Tattoo Flash Embroidery

So I have finally finished Lilys quilt square. I love the way it turned out! I actually think I might have to make one for my quilt as well.... Since we have the same theme... I sort of jacked her... but I am a sucker for pin up/ tattoo flash... I am in a flickr swap with her and a few other of my favorite embroiderers! I got this image from flickr as well... Isn't flickr grand?



For this I used tons of satin stitching! It was quite a chore... After an hour or so I started seeing double! I used all 6 strands for the outline of the roses, which I normally don't like to do but I thought it made them pop a little more! This was actually really fun to stitch. It was a pretty simple design just a lot of it!



The lettering was the hardest part. It wasn't small enough to do just plain backstitch but it wasn't big enough to do satin stitching with an outline... So I made due...


My favorite part is the little stem! Its weird how the smallest things can be my favorite part... hahaha... So Random! There is still solvy pieces on the square but she just has to wash it once it gets home. I wasn't sure if I should wash it or not... OH WELL!!!

So other then that... I am having my second craft group meeting on Saturday... If you live by me and want to come message me! Maybe this time I will get some pictures.... Nothing like looking like bigger freaks then we already are!! hahahaha.... I already have put all the kits together to make these little gems. I think it will be a fun time! I can't wait!

So Juan and I weigh ourselves every monday and we keep a chart!! (Seriously that thing is hidden so no one can see it but me!!) So this monday I weighed myself... I have lost 3 lbs. For a total of 11 lbs!!! YES! Lets hope I can keep up the good work! I have cheated quite a few times this week... Dipped cone and corn dog with the cousin... Fritos at the casa... You know... Things that you just cant say no too... Maybe I am like Oprah... Everyone likes me better when I am fat... HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

December Interview: Angel I mean, Amy Rose

Okay, so my December interview is Amy from Swell Stitches!!! We have become really close since we became swap partners on Craftster!! She is super fun and she loves everything candy colored and pastel!!! Which really makes me laugh because her personality isn't all frilly and sweet... I mean she does put up with me... She has to have some edge to her!! Anyways she makes super cute things!! She also LOVES LOVES LOVES Christmas... So she is the perfect fit for my December interview check out her blog because she is having a GIVEAWAY. Which by the way I want to WIN.... Even though she made me some already!!! They are so beautiful and look Vintage!!!



first name (you don't have to answer this): Amy

Where did the name AmyRacinRose come from?: I've been dragracing ever since my sixteenth birthday. A guy that I've known and been friends with since I was kid started saying.. hey, it's Amy Racin Rose!.. everytime I'd walk up. It just sort of stuck from then on out!



where do you live?: Alvin, TX... it's a small town just between Houston and Galveston. I'm just here for school. The moment I finish I'll burn rubber getting out of this town! (maybe sooner than later... HAHAHAHA just kidding!!!)

your real job is: I run the parts warehouse at one of the largest car dealers in Texas (you also flirt with the old UPS Man)



How long have you been embroidering?: A little over two years now



what inspires your work?: For the most part I'm inspired by things other people create like Alicia Paulson of Posie Gets Cozy, Lori of Pretty Little Things and countless other crafters out there. Vintage goodies are a constant inspiration, too. (yeah I love LOVE vintage embroidery patterns!!!)

If you had an alter ego what would her name be? Hmmm.. something cute and retro that you could really put a tabboo twist on... Peggy Sue or Suzie Q. She's sugar and spice and everything nice.. but this girl has a dark side.. you better watch out! Something like that lol. (yeah you do... all these girlie colors... and really you are BLACK INSIDE!!! HAHAH just kidding I love you!!)



other crafts you do?: Well, I sew... or I attempt to anyway! I've also dabbled in painting small things like little houses or decorative things of the sort and I just made a Christmas gift using stamping and fabric paint. I've been branching out into quick, fun projects. If it's fast I like it. I'm a big fan of instant gratifcation!



