Calendar Kits Update

The last of the 28 count kits has gone. I still have 32 count kits available. I will start a waiting list for more 28 count kits but can't order unless I get 6 people.

June's Design

It's that time again - the new month has been released to participants so here is last month's for everyone to see. I can't believe we are already over half way through the year. The calendar is really coming together now and looking lovely.
I have enough left to make kits for 1 more 28 count and 5 more 32 count. I am not currently planning to re-order once these are gone. It costs me a lot of money upfront, which, as I only charge cost price for the kits, leaves me out of pocket until they are all gone. After this point I am willing to make a list and order once I have a full set of people but that could be quite a wait as I need 6 for 28 count and 7 for 32.

New Release

Introducing my latest release, Aurora.

I am really pleased with this design which has been named after the Northern Lights because of the light and sparkle on the black background. It uses Light Effect threads and Mill Hill Beads.

It's available now through my website in the small pictures section of the Speciality Stitches area and is £5 plus P&p for overseas orders.

May's Partwork

Now that June's part has been released to participants here's May for those who would like to see it.

India Grace Designs on Facebook

I have finally created a business page for India Grace Designs on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/business/dashboard/?ref=sb#/pages/India-Grace-Designs/204233085606 I already had a group but this is more business like and you can become a 'fan'. If anyone is browsing and fancies a look please pop in!

Exciting News

I'm being published again!!

Flora's Garden is to be published in the Australian Magazine 'Creative Embroidery and Cross Stitch'. It is in issue 16-10 due out on the 21st August. This is the second one of my designs to be published by this magazine so I am really excited.

April's Design

Now that we're into May, here's a peek at April's design. The calendar is really starting to take shape now and I am pleased to see progress pictures.

I only have 1 kit left at 28 count now and 6 at 32 count. Due to the drop in price of the pound against the euro it will cost me more to order fabric now so these are the last at the current price. I'm not sure yet what the new fabric will cost but by the sound of things it could be around 10% more. These kits are available on a 1st come 1st served basis.

Please keep the progress photos and updates coming - I love to see them.

Update and March's photo.

Now that April is upon us, here is a picture of March's design from the Hardanger Calendar Partwork. I'm really enjoying running this and am hoping that those taking part are enjoying themselves too.

I now have enough threads to make 8 more kits, enough fabric for 4 28 count ones and 6 32 count ones. These are selling quite fast so if anyone would like one please order via my website.

February's Partwork

I've sent out the patterns for March so here is the picture of February. I hope that everyone is enjoying sewing this.

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