This is my idea of New Years Eve - not that I normally go out and celebrate but I worked the skyscrapers at the bottom in running stitch, then machine-embroidered with gold metallic thread and other bright colours, randomly, showing my impression of fireworks. Then I added some gift ribbon retrieved from various parcels, which I pinned into the top (I had used a piece of a box side for the mount). The black satin is from a pillowcase given to me by my daughter. She knows I'll take any sort of textile, I can always find a use for it.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
This is my idea of New Years Eve - not that I normally go out and celebrate but I worked the skyscrapers at the bottom in running stitch, then machine-embroidered with gold metallic thread and other bright colours, randomly, showing my impression of fireworks. Then I added some gift ribbon retrieved from various parcels, which I pinned into the top (I had used a piece of a box side for the mount). The black satin is from a pillowcase given to me by my daughter. She knows I'll take any sort of textile, I can always find a use for it.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Pincushions
This website has interesting stuff about pincushions.
http://tinyurl.com/24zchyt
I discovered it when I was looking for information to put in the Blue Box on a new pattern of mine, and on this other page,
http://tinyurl.com/6ajo7g
you can see a tutorial on how to make one.
The one I have made is different to this, you will see it once I have typed the pattern - only just finished making it. Here is a sample of it:
http://tinyurl.com/24zchyt
I discovered it when I was looking for information to put in the Blue Box on a new pattern of mine, and on this other page,
http://tinyurl.com/6ajo7g
you can see a tutorial on how to make one.
The one I have made is different to this, you will see it once I have typed the pattern - only just finished making it. Here is a sample of it:
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Craft Shows
Recently I went to the Adelaide Craft and Quilt Fair. Had a great day, spent all the money I took, but bought some good stuff. One of the things I bought was "Shrinking Sheet Fabric"which is fascinating stuff. For those who have never seen it, you machine it to the back of whatever fabric you want in your design - I did some free machine quilting - and then you hold a hot steam iron close to the Shrinking Sheet side. It shrivels up which causes the main fabric to scrunch up between the stitching. As you can see from the photo, I sewed several pieces together. More on that another time.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Embroidery Patterns
In Embroidery & Cross Stitch Magazine, Gift Special, Vol 18 No. 2, I am delighted to say I have had 2 patterns published - Queensland Icons, which shows Gouldian Finches and Ulysses Butterfly, and my Country Cottage tea cosy.
The Queensland Icons is worked in silks and the Country Cottage in cottons. Both patterns are available on my website at www.christinelinton.com.au
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Beading
I recently was inspired by the Commonwealth Games in India to make a beaded wallhanging. It is called Shades of India and is satin, habutai, microdot, sequins and beads, and hand quilted to finish. Oh and feathers and strings of beads along the bottom. You can see a larger picture on my website on the Gallery Page at christinelinton.com.au
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Fabric Flowers
http://www.linda-matthews.com/tutorial-fabric-flower-embellishment/
For a terrific fabric poppy, go to Linda Matthews site above, where there is a tutorial.
For a terrific fabric poppy, go to Linda Matthews site above, where there is a tutorial.
Making ribbon roses
or the link below will give you a YouTube video on how to make a ribbon rose, it is so simple and looks so good.
http://tinyurl.com/2d3whzg
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Lace Butterflies
This website has some lovely lace butterflies and other beauties. However, I had trouble finding out how to actually make lace. There are lots of links on this site so maybe with more time I could find out more. I would love to put some photos on here but of course they're all copyright.
http://lace.lacefairy.com/Lace/
http://lace.lacefairy.com/Lace/
Friday, October 15, 2010
Lace
I've often admired lace and lacemakers at shows, and yesterday at my local library, on the "chuckout table" I found a book for 20 cents called A Dictionary of Lace by Pat Earnshaw, printed in 1982. It is so interesting to find out about different types of lace. Unfortunately the photos, though lovely, are all in black and white and fairly small. Still, it was 1982 when you didn't always expect big colour photos such as we are used to now. Having had my interest whetted, I googled Venetian lace and found this page on Mary Corbet's Needle "n"Thread site, which is interesting anyways, as it has lots of different types of needlework. I recommend it.
http://tinyurl.com/247mx6x
http://tinyurl.com/247mx6x
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Embroidered Butterflies
There is some new information on my website ( www.christinelinton.com.au )about butterflies, along with a link to a site with lots more information on South Australian butterflies. Butterflies were around alongside the dinosaurs, which is something I don't remember seeing in Jurassic Park ...
http://users.sa.chariot.net.au/~rbg/amaryllis_ds.htm This website has some lovely pictures.
Look out for some more butterfly patterns from me in the next few months.
http://users.sa.chariot.net.au/~rbg/amaryllis_ds.htm This website has some lovely pictures.
