Friday Free Fun
I’m in the middle of working on a pile of new cross stitch patterns to turn into kits. It’s pretty exciting! I started off with a few designs to see if any of you out there in the intyweb would like them. And combining internet sales and craft cartel sales, I’ve only got a couple left. So I’m taking that as a big yes!
So I’m working on a few more designs. I’m also working on the packaging to make sure it’s a whole lot more sustainable. Luckily I went to the Sustainable Living Festival in the weekend and met Calan from PrintTogether. I got to talk through the entire product with him and he’s going to help me not have to deal with evil printing and packaging companies ever again yay!
So stay tuned, there’ll be new kits soon!
Anyway, the point of this post is to share with you a few free bits that I made along the way. I decided it was time I added a few new fonts to the DIY page and I’ve also put together a few symbols that I’d scored through a free symbol font.
So this first one is called Adventure Subtitles. It’s in upper and lower case. Click on the sample to get the full alphabet as a cross stitch pattern.
This next one is called Copasetic
Here’s some symbol fonts translated into patterns
SPACE INVADERS!!!!!!
The trusty ol’ Skull and Cross Bones for all ye pirates out there, arrr!
And finally some generic ones
Enjoy!
And as usual, if you use these patterns, please link back here so we can all be inspired by what you do
Crafty Confession
OK so next year I’m going to be a bridesmaid (weee!) for two of my best friends. And the bride has decided that since I’m a crafty one that I should be in charge of making things for the bridal party to wear.
EEK!
I have been posted instructions and materials. I need to crochet or knit a neck choker (3.5cmx36cm) and a matching thing for the wrist (3.5cmx16cm). The chocker can tie on, the wrist one can be buttoned.
The materials I have been given are a ball of gold metallic vicscose thread, it’s probably about the same thickness as un-separated embroidery floss. Six gold angel buttons about 2cm across, 1cm high. And a bag of gold 3mm pearl beads.
I’ve also been given a ball of DMC perle 8 in a dusty pink colour. It’s the colour the flower girls are going to be wearing, and the instruction was ‘feel free to make them something or not…’
So, well, bugger.
I don’t know how to knit or crochet. I tried to teach myself to crochet over the summer break. I was armed with books, websites, podcasts, diagrams and photos. I made something, but I don’t know if it was crochet…
So has anyone out there got any tips? Any patterns that might work well? I have a year to figure this out!
xox
Another Comic Moment
Further to this post the other day about web comics, I got around to adding some to my rss feeder.
So I had to share this one with you ’cause it reminded me of a number of people I know.
Work in progress
The new version of the “I sublimate my rage…” cross stitch is progressing. I’ve got a lot left to do, but here’s a sneak peek:
A Comic Moment
Hammy had this great little post about his favourite web comics, and George jumped in with some great contributions. I’ve always been a comic fan but I haven’t got into web comics too much. Except Newtown Ghetto Anger (lives on Keith Ng’s blog), which I got into through Salient Magazine. But I had a look at some of them and I think I’m hooked now. These two are my absolute favourites.
Firstly, this is called Indexed and is a series of graphs on index cards. Very simple, very clever, very nice.
This next one is from A Softer World, which is an awesome photographic comic. This one reminded me of a former job I had where I often found myself speaking to the spooks listening in. Y’know, speaking loudly and clearly so they don’t miss anything.
It also reminds me of a echelon key word poem generator I saw online a few years back that was created for jam echelon day. Sorry can’t find it any more.
Anyone else out there got any wonderful favourites?
Sorry Fence
On Wednesday Kevin Rudd apologised on behalf of the Australian Commonwealth Government to the Aboriginal People for the policy of enforced removal of Aboriginal children from their families. This was a policy with the intention of breeding out Aboriginal People and saw more than 50,000 children removed from their families. In some cases, this involved three generations of children being removed.
This apology has been a very, very long time coming and I think the number of tears shed on Wednesday by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians is testament to the burden this has been on the nation.
