Southern Hemisphere Partwork?

It just occurred to me that I have designed the calendar for the Northern Hemisphere and that the colours don't match the seasons for the Southern Hemisphere. If anyone would like a Southern Hemisphere version (a simple change of month on the pictures - is June the equivalent of January?) I am more than happy to create it. Just let me know.

January's Partwork

As February's design has just gone out I thought I'd give you a sneaky peek at January. Somewhat appropriate as I'm looking out of the window and seeing snowflakes falling. There are quite a few people taking part and I am really looking forward to seeing progress pictures soon.

If anyone else would like to take part the new thread/fabric packs should be available in about a week. Half the 28 count ones have already been reserved so please let me know asap.

Fabric/Thread pack re-orders

I have decided to reorder now as there has been quite a lot of interest. I can't get hold of the threads until the start of Feb but as soon as I can they will be available. I have only ordered enough fabric for 6 28 count packs and 7 32 count packs so it might be advisable to email and reserve them in advance as the last ones went quite quickly.

New release

Over a year ago I was commissioned to create an Arabic sampler for someone, it had a line drawing of mecca at the centre. After spending over a month working on this the person who it was for never got back to me. I've decided that it is time that I released it as I'd worked so hard on it. Well actually this isn't quite the same as the one in the sampler (which I may release later) It's larger and more detailed. This piece is 26”x15.5” on 28 count, 29”x17” on 25 count and 33”x19.5” on 22 count. I don't recommend using a count smaller than that. If anyone is interested it is now on the Blackwork page of my website which is in the Speciality Stitches section

Calendar Partwork Starts

Today sees the launch of the Calendar Partwork. 12 patterns, 1 for every month, released on the 1st of the month, each month of 2009. They build into a wall hanging calendar. You can see the main colours being used in the picture. The Chart costs £12 for the year and is sent monthly by PDF. I have been providing fabric and thread packs too (shown in the picture) which provide all the fabric and perle threads. There are some other stranded cottons and metalic/light effects used, also beads which are not included. These packs are currently sold out but if anyone is interested I am taking names for a new set - I need 6 people interested for the 28 count and 7 for the 32 before I can afford to order the fabric.

I will release photos of the piece on my website and on here as it grows (first participant to finish each month gets their picture featured)

I'm being published

My latest design 'Hestia's Flame' is to be published in the Australian Magazine 'Embroidery and Cross Stitch'. Issue no. 16-2 which goes on sale on the 29th of January 2009. There are some examples of previous issues at the link below.

http://www.ericas.com/xstitch/magazines/embandxstitch.htm

It's is called Hestia after the Greek Goddess of fire and has a real sparkle to it.

I am obviously really excited about this and look forward to seeing it when it comes out.

India Grace Designs on Facebook

Just for fun I have added an India Grace Designs group to Facebook. If anyone would like to become a member they'd be most welcome.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=43449709358
I am very conscious of security issues with sites like this (I only add friends that I know in the flesh for just this reason) so I promise not to send you any spam or bother you in any way!

Would anybody be interested in joining a partwork?

I am considering launching a monthly partwork, starting January 2009 and going through to December 2009. Details are under wraps at the moment but I can say that it is gong to be Hardanger based and a calendar. If anyone is interested in this they can sign up for it by joining my Yahoo Group (details below) and entering their name in the poll created for this purpose. I need at least 10 people signed up to make it worthwhile. I have promised members of my group who have already expressed an interest not to make it too expensive materialswise (I will run a co-operative buying scheme if there is enough interest) and each monthly part will be about 4" square on 32 count evenweave so not big projects. Further details are available in the discussions on my Yahoo group.

Update and new releases

I'm pleased to be able to show a couple of new releases as I've been working on some bigger projects this year and haven't had much new to add.

This is Iona, named after the island on which the famous Celtic work the book of Kells was created, as that work contains some of the most fabulous examples of Celtic knots and artwork that I have seen. It uses 2 thicknesses of the same colour and co-ordinating beads.

This one I am still having trouble naming. I'm quite excited about this design as it is bringing in some new ideas to add to the Hardanger technique. Last summer, whilst on holiday in the Lake District, I was introduced to Ruskin Lace by a lady who had taken classes in it and who, when she saw my Hardanger work, brought hers out to show me. I loved the intricacies of the patterns and was struck by its similarities to Hardanger. I have been experimenting with adapting these ideas to work with Hardanger and have a large piece that I have been working on since that summer which I hope to finish soon. This piece is my first release incorporating these ideas and I hope to use more in the future.

Ruskin Lace is a needlecraft that originated in the Lake District in the 1800s. To find out more about it please visit http://www.ruskinlace.org.uk/ I thoroughly recommend buying the book or DVD as it is a fascinating art and these needlework traditions should always be passed on.

These two designs will hopefully be released via my website soon.

New idea

I am introducing a new scheme for those people who would like a hand embroidered family crest but aren't stitchers themselves. These can now be sewn to order especially for them.

