What do you get when you combine a friend who has a desire to take up crossstitch with an obsession with Douglas Adams? 42 and/or a sudden need to design a crossstitch pattern.
I made this for a friend for Christmas, but I thought perhaps some other folks might find some use in it, too, so I added it to the embroidery patterns on Bee's Knees Activities.
Last Tuesday was my boyfriend's birthday, which means that I can finally share the birthday present I made for him. A hand-embroidered heart on a thrifted shirt. So as not to overdo the sappiness, of course it's an anatomical heart.
I'm working on a pattern for the heart to go on Bee's Knees Activities, but it may take me a few days due to some other projects that need attention.
Since my favorite part of creating embroidery patterns is seeing what other folks do with them, I decided to create a Flickr group for pieces created using my patterns, called Bee's Knees Embroideries. Feel free to join in and share what you've created using any of my patterns. I can't wait to see it!
There are already some wonderful pieces in the group that I'd like to share:
Mustachioed Clutch, by binkiege
Radio Beastie, by Stitch & Famous
Fight Club Haiku, by beefranck (The bees are mine, the rest is her own pattern.)
Thanks for sharing, folks!
I just finished my Frankenstein's monster embroidery, and I'm pretty pleased with him. I neglected to mention that the sketch I took this from (which I believe I originally drew in 2006) has the caption "Fred Gwynne loves you!" I really wonder what's running through my head sometimes...
This is my first Halloween embroidery of the season, but hopefully it won't be my last. Every year, I get started on Halloween a little too late, but the suddenly cool weather in Portland has me in just the right mood to work on spooky creations.
I thought you might like to see how I photograph my embroideries. The answer: cardboard and lots of pins. Works like a charm!
I'm so excited to unveil my little (literally) secret project I let you peek at last week: a fanciful fashion for a Blythe doll.
I've had this idea knocking around in my skull for a couple of months now, but it took a while to figure out just how to create it. I have to say, I'm really happy with how it turned out, and now I can't wait to design tons of Blythe fashions.
The circus dress is available in my Etsy shop, but I thought that some other folks might like to try their hands at sewing their own, so I also listed a DIY circus dress kit for you crafty types. And, finally, if you don't like circuses, I added the pattern and instructions to Bee's Knees Activities to be used with whatever fabric suits your fancy.
Part of that whole concept of unfinished projects I mentioned in my previous post is a bit of guilt about not having provided any new free embroidery patterns in so long. My sketchbook (and Cate-from-the-past) came to my rescue, though, with this little sketch of Frankenstein's monster, who's really just looking for love.
In the mood for fall, I just couldn't wait to start stitching another Halloween-themed embroidery. Is anyone else so inspired by this cooler weather? All I want to do is cozy up in my studio and create.
I didn't finish this embroidery in time to be a part of my show, but I just had to finish it anyways. Do you ever notice how spring just sneaks up on you? One day, you step outside the house wearing a fuzzy scarf and a winter coat only to see hundreds of little flowers have reared their lovely heads. If they're not afraid of the cold, why should anyone be?
I stitched this harbinger of spring entirely while watching Oz. The bright, cheerful colors were a perfect foil for the shankings and Nazis. It's the balance of nature.
If you need your own sweet embroidery to get you through a particularly violent HBO original series (of which there are many), you can find this pattern for free at Bee's Knees Activities.
See, I told you. A crazy pattern-making fool. As opposed to the other types of fools I have been, of course.
This is in honor of my favorite food, the apple, of one of my four favorite seasons, fall. You can find this pattern at Bee's Knees Activities to stitch up for yourself. If you do, I'd certainly love to see the results!
Will you look at that? It's the first of the month, and I'm all set with my free embroidery pattern. I have yet to determine the exact context for which this would be a perfect embroidery pattern, but I haven't a doubt in my mind that the context exists. And if anyone can find it, it's you, my lovely and creative readers.
You can find this pattern at Bee's Knees Activities.
Both are available at Bee's Knees Activities.
I'm sorry I haven't been too talkative lately. I'm not feeling particularly eloquent, so I'm going to let my pictures tell their own stories until I can get my voice back.
After months of sequestration, my sewing machine has finally seen the light of day again. I've had this fabric sitting in my studio (helping to bury my sewing machine, at that) for much longer than I'd like to admit, but nevermind all that. These little ladies have finally made it into the three-dimensional world.
This doll is now in my Etsy shop, but if you'd rather sew one of your own, you can get the fabric from my Spoonflower shop, which has been getting steadily more and more full over the past few weeks.
Of course, if hand-stitching is more your cup of tea, I also have a new free embroidery pattern available at Bee's Knees Activities. I told you I'd try to get more regular about creating my "monthly" patterns, and, see? There are still six whole days left in May, and the pattern is already done.
I've also added a little sidebar on the right to help make finding the previous month's patterns a little bit easier. As usual, if there are any other illustrations of mine that you'd like to try stitching, just let me know, and I'll do what I can to make it happen in the coming months.
This is my latest embroidery featuring a little cloud with a rockin' rainbow hairdo. His name? Roy G. Biv, of course! Now how do I get my hair to do that?
Quite some time ago, I had a little snafu involving some blue thread that bled when I spritzed the embroidery with water to wash out the temporary pen. I was so upset about the matter I didn't even post the image to my blog. Well, today I figured out the culprit, as you can see from the bit of blue that bled into the background of my 'broidery. (Hows that for alliteration?)
I decided just to love him the way he is, though, and so the blue stain stays. I'm just happy that it actually looks like a blue sky, so I'd say it's downright serendipitous.
I have this little guy up for sale in my Etsy shop, but if you'd rather stitch one of your own (which I highly recommend—he was fun to make!), you can snag the free pattern at Bee's Knees Activities.
My gracious, the time just keeps flying! I can't believe how close the end of this year is already. Hum, hum...
Well, at least I managed to get another holiday card set done in time. (Now if I could only get around to sending out my own holiday cards, I'd be in great shape.) This is another item that I've prepared for the Crafty Wonderland show next Sunday, December 13. Of course, if you're not in the Portland area, you can find these cards at my Etsy shop.
My favorite part about these card sets is seeing them packaged neat and tidy in their little boxes. So cute!
In fact, I liked this design so much, I decided to make it my December free embroidery pattern, which can be found over at Bee's Knees Activities.
The rainy season in Portland tends to bring out the best in mushrooms. This behemoth of a shroom masquerading as a hamburger bun was only one of many lovely spotted beasties outside of the grocery store this afternoon.
I want you all to understand just how big this guy was and how dreadfully excited I was to have discovered him.
Here are some of his best and closest friends, all enticing me to leave my day of errands for a day of fun and frolicking.
The shroomies reminded me that I hadn't yet posted this month's free embroidery pattern. In honor of my favorite food-centered holiday, I created a fun "Eat Me" pattern for you to try.
As promised, I managed to catch up on a bit of my work today, and I have the results of the fabric giveaway. The fat quarter of fabric goes to Heidi, who, by the by, has been working on some pretty amazing embroideries that you can check out on her very entertaining blog. Thanks to everyone who participated. I will do more giveaways before the holidays, so be on the lookout.
Speaking of embroidery (lame segue, I know, but it's late and I'm sleepy), my October monthly embroidery pattern, Mischievous, is up on Bee's Knees Activities. It's based on the embroidery above, but I've cleaned it up a bit and changed a couple of things that I didn't quite like on the original.
I'd love to see any creations made with the design, so feel free to send photos my way. Enjoy!
You can see more of my work in my portfolio, CateAnevski.com.