I was asked to honour the day with a fence intervention (ironically). I was proud to help commemorate the occasion. And after about 7 hours of ‘stitching’ and countless hours of finger knitting I finished a giant SORRY on the fence of Section 8 Container Bar in Tattersalls Lane.
I finished this well into the evening so the first finished shot is a bit dark.
An up close shot of the R . I think the fence grid was about 5cm to give you an idea of scale.
The work in progress
I went back a couple of days later to get some more photos.
The response from passers by has been amazing with many people stopping to take photos. And no one has tried to vandalise it yet which makes me really happy!
What I really like about this one is that you have to look through it into the space. And while the text is very obvious to see, it doesn’t obscure the fence at all. Normally that wouldn’t bother me, but this is a fence with a very specific purpose. I also love the softness of the wool. I think it adds more feeling to the statement. Wool reminds me of a warm winter hug, and this wool shows how much love and warmth is meant from us non-Indigenous activists who support this apology.
It’s a Stitchin Riot!
Check out these hot new stitches from Johanna at Cross Yr Stitches
We have to excuse the pics because apparently the only camera Johanna has is on her mobile. Goodness do you think we should all pitch in a and get her a proper camera? These are such great pieces of work I think they deserved to be properly captured. But in the mean time I do love them, especially the riot one. I’m on a whole floral buzz right now, who woul’ve thought that flowers were such fun things to stitch!
And some of you might recognise the feminist symbol from this site cause the pattern was made by our resident ninja. The pattern is here if you want to make one yourself, and don’t forget to send us pics!
I’m getting into a bit more public xstitch tomorrow in honour of the long awaited apology. So if you’re in Melbourne city, swing by Section 8 Bar for some awesome music, conscious souls, and see the fence intervention project.
Sorry
Well given that Kevin Rudd is actually saying Sorry this week, I figured I really should get around to putting my Sorry cross stitch kit online. I put this together a couple of months ago but I have been struggling getting photos together and the time to do it.
So presenting the Sorry Cross Stitch Kit!
This pattern is designed to be worn as a patch, or stitched directly onto some clothing.
And you can buy one here.
I must say though, I find it amazing that there’s still 34% of people who don’t get why it’s important to apologise to the Stolen Generation. I mean, it’s not like the government will be apologising for invading Aboriginal land, stealing all the land, mass slaughter of Aboriginal people, introduction of disease and the corruption of government. It’s not like they’re acknowledging the undeclared war in this country and the tenuous constitutional existence of the state of Australia.
Goodness we’ve got a long way to go.
Those of you interested in these issues should join Curse of Dialect, ANTaR and others at Section 8 Bar after the apology broadcast in Fed Square (9am 13thFeb) for some good decolonisation conversation.
Geonomics is Seriously Sexy
Check out this hilarious piece written by Thom entitled “Henry George: The Best Thing That Can Happen To Your Sex Life” (yes truly). It’s feckin hilarious. But also spells it all out really well. Most people when explaining geonomics tend to focus on your right to somewhere to sleep. Of course, completely neglecting your right to somewhere to get it on!
Read it now.
Wage Peace Tshirt
I made this tshirt with the intention of putting it online to sell. But you were TOO SLOW! And instead I sold it at the Craft Cartel Market the other night (which went off again, pictures soon). And even better I sold it to someone I know! Yeah!
So I found this font in a cross stitch book one day and immediately knew what I wanted to do with it.
I stitched it on this tshirt I got from the opshop. And it probably took about 3 or 4 hours to stitch. It was a nice easy font too.
I’ve got a couple more planned like this. But I’m always happy to do custom stuff so if you’ve got a tshirt at home that you really wish had something radical and revolutionary written on it, feel free to get in touch. But beware hand stitching does take a while so it will cost a bit more than a screen print. It all depends on what gets stitched.
I’ve made tons of stuff recently so stay tuned for more pretty pictures!