What project of yours is your favorite of all time?: My Puppy Love pillow.. mainly because it's sentinemental. I embroidered two yorkies and a poodle with our dogs' names on it.. Angel, Kooty and Isky. (Aye Dios Mio... you and your damn dogs!)




Mother Fucker is my favorite cuss word... what is yours?: I like a basic Fuck.. it's a very useful word.. it comes in handy pretty often.

What are some of your favorite blogs or websites? Well, there is yours, of course! Also, I'm contstantly stalking Pretty Little Things, Posie Gets Cozy, Casey's Musings, Doe-c-Doe, Craftzine, Goody-Goody, Craftster and many, many more. (Bitch I trained you well... you better say my fucking blog... I was the one that FORCED you to blog again!! JK)



What is your favorite song?: Now this is a very tough one for me. I'm a huge fan of music.. 40's, 50's, 60's, Jazz, Rock, some Pop and very little Country... but I gotta say one song that always makes me happy is Sunny Side of the Street by Benny Goodman and sung by Peggy Lee. I love Benny Goodman. He was such an amazing clarinetist! ( I love Peggy Lee! you forgot to add ELLA!)

favorite alcoholic beverage?: Oh, easy! Amaretto Sour.. sooo yummy!

What was your favorite Christmas gift? Well, I gotta say my car... last year my parents surprised me with a brand new 08 Chevy Cobalt! It is a gorgeous car!.. and yes, I know how spoiled I am. ( I will just not say anything... but you know I am dying too!!! It's too easy)



In High School what were you like?: Oh god. I was such an overachiever! I graduated top 10 of my class with Honors, had straight A's throughout school and I was in the Honors Society. I was in A Capella choir as well as band and I lettered in both. In choir I was a section leader as well as in band. I was also a Lieutenant in the band. In fact, I played the clarinet and I held first chair for 6 consecutive years. Despite all of this sickening goody-goody over achiever crap, I still had a cool factor because of the dragracing. I knew all the guys and vice versa .. main reason they knew me is because I beat the crap out of anybody in my Camaro! haha I wasn't a cliquey girl, either. I knew everybody and hung out with everybody. (One time at band camp...... AAAHHH HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.... Amy I can always get a good laugh...)

What are your other interest besides crafting? Well, there is the dragracing. Also, there's Angel.. she's always my main interest.. spoiled little dog! lol And there's court reporting, which is what I'm going to school for.



You love your rat dog I mean Angel what tricks can she do? Or do u just love her because she's fluffy and cute? haha... Angel is fluffy and cute! She's also very, very sweet and as spoiled as she is she's not one of those bratty dogs that you just want to hate, you know? I've never taught her any outright tricks but she does know commands... like when I say Grass she hops straight into the grass and she'll hop into the bathtub when I say bath. But there is one trick that she just did on her own which is so cute! We have a swing in our backyard at my parents' home. During the spring and early summer my Mom used to let the dogs stay outside in the backyard while no one was home. Well, my neighbor said one day he saw Angel jump onto the swing and start thrusting herself in a way that it made the swing start to swing back and forth. Then she laid down and rocked herself to sleep! I always wished I could see that!
(ugh.... your dog is made out of poly-fil)

Here is "Angel" AKA poly-Fil




And here is my mondo 100 lbs Doggie LOLA GIRL.... WAY BETTER... Lola takes bigger POOPS than Angel!




Do you have any tattoos? if so what are they? I have one little heart on my second toe of my left foot. I really want to get more but just haven't been able to settle on one yet. I'm very particular about something that's going to be on my body forever!

If you were to live in any decade what would it be? At my age that I am right now... the 40's. I love everything about that era. In my mind, I've romanticized it all so much. I know people had it a lot tougher than we do.. but oddly enough that's one of things that's so appealing of that era to me. It's difficult to appreciate all of the wonderful things we have now when they've never been unavailable to us.

What is your favorite material to stitch on?: Basic muslin... it's soft and doesn't pull apart easily as you stretch it out on the hoop. I hate fabric that does that!

