Christmas Decorations

Hi I have been hard at work making items for my new Christmas shop on Folksy, ChristmasByCarol. I have made lots of nativity heart decorations and Advent Calendar bunting. I have so many ideas but the trouble is I don't have time to make everything. Here are a selection of the Christmas decorations I have made lately.

Embroidery pendant of Selworthy Somerset.

Hi, It has been a lovely summer and we had a great holiday in North Devon and Somerset. I took some photographs of Selworthy that were crying out to be painted or embroidered and here is my first embroidery. It was a beautiful sunny day which I have tried to capture in this small pendant. See my on line sites shown above for this pendant and other brooches and necklaces for sale.

Parrot Tulip in Watercolour

Hi, I have been painting a parrot tulip in watercolour over the last couple of weeks. I have worked from both the tulips in my garden and photographs. I find photographs work very well because flowers fade so quickly. With digital camera and my wonderful surface pro I can get a very good rendition of the tulip. Colours can then be matched to the flower whilst it is blooming. The light on the tulip was beautiful and produced wonderful effects. I painted the flower using mainly Sennelier paints on Moulin Du Roy paper.

Hand embroidered pendant of Parrot Tulips.

HI, I have just completed an embroidery of Parrot tulips on green silk. I based the design on a watercolour I painted. The tulips are beautiful flowers to paint and embroider. Last Saturday I went to the Royal School of Needlework for a day class in metalwork.  Our tutor was Becky Hogg and the design we were stitching was a fox. I thoroughly enjoyed the day and Becky was a great tutor with lots of tips on how to get a good finish. I haven't quite finished the fox  but I am thoroughly enjoying the stitching. I have embroidered since I was very young but up until last week hadn't tried any form of goldwork/metalwork. I will definitely be continuing with this form of embroidery. 

Hand embroidered pendant. Spring flowers.

Hi, I stitched this pendant on green silk fabric which enhances the spring flowers beautifully. The flowers are stitched using Chameleon Sole de Paris threads which I purchases from Lorna Bateman on etsy. The threads were lovely to stitch with and have a beautiful sheen and come in gorgeous colours. I really enjoyed designing this embroidery feeling like spring is here.

Original hand painted watercolour card with a mount that become a gift when framed.

Hi, I have completed a different style of watercolour card developed from a photograph I took a few years ago. The final small painting which comes with a mount so that the card can be framed gives a great effect. These cards are fun to paint. I have a few more ideas ready to go.

Original hand painted watercolour cards

Hi, I have been painting this week and have really enjoyed myself. I had the idea of painting some cards in watercolour. The SAA sell cards with mounts so the card when framed also becomes a gift. Great idea. I have painted four cards and am pleased with the results. It 's great to feel that spring is on the way and the spring flowers are blooming. I have painted three Iris cards and a card of snowdrops. More ideas on the way.

Hand embroidered earrings. Nutcracker design.

Hi, It has been a very busy but have had an enjoyable time over Christmas. We have a new puppy who is full of fun and a bit naughty. I didn't finish the earrings until after Christmas which was a shame. They were fun to stitch and I may make another pair before next Christmas. I was bought an online goldwork course from the Royal School of Needlework which I am currently working on. I haven't stitched goldwork before and I am really enjoying the process. At the moment I am applying the padding ready for the gold threads.