is just one thing she has posted.


How frightful is this 'drunk on ze blooood' bat stiched by Mooshee (drawn by her hubby)? I lerv it.


Binah06 is busy as well. Not only is she working on this cottage, she has a very cool halloween picture with crewel embroidery in her flickr photostream too. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished projects!


There's still time to post to the pool with your halloween embroidery projects, so please share your work!

Happy Halloween everyone! Anyone with left over chocolate can post it to me. We don't do the trick or treating thing much here in Australia, so there's no extra chocolate in my house. ;-(

Free pattern: Spooky Halloween Owl

free pattern, click to see larger size and print!

Make your own tiny owl before Halloween with this free pattern from me, floresita. All you need is felt, embroidery floss, stuffing, and 10-15 minutes to sew it all together. Or, if you're pressed for time and cant do the sewing, whip out some scissors and paper, like Raesha did. Imagine how cute a whole row of owls would look hanging on a string over the door...

Watch this clip for directions on how to put it together, made by, um, someone you might recognize... :)

Zombie Jitterbug Girl

I just couldn't not post this... Rachel was feeling pretty ghoulish and voila - the zombification of Jitterbug Girl. Read more about her fabulous Halloween-themed idea on her blog. Way to go Rachel, for making a creepy vintage transfer way creepier!

Halloween Stitchery in the pool

top, left to right:
1. Black Cat and Pumpkin by Frizz
2. Devil also by Frizz
3. Little Witch by allthestuffilike
center:
4. Halloween Button by Cynrtst
bottom, left to right:
5. blckcatframed by Shartreuse
6. Skull slap bracelet by mirandategan
7. owl on a limb tee by thisvintagechica

You guys are really cranking out awesome Halloween Stitchery! Keep at it my friends, and keep tagging your pics "Halloween Stitchery" so we can find them...

showing off in the pool

There's a lot happening in the Flickr Embroidery Pool this week!

Buttons are popular at the moment - this little pumpkin button made by Cynrtst has got glow in the dark thread on the eyes and mouth.


Anuskaa is working on this project at the moment - if you follow her profile you can read about it on her blog. I just really liked this spiral. I hope you do too.

Interview with Amy - Feeling Stitchy blogger

Here's an interview with our interviewer, Amy. This talented lady blogs for Feeling Stitchy, maintains her own blog, crafts, and cares for her family...

1. You're taking a brief hiatus from blogging.... what's the biggest challenge in balancing blogging/ crafting / raising your daughter?

I would like to say “I am a Blogaholic.“ Seriously though, the challenge sometimes for me is focusing on the laundry, preparing the dinner. Especially when I am walking around the house cleaning and my sewing room looks so inviting, I guess anything does compared to a pile of laundry. Luckily my daughter enjoys watching me sew, I include her in my projects and she loves to feel involved. And I think it is good for Isabel to be around people that enjoy creating, I want her to see that and understand the importance of it. As far as blogging, I don’t think Isabel gets anything from watching me sit at the computer so I try to do that when she is at pre-school or in bed at night. I just have to keep in mind that I do have a day job and that is caring for my daughter so most crafting has to happen in the evenings.

2. Were you inspired to embroider? Or did you just start on your own?

My grandmother gave me some of her vintage linens that she had embroidered. I believe that started my love for embroidery. Then I came across the flickr embroidery group and was incredibly inspired...thank you, Floresita :) So I bought an embroidery kit that was great for beginners and have never looked back.

3. What do you find most inspiring about crafting?

Oh so many things! Over the past year it has been the online crafting community. How supportive everyone is and the feeling of comraderie. But overall, I think I am most inspired to craft or create because of the process, the action. I took my first art class years ago in college and discovered the “process.” Being so caught up in what you are doing, where you just lose yourself in the endeavor of creating. I would spend hours in the photo or pottery lab and all my worries and mental ramblings would cease. It really is therapy for me. So I was thrilled a few years ago when I put a thimble on my finger, picked up a needle, and got lost in craft as well.

4. Any favorite crafty background music, movies or TV shows?

I cannot watch any of my favorite TV programs while crafting, I miss half the show and end up rewinding (Tivo) every few seconds to see what I missed. I really like to listen to This American Life, however, while hand sewing. The show is so wonderfully produced; I am really moved by it.

5. Who inspires you?

People who have a passion for creating, who can’t live without it. There are pieces you come across and people you discover that are so amazing for their love of art/craft. These individuals inspire me and make me want to discover that part of myself that loves to use my hands and my creativity. People who push me to delve deeper inside the part of me that loves to construct.

6. Are you tidy or messy? :)

By nature, I am very tidy and chaos makes me nervous but because I have so many interests I seem to be pulling out books, fabric, whatever resource that I am currently interested in so I have a few stacks around my home. But one of my favorite shops is The Container Store, just give me a bin and a label maker...whew whoo! Yep, I’m a sicko ; )

7. If you had unlimited hours in a day, what would your day look like?

Wow! Where to begin... actually, start with a cup of coffee, then a run with my husband, and then a leisurely breakfast. I would love to have several uninterrupted hours of craft time and then spend the rest of the days outdoors with my family and friends, going to the beach, cooking out, playing Bocce in our yard. Then I would end it with a great movie on the couch with my husband, something outrageously funny, we love to laugh.