Favorite Christmas song? What version? It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas by Bing Crosby. I adore Bing Crosby! His voice just makes me melt. I really love the songs he recorded with the Andrews Sisters, too. Seriously, I think I have a little crush on the man! haha I love love love the Andrew Sisters

Have you always been crafty? I think so. I just always expressed my creativity in different ways. For about 9 years it was musically through the clarinet. I got to the point, though, that it was hindering my chance to finish school in court reporting. So, I quit and for a long time I was really sad that I didn't have anything creative in my life until I discovered Sublime Stitching a little over two years ago. It just opened up this huge, seemingly never-ending world to me.

What is your favorite stitch? The stem stitch! I rock the stem stitch! It is so easy and moves along very quickly.

What is your best Christmas Memory? I have a lot since I always spend Christmas with my family.. but seriously is there any better feeling than waking up as a kid just itching to know what Santa brought you?! I mean that moment when you sneak into the livingroom to peek under the tree before yelling to wake up your parents is just so incredible!



Would you want to live in Alaska where its freezing and snows during winter? I wouldn't mind Alaska, but my dream is New York City... and it's definitely freezing and snowy there during the winter.

Why are you obsessed with "pretty pastels" ? Umm... I don't really know. it's not just pastels. I'm into candy colors, too.. very girly colors. My favorite color of all of them, though is aqua.

What's one thing that might surprise me about you ? I think there's a lot that would surprise you.. I have a very dark side lol. I know of one thing that did surprise you.. the fact that I dragrace.. and kick ass doing it! (No, I know you have a dark side... you evil pastel loving bitch!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA)

If you could be on any reality show what would it be? The Hills! I know it's stupid, but I love that show. I heart LC.. lol Honestly... I should stop talking to you RIGHT THIS MINUTE... That show is a DISGRACE to the human race.... I can't even BELIEVE you!!! AMY!!! WHY DID U KEEP THIS HORRIBLE SECRET FROM ME???

What makes you happy? Angel, embroidering, hot cider, cold and bright winter days, Bing Crosby's deep voice, Benny Goodman playing his clarinet, Doris Day or Ginger Rogers movies, walking in the park on a breezy day, New York City, Starbucks coffee, finishing a sewing project, West Orange-Stark highschool Mustang football games, singing to oldies music with my Mom, shopping at craft stores! This list could really go one for a looong time.

Favorite Christmas Cookie? Ooooh.. I'm not sure if this is actually considered a cookie.. but divinity! Oh, the name is so befitting!



Why haven't you sent me a picture of your typewriter thingie? I'm a procrastinator! Haven't you figured that out yet?! ( YEAH AND I'M STILL WAITING!!!)

If you were to be stranded on an Island what 3 things would you bring (water and food are already included)? Angel! A boat! And several gallons of gas so I could hightail my ass out of there! hahah you are funny...

So my mother once had a question in her Bible Study Homework... It was " What is one thing you WOULDN'T give up for Jesus?" Her answer of all things was " PEPSI" What is one thing that you are addicted to that you wouldn't give up? (not necessarily for Jesus, just in general) Angel! I love her too much. The only way I'd let her go is if she were in pain. Oh my.... you could write a book about that freaking pooch

and saving my favorite for last:

Would you rather..... never be able to craft again or... eat a cup of shit? Okay I know that you would eat shit.. but I'm sorry. It's not gonna happen. I would just stop crafting. I think I would really miss crafting, though. It's not just a hobby.. it's a way of life! Yeah exactly!!! I would eat a cup of shit!!! All in the name of CRAFTING!!! What else would I do with my life??? Regret not eating shit so I could be crafting!!! HAHAHAH



This is my favorite thing she has made!! " Not Quite Vintage" ... I am still waiting for mine (cough cough....) Anyways that is all!!! Isn't she great? She stitches on EVERYTHING!! I also love her aqua framed embroidery!! So cute!!


I haven't edited this bad boy... its late... EDIT LATER...

Some things I've been working on...

