Little Book of Stitchscapes Vol 5

 

I feel like I really need to get back into the saddle and the swing of things for my little Dotty Textiles business. The to-do list and the wish lists are just endless, and my shop has been coasting along by itself really so I am running low or out of several products that I need to crack on with re-stocking. 

HOWever... I did get my act together a little bit and had a productive evening putting together another little Stitchscape book as I sold out of these a while ago. They are lovely little books (even if I do say so myself) and are stuffed full of photographs of my most recent Stitchscapes; trying to focus on the different techniques I've used and also the different things I've created, like the pebbles and the ATCs that I've been working on this year for the Stitchscape ATC swap so it's not just 'scapes in hoops. 

It's not a big book and I haven't written anything in it as I'm too terrified. I can't tell you how many times I've tried starting to write a book about Stitchscapes and to get down the different sections I would like to include but then I chicken out and nothing happens. So, for now, a picture book will do for me!

There are 20 pages and the quality of the paper (lovely thick card stock!) and the print is gorgeous. They even feel nice to hold, all smooth and silky. 

The colours are very true to the original pieces too which is an achievement I feel. It's tough taking all of the photos myself because I don't have a set area to photograph anything and it's usually in the brightest place I can find at the time of wanting to take the photo. Most images are bad so I have to take about 200 photos of the same thing in different places or with different props grabbed from various rooms around the house to try and get a handful of really nice ones. These photos for example were taken in my pop up photo booth standing on a chest of drawers in my son's nursery with a wood print wrapped board underneath my wooden bed tray, my new favourite mug from the kitchen, a String of Pearls plant from the bathroom and my boyfriend's glasses! 

Hopefully you do get a coffee table vibe after all of this effort?

But, as these are fairly pricey for me to order from the supplier, I've only ordered 10 and, as I usually do, when I next get a bunch printed I will change the photos used and update the book to try and keep it all as up to date as possible. Some photos I've reused over and over (this is the fifth book now) but most are new or not previously used I think. I don't keep any of these books myself so I can't actually reference them and see which photos I've used before. 

If you would like one to grace your table then I have five available in my Etsy shop and five available in my web shop (which seems only fair!) so hopefully you'll be able to track one down. Let me know what you think!

Sunset Mountain August ATC Swap

These colours make me very happy. I love how the Stitchscape Swap themes all have their own overall colour scheme and these ones just work so well as a collection. There's such a lot of variety in the images presented too, traditional dark mountains with a sunset behind, silhouetted trees, a silhouette of a hot air balloon, a shadowy Stag at dusk, desert sunsets or more abstract shapes hinting at sunsets. 

Interestingly, this is the eighth theme and I really feel like I'm beginning to recognise the styles of those joining in. I challenge myself to guess who has made each card before turning it over to confirm and I was about 50% right with correct answers for this swap. I feel like confidence has grown in everyone as well, which I may have said before, but every month is just so impressive with the creations that come through the door.  

There are a lot of embroidery stitches for this month too. I realise that one of the requirements for the swap is to include stitching of some sort but, sometimes, there is less hand stitching coming in and more impact stitching (if you know what I mean?). This time round there is lots of wonderful needlework, from the card which is entirely long stitched, to metallic chain stitch sun rays, blanket stitched edges and fabulous rows of running stitch to build texture in a sunset sky. I love the stitched detailing in the hot air balloon basket too and the different stitches in each layer. 

Photos truly don't do these cards justice. I've tried my best with the lighting and camera angles to present the truest colours and textures but it just isn't the same as being able to see and touch them in real life. The piece above is black velvet, which feels amazing, and there is a sparkly thread that has been couched down with metallic blanket stitch so it catches the light and sparkles. The stitching on this is so simple yet so brilliant in its suggestion of intricate detail. 

I love the layering and bright colours in the above piece by Linda too - it reminds me of Kaffe Fassett with the use of bright colours; lots of shades of pink with bright pops of yellow in a mish mash of different patterns - it's charming. 

I'm amazed at how quickly we are whizzing through this first Stitchscape Swap year. There are plans afoot for more swapping in 2023 which I am very excited about. I am hoping to put together a kit as well to try and encourage more people to join in the fun but I don't know how quickly/easily I can put that together whilst also looking after little F as his schedule is getting more hectic now he's interested in the world around him and we can go to baby sensory classes or rhyme time at the library. 

I did find time, between naps (him, not me!), to re-jig my ATC page on my Dotty Textiles website and make it look slightly prettier as it was getting out of hand with the photo albums. All details for 2023 swaps will be published there so please do consider signing up to join us, you don't have to be an experienced stitcher, just someone willing to have a go and have fun!

