Tuesday 26 March 2013
Monday 4 March 2013
Felter Skelter – So long, felt well…
Felter Skelter – So long, felt well…:
This issue of Felter Skelter is a rollercoaster of emotion, as it is the last one that will feature the magnificent Moxie. As you may realise, most of the columnists here at Mr X Stitch are awesome artists and one of the side effects of this is that they end up victims of their own success. Moxie is producing so much fantastic felted art these days, that she doesn’t have time for this column any more, and we’ll miss her a lot.
We’re leaving you with a selection of pieces from Moxie’s recent submission into the Bellevue Arts Musuem Biennial – all of these pieces are needle felted and ridiculously amazing.
It has been an honour having Moxie as part of the family and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!
Felter Skelter continues, however, and we’ve got another needle felting superstar joining our ranks in the form of Zoe Williams!
Zoe will be sharing her view of the world of needle felting and I’m sure it’ll be ace. Don’t forget, if you’ve got any needle felted art to share, you should drop us a line immediately! We’re always keen to see what stabby goodness you come up with.
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Moxie is an artist, fiber pusher and genuine human being. She likes you very much indeed.
New work on the way
New work on the way:
New work is on the way, this is a bit of a taster of whats to come. I will have more news in the next couple of weeks.
New work is on the way, this is a bit of a taster of whats to come. I will have more news in the next couple of weeks.
Red cross - emergency stitching!
Red cross - emergency stitching!:
I have a few additions to make to 'Visible Mending'. Some things became apparent only when I had 'finished' the piece and was able to step back and take stock. I have to hang the work later this week so I am really up against my deadline now.
Helen Bullock illustrates exclusively for SHOWstudio
Helen Bullock illustrates exclusively for SHOWstudio: 
This weekend, our fantastic illustrator Helen Bullock has been capturing Milan collections exclusively for SHOWstudio. Bullock’s linework has so far interpreted the Jil Sander, Dolce e Gabanna and Burberry Prorsum collections. Today 13 January 2013 key items from Trussardi 1911, Calvin Klein and Prada will be illustrated by Bullock.
Make sure to browse through our collections page or Tumblr page to see all of her naive and spontaneous artworks.
This weekend, our fantastic illustrator Helen Bullock has been capturing Milan collections exclusively for SHOWstudio. Bullock’s linework has so far interpreted the Jil Sander, Dolce e Gabanna and Burberry Prorsum collections. Today 13 January 2013 key items from Trussardi 1911, Calvin Klein and Prada will be illustrated by Bullock.
Make sure to browse through our collections page or Tumblr page to see all of her naive and spontaneous artworks.
Designer Feature: Sarah English of Pattern State
Designer Feature: Sarah English of Pattern State:
One of my favorite parts of Pattern Observer is getting to highlight fantastically talented designers and today’s featured designer, Sarah English has me beaming with pattern love! Sarah has been a textile designer for 10 years, but only recently launched Pattern State, a personal project. “It’s a place where creativity is allowed to extend past the office hours into my own world. The surface design community is an incredibly exciting place to be right now.”
Her debut collection, which you see above, is inspired by the garden. “I like creating prints that are attractive at first glance, but in this case, are made up of those creatures that can be devastating to a thriving garden: snakes, bats, rabbits and foxes.”
I strongly encourage you to check out her website, blog and spoonflower page, where you can purchase one of the coolest tea towel calendars that I have ever seen! Have a fantastic weekend!!
P.S. This is a reminder to sign up for the Ultimate Guide to Repeats Wait List. Class size is limited and those on the list will receive access to early registration!
One of my favorite parts of Pattern Observer is getting to highlight fantastically talented designers and today’s featured designer, Sarah English has me beaming with pattern love! Sarah has been a textile designer for 10 years, but only recently launched Pattern State, a personal project. “It’s a place where creativity is allowed to extend past the office hours into my own world. The surface design community is an incredibly exciting place to be right now.”
Her debut collection, which you see above, is inspired by the garden. “I like creating prints that are attractive at first glance, but in this case, are made up of those creatures that can be devastating to a thriving garden: snakes, bats, rabbits and foxes.”
I strongly encourage you to check out her website, blog and spoonflower page, where you can purchase one of the coolest tea towel calendars that I have ever seen! Have a fantastic weekend!!
P.S. This is a reminder to sign up for the Ultimate Guide to Repeats Wait List. Class size is limited and those on the list will receive access to early registration!
The Cutting (& Stitching) Edge – Anatomically Incorrect Creatures
The Cutting (& Stitching) Edge – Anatomically Incorrect Creatures:
Although reporting on the Plush world is generally the domain of the fantastic Love & A Sandwich, I thought I’d share the work of Anatomically Incorrect Creatures and their Creature Specialist, London-based Bree Yena.