Soooo.... I've been super bad at posting... Which I figured would happen during the holiday season... BUT I haven't stopped crafting!! I've actually been doing some straight up sweat shop work... I've been making a million headbands! They were a huge hit on My Etsy There are still some available and I will be listing the most beautiful deep purple ones tomorrow. I sold out of them within the first hour at the craft show I was in on Saturday. I could kick myself for not making more purple and red ones... Oh well... At least I know for next time.



I also have been making some fun little other things... I am slowly but surely getting my craft "TO DO LIST" checked off one at a time... I finally made some clothespin dolls. Don't hate on the one with super big eyes!!! Shes my first one, I used a paint pen and made one eye too big... then I was like... FUCK IT... This bitch is going to have the "stink eye"...



Isn't the tree so cute? That was another one of my "projects" I found it at Michaels on clearance for $4.00 but it was just a regular bushy tree.... Well I gave that thing a brazilian wax! I made it bare and lovely!! I love the vintage feel it gives!



I have also been thrift store shopping... I have been keeping my eye out for some cute little tea cups to make pin cushions out of and here are two I "experimented" with.





Also I made another one of my "Embroidery art" pieces. This time I made her with green eyes, a green bow, red hair, and silver stud earrings. I think I like her better with a more traditional earring.



She is available here.

Other then that I have been decorating for Christmas. My boyfriend went home to Maryland for Thanksgiving, so I decorated his apartment while he was gone. The tree is so not at its prime A) because I don't have any of my handmade ornaments on there because I was going to be selling them at a craft show and B) My mom gave me all these "handmade" ornaments some crazy "aunt" of hers dropped off at our house last year... If you blow the picture up you will see there is an ornament of a "snowman" and his hat is made out of the top of a tube sock... (OH HOW CLEVER). I should be caned in the crafting world for allowing such ugly ornaments on that tree... but you know what... I love them because they are SO TACKY!!! Also see the snowman chillin' at the bottom of the tree... Ugly Ornaments need love too sort of like the Island of Misfit Toys!!! I also used dingle berry garland. I think that was a wonderful idea on my part. Partially because I bought a HUGE spool of the shit for $6.00 (thats a wonderful deal I think there is 50 yards) at a thrift store and my mom told me I would never use it... Well here you go Momma O... 2 yards down... 48 yards to go!



So yeah to say the least I have been keepin' busy!!! Its really rewarding to know that people actually like my stuff!!! Keep your eyes open for my headbands in some new colors..... (lets hope I take photos of them tomorrow!)

EDIT: Just listed new headbands!!










Check my Shop

INTERVIEW: KittyKill

So I asked KittyKill to be my next person to interview!!! YAY!!! She is so great!!! If you guys are not familiar with Craftster She is the moderator on the Needlework board. She also has a blog Faster kittyKill and a NEW Etsy!!! I love her to death!! She is really sweet and really helped me through my first months of Embroidering.... She probably wanted to kill me with all the questions I asked.... but like a good Momma Moderator... She was patient and kind! Her embroidery knocks my socks off and I love her style!!! She was one of the few people who inspired me to start branching out and making things that reflect who I am and what I love. ( Also a big shout out to Solvy hahahahaha A heaven sent invention)

I sort of changed up her questions from Sewphies interview. Some of them are a little more RISKAY!!! But hey you are reading MY blog...You never know what I will write!




First Name?
Pam Pedersen-I love my name cause I sound like a weather girl or a real estate agent.


Where did the name Kittykill come from?:
It's my Russ Meyer superhero name. It was given to me by an old friend who said that I was straight out a Russ Meyer film and my name would be Kitty Kill.
( The funny part is... I didn't know Pams name for such a long time... I just called her "kittykill" it wasn't until someone posted her name in a comment did I put two and two together!! hahahahaha... sort of like when you find out in Elementary school that your teacher has a life and a first name... hahahahah!!! I've known her name for awhile now but I love the name KittyKill... It's so fun!!!)



