Early Harley

I love my comic book girls...Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Catwoman, Scarlet, Batgirl. As to which version of each, well, I love them all. I finished this earlier version of Harley the other weekend at The Rust Belt Market.

When I brought her home I decided to add some paint. Her collar just did not pop. The white stitching was too light on the neutral background. And her face just screamed for the painted look.

Fanboy Fun

My latest batch of sketchy embroidery hoopla may leave some of you going 'Huh?' I dipped into a couple of my fave shows for these. Okay, so one was a book first & foremost, but it still made it to the big screen :P

Do you know what they are?

Okay, so that last one was the same idea as the one before it only without the wording...but I still like it. It was also a chance to see which I prefer - print on solid or solid on solid...guess I need a solid on print to really see all options. Gee - guess what I'll be making next :P

Resident Evil Times Two

I finished up a couple smaller embroidery pieces last week. Took forever with everything going on. But they are complete.

This first one is the T-virus container in a 5 inch hoop.

And then there is Alice's eye when it goes all Umbrella. This one is in a 6" hoop.

I had a tough time with the drawn images though. On the scrap fabric I tested, the lines came off...not so much once everything completed. But I don't think it's a bad thing. Actually, in the T-virus one, it looks kind of cool under the lines around the container. Almost like a shadow.

Hoping for a nice sunny day - when I am actually home - to take pics of all my newer pieces so I can get them in the shop. Feels like it has been forever since I posted something new.

Elvgren Bedroom Reader

I have a few (quite a few) Elvgren pin up girls slated to embroider. I thought I'd start the themes with one of my faves...reading. Granted, she is sexy & in a nightie...quite different than the way I read....but more interesting :)

I tried to capture her hair, but it was not easy...

And for those of you who have not seen the original before...here she is:
I obviously simplified her and changed some minor details. I liked her twirling her hair instead of the pen. And I of course skipped the background.

Sparkly Alien

I finished her :)

I went with glitter. I did do a light coat of paint first, but it looked too dull. I kept thinking I wanted her to shine. Duh - sparkles! Broke out the glitter glue and BAM! Done :)

I even added some red to her shoes.

Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy has struck again. Well, I struck her I suppose. Repeatedly. With a needle. And thread.

I couldn't quite grab the color right for this pic, but I think you can see the texture in the hair better close up. Kind of.

And the vines. Love them. I did draw them out, but found myself free-forming it as I went.

Batwoman

I can't get the Batman theme music out of my head as I write thing...but don't worry, I have resisted adding the music :)

I think she turned out pretty good. I debated fancy stitches, but I do so like the simplicity of the backstitch. And since her hair is not Poison Ivy wild, there was no need to get all fancy there.

The darker blue background works too. Gives it that dark shadowy edge. And her boots & belt really pop!

And I finished off the I Read Banned Books (design by Urban Threads). I am on the fence about painting the hoop. And if so, what color?

Biohazard

Another Urban Threads design! I had a hard time deciding some things with this one. Do I fill in the yellow bits? Paint inside the orange circle and bits? Barbed wire - which color? As you can see, I skipped the filling in of parts. Actually, I did start to fill in the yellow and took it out. Didn't care for it. The barbed wire became a compromise...4 grey and 2 black strands :) You can see it better in the angled pic below...

Have you peeked at my shop lately? I have started adding my embroidery pieces :) Yippee!

Embroidery Wall

I have spent the past couple days painting embroidery hoops, making the cardstock backings and gluing the fabric around to the back side. And then putting them all up on my wall for display. You can peek on my Flickr to see the wall closer up.

The wall will eventually be used for listing photos. Yes, I have decided to start listing them. Still working out pricing, but hope to start dropping them off in the shop next week.

Now I just need to find a cute way to cover up the hooks I used. I used those inexpensive plastic hooks with the (supposedly) easy to remove adhesive tabs. I did not want to put a bunch of holes in my wall. Especially since once hoop leaves, the next one to go in may not be the same size & therefore need a new location for the hook.

For the cover up, I was thinking of labels. Kind of like the type you'd see in shops or something when artwork is displayed. And done cheaper...probably using cardstock and eyelets to put on the hooks. Still thinking.

Any ideas?