“Anatomically Incorrect Creatures are handmade faux taxidermy sculptures and plush wall art – specializing in unique and humorous hybrid creature home decor for all! Each creature is completely hand-stitched, designed from original patterns and created out of locally purchased acrylic and Eco Felt – felt that is made 100% from recycled plastic bottles. No animal products, such as wool felt, ever used. Anatomically Incorrect Creatures supports animal lovers, vegetable lovers, meat lovers, allergy sufferers and anyone with a sense of humor.
“I find faux taxidermy to be a unique and humorous mix of environmentally friendly home decor and odd cuteness. Whether you are an animal rights supporter, craft connoisseur or just have a wicked sense of humor – there really is something for everyone to love with faux taxidermy!
“The creatures are hybrid combinations of at least two animals selected for their uniqueness, oddity and/or cuteness. For example, Giraff-e-lephants and Foxy Owls! There is also a truly vegan line of mounted vegetables. Quite a few of the creatures that exist now started out as custom orders and I get a lot of ideas from comments and suggestions through the shop’s Facebook page.
“I will make anything the customer’s heart desires. The laws of science and nature need not apply – whatever you can come up with, I can try my best to recreate out of felt.”
Ever since I got my first piece of plush taxidermy from Nicole Licht, I’ve been a fan of this idea. What better way to add grandeur to a room than with your own plush trophy?
AI Creatures takes gets extra kudos for their use of eco-felt and I just think they’re ace. Well-designed, witty and wonderful, you can commission your own piece by contacting the Creature Specialist directly. The hard part is deciding what to have!
Thanks to Pink Ray Gun for the quotes!
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The Cutting & Stitching Edge is brought to you in association with PUSH: Stitchery, the must-have embroidered art book by Mr X Stitch !
How to Knit: The Basics
How to Knit: The Basics:
Illustrations by Caitlin Keegan. Photo by Maxwell Tielman.
If you haven’t attempted knitting, it can seem pretty terrifying. You might have watched friends or family members do it — their pointy needles swinging at lightning speed through a tangled mass of yarn — and worried deeply for their eyes and internal organs. You might be a crafting commitment-phobe, horrified at the idea of a task taking over a day (or a week! or a month!) to complete. You might also be generally inept when it comes to most craft projects and fear that, if let anywhere near a ball of yarn, you might just end up with a knotted, disfigured mess. I need to tell you — that was me when I first decided, at the age of 15, to knit. I had no idea what I was doing or how to do it, but there was something so charming and quaint about the craft that I was absolutely determined to master it.
While I still haven’t quite mastered the art of knitting in its entirety, I can say with some sense of self-assurance that I can knit. And it’s really not that bad! In fact, it’s a wonderful way to spend a chilly January day, much like the ones we’re experiencing right now. Whenever I’m watching TV or on a long road trip, I pull out my needles and yarn and let my mind wander while my hands move. Much like yoga or meditation, knitting allows me to clear my head and calm my body. I also end up with something to wear that’s both adorable and entirely handmade!
January, with its post-holidays chill, has always seemed the perfect time to start a knitting project. Because of this, we’ve decided to kick off a month of weekly knitting features starting with the bare-bones basics of knitting (aka, ”how to knit a scarf”). While the following guide by no means encompasses everything there is to know about knitting (that could fill an entire book!), these simple steps will help you get off the ground. — Max
More on the basics of knitting after the jump . . .
(more…)
Illustrations by Caitlin Keegan. Photo by Maxwell Tielman.
If you haven’t attempted knitting, it can seem pretty terrifying. You might have watched friends or family members do it — their pointy needles swinging at lightning speed through a tangled mass of yarn — and worried deeply for their eyes and internal organs. You might be a crafting commitment-phobe, horrified at the idea of a task taking over a day (or a week! or a month!) to complete. You might also be generally inept when it comes to most craft projects and fear that, if let anywhere near a ball of yarn, you might just end up with a knotted, disfigured mess. I need to tell you — that was me when I first decided, at the age of 15, to knit. I had no idea what I was doing or how to do it, but there was something so charming and quaint about the craft that I was absolutely determined to master it.
While I still haven’t quite mastered the art of knitting in its entirety, I can say with some sense of self-assurance that I can knit. And it’s really not that bad! In fact, it’s a wonderful way to spend a chilly January day, much like the ones we’re experiencing right now. Whenever I’m watching TV or on a long road trip, I pull out my needles and yarn and let my mind wander while my hands move. Much like yoga or meditation, knitting allows me to clear my head and calm my body. I also end up with something to wear that’s both adorable and entirely handmade!
January, with its post-holidays chill, has always seemed the perfect time to start a knitting project. Because of this, we’ve decided to kick off a month of weekly knitting features starting with the bare-bones basics of knitting (aka, ”how to knit a scarf”). While the following guide by no means encompasses everything there is to know about knitting (that could fill an entire book!), these simple steps will help you get off the ground. — Max
More on the basics of knitting after the jump . . .
(more…)
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