I have been producing Armorial kits for the last 3 years in association with Heritage and Heraldry of Eton, Windsor. All designs are authentic and over 250,000 surnames are available. The designs, as featured in the kits, are 7.5" x 10.5" and involve approximately 3 months work so will be priced accordingly using the minimum wage as a guide. Larger sizes will be available for a proportional rate.

The image shown here is a finished embroidery. They are sewn using the best quality fabric and threads by experienced stitchers. For further information please email me.

A new release - finally

I finally have something new to show you, this is Miriam, a birth sampler for a little girl using hardanger and other speciality stitches. I hope to have instructions completed in about a week and it will be available through my site.

I haven't had much that I'm able to release lately but there is a lot going on behind the scenes, some of which I am very excited about and hope to be able to show you soon

India Grace Designs Yahoo Group

I have created a new Yahoo group for anyone who is stitching one of my designs or just interested in them. It goes by the name of India Grace Designs so if anyone is interested please feel free to join up. I'm hoping that we will be able to follow stitch alongs of some of the designs and see some of the alternative colour schemes that some people are using. I can also use it to answer any queries people may have and offer online assitance.

Update

Things are very busy here right now, which is fabulous. I have a number of commissions which I am really excited about and I am concentrating all my energies on them so it will be a while before I have a new release to show. The castle has gone back into the 'maybe someday' pile but it isn't forgotten.

Marguerite is nearly complete and should be available to buy through my website by the middle of next week.

I hope to have some more exciting things to show you soon.

Eid cards launch

Due to popular demand after my last post I have released the Eid cards that I designed for my friend. They are now available in the cross stitch section of my site under 'cards'.

The original design that Marguerite was inspired by is shown here.

New release and update

Introducing my latest design 'Marguerite'. I am particularly pleased with this design. It was inspired by a geometric pattern that I created as a cross stitch Eid card for a friend. I liked the shape and wanted to see what could be achieved with it using hardanger and other speciality stitches. Added glitter is achieved by the use of Mill Hill Beads. The design is 8"x8" and uses 5 colours in addition to the beads. I hope to have the chart available for sale in a fortnight (Half term is slowing things down a little) It will be £7 for UK orders plus P&P for overseas.

I have been putting in some work on the castle that I mentioned in my last post. I am currently transferring the part that has been charted from 16 year old penciled charts to computer. It has taken me 8 hours so far just to do the left hand end of the garden wall and the pillar - this is going to be a long process!

New design and Update

Introducing my latest finish - Samantha. Samantha explores variations of shade and texture using threads from a single colour range and varies the pattern of stitches to highlight the changing colour. This design is 6"x6", uses 7 colours and will be available from my website in about a week for £5 (UK orders only - overseas orders include appropriate P&P costs)

Natalie should be available on my website later today if my computer behaves, I have been having a few technical problems. It will also be onsale for £5.

I am adding a progress piece here in the hope that it gives me the impetus to finish it. This is going to be a very long term project. I started it back in 1991 but RSI forced me to abandon it. I think the time is right to try and finish it.

This is a castle where I stayed with friends and the first large piece I started designing. I have now a massive job ahead to take all my faded pencil drawn bits of chart and transfer them to computer before I even get to carry on with it so don't expect to see it onsale very soon.

New Birth Sampler and Update

This is my latest finish, a Cross Stitch and Hardanger combination birth sampler. In keeping with the rest of my hardanger designs I have given it a girl's name which may seem a little odd as it was initially designed for a boy but it will be provided with colour keys for both boys and girls. It is to be called Natalie from the latin natalis : birthday.

Suzanna is now available to purchase directly from my website but for the next fortnight will also be available, along with my other hardanger designs, from the Online Cross Stich Expo http://www.cross-stitch-expo.org/ . Designs will be available at a special discounted rate from the expo site.

Update and new design preview

This is Constance, the first of my collaborations with Kay at Kay's Kullors http://www.kayskullors.co.uk/ . It uses 3 different varigated threads on hand dyed fabric and will be available in a variety of colour schemes.

It's taking me a while to get the instructions for the new designs ready at the moment as I get a lot less done during the summer holidays and I'm a perfectionist, don't like to rush things just to get them out. They will definitely be available by mid september but hopefully before that.

Whilst away on my holidays this year I was chatting to a lovely lady who introduced me to a new technique (well, new to me) which has similarities to Hardanger. I shall be researching this over the next few months and hope to create some designs inspired by it soon.

New Design Preview

This piece was designed for my daughter's teacher who retired today. I wish her a fabulous retirement. It is the first of my Hardanger pieces to use beads. There will be more!

It should appear on the website in about a week once the instructions are finished. I'm a bit slower during the school holidays as I lose half my working time.

I would also like to introduce my new logo. There may be a few minor adjustments later, but this is pretty much it now.

Update

I have finished another hardanger design which will be released in 2 weeks. I'm keeping the image under wraps at the moment as it has been sewn as a present but check back in a couple of weeks. The next release after that will hopefully be the first of the range created using Kay's Kullors http://www.kayskullors.co.uk/

I've also got a new draft for my logo from my friend

I've tried it out by putting it on the Baby Samplers page of my website. As always and comments and feedback are welcomed.