Wordless Wednesday

Resident Evil

I love Alice. She just kicks ass so well and looks great doing it. I plan to make one hoop for each movie. This is the classic red tunic outfit from the first movie.

You can see the lines pretty well in this angled shot. I only tacked each line down in a couple spots. I wanted them to be as straight as I could. Almost floaty.

Ignore the wrinkles in the organza. They should be easy enough to steam out later. I was originally going to hand paint the dress but then I remembered the organza. It was the perfect color. And has just a little bit of a fun sparkle. You can kind of see it in the light stream here...

I may still hand paint the skirt and/or boots. Not sure yet.

And for those who do not know what he image is referencing...a promo shot from the movie.

Now to go find some shots from the next 3 movies. Either that or re-watch them on the computer and get ready to snap some screenshots to sketch off.

Witchy Willow

Willow is one of my fave characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Whether nerdy Willow, Dark Willow or Doppelganger Willow - I love them all! This piece is from Season 8's comic. Full out Witchy Willow.

And this is the pic I took it from...

Things didn't turn out exactly as I had pictured, but not bad. Nope, not bad at all. I will make her again. Actually, I would like to do a four square Warhol'esque type pic with each corner being a different Willow.

This super shiny thread was a pain to work with. But sooooo pretty.

And the misty smoke turned out cool with the blendy thread.

I Had Time

It turns out that I had time to finish up my Dr. Horrible piece. I guess two sick boys at home was not enough to thwart this evil. Too bad it didn't thwart my coughing. That is still here. In spades. Hmmm...spades.....idea :)

Anyway, on to the Horribleness...

It is in a 10" hoop now, but I may see if it can fit into a smaller hoop. And possibly paint either the glove or coat. Thoughts?

Plant Cell

I am still quite under the weather and have not been able to finish up my bags. But I did manage to finish up this embroidery piece the other night. It's the last cell for now. A plant cell this time. Think Spring! On a micro level anyway...

And the fun angle view. I tried some double knots in the mitochondia - that's the dark green ovals.

The backside is a bit blurry. It was difficult to tell when I snapped the shot...darn burny eyeballs :P

When I get back into the groove & will have some actual bags to show you. Imagine that, a handbag shop person making actual bags. Who woulda thunk it :P

Bacteria

More science fun :) I am beginning to think these are also being inspired by the sick little boy I have here with me at home. He has been kind enough to share with Mommy too. How sweet :P

On to the latest germ...

And a close up angled view...

The backsides are turning out pretty tidy now...

I have one more sciencey piece to do and then on to some fanboy stuff...Resident Evil, Dark Willow & Dr. Horrible are the next three that I have hooped & ready to go.

Brain Cell

Brrraaaaiiinnnnnssssssss. Well, cell anyway. It even looks a little like a monster depending on how you look at it.

I had a hard time getting an angled shot. I think it was the light colors. But you can see the filled in sheath areas here (the coral colored rectangles).

And the backside. I did say I would be taking pics of it, so I figure I should show it. I have been cheating a little and starting my lines with a knot instead of tucked into the line.

And a big thanks to Mr X Stitch for featuring this on their blog!!! :)

Paramecium

I have my Bachelor's in Biology and have always loved the illustrations. I decided to use some from my notes and old books to make some embroidery pieces. This is the first and my fave single cell organism, a unicellular ciliate protozoa to be exact...the Paramecium - always fun to say :)

It should have cilia, I know, but they are so short I just left them off. I may still add something for effect, not sure.

And the sketch it came from...

Ivy's Backside

Um, no, not that backside! Although, it is quite prominent in the piece :P

I am talking about the actual backside of the piece. I have been trying to keep things nice & tidy back there.

Some of it, like the hair, looks pretty cool. I might try to make it the front side on a piece sometime.

Finishing off the piece has been making me a little crazy. I browsed many shops on Etsy to see other people's backsides (okay, that sounds wrong). I was hoping to find some I like to try myself. But so few shops had pics of the back. So I turned to tutorials online. I found a few ways that I want to try. This is the first trial. It is simply some card stock cut and lightly glued to the inner hoop to sit between the fabric & hoop.

No matter which way I end up using for the long term, I plan to use this signing method. The awesome Handmade stamp was one I found at a great Etsy shop, Wine Makers Sister. You should check this shop out - very fun!