Where do you live?:
Rainy country-Pacific Northwest. I moved here about 15 years ago and never left. I love it so much.




Your real job is:
I work for a Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Crisis Line. I have worked in this field for over 6 years. I can't imagine doing anything else. I love it so much. I have heard or seen just about everything and trust me-people are fucked up but I still have hope. Nothing about the human race shocks me anymore.


How long have you been embroidering?:
Only a few years. Maybe 4 or 5. I started when I saw Jenny Hart's Sublime Stitching and have been doing it every since. I found Craftster and found friends and a home.

What inspires your work?:
I love anything vintage up until 1960's (not a fan of hippie stuff at all). I think also trying to embroider images that has not been done before. My husband, my puppies, my friends and just my life style inspire me. I really am an old lady in a middle age woman's body.

If you had an alter ego what would her name be?
Hmm....Depends on the time of day. If I am feeling naughty and kick ass then definitely Kitty Kill. If I am feeling very "homemaker" than Betty or Ruby.




Other crafts you do?:
I make jewlery, do some resin. I want to try to quilt and start cooking (although cooking isn't a craft) I basically want to try every craft out there. (I really want to start quilting! I have half a finished quilt from 5 years ago.... its on my list of things to do... you know... THE LIST)




What project of yours is your favorite of all time?:
Oh wow! I would say any of my tote bags. Two of my favorites are my anatomical heart totebag and my bird and beads totebag. (Oh yeah I love the birds and beads tote!)




Mother Fucker is my favorite cuss word... What is yours?:
Fucker is always a good word but Cunt is my favorite. It just is so fitting. It just rolls off the tongue. Love it!

What are some of your favorite blogs or websites?
Cake Wrecks is definitely one of my favorites. That site always cheers me up. Feeling Stitchy is another good one. Of course Craftster! Cute Overload.


What is your favorite song?:
La vie en rose. I love Edith Piaf and French Cababeret music but La Vie en Rose is the most beautiful love song ever.

Favorite alcoholic beverage?:
Anything with rum in it. Rum....(Homer drool)


In High School what were you like?:
Punk rock goth chick. I got kicked out of the goths for having too much fun.

What are your other interest besides crafting?
I am currently learning French so I can be a French Caberet singer. I love anything vintage so I am on a constant hunt for vintage pottery. I am a movie nut-pretty much just old movies. Lately I have been on a Busby Berkley kick (Ha! Dancing! Kick-get it, well you would if you knew who Busby Berkley). I LOVE old time radio shows and I'm totally addicted to listening to them. When I'm not saving the world, I like to hang out with my hubby and friends. I love bird watching too, did I mention that?


Do you have any tattoos? If so what are they?
I have several. One on my chest that has my mother and father's name on it with crows. My mother passed away a few years ago so it is really for her. I have a huge arm piece that is a woman embroidering with a crow on her shoulder. It also has a needle and thread with OMP (my sweetie's nickname) and KLJ for my dogs. I have scissors below the woman and flowers around her. I have "Fear no man" in Japanese on the back of my neck, a black cat on my ankle and a Tiara from a Turkish princess on my wrist and Celtic cats on my other arm because my my family is Scottish. All of my tattoos have special meaning to me.


If you were to live in any decade what would it be? Hmmm, 1920's, 1940-1950. I love everything from those decades. (I agree!!!)


What is your favorite material to stitch on?:
Just plain old cotton fabric. A nice semi-thick fabric or muslin holds a stitch wonderfully.


Have you always been crafty?
I have-I just didn't know it. I made my own clothes, made presents for people, destroyed stuff in the name of "art"

What is your favorite stitch?
The "Pam" stitch. Which is whatever stitch I can come up with. I try to break all the rules and never actual pay attention to what I am doing. I just dive in and whatever comes happens, happens. I don't even know the name to a lot of stitches. Oh yeah. I'm a professional.


