And More Stitched Love…

So this was my stitched postcard!

All fabric, this one, front and back.  It was created mostly at the embellishing machine - with some machine embroidery and a small amount of hand stitching thrown in.

I have to admit I was very loath to let this one go.  Not only did I like the finished piece, but it marked a huge breakthrough for me in terms of process.  Instead of starting out with a fixed idea of what I wanted to make, I just let the design emerge as I built up the layers of fabric.  It told me what it wanted to become - not the other way around.  I would dearly love to have hung it on the wall as a reminder to play that way again. 

But I was - as usual - working right up to the wire and there wasn’t time to create a second card.  So off it had to go.…all the way to Arizona and a lady called Stella.

I do hope she enjoys this little piece of stitched LOVE.  There’s a lot of me woven into it.

Stitched LOVE

Stitched postcards celebrating LOVE have been winging their way around the world over the last week or so, and this one flew across the Atlantic and landed on my doormat.

It’s from artist, Terri Conrad, who used artwork from her latest collection to create this pretty piece.  It’s made of card and lace with just one simple line of stitching securing the heart.  But that absolutely qualifies it to be a stitched postcard!

I think the colours are gorgeous – perfect for this time of year.  They remind me of Cadbury’s Mini Eggs and Easter.  Which is a pretty scrumptious connotation!

If you’d like to see more of the cards that have made up the third Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap, go to the Flickr page created by organiser, Beth, of Do What You Love.

And if you’d like to see my contribution, call back here on Sunday!

Funky Skirts For Sale!

Remember my funky skirt?  Well I loved it so much, I found I was wearing it every day.  Seriously.  Had to pretty much prize myself out of it once in a while when I was somewhere in the vicinity of the washing-machine.  I desperately wanted another but, short of taking off to Germany again, that didn’t seem possible.  So I decided there was only one thing for it.  I would have to import and sell the skirts myself.  So I have!

Moshiki skirts are now on sale from Dixon Hill.  This is not a line of business I ever envisaged getting into, but these skirts are just so much fun and those pockets SO practical (iPhone on hand at all times) that I couldn’t help it.  I wanted to share them with you ‘cause I know you’ll love them.

Everyone who sees me in mine wants one.  Is it a skirt?  An apron?  A belt?  Who cares!  It’s funky.  Fair-traded.  Will fit just about anyone.  And each one is a totally one-off, unique combination of fabrics.  Which is pretty much all you need to know.

They’re already selling like hot cakes to my local friends.  Before they vanish altogether, I thought I’d better get some on the website pronto.  Grab yours here before they sell out.

The Flame of Hope

What’s struck me most since the catastrophic events in Japan began to unfold is not the unspeakable horrors of the situation itself but rather the response to it.  The deluge of sympathy and compassion across the world has rivalled the force of the tsunami itself.

It’s convinced me yet again that no matter what dire things are happening on this earth of ours, the love and heartfelt goodwill out there are always greater and stronger.  Which gives hope to us all.

New Hens at Dixon Hill

There are new hens in the hut with the heart-shaped window.  But it was difficult to get a decent shot of them this morning.  Wary of me and wary of the weather, they skulked inside and took a lot of coaxing out.

I don’t blame them where the weather’s concerned.  Yesterday we had snow, sleet, rain, thick fog, terrific winds and a few uncertain glimpses of sunshine.  Today promises more of the same.

The new cockerel, however, is a much braver chap than the last one.  He was a consummate wimp - always the last to leave the hen house, scared of scuttling past the dog with the big eyes.  This new one is far more macho….definitely head of the household.  He finally led his ladies forth this morning like a real hero.

He and his harem are still camera shy, though.  They’ve yet to realise that if you live at Dixon Hill, you’ve no choice but to submit to being a model for the crazy woman who’s always pointing a camera at you.

They’ll learn.