Sorry it's been so long!

Hi everyone, sorry for not posting in sooooo long! I haven't done any cross stitch or made anything other than that which is for my University degree so hopefully after I finish my last couple of deadlines I will get back to my sewing and crafting.

In the meantime I have just finished creating a necklace and a bracelet for my Learning Contract. I have posted pics on my professional blog : Stitched Up Peacock and will hopefully be adding a video later today (a video tutorial) of how to make your own. I will also post it onto my finishing class blog as it can be done with any fabric.

Thanks for looking and check back soon for more news lol. I have some big news to share!!!!!

Some Uni pics...

Worked on my print the other day and finally got some close ups together on photoshop, so thought I would share a couple with you. So please don't take them, they are very special to me.

What do you think?







Thanks for looking.

Final Collection update...

OK so I have finally worked out what I'm going to be producing for my final collection. Unfortunately it involves a hell of a lot of cross stitch work on coating fabrics and a lot of plastic canvas too.

Sooo I'm not going to be able to fit it all in on my own. Is there anyone out there who would be willing to help me out and cross stitch some garments for me? Doesn't matter where you are as I can post out the materials but preferably within the UK and if you live around London then pickups and dropoff points can be arranged to allow for talking in person and discussing how to go about the work etc. If in London I am at University of East London on Docklands Campus and I have been told that you would be allowed to work in the space we have rather than carting materials back and fourth all the time.

Just like my dissertation writing, I will be forever greatful for you help and everyone involved will be mentioned and acknowledged.

Thankyou for your time.

1st Outfit pics...

Here are the long awaited pics of my first outfit for my final collection at University. A jersey digitally printed backless dress and a bold denim jacket.











Thanks for looking.

I can relax!

I managed to hand in all my Uni work today in time for my deadline, I think I have a couple of small pieces missing but it is done now. Anyway to make myself feel a little better I bought The Little Book Of Twitter from my wishlist lol. It's only tiny and I needed a little lift. So far it's an interesting read and helpful lol. Well I've cleared all my Uni work from my living room floor where it's lived for the past week so will be emptying the hoover tomorrow and cleaning the floor.

My thesis has been bound!

Here is the front cover, and how it looks all bound. I handed it in this morning and will hopefully get my grades back in January.







Again thanks to everyone who sent me a questionnaire, they have really helpes with my writing. Thanks for looking.

Printed fabric

Hey guys! Here are the pics of my lovely printed fabric I picked up today. It's not the fabric design for my print but has some ideas with which I can progress with.

Number one is the cross-stitch print although a lot smaller than it needs to be. I've pleated it on the stand to get some design ideas:




Number two is the largest of my prints, and I will develop this by making it much, much smaller. Here I've draped it on the back of the stand for a dress look:



And the same print but gathered at the front of the stand:


Number three, I didn't put on the stand and therefore didn't take a picture of, however I do have a jpeg copy so here it is, when it printed onto the fabric however, the black turned a very dark blue so not sure how this one is going to come out in the crosses when I pick it up next Monday:


Thanks for looking and don't forget to check back for my other fabrics and finished garments.

Theis update...

I have managed to get my introduction written up and am having a tutorial later today to talk about it and progress it. I am still collecting questionnaires untill the end of the week if there are still people out there who are happy to help! Thanks again to those of you who have sent me your replies! They have helped a great deal with my writing!

Thesis Questionnaire!

OK decided this would be the easiest way to get it out there.
Could you please post on your own blogs about this questionnaire as I need as many as possible to provide an adequate case study and throwing it across the blogging world is kindof appropriate as well as allowing it to cover a variety of people across the world! All your help is gratefully appeciated!

Please copy and paste and email to me at:
maddie-moo-moo@hotmail.co.uk

General:

Screen Name:
Age: Under 20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60+
Gender: Male / Female
Which area/country do you live?:
Are you a student? School / College / University
How much spare time do you have in a week for extra hobbies/crafts/activities?:

Stitching:

How long have you been stitching for?:
How did you learn to cross-stitch?:
Would you consider yourself: Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
What influenced you to take up cross-stitch as a hobby?:
What is your stitching style?: (eg. Floral, character, retro, etc.)
What do you do with your finished stitching?:
Do any of your close friends stitch?: Yes / No
Are you a member of a cross-stitch group?: Yes / No
Which group:
How often do you go?:
Did you find this group through the Internet?: Yes / No

Social Networking:

What led you to use the Internet to find more information on cross-stitch?:
Has the Internet been useful in your exploration of the craft? How has it helped your research/learning etc?:
Do you attend any events/get-togethers within your group?: Yes / No
How often?:
What happens? (eg. Do you buy anything? Learn anything new? Meet new people etc.):
Apart from cross-stitch, what benefits are there from convening as a group? (What do you get out of it?):
Do you think crafts such as cross-stitching are being revived through social networking and the Internet?:
Do you belong to any other groups that practise different crafts?:
How did you find it?:
Is there anything else you would like to add with regards to cross-stitching and social networking?:

Thankyou for your time in completing this questionnaire.
Answers given are completely anonymous and purely for thesis research into the connection between social networking and the revival of crafts such as cross-stitch.

Again thankyou for your help!

TUSAL update...

OK so I am very late in posting but posting nonetheless! Here are my TUSAL pics for this month!

Inside:


Side:


Whole Jar:


Not really much I can say about where the threads are from as I don't really know lol. Most are from my sewing machine as I have been sewing up toiles for University.

Thanks for looking.

My new cabinet

I've been meaning to post a picture of my new cabinet and so here it is. It was bought and erected on Monday 19th October, and has been filled with all my Uni books as well as a few magazines that are very inspirational for me, my VOGUE issues are far too heavy for the shelves and so have been organised in the place where all of this was, just so it's a little tidier lol.



Hope you like it. Oh and if you look very closely you can see a picture of Joey on the right, my flatfold exchange piece on the left from Julie on A Crafty Natter, and hanging on the handles in the centre is my halloween exchange piece from Michelle on ExchangeHeaven lol. I can finally start displaying all my lovely exchange pieces!

Some Uni work...

Had a presentation yesterday where I had to present my concept and ideas for my final collection and as it went kind of well I thought I would share the work that I showed my tutors. All my stitching friends will be very intrigued as to how it will all work. The last is a colour board. If you are having trouble seeing them clearly I have linked them to appear larger also.















Thanks for looking.

My dress...

This gave me so much trouble but it's almost complete. The top half just needs to be lined. I do like it but it's a shame I couldn't finish it in time.

The front:


And the back:


Thanks for looking.

Some University work

Just thought I would post a pic of a dress I am making for university. It will be paired with a floor length coat and they are based on a circus/cirque de soleil theme. This is just a mock-up in calico and the final garment will be made in a blue silk.

Here is the front:


And here is the back:


Thanks for looking.

Finished dress ish...

I loved making the outer pieces with the manipulation but when I finally put it all together I decided that I hated it.

What is your opinion?

Front:


Right:


Back:


Left:


My model said that the tutors looked happy when they saw it but I'm not convinced. I just thought it looked like a massive ball of candy floss. It was rushed too so the straps and inside layer is badly sewn but the outside bit is sewn fine lol.

Anyway thanks for looking.