Is it hard being a moderator on Craftster and not losing your cool?
Dear God, you have no idea-LOL! It is very hard sometimes staying diplomatic and not losing it. The majority of the time people are wonderful and there is no problem but there is an occasional time when I want to just, "Seriously, really?". I love Craftster so much that the good definitely outweighs any bad.





What's one thing that might surprise me about you?
Oh Lord, where do I start? I just asked my co-workers and they said that I try to play the hardass but I am a big marshmallow. I think it might be that I love America's Funniest videos and I sent in a video of my dogs. I also love ghost stories and love to ghost hunt. Yeah, I'm a big dork.


If you could be on any reality show what would it be? Not really a reality show but America's Funniest Video. (hahaahahaha Bob Saget or POST Bob Saget?)


What makes you happy?
My husband, my dogs, my friends. Crafting. Knowing that I am making a difference in the world. The fall and winter in the Pacific Northwest-I love the rain and grey


So my mother once had a question in her Bible Study Homework... It was " What is one thing you WOULDN'T give up for Jesus?" Her answer of all things was " PEPSI" What is one thing that you are addicted to that you wouldn't give up? (not necessarily for Jesus, just in general)
I could never give up sushi. I could eat it 24/7 oh yeah, and gummies. I love sour gummies.


And saving my favorite for last:

Would you rather..... Never be able to craft again or... Eat a cup of shit?
I think I would rather not be able to craft again. Eating shit doesn't sound like much fun at all and kinda makes me gag. (COME ON!!! I would eat shit for sure!!! )



This is one of my favorite things she has made recently!! Available on her NEW Etsy!!!!


Well thats all folks!! Hope you liked it!!! Isn't all her stuff just divine ????

Woman .... Circa 1950

Yay!!! here is my new "style" of embroidery!! Embroidery is ART!!! YAY I love her!! isn't she so saucy?? I love her hair!!! I want to marry her! Stitched onto the canvas and then added the nail heads around the edge for some flare! I did back stitch and split stitch. It took forever!! but I love her!! her nose is so cute!! I wish I had a nose like that....













For sale on my Etsy for $35 SOLD!!!!!

This is the first of many I will be adding to My Etsy! The next one is going to be so cute!! I already have it in the works! i really want to start to branch out in my embroidery... This is totally a different medium from what I am used to... Most of my stuff is either onesies or tea towels... but I want to start doing stuff that reflect me as a person. And since most of you know I am really into vintage things, Rock-a-billy music, and old country western! This is right up my alley!!

INTERVIEW: Sewphie

So I am adding a new little feature to my blog.... Interviewing people who I love, find inspirational, or who make me laugh... or all three together.... whatever it may be I think this will be fun... because I get the ask whatever questions I want and hope they will answer them!! There are a ton of people I would love to interview... pretty much just to pick at their brain.... So don't be surprised if I ask!!

The first victim is Sophie from Threadhead. Pretty much she blows me away as an artist... her embroidery skills are out of this world and I love everything she makes. We seem to have the same style and love the same things... She knows the art of fill in stitches... which is why I secretly despise her.... and love her all the same... She has such attention to detail its sickening! But now I understand... She carves stone!!! wwhhaaatt? No wonder she is so fabulous! Check out her interview and beautiful work! Hopefully she will post some things she has carved on her blog!!! I would love to drool over them and find another reason to hate her... hahahah just kidding... I don't hate her I think shes fab! thats why I chose her!! She really has been an inspiration for me to push myself to try new things. I have been drooling over her work over at Craftster for months... everything she does is just amazing to say the least...

I think I will have a new person to interview every month... What do you think? Hopefully the questions get better... more fun and riskay... I wasn't on my A game when I came up with these... but I like her answers so... they will do!









first name: Sophie

where you live: Preston, Lancashire UK

your real job is: I’m an occupational therapist on a psychiatric ward. It’s a great job, I’m lucky to do something I enjoy. Before I qualified I used to wait tables and do promotional work. I once had a job where I had to dress as Elvis and hand out free samples of bread in a supermarket. I’m so glad I don’t do promo work any more!