Look out for some more butterfly patterns from me in the next few months.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Baby quilt
Baby quilt |
Here you see the lovely quilt my sister made ready for the arrival of her first grandchild. There is also a close up view on my website, at www.christinelinton.com.au on the What Have You Made page, as well as new green information boxes.
I recently wrote a profile for Country Bumpkin embroidery magazine about myself and they have kindly published in in their free online newsletter, or Webletter, which is easy to find at this link:
http://tinyurl.com/23sgyox
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Making money from craft
Making Money from Craft
I have always wanted to make money from craft. I have made some, but not much!
When I was at primary school, I made "pom-pom" animals for the kids at school. I charged sixpence a time. When my Mum wanted to know what I wanted all her spare balls of wool for, and I told her, she made me give all the sixpences back!
Then when I was a young mum myself, I bought myself a knitting machine. After I had mastered it and was making my family good stuff, I offered to make an acquaintance a hat and scarf set for her child, in their team footy colours. Unfortunately, I didn't follow footy at the time, and used the wrong shade of blue! She was very understanding and bought it anyway. I didn't offer anyone else this dubious opportunity.
Then when I was in the swing of patchwork and quilting, I started making quilted patchwork shopping bags for market stalls. Unfortunately - why does that word keep coming up? - people didn't want to pay a fair price for a handcrafted item, when they could buy a bag for $1 or $1 at the supermarket. I sold two, both to the same lady. She wanted to send one to her sister in America. Many months later, I realised that was all I was going to sell, as I had done the rounds of markets and people only wanted the cheapest of the cheap, and there is, after all, no point selling at a loss. At the same time I was sewing from home for people, but as nearly everyone just wanted hems taken up I decided I could die of boredom some other way, and discontinued sewing from home. It's just not viable.
Once again I am in the sewing business, but this time just offering my patterns on a website at www.christinelinton.com.au and you can see the rest of this article at Ezine articles.com. If you click on the Ezine articles button below, and type my name in the Search box, you will find the list of my articles and can click on any you want to read.
I have always wanted to make money from craft. I have made some, but not much!
When I was at primary school, I made "pom-pom" animals for the kids at school. I charged sixpence a time. When my Mum wanted to know what I wanted all her spare balls of wool for, and I told her, she made me give all the sixpences back!
Then when I was a young mum myself, I bought myself a knitting machine. After I had mastered it and was making my family good stuff, I offered to make an acquaintance a hat and scarf set for her child, in their team footy colours. Unfortunately, I didn't follow footy at the time, and used the wrong shade of blue! She was very understanding and bought it anyway. I didn't offer anyone else this dubious opportunity.
Then when I was in the swing of patchwork and quilting, I started making quilted patchwork shopping bags for market stalls. Unfortunately - why does that word keep coming up? - people didn't want to pay a fair price for a handcrafted item, when they could buy a bag for $1 or $1 at the supermarket. I sold two, both to the same lady. She wanted to send one to her sister in America. Many months later, I realised that was all I was going to sell, as I had done the rounds of markets and people only wanted the cheapest of the cheap, and there is, after all, no point selling at a loss. At the same time I was sewing from home for people, but as nearly everyone just wanted hems taken up I decided I could die of boredom some other way, and discontinued sewing from home. It's just not viable.
Once again I am in the sewing business, but this time just offering my patterns on a website at www.christinelinton.com.au and you can see the rest of this article at Ezine articles.com. If you click on the Ezine articles button below, and type my name in the Search box, you will find the list of my articles and can click on any you want to read.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
New Patterns
These two pictures show the two new patterns I have on my website. The bottlebrush flower is embroidered in silk with beads, and the knitted doll is 5" tall, for the dolls house, and has flexible limbs so that she can sit down in a chair. I sent my Mum this doll, I called her Mini Molly after Mum. Go to www.christinelinton.com.au
My computer woes are resolved - all my old files just reappeared after another update! Still, I now save all new typing of patterns or anything else onto a USB every time.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Computer glitch ...
Just a note to say I can't update this blog right now, as my computer "crashed" and although most programs are fine, all the data I have entered has disappeared. Fortunately I tend to back up fairly frequently on CDs or USB so I don't have too much to update, but must do it straight away! Keep sewing (or reading about it).
Friday, April 30, 2010
Butterfly applique in felt
This is my applique of the Ulysses Butterfly, shortly available as a calico bag applique motif on my website www.christinelinton.com.au and as you can see, with an applique motif, it is easy to simplify a complex shape down to the basics. After all, you're not trying to applique a photo - that is a completely different technique. Look at your favourite animal and see if you can simplify the lines so that you can make a felt applique.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Autumn Leaves
Now that autumn is here in Adelaide, I'm waiting for the wonderful colours of the dropped leaves along the roads. This is a photo of some of the leaves I picked up last autumn, just for the sheer pleasure of looking at them. I know, weird. But anyone who loves arts and crafts will know what I mean. I did intend to print the photo on inkjet fabric sheets to make a border for my Cootamundra Wattle embroidery, but never got round to it ...
