Hopeful

I had an email from one of the UK editors expressing interest in one of the designs I sent her. It's not a definite yes yet ... she has to take it to the editors meeting in a few weeks time. But at least I'm through to the next step.

I just sent another one today too.

Wednesday was a horrible day. I stitched for about an hour and then realised I had to unpick it all as I'd started in the worng place.
Then I burnt myself while making a lamb roast ... right across the back of my left hand.

It's better now though and I'll be spending tomorrow working on the Circus Pony.

Have a great weekend everyone
Jenni

Bad News and Good News

The circus Pony was passed up by the first magazine I offered it to. She said it was lovely bit it wasn't the right fit for the mag.
At least I didn't spend time stitching it (God bless computer simulations).

My husband broke his tooth last night (just to add to financial pressure). It's quite unfair. He takes really good care of his teeth and nags us all to floss. But this one tooth has been giving him trouble for years. I feel so sorry for him ... he just got over a really NASTY case of sinusitis (he's not even completely better).

BUT

I saw a wonderful quote on a cross stitch yesterday that I may design into something.

Make today count.

I have some errands to run today, but when I get home I'll knuckle down and design something else that will hopefully hit the mark.

AND

I've just gotten word that my ever faithful, wonderful Australian editor will take the Pony (stitched with a girl's name and an alphabet ... I'll give it to my friend's daughter as a present).

So, no UK breakthrough yet.

I'm not working at Macdonalds though!

Circus Pony

Just a little design I'm working on at the moment.

I was going to do a steam punk victorian lady after talking to Miamina. But I'm not sure the magazines would go for that. It might be a bit radical for them. And then I had a dream about horses and had an urge to draw one. So that's how the little circus pony came about.

Viva Detail

So I finished Viva Las Vegas yesterday. It was actually 99.9% done on Monday night anyway - just had half an hour of beading to get done.

Sorry I can only show the detail shot so far. But you can see the beading on her corset.

Now I guess I'd better get busy and design something else.

Sometimes

I wish there was a delete button on my cross stitch.
I had to unpick again today (only a small piece thankfully).

Three hours of stitching was pretty good today considering my family came over for my dad's birthday. Happy birthday dad.
I'm getting really close, but maybe Monday evening is was a bit hopeful. I forgot I still had one side of the metallic thread to stitch which alwasy takes longer to do small areas because of the care needed with unwinding and pulling the thread through. It took me about an hour just to do about 60 stitches.
Then there is the backstitch I still need to do (about half the design still needs that) and of course the beading which takes a few hours too. Hmmm, yes ... maybe tuesday evening?

I won't be able to post a full photo as i plan to pitch it to the UK mags. But I can show you a detail shot.

Thanks for your comments on my candle collar. It's safe back home now and in my display cabinet.

See you next time
jennidee

Postponed

My scrapbooking day was postponed as Nicole (my friend) came down sick. So I did 3 and half hours stitching instead. It's really coming along now.

Here's those pics I promised of the candle collar.

Of course the magazine did a nicer job of the photography (I've seen the pic already, Nicole found it in a craft preview magazine). But I do like my night time shot with it glowing (and the cool reflection on the table). They actually used a bigger white candle in the photo shoot. It does look classy,  though I personally like the tealight as it shines through the collar.

I'll be stitching, stitching, stitching today and I hoep to finish Viva Las Vegas by Monday evening ... maybe???

School Holidays

Firstly a big hello to all my new followers who have come to me through Leibster awards. Thanks for joining. I think that award is a fantastic idea. It's a good way to see more blogs. I'm always surprised that there isn't a way to search for blogs in a certain theme at blogger. We all seem to find one another by following blog trails. Luckily that's fun too.

It's school holidays here in NSW Australia for two weeks. This means I have to to fight for the computer more often than not. I'm typing this at 7:40am when no one else is up .... one of the few times I can be assured of getting any computer time.

Today I'm scrapbooking with a friend who is a high school teacher. So this is one of the few times we can get together all day to indulge in our shared hobby. I don't know if any of you scrapbook as well as beading or stitching, but it takes a lot of time and money and space. So you have to organise a get together when you have plenty of all those things. This particular friend bought me a voucher for my birthday recently and I spent it yesterday on new papers.

As for my beading and stitching; I've made good progress on Viva Las Vegas, even though the Easter break meant lots of distractions. I'm so far into it now that I'm starting to think about the next design. If anyone has any suggestions or preferences, speak now!!! LOL I'm thinking of a pretty witch for Halloween ... or maybe a sexy devil. There are so many ideas to choose from.

I'm still trying to get into the UK magazine market. No luck yet. I'm having to alter my design ideas as I can't compete with Joan Eliott's fairies and lovely ladies. She is in every magazine now. Now I'm trying different themes. The last effort was a beautiful flamingo. Next I think I'll try some flowers in an art nouveau style or some exotic animals like a Lima or a red panda. I try to keep the design in my style (with a bit of a fantasy flair) as that is what I like, and that is what I'd like to be known for. Now that I think about it, I think I remember suggesting to one of my internet friends that I might try a unicorn ... but Joan Elliot has just done one fo those too.

A few weeks ago I thought I'd do a lovely butterfly with a kind of art nouveau flair. And then I picked up the latest issue of Cross Stitching and saw it had a butterfly on the front with a lace border. That's a bit too close to waht I had in mind. Damn! Beaten to the punch again.

Never mind. I'll keep working at it, and doing my fantasy ladies for the Australian mag, who seem more than happy to have them.

I have a beaded piece coming out in this months edition of Beads to Inspire (Express Publications). It's a wired candle collar. I'll post a picture tomorrow.

If you've read this far, you are a wonderful friend and I thank you for your support.
Jennidee.

Show Girl Progress

First of all, thankyou to everyone who commented about my submissions. I'll keep working at it. I learned my lesson from giving up too quickly the first time I tried to have a career designing.

I got 4 hours of stitching in today already (maybe another hour tonight).
Here's what it looks like so far

I soooo want those boots, but I would look stupid in them. :)

I also spent soem time working on a drawing for a new design. So I'm busily working towards my goals. Thanks to everyone who has supporeted me this far.

Oh, and byt the way, I havent' decided on a name for the design above yet. Any suggestions, leave a comment. I've thought of Peacock Princess (but she is more a show girl) and Viva Las Vegas. What are your thoughts?

Thanks

jennidee

Better luck next time

Well, my last few submissions for the UK cross stitch market have been rejected.
They were very nice about it and wished me luck for the next one.
 But I'm hoping I'll blow them away with the lastest one.

Each time I design something I try to do a little better than the one before. I honestly think that the latest work was the nicest thing I have ever done ... so I hope the UK editors think it's good enough to publish in their mags. I wish I could show you guys.

I worked hard on that design all day and didn't get any stitching done. Tomorrow  for sure!!!

Back to stitching really soon

I've just finished stitching on the binding of the quilt that will be displayed at Springwood Quilt show at the end of April. All I have to do now is make a lbel for the back (mum's wonderful embroidery machine) and stitch on the rod pocket (also at the back).

This afternoon I've been working on a new design in the hope of getting a fott in the UK markets. It's lovely, but I probably won't stitch it. The UK mags have their own stitchers, which makes it quicker for me ... but a little less pleasurable too.

I spent Saturday finishing the quilt and Sunday beading. I entered the Australian Beading forum year of jewellery this week. The theme was midnight. Here's my entry

There is VERY good competition this week, so I doubt I'll win.
But tomorrow I will get back to stitching Viva Las Vegas.

I think I'll post a photo of some progress tomorrow.