How long have you been embroidering?: Probably a couple of years. I can’t remember how I got into it, possibly it was after stumbling across Craftster. I think the first thing I did was the cross stitch lady (it’s Anna Karina) I use as my avatar on blogger.

what inspires your work?: Other crafty folk, tattoos, old drawings, pin up girls. Anything can inspire me I’ve got a thing about magpies at the moment and am planning some magpie pieces. Also after trying Assisi work for the Craftster Tea Towel Tour I’m planning some more edgy, modern Assisi pieces.

If you had an alter ego what would her name be? (I am assuming you don't have one... but if you do... what's her name?) Mrs Mark Lanegan




other crafts you do?: Resin jewelry, knitting (well I started a scarf in March), shrink plastic is fun to play around with. I get to do a lot of crafts in the groups I run at work today we were using glass paints on Perspex. Crafts work really well in my job they can be healing, relaxing and help us to assess people who find it difficult to communicate. Here’s a bit of a history lesson- the term ‘basket case’ comes from when occupational therapists used to do basket weaving with patients in the asylums. For a while crafts were very out of fashion in my profession because they seemed old school and had negative associations because of the old asylums. Luckily now it’s being recognized that there is a positive place for them in building service users self esteem and helping them develop skills. Ok, lecture over kids 

Do you think it is mean of me that I secretly hate you because your fill in stitches are so wonderful?
Ha ha ha! That’s funny. I think you are a total bitch for hating me- I’m gonna think of a reason to hate you back and send you nasty messages. The Anglo American war is on sister! (Brook: HAHAHHAHA I love you! "AMERICA: land of the free and home of the BRAVE!!!" Don't make me bust my pilgrim skills out! )

What project of yours is your favorite of all time?: The sailor girl here I was really pleased with the little flowers. It’s not very big, maybe 4’’ high. It’s based on an Angelique Houtkamp (more of her later…) artwork so when I was done I emailed her with a photo and she sent me a very sweet email back. It’s one of the few pieces I made for myself a lot of the things I make are for swaps at the moment. I may be addicted to swapping. The best thing I’ve made for a swap was this piece also a Houtkamp design I did for Katie Kutthroat.



Do people still say "the bees knees" and "dogs bullox" ? In England?:
Dog bollocks! Yep we do! Also I love cockney rhyming slang eg you say whistle for the word suit (whistle and toot =suit) or a nice cup of rosie (rosie lee= tea) or he’s a pain in the Khyber (Khyber pass = ass). Oh dear, this probably makes no sense if you aren’t English… (Brook: I have heard of this... Some rhyme about answer the phone = the dog is barking or something)

Mother Fucker is my favorite cuss word... what is yours?: Berkshire Hunt (rhyming slang again, I let you work it out) (Brook: eeewwww is it fucking cunt...? you dirty dirty gal!! )

What are some of your favorite blogs or websites? Favourite blogs; Needle and Pins, your blog ♥ Knit with Love ♥, Lily Blogs, Between the pages and my friends art blog Chloe Cumming Is Erumpent oh and that Cake Wrecks one is hilarious.
My favorite websites are Craftster, Instructables, Facebook (I know, I know) and Flickr. I also use the Google image search a lot to find images to embroider.

What is your favorite song?: Anything by Mark Lanegan or Tom Waits and my funeral song is going to be Lay Me Low by Nick Cave

In High School what were you like?: Drunk mostly.

What are your other interest besides crafting? I like watching films, listening to music, going to gigs, cooking, drinking tea, reading, pub quizzes. I’d love to be able to say something dramatic like skydiving but I’m really very average.

A lot of your work seems to be Tattoo inspired, Is there a particular artist that you get inspiration from? I love Angelique Houtkamp’s work. She is a tattooist and painter and everything she does is sooo cool. Check her out she does gorgeous tattooed and nautical pictures of girls with a ‘20s feel to them. I also like Mitch O’Connell and traditional Sailor Jerry stuff.

