100 days of creative

Day 23 – Make a Laurel

I must admit, I am a little embarrassed to show you how little I have done. But I’ve been stitching like a mad woman! This is 2 hours work so maybe I stitch super slowly? I’m not sure.

embroidered laurel

Sorry about the creases! I have been taking it to work to get some done on my lunch break.

I stitched the start of a laurel wreath thing. I am going to base it off the Leafy one of these. I realised how unpractised I was at stem stitch! I think it looks okay. It will look better when it is covered with leaves and things. I definitely need to practise it more though.

stem stitch split stitch up close

I haven’t forgotten that I promised a pattern… It is coming. I just haven’t decided whether or not to add flowers to it yet. We will see 🙂

xo Isabel

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Day 22 – Water your Gardens

This is my first time embroidering on proper embroidery fabric and I love it!!!

I normally just go for calico. Which is pretty thin and annoying with bright threads, and it stretches and buckles a lot.

You know the difference between washing your hair at home when you are already running late for work, and getting your hair washed at a salon where they give you a scalp massage and a cup of tea… That is the difference between calico and proper linen.

I don’t even know what this one is exactly but I am never going back.

Anyway, onto the stitching!

embroidery quote wall art

I picked a quote I like and have used split stitch (really good tutorial here) in a dark grey thread. Around the curved areas I kind of reversed the stem stitch, finishing each stitch by splitting the previous one. I found it made it a little easier.

Next I will be doing a leafy border… That and a pattern are coming soon.

xo Isabel

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Day 20 – Valentine’s Card

peanut butter and jelly card

This weekend I made some Valentines Cupcakes. They will be going live on my baking blog on Wednesday and if you can’t tell they are pb&j cupcakes. So I thought I would make a printable to go with it.

Print on A4 card stock and fold in half. It is easy peasy. And a little cute…

Download here.

xo Isabel

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Day 18 – Seal Part 1

recreate photo watercolour

I decided to do a watercolour based on one of my favorite photos. This is from a recent trip round the South Island of New Zealand. I was so excited to finally see a fur seal. This one has come closer than all the others and was just napping in the sun. It was so cute!

I have done one layer of watercolour. I think I’m going to do three or four. I’m not sure what to do to make the lines of the fur. I guess we’ll see 🙂

new zealand road trip kiwi

xo Isabel

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Day 17 – Pineapple

Pineapple print

I am loving summer fruit currently. I haven’t been having pineapples but damn do they look delicious in the store.

I’m enjoying using watercolours. I’m wondering if I need to work in layers more and take a couple of days to do it. To build up the colours. As a medium though it is nice and I kind of like how it is kind of messy. And I get to avoid sketching!pine apple

xo Isabel

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Day 16 – Pattern Part Two

I am currently a couple of days into a sewing project. It always takes longer than I anticipate. So in the meantime I thought I’d show how my progress is going on my cross stitch cross pattern. That’s a mouthful!

silver thread

cross stitch pattern

I’m excited to get this done and figure out a way to display it. It is nice to have something else to do when I am getting frustrated at my sewing machine (it’s almost always user error).

A lovely commenter recommended using a needle with a large eye for the metallic thread. And it worked!!! I’m using the largest tapestry needle I have and it has become so much easier to work with.

Hopefully sewing this skirt won’t take too much longer and I’ll be able to show it 🙂

xo Isabel

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Day 15 – Autumn Trees

watercolor trees autumn

I love the colours of autumn. All the leaves turn the colours of the sun and sky is the colour of old tin roofs. And I love winter beaches with the sea so dark and the cold wind.

Maybe I’m daydreaming about autumn because it is so hot here?

I painted some autumn trees using watercolours. I love the colours and the more geometric shape of them.

basic watercolor trees geometric

xo Isabel

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Day 14 – Pattern

I have something to confess… I took a day off.   Lately I have been feeling tired and uninspired. I was busy, getting little sleep, and disappointed at how my recent daily projects had gone. There isn’t really any excuse for it I just felt crappy. I’m still getting little sleep but am feeling a bit more invigorated. The real secret to getting back on the horse was picking something simple (did anyone else learn K.I.S.S. at school? Keep it simple, stupid!). I know it looks nothing the same, but these sheets have been on my mind since I first saw them three weeks ago. They made me think what is more simple than a basic repeating pattern? And also that can just look nice. I came up with this. cross stitch pattern basic I liked these colours together and although they don’t go with our apartment I would like to incorporate this piece somewhere (when finished). Metallic thread adds a nice bit of difference but can be soooo annoying to work with. Maybe getting some thread conditioner will make it easier? Threading the needle is the hardest part. easy beginners embroidery
I’ll keep up with this and show how it goes on.

xo Isabel

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