Stitchpunk Ltd

When you’ve had such an exhausting day that you fall asleep during your bath

My ability to resist a cute boxed set of ANYthing is fairly limited. Thanks for the linen DMC thread! (There’s a couple of charts charmingly written in French in the bottom too.)

Last night I dreamed an entire movie. Cop (played by a younger Stallone) and his partner go on a cross-country quest for revenge after his wife and son are murdered (hackneyed, I know.) BUT it turns out that the murderers are a from a hitherto-unknown branch of his own family, who are all witches.

I don’t remember all the details, but I clearly recall the long-distance motorbike riding montage, people pleading for their lives, and the outtakes after the credits. (yes, still knitting this intermittently.)

The next member of the will be “If You’re Happy and You Know It Clap Your Wings” (that may be a nose, but I prefer to see it as a cheery smile.) Debating whether to do watercolour with embroidered details or whether to fill it all in with satin stitch.

So i finished the first creature in my embroidered bestiary - 13th century angry walking fish is done! Now to decide what to tackle next - enraged oyster? Cutest medieval bat ever? Or possibly homicidal axe-wielding bunny?
I don’t know yet whether I want a bunch of pictures in hoops, all of them together on a wall hanging, or a bound book of some kind. But I think it’s going to be fun however it ends up.

Souvenir purchases from Knitworld in Lower Hutt. Note to self: at least TRY to finish ONE of the pairs of WIP socks (and darn the one that needs mending) before casting on more!

So for some inexplicable reason I had this idea that it might be fun to make an embroidered bestiary featuring some of those weird/funny illustrations from medieval manuscripts. I’ve saved a few photos and this is the first one I’m going to tackle (it’s the easiest), which I have entitled “Fish Grows Legs and is Pi**ed Off About It”. hoping to start this evening!

Also I have planted some Japanese seeds - exciting! I’m going to ask for some more and will then send those out -possibly by courier as I have courier bags but not stamps or regular envelopes!
I was reading this morning about how to make an indigo vat using urine, but 7 litres is a LOT and not straightforward to collect when you’re female, so I may explore other options… 😬

In other news, my most recent acquisition, Robert Smith, seems to be enjoying life in the bathroom. (Don’t tell the others but he is one of my favourites at the moment, I just love his fuzzy spider legs!)

Meanwhile, in other news…

Better.

Working on a seekrit project. My supply of colours was really limited, so I braved the basement and dug out a collection of horrible never-started kits from eons ago (and a started one that I might consider finishing), threw out the musty fabric and rusty needles and collected the good bits for repurposing. I’m gonna need a bigger floss organiser…

Two interesting things arrived today. Firstly, Japanese indigo seeds courtesy of . If any of the Aotearoa knitters/spinners/weavers/dyers would like a few to try growing, let me know as there’s plenty here!

Secondly, a TradeMe find and another piece for my collection - this GORGEOUS egg locket. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it before, but I adore lockets and this is going to be so loved. How old is this piece Nick? I’m so thrilled to have won the auction (and at a bargain price too!)

I am going to finish this project soon, I swear! Have been busy with other crafts, but I can’t put these amazing colours down for TOO long.

So…. This happened. A Montblanc Blue Glacier 146 ! It was on the local version of eBay for about half the retail value and no one else bid on it! My bank account is very very sad rn but… holy traffic lights Batman, I own a

Marking by wearing Sister today, from the ever-talented . She’s so beautiful.

THANK YOU for the amazing pillow cases!! How on earth you found fabric of IN KNITTED JUMPERS I cannot imagine, but EEEEEEEEE love them! There will be a package coming back with your sis for you 🪡❤️

Pretty darn cute if I do say so myself i don’t think I was “meant” to stitch the outline or the feet, but it was more fun to do it that way. Related: I desperately need to expand my meagre collection of embroidery floss colours so I can stitch the fox and the rabbit

In the mood for it seems, so I went through my little stash of old magazines and dug out this super cute kit. Bird first I think.

So much for ! This is only the 2nd thing I’ve drawn all month and no prompts were used

Catching up on and starting my next cover - I’ve always wanted an embroidered cover!

cover 2.0. Still plenty of mistakes, much swearing at the sewing machine and a craft injury, but overall I’m pleased with the outcome really coming to the conclusion that seeing machines are more trouble than they’re worth though.

I have successfully interfaced with interfacing for the first time tomorrow, pressing seams and sewing! Do I dare to break out the sewing machine ???? or will I use the good ol’ 🪡 (and maybe try saddle stitch)? Stay tuned…

Since I got my restricted driving license in May I’ve really only driven to work and to local shops. But today I drove to Spotlight and back which is considerably further away. That’s pretty huge for me. Hence the haul. covers are gonna happen this weekend. I think the purple felt I want to embroider on for a cover, but the sloth fabric is gonna be top priority, because MUSTARD and SLOTHS. I also spent $25 on a big book of stickers because

Today Howard is here in body but not in spirit.

Nature’s perfect

Today looked like: also I DIY’ed a cover! All done without the benefit of a sewing machine (coz I couldn’t be bothered remembering how to use it) or an iron (I guess we have one somewhere in the basement?)… so it’s wonky and may not last long… but it’s kinda cute?

Today Howard just wants to know if it’s home time yet.

Tiny handmade pot from
Mini Wardian case from Mitre 10
Micro mini grown by me

Howard is the Guardian of my current project so has been coming to work with me every day. Somehow he manages to adopt a different expression every day.

Today, Howard is fascinated, but sceptical (possibly due to my not having accomplished any knitting today.)

Ever ❤️ a or so much that you don’t want to use it? That’s how I feel about this one from and I NEED the little black axolotl as a plushie. I could probably crochet something…

I woke up to this and honestly I don’t know how (most of) the world can blithely ignore it and just carry on as normal. I hope that those Russian personnel who already saved us once from Armageddon will do it again if it comes to that. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, look up

Maybe this is some sort of anxiety overreaction on my part, but… maybe not.

Some days I only manage to knit a row or 2, but I’m enjoying this little project so much and I think I’m going to be at a bit of a loss when it’s finished.

Thank you for this little beauty in Bohemian Rose Koi

Also I made jam drops which I guess look a bit . However I just saw some photos from which reminded me that there is a real horror story going on right now, not to mention an insane Russian dictator who seems determined to start WWIII. I think I’ll stay on the cute side with my this year.

I don’t know whether I want to try and do or , but I thought I should at least do SOMEthing, so here is my first time using a water brush, in conjunction with watercolour brush markers, Sharpies and a Pilot Falcon inked with Platinum Carbon black. I can’t even tell you how far out of my comfort zone this is!

I decided! It is , so Mourning Cloak Butterfly sounds appropriate.

A parcel of pure happy arrived from today. I don’t know which one to spin first!