Do you have any tattoos yourself? if so what are they? Sorry no- boring I know. Maybe one day… I think girls with ink look amazing but I’m not sure it would suit me and how I dress. If I ever had the opportunity to be tattooed by Angelique I would definitely go for it. I’d have one of her fab glamourous nautical ladies on my back. I’m also thinking of getting a little tattoo of a bee on my foot because I love foot tattoos.

If you were to live in any decade what would it be? The ‘50’s for the fashion, hair, fabrics, cars and music (Brook: A-freakin'-MEN)

Do you drink tea everyday? (I know I am stereotyping you.. but oh well)
All the time, it’s true. We Brits love a brew and drink tea non-stop. I probably drink two to three hundred cups of tea a day

What is your favorite material to stitch on?: cotton- I like coloured quilters cotton for stitching on.





Have you always been crafty?
Not crafty as such but when I was younger I went to art school and studied sculpture. I used to make these upholstered masks with big ‘growths’ sticking out of them and gloves with really long fingers, they were quite creepy. Maybe I’ll dig out some photos some time and stick them on my blog to freak people out. (Brook: PLEASE DO!)

favorite season?:
The Summer, music festivals in the mud ahhh…

What is your favorite stitch? I love to use split stitch as a fill stitch it’s so even and flat.

What's one thing that might surprise me about you ? This is a very boring answer but people are generally surprised that I know how to stone carve as it’s seen as a bloke thing. One other thing that is maybe not surprising but very sweet; when I was younger both my parents used to embroider, my friends thought it was odd that my Dad used to cross stitch but I always thought it was pretty cool.



Thats all folks!!! Next month I already have an idea who it will be... I've asked her and she has agreed... he... he... he.... Can't wait! hint: she is the sheriff in town.....

Embroidered Native American Princess

Well I actually don't know if she's a princess or not... but lets just pretend OK? Actually the reason I did this was because Rectangels theme was sort of " Cities named after women" so I thought this would be perfect

"Attala County, Mississippi: Attala is named for Attala or Atala, a fictional Native American heroine from a story by François-René de Chateaubriand."

That's what wikipedia told me! This is by far my most detailed work I've ever done. Like seriously... I am totally all about some INSTANT GRATIFICATION... But Rectangel puts a lot of effort into her work so I didn't want to dissapoint! I am actually really proud of her! Isn't she delightful? My fav has to be her hair and jewelry... the bone necklaces are wonderful and gross at the same time! She looks so hot with her big ol' cleavage bustin' through her turquoise french knot necklace! Makes me wanna do a little rain dance.... wow... (yeah I said it...)



This is my contribution to Rectangel's Tea Towel Tour 4 Towel:



I normally am not too keen on Native American "style" shall we call it, and I LOVE to tease my best friends Native American boyfriend to no avail... I always say " You better watch what you say, I might give you SMALL POX! " and other really mean things I will keep to myself to laugh about (all in good fun of course)... but the sad part is... I have Native American blood in me! You wouldn't know it because My whiteness could blind you, WITH glasses on! But My best friends, boyfriends, brothers are really into pow wows and they dress all up in the Regalia (remember people NEVER CALL THEM COSTUMES I almost got attacked because I called it a costume) and one dances and one sings and does the drums and it is SO BEAUTIFUL! When their grandmother died they had a catholic/ traditional Native funeral and the drums and the dancing brought me to tears (also the sage burning made me shed a few as well). It was an experience to say the least and the Regalia they wear is AMAZING... All hand beaded. Something any crafter could appreciate. I wish I had pictures to show you... but here are some more of my Attala





What do you think of her?

Other then that... I just bought myself some wool blend felt... {swoon} it is worth $9.99/yard... I will never use rayon felt as long as I live!!! Its just ssooo yummy!! its thinner and feels so much nicer!! I can't wait to start creating with it!! I have my mind on some little Elf shoes... Other then that I just want to thank all of you for your kind words on my last post! It was such a debbie downer post !! But like I said... crafting heals my soul!!!