Amy's Favorite Projects



I made these for the Embroidered Button Swap. I really enjoy making these buttons and I have seen quite a few of them in the Japanese craft books, which I love. I am really attracted to the no fuss, simplicity of Japanese embroidery.



This character is from one of my favorite childhood books, Gypsy Girl. I love what she represents, her carefree attitude. Plus, flipping through this book takes me back to a time when I had a little more gypsy in me, I want to go there again.



This was one of my favorite projects to embroider because of the receiver. She requested a sassy cat and I love making this little girl happy.

_ _ _

Thank you Amy, for your time, and for all the great interviews and posts you've been doing for Feeling Stitchy. Hope your hiatus is very brief and we'll be seeing you back very soon! :)

Stitching paper

Today is World Card Making Day! My first love was card making. Here's how to join 2 of my favorite crafts.

Here's what you will need:

-cardstock
-floss
-something to write/draw with (in this case chalk
-largish needle
-smallish needle (I used a size 10)
-scissors
Draw your image on the back of your cardstock.

With your needle poke holes following the outline of the image. On a small design I space the holes about 1/8" apart. If the holes are too close the paper/cardstock will tear during stitching. If you decide the holes are too close once you are done simply use every-other hole.

This is what the front will look like.

Make a large not at the end of the floss and begin stitching using the holes as your guide.

It's important to use the large needle to make the holes and then the smaller needle to stitch, because you will be making the holes bigger with the needle and thread. I generally do a back stitch or straight stitch.

When you are finished tie off your stitching as you normally would and adhere your handy work to a card.

deep dark scary pool

Don't go in the pool this month - unless you're into Halloween! We've caste a challenge on our members and there's some spooky halloween stitchery happening. I've done mine - but it's not in the pool this week. Here's some early posters.

She Brews is a very scary contributor with loads of halloween stitching to share. I love this stitched menu. Yummo...I'll be joining her for a bite after I finish this post.




Sunshine Creations has shared this cute little bullion stitched button. We don't see too much bullion stitch in the pool - do we?


Keep it up team! Before you know it, we'll be talking about trimming trees...

Creepy, cute, and crawly Halloween

Still looking for ideas so that you can participate in Amy's Halloween Challenge? Have you tried coloring books? Search for halloween coloring pages using your favorite search engine. Try searching for vampire coloring, halloween coloring, pumpkin coloring, etc. If you're using Google, click on Images. Here are some of my favorite finds:

Fun school

Halloween printables















Carla's coloring pages











Magic coloring book














Activity Village

Shabby Digital - original embroidery designs

Edit April 2009: The Shabby Digitals blog is no longer in service, so this freebie is out of comission. Sorry! :(

Looking for a beautifully creepy design for the Halloween challenge? Try this free sugar skull pattern by Carolina of Shabby Digital designs (remember to tag your picture "Halloween Stitchery" so we can feature your work!) She also has 2 sheets of Halloween patterns for sale on her blog- my favorite is the "zombie doll"! :)

Carolina just started selling embroidery patterns on her blog - as a former tattoo artist, her designs are intricate, edgy, and beautifully drawn. She was generous to offer me some designs to stitch, and they are all amazing....

I stitched a beautiful virgencita from her "Goddess" patterns:

Here's a mini-interview I did with Carolina - enjoy!
How did you get started embroidering?
I started embroidering a few months after I had to stop tattooing, after seeing many tattoo-inspired embroidery on Flickr.

What type of embroidery appeals to you most?
I like freehand embroidery, crazy quilt embroidery and anything that looks more like a painting. I like to frame and hang and I rarely ever embroider on clothes or things for everyday use. I wish I had lots more time for embroidery, it's so relaxing...

What inspires you to create?
Everything inspires me to create, but I'd say tattoo art, comic art and art nouveau are my main influences when it comes to design.

To learn more about Carolina and her embroidery patterns, visit her blog, Shabby Digital: http://shabbydigital.wordpress.com/ Thanks Carolina!

Halloween Challenge

Autumn is here, September is already ending, but the best is yet to come...October! Feeling Stitchy is now beginning a monthly theme or challenge for all stitchers interested. I guess you probably know what this first embroidery challenge is, yes Halloween!

The rules are simple:
1. Stitch on any item you want: t-shirt, pincushion, wall hanging, candy bag. Just stitch a Halloween design.
2. Post a picture of your work at the flickr embroidery group with a statement about your piece, possibly even where you found the pattern.
3. Tag your photo "Halloween Stitchery" so that Feeling Stitchy can highlight some of the work.
4. Have fun!

The Halloween pattern, pictured above, was provided by Emily - visit her blog if you want a PDF version. Thanks Emily, way to get the ball rolling!

Here is a mosaic full of inspiration. It is already posted at the flickr embroidery group and you can find out who created these great pieces.