Cootamundra Wattle embroidery next time. Meanwhile, see my website for more embroidery information at www.christinelinton.com.au
Cootamundra Wattle embroidery next time. Meanwhile, see my website for more embroidery information at www.christinelinton.com.au
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Knitted scarf - oh so cuddly!
I have taken up knitting again, now that the weather is cooling at last here in Adelaide, and I found several balls of one of those variable width wools in Lincraft, one of the big suppliers.I couldn't get more than half a dozen balls of it, and none in any other store, so I decided to knit a scarf rather than leave it in my Stash drawer. It is basically stocking stitch with several rows of garter stitch at each end and, of course, a nice long fringe. If you would like the pattern you can go to my web site at www.christinelinton.com.au and on the Extras page there is a link to the pattern. You can print it straight off. I am working on how to do PDF documents - my son Brian has downloaded the program for me and it doesn't look too hard, so my intention is that my next free pattern will be a PDF. Thanks Brian for all your help with the website - and for showing me how to edit it myself, which I very much wanted to know about.
All of the links on the website have been mended, so you can get to the full-size pix from the thumbnails. The order form comes up too, and can be printed off, though I have posted a suggestion to email me if you cannot get to it. I've put 2 new patterns on there as well, my crazy patchwork sewing machine cover, and my doll patterns.
All of the links on the website have been mended, so you can get to the full-size pix from the thumbnails. The order form comes up too, and can be printed off, though I have posted a suggestion to email me if you cannot get to it. I've put 2 new patterns on there as well, my crazy patchwork sewing machine cover, and my doll patterns.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Crocheted leaves - and a solution to the ordering on website
As you can see, I have been crocheting again. I'm hopeful that the worst heat of the summer is over now so it's more comfortable to take up wool and hook once more. These are some of the leaves I have been making. I'm not quite decided what to make them into. Possibly another waistcoat, or else a scarf. I have used several different colours, and each one is slightly different - I did start off trying to follow a set pattern but after all, did you ever see two leaves the same? So I just did them slightly different lengths and shapes as I felt inclined. Still waiting to fix my website links but I'm not too bothered as the site itself is up, and if you can't get to the order form, just send me an email by clicking on the email link and I will send you an order form by email. If you haven't seen it yet, it is at www.christinelinton.com.au .
Sunday, February 14, 2010
My website
At www.christinelinton.com.au you will find my new website. A few problems with links at the moment, as my thumbnail pictures don't link to their larger counterparts, and a couple of other links, but overall I am pleased with it. The link problems will soon be fixed (my son is the computer whiz, I'm afraid the web server pages are clear as mud to me) and that will be great, but anyway it will get there in the end.
This fishing rod bag is one of the free patterns on my website. I made it from an old pair of jeans but you could certainly use new denim. It doesn't take long to make but you need to put a heavy needle in your sewing machine, and if you have a walking foot that makes it a bit easier as sewing over denim seams can be hard going. If you would like to make hubby's fishing rod a cover, you can print the pattern off from the website.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
The heat ...
Too hot for crochet, sewing or any other craft in South Australia right now - in fact too hot to think much even!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Applique Vest
The gum leaves on this vest were cut from felt, and attached to the background with a line of light green stitching down the centre. The red gum blossoms were embroidered with straight stitches and a gold french knot tips the red, with a yellow french knot centre.
This simple decoration gives a lift to a plain vest. Have a go yourself and put your personal favourites on a plain vest.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Crochet scarf
Welcome back to Craft Conversations and a happy new year. I have been having a break from posts but am now raring to go again. Above you can see my latest creation, a crochet scarf. I almost broke my own rule and followed a pattern, but did change it to the degree of using a much thicker yarn (Moda Vera Mousse, from Spotlight) which is 70% wool and 30% soya (!!!), thicker than 8ply and soft as anything. Also it was in the "specials" basket so it didn't cost much. It crocheted up beautifully with a 7mm hook. The pattern is from a great new book on freeform crochet called "Freeform Style" by Jonelle Raffino and Prudence Mapstone, 2009. This book will get you experimenting with your crochet hook and any old yarn you have. Look it up in your bookshop or public library. Note that being Canadian, like American crochet patterns, the terms are different to UK/Australian terms, mainly that their (American) single crochet is our (UK/Aus) double, and their double is our treble, and so on - make yourself a note about that if using an American pattern and you are used to UK/Australian patterns. And in reverse of course if you are American!
I made this before our heatwave (in South Australia) kicked in. Woolcrafts are no fun when it's too hot to do anything.
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