God Save The Queen

 

Today is a sad day for the nation as our lovely Queen, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth I, has passed away at Balmoral surrounded by her family and loved ones. 

I was lucky enough to see the Queen several years ago in 2012 when she came to visit my university (the link to the original blog post about the event is here) wearing a very fetching bright pink ensemble. I wonder how many dress suits and matching hats she had in her wardrobe? 

The late Prince Philip and Kate, now the Duchess of Cornwall, also came, as it was the first stop of the tour to mark the Queens's Diamond Jubilee, and there was so much excitement as we all crowded together to catch a glimpse of them. In the end it was quite fleeting as they walked from their car, under the Magazine building, which was a sort of gatehouse, and into a university building so we didn't see them for very long. 

There are many different opinions about the Monarchy but I personally think they do a lot for our country, and I enjoy following along with the events they attend (or create), and the pomp and circumstance which is such a link to our history and country traditions. Among all of the drama presented by the press they are essentially a family trying to enjoy life and live their lives all whilst being scrutinised and criticised and ordered here there and everywhere to cut ribbons or make speeches and be entertaining for the good of the country. It's not a job I would want to do!! 

So, along with millions of others around the world, my thoughts are with her family as they grieve their mother/grandmother/great grandmother/friend, and I wish Charles and Camilla all the very best with the duties and traditions they now are tasked to perform. 

Thank you, Elizabeth, for your many years of service to us and, as it will be from now on, Long Live the King. 

British Wildlife Centre

 

Visiting the British Wildlife Centre was one of my favourite days out on our recent staycation. I think it might have been my wish to go there in the first place and I charged my camera especially in the hopes of taking some good photos of the Red Squirrels they have there. We did see the Reds (but we just missed their feeding time - it's fairly early if you are wanting to see them yourself!) but they were too speedy for me to get any photos of them. 

In fact, aside from the foxes and deer, quite a lot of the animals we never actually saw as they were all tucked away in their enclosures. The only time we did see some of them was when they had a special feeding and talk slot, which they all know very well and come out to lie in wait for the keeper to come in with treats. 

The Pine Martens were very pretty. They look a bit like tall ferrets, don't you think? We only saw this little lady when she was being fed though but, apparently, they have five of them living there, all in different cages as they are solitary, but with tunnels running over each other so that they are aware of the other Pine Martens existence. 

There are several species of owl balefully staring back at anyone staring through their enclosure fencing. We watched them for a while as two of the owls in different pens were having a very slow discussion with each other, which went something like...

Owl 1: whoooo

Owl 2: ....whooooo

Owl 1: whoooo

Owl 2: ....whooooo

....and so on!

They're gorgeous birds though aren't they? The barn owls are especially lovely with their heart shaped faces and pale colouring. 

We were trying to spot water voles in the water vole enclosure, but actually all we saw were lots of frogs! Some were especially well disguised among the pond greenery so they were actually quite good fun to spot. 

It's strange seeing so many creatures, that we see fairly regularly, in a zoo type setting. Deer, frogs, foxes and rats are all very common in my neck of the woods and we hear owls all the time. The creatures I actually wanted to see (hedgehogs, weasels, voles etc) were all hiding away but it would have been nice to see them up close as, sadly, I mostly see them on the side of the road as terrible casualties, or occasionally brought in by the family cat in the case of mice or voles. We did see some badgers and bats but they were in such dark enclosures I couldn't take any photos of them. The badgers were all in a bundle together though - you could barely tell who was who!

 

Finley seemed to enjoy the day. He wasn't really that interested in the animals though to be fair, just liked being out and about among so many people. It's amazing to look back on these photos and see how much he has changed in four weeks. 

The above isn't any ordinary cat, it's a Scottish wildcat!! I think they have four or five at the centre and apparently, one in particular is so well settled into their enclosure, the keeper giving the talk on them has only seen them five times in five years of working there! Must be a very special yearly treat to catch a glimpse. 

I have seen Adders in the wild as well. We came across one on Ashdown Forest a couple of years ago and accidentally startled it whilst it was eating its tea (a mouse), causing it to regurgitate the mouse so that it could flee faster. It's tricky to explain to a snake that you aren't going to touch it. Or steal the mouse. I like to think that when we had gone far enough away the snake may have returned to finish eating. 

The centre is a fun place to visit if you are in the area - definitely try to see the animals at their feeding time though!