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These are the little snippets of things that have inspired me this past week...
1. Isabelle's drawing of our family - *LOVE inspiration*
2. My bump shadow as I was bringing in the groceries *BUMP inspiration*
3. The little scrap bowl in my studio for bits of thread *DEER inspiration*
4. Timber babushka cross stitch frame (a special gift from here) *DESIGN inspiration*
Till then,
Natalie x
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It's time to show you the fabrics that never saw the light of day, it's not that I didn't want them to be in the final cut....trust me it was a hard decision and one that I lost sleep over.
I have thought hard about showing you fabrics from the collection that are NOT available and never will be, after all it's like waving a lolly in your face and telling you not to eat it....but it was part of the design journey & so I will share it with you.
I have mentioned before that once the Woodland collection was designed I needed to reduce the amount of fabrics in the line - I would have to select my favorites and loose a colorway but it was hard to pick and leave those aside that you still adore but quite simply did not have the room for......easy peasy! - not :)
The picture below is from the original strike offs - (strike off's? just think small fabric samples of all designs in all colorways)....also known as maximum eye candy.
These are the ones that didn't make it...
Yes, there was a tangerine colorway
and more fabric 'babes' that were left on the shelf....eeek!
So as much as I adore the ones that didn't make it,
I still love Woodland just the way it is.
Till then,
Natalie x
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I was looking through my folio over the weekend and found the original art concept & design for my Woodland fabric collection, so I guess it's about time I shared them with you...
Actually it is great fun for me to see the transition from sketch to final fabric so I hope you enjoy looking over them, the sketches are my original artwork designs & one of the first times they were ever created on paper - this is why I love drawing, there is nothing better for the imagination than pencil & paper.
Original sketch for 'Woodland Faeries' -
became....'Woodland Faeries' in fabric
Original sketch for the 'Forrest Path'
became 'Forrest Path' in fabric
Original sketch for 'Woodland Village'
Became 'Woodland Village' in fabric
Original sketch for 'Woodland Neighbours'
became the 'Woodland Neighbours' in fabric
See....everything has a beginning,
even the fabric.
Till then,
Natalie x
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Do you hoop it or frame it before you sew?
If you have been to one of my classes in the past (or been lucky to attend one of the stitching retreats) you would have seen me stitching and demonstrating my way of sewing. I was never a hoop person...they always got in the way and (for me) awkward to use, until the day my fingers began cramping from 'excess sewing' - there had to be a better way and there was.
I found the Klip-fast frame 4 years ago and loved it (sadly I have just found out they are no longer being produced) so I went looking for a new alternative & found one.
This is the product I use now - it's 'new' to me...and called the Q-snap. It's square and easy to handle....tensions fabric quickly and simply, no little screws to adjust and no bamboo.
(Mine is the 8 inch square frame - found here)
Trust me, it helps to make your stitching neat and stops the annoying fabric 'puckering' look when your stitching is complete by using the correct tension across the fabric all the time.
The best way to get a nice flat finish on your completed project.
The bonus part - it comes apart if you need to take it travelling or for stitching on the move and squishing into small luggage spaces.
Try one if you get a chance, I think you will love it.
Till then,
Natalie x
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Here is a sweet little corner in the studio, a place I walk past a dozen times in the day. I have mentioned before how I love little displays around the house, especially in the place I work and create.
So this is a little happy place among my creative mess, with favorite issues of Mollie Makes, my artwork scattered about and three very gorgeous growing gifts sent from one of my friends.
It's little things like this that make our house a home and the studio a special place to create.
Oh and the exciting news this week is my strike off's for the next fabric line 'Folk Tale' should be arriving from the mill in the next week or so (early August, I hope!) I can't wait to see the next new designs printed on fabric.....I see deer, hedgehog, birds, elfin girls & more.
Till then,
Natalie x
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Yay for our new pattern The Toymaker, it seems you love it as much as I do!
Here are a few close up shots of the design, I hope to answer a few of your (emailed) questions regarding the stitch and design - if I miss something or you would like to know more information please send me a message via the blog or direct email / facebook.
Disclaimer: stitching is addictive once you begin...
- Yes, the little envelope is little - at only 3" x 4" complete.
- See the stamp in the corner? - it measures 1/2" square, the snowman inside the stamp is teeny tiny. It's kind of hard for you to tell when I use the macro lens.
- Yes, I love detail....eeeek!
- All the embroidery is hand stitched - just simple stitches (backstitch, chain stitch, running stitch, satin stitch)
- Chocolate has been known to make you stitch more neatly. Must be something in the cocoa :)
- I have used red 346 COSMO embroidery floss for the entire design, you will need 2 x skeins to make all three projects.
- The fabric I am using to stitch with at the moment is called Hankey Linen, it comes in an array of gorgeous colors (white, red, aqua, hesian, cerise) and is beautiful cloth to work with.
- The thread I use for 'quilting' is DMC #8 perle thread
- I love using a ZIG pen in brown to draw my designs directly onto the fabric (ultra fine tip the finer the better)....
- I always use a embroidery frame when stitching (that's a whole other story I will blog about shortly) mine is a square one not round.
- One of my favorite parts of the sketching process is giving each creature or character his/her own personality. It could be just two dots and a dash but that moment when they smile back at me is simply awesome.
Hopefully I have answered a few of your emails and questions with just one blog post...is there anything I have missed?
Till then,
Natalie x
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So here it is....the new design in our pattern line known as The Toymaker.
I loved stitching and drawing up this project, while sketching I was thinking about how cold it was here in our part of the world during Christmas in July - hence the hat and scarf. The scottie dog? well he is a new creature to the Cinderberry designs and this is the first time he has appeared in my sketches. I like him and his little coat.....yes I think little scottie will return again in some other 'future' project, he is too cute to just stitch once.
The shop window and garland of stockings is one I would have loved to stand and stare at as a child. Full of inspiration, dreams, fun and make believe...the best kind of toys.
The Toymaker combines three projects all in one pattern - a gift card holder, miniature quilt and tiny stitched letter to Santa. To give you an idea of the project sizes - the stitched envelope below measures 3" x 2" because great things come in small packages.
The Toymaker pattern is completed and making it's way to stores around the globe so you can stitch and make in time for Christmas.
The pattern also comes packaged with iron on transfers so you can transfer to your fabric quickly and stitch straight over my lines (no need to spend time tracing if you don't wish to!) and for those who prefer to transfer by hand with a super fine pen (like me) yes a design sheet is included for you too ;)
Say "hello" to Scottie dog.....I promise he will return again at some stage!
The Toymaker - ask for the pattern at your favorite patchwork store, it's available now!
It's no secret, I love Christmas time & I hope you do too...
Till then,
Natalie x
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What is inspiring me this week?
1. Bump inspiration, this is my view looking down (or at least it was at 25 weeks) the babe is growing and I can feel beautiful nudges in the tummy when I sit and hand stitch in the night, it's blissful a blessing - true inspiration and love.
2. Paint inspiration, with the new addition we have changed around rooms in the house and Isabelle is getting a new bedroom - her only wish? Painted pink, 'please'.
Good thing I am not afraid of color, although it did take me a week to get used to the new shade. A pink room needs sweet bunting to decorate, right?
3. Color inspiration, this picture was taken at The Imaginarium Project in Geelong - it's a fabulous concept and anything that encourages children to use their imagination is awesome.
4. Fabric inspiration - gorgeous fabric from Riley Blake just perfect for the new nursery or just because, I can't wait to play with this one!
Just four little things bringing me inspiration this week.
Till then,
Natalie x
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