Happy Spooky Stitching! (for lack of a better line : )

new from the pool

I'm always amazed at how many new projects are added to the embroidery pool every week. Maybe it's because we have grown to such a large group now!

Here's a few projects that caught my eye.

First up - Amanda also known as BugnBit has embroidered this funky flower onto some jeans. Very cute.


Evie created this embroidery of a sausage dog. This is her first attempt too! I love the stripey jumper, or sweater I guess, depending on what country you're from. Also called a jersey, if you're a kiwi. Anyway, I digress...


This set of vintage 'his and her' images are gorgeous. Melinda (also my middle name for all you trivia buffs out there) posted them to our embroidery group. I love the lady in the shower.

What's happening in the pool?

There are so many cute things, I don't know where to begin!

This lovely cherry blossom has been stiched by Melissa from binah06. She has heaps more cute embroidery on her profile, so go and take a look.


Rachel (also known as burb_mama) recently finished this cute little girl picture with a really sweet border.


Melissa (yes! another one!) from sunnydayshere is stitching this gorgeous little car on a tote for her nephew.

Interview with Aimee Ray

Q. Aimee, how long have you been embroidering and how did you get started?

A. My grandma first showed me how to embroider when I was about 5, she used to bring samplers for me to work on whenever she came to visit. I hadn't done any embroidery for a long time though, until a few years ago when I picked it up again and started stitching some of my own designs. I am a greeting card designer by day so I do a lot of computer art and design. I think one of the things that drew me to embroidery was that it is so completely opposite from that! It is an age old, primitive art form, but easy to pick up and adapt to contemporary art styles. I also find it sort of relaxing and meditative, and a great project to work on just sitting on the couch,watching a movie.

Q. I have been admiring your work on Flickr; you create some wonderful trees. Do you get a lot of inspiration from nature?


A. Absolutely! I've always been a nature girl, I love to be outside. Animals and nature are endless sources of inspiration and trees are one of my favorite things to draw or stitch.

Q. I noticed you have a degree in graphic design and illustration so I imagine sketching comes naturally. What started the process of you sketching with thread?


A. I have always done random sketches in my sketchbooks, usually tiny and done with very little thought- almost stream of consciousness. :) They can be actual drawings of things or just abstract shapes and lines. I guess it just struck me one day that some of them might make cool embroidery art, so I blew one up and transferred it to fabric. These have become some of my favorite embroideries I have done. I always use removable transfer pens so I can improvise or expand on my original sketches. That way I have a basic design I like to start with, but I'm free to add or change things as I stitch.

Q. Speaking of sketching with thread, you have a book out, Doodle Stitching. Congratulations! Can you tell us about the book and what we might find in it?

A. Thanks! It's been great seeing it finally out in the world! Doodle Stitching contains all kinds of my original embroidery patterns, each one with instructions for a fun, easy project to stitch them onto. There is also a section describing the tools and materials you'll need, as well as illustrated instructions on how to create many different stitches. So whether you're just starting out embroidering, or have been at it awhile, I hope you will find something there to inspire you.

Q. Could you give some advice for those who do not have an art background but would like to create their own embroidery designs?


A. Doodle as much as you can! Seriously, simple line drawings make great embroidery patterns. You may not think you have great drawing abilities, but some of the coolest embroideries I've seen are just simple patterns or line drawings with some creative thread work. Kids' drawings work great too. Don't be afraid to experiment or make a few mistakes.

Q. What other interests do you have besides crafting?


A. My husband Josh, gardening, dreams, toys (most recently Blythedolls), flickr, my dogs, Mystery Science Theatre, fantasy books and movies, weird music...

Q. Your embroidered canvases are wonderful; what a great way to display your pieces! Was the embroidery created on fabric and did you do anything special to stretch it over the canvas?


A. Some of them are fabric, and I just stretched them over the wood canvas frame. For others, I took the canvas off of already-stretched canvases and stitched directly onto that. It's already the right size, and it's stiff so you don't need a hoop. When I finished, I just stapled it back on the frame. I like displaying my embroideries this way, for some reason I've never really liked putting them in picture frames behind glass.

Q. What is an average day like for you?


A. I go to work at my day job, come home and walk my dogs, then work on craft projects! Scattered throughout my daily routine is lots of Internet browsing and drawing or writing random things in my sketchbook.


I've recently done a small series of illustrative "portraits" of some of my childhood heroes, starting with this one of Shel Silverstein. Embroidery seems the perfect medium somehow to commemorate these fabulous people. Perhaps because I learned embroidery as a child. Others in this series so far are Crystal Gayle and Jacques Cousteau, with more to come.

"hill man" is probably one of my least abstract embroideries. I love fantasy, which probably leads to my envisioning faces in nature. I love for my artwork to be narrative, for it to tell a story of its own. I see lots of potential stories in this one. I don't like to explain too much, but let the viewer find their own story in my pictures.
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Thanks so much Aimee, your work is wonderful! To check out more of Aimee Ray, go to her website, dream follow. And you can also purchase Doodle Stitching at her Etsy shop!