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.

Book Review

Book review

A cross Stitcher’s Oriental Odyssey

By Joan Elliott for design works crafts

(a David and Charles book 2001)

                Stuck in the library while my car was being serviced I took the opportunity to browse the craft books and was delighted to find a book by Joan Elliott. Those of you who have read this blog for a little while now know that I am a big fan of Joan and aspire to be like her.

                It’s been out a while so you might have seen this book, but it was new to me.

                I would have taken this book home in an instant, but unfortunately I’m out of my area and not actually a member of this library. 

                As usual Joan has created some stunning designs for this volume. The complexity of the patterns in the Kimono’s alone is astounding. Unfortunately that complexity comes at a price. Even by looking at the patterns I could tell they would drive me nuts to stitch. The intricate floral patterns that are so much a part of oriental decoration require small areas of stitching in lots of different colours, and alas ... masses of backstitching. I hate backstitching. But I could possibly be swayed by these divine patterns. There are one or two patterns in the book that are not as intricate and require less back stitching. However I suggest this book is not really for beginners or the faint hearted.

                I adore the little bonsai tree on page 42 (I’ll may try this chart) and the dragonfly border on page 94. Much as I think the oriental ladies are stunning with their doll like faces and serene backgrounds, I won’t be attempting them. I already have a UFO that I abandoned because of the amount of backstitch in it.

                Apart from the patterns the book includes some interesting information about oriental culture. I wasn’t aware that a Kimono is a symbol of a woman’s wealth.

                If you are enamoured with oriental designs and not afraid of colour changes, or backstitching, this is definitely the book for you.

Oh Joan

I bought the newest edition of Crosssticher magazine (here in Anustralia anyway) and it has the beautiful Iris fairy on the cover designed by Joan Elliot.

She is such a clever designer. Her way with colours and her treatment of composition make every piece a masterpiece.

Funnily enough, even though I am a huge fan of her work, I've never actually stitched one of Joan's deisngs because I don't have time to. So I have no idea if they are easy to stitch, which is one of the elements I try very hard to preserve in my own designs. They do seem to have a lot of backstitch, which in itself is not that hard, it's just time consuming. Usually by the time I get to the backstitching of a project, I've had enough of it and want to go on to the next thing. She also uses a lot of decorative elements like beads and metallic threads. I enjoy beading and I use it in my designs sometimes too.

Joan's designs are also often ladies, which are my favourite subject to stitch, and also to design. I have seen some teddies of hers, but I rarely choose to stitch teddies. And I've just caught a glimpse of a tiny picture of a dragon she designed. I think it was a dragon. The picture was very small.

Another feature of Joan's designs that I really like is the swirly, curly forms she often uses. They were particularly effective in the peacock. It's one of the few designs that wasn't a lady that I thought about stitching. LOL

I hope one day to be as successful as Joan. Yet even if my designs never become as popular as Joan's I'll keep trying to make them as beautiful as hers.