Mini-button

Today's inspiration comes from artist and doodle embroiderer Aimee Ray.....

I think I first discovered Aimee's work on Pinterest when I was researching embroidery having just realised that contemporary embroidery existed and it wasn't all granny style stitching!   From there I bought one of her books, Doodle Stitching: Emboidery & Beyond, and now have a couple of others that feature her creations.   She has influenced my work for some time now and it was after getting her book that I produced the piece that won the competition for Kirsty Neale's prize!

Doodling is also becoming a popular art form and Aimee takes it to another level by transforming her doodles into embroidery:

So I thought Aimee would have to inspire one of my mini-mals - and here it is:

An embroidered button with tiny birds on it.

I have to admit that this has been the mini-mal that I have enjoyed making the most so far so maybe tiny embroidery will feature more this month.   Until tomorrow.... see you then!  x

Mini-girl

Day Two's mini-mal hasn't turned out quite as well as I was hoping it would.  :(  But, I am trying to stay positive and, this is a learning experience after all, so nothing is a mistake, it's just work-in-progress!   I mentioned the inspiration for this mini-mal in yesterday's post - Kirsty Neale.   I have admired Kirsty's work since I discovered her through the Mollie Makes magazines and books.   And, last year, I entered a competition and was very lucky to win a copy of her book Hoop-La! and the original hoop that Kirsty embroidered for the front cover which is now hanging on the wall of our spare room/ office/ studio.

I love Kirsty's characters especially the faces and hairstyles that she gives them.

I wanted to try and take inspiration from the kinds of fabrics that she uses to create a little girl character of my own but somewhere in the translation from my original drawing to the actual sewn item something went a little awry and she is not a cute as I was wanting her be.

Anyway, on to the next mini-mal.... see you tomorrow! x

First of 2014 and news of a new project

It's been a little while in the making but here is my first completed project of the new year:

It still has quite a wintry, almost christmassy, feel - a little owl in his bobble hat - but it seems quite apt to post it this morning after the first snow has fallen on the hills around where we live. 

I am thinking of making this available as a pattern or kit on Etsy so watch this space for more news.

But in the meantime, my time may be taken up with something else very soon....

I mentioned a little plan in my last post.  I have fine-tuned my idea and am now ready to reveal all!  I am going to be challenging myself through February with a one-a-day project - MINI-MALS.   I plan to make one miniature character every weekday through February.   Hopefully this will reignite my imagination and creative juices and who knows what will emerge from this challenge? I hope you will follow me through this challenge - I may need all the encouragement I can get!!

See you next time for the first installment of mini-mals.....