Get out the violins

Happy new year!

Lets start this year with a couple of illustrations I did at the end of the last for US magazine Strings.

I certainly now know more about violins that I ever did before!

Happy Christmas!

Christmas card photo shoot

Models can be so temperamental sometimes. First they don't like the outfit...

And storm off the set...

They will only work if you ply them with raisins...

And even then they still wander off to watch Team Umizoomi...

They're always drinking on the job...

And would much rather be off playing with George Pig and a load of Stickle Bricks really.

Some of my favourite paper

A few years ago I got these christmas wrapping papers in a little pound shop. They were quite old, and faded at the edges so god knows where they came from but I just love them!

I was going to use them that year to wrap my presents in but I couldn't bring myself to do it so they went into my paper stash instead.

The green one isn't a dodgy scan, it really is badly printed, which just makes me like it more.

There were more designs than this and I wish I had bought them all. Just to look at.

Point de croix

On Kirsty's Homemade Home last week she did a feature on cross stitch with cross stitcher extraordinaire Emily Peacock. I am totally in love with her hug cushion:

I have a thing for circus fonts anyway and the pompoms make me want to trim everything I own with pompoms. I immediately declared that some kind of cross stitching book or supplies were exactly what I wanted for christmas so I was thrilled to discover Petit Details on Etsy. As well as a range of gorgeous ribbons and things they sell beautiful French cross stitch books like these:

Now I just have to pick one to put on my christmas list but to be honest I want them all!

Bird Girl

I have just added a new notebook to my etsy shop. The illustration is a greetings card design I did but I like it as a notebook too.

Gifted

I have just been virtually flicking through the fantastic Gifted from Creature Comforts. Its full of christmassy inspiration and lots of interesting interviews that I haven't had chance to read properly yet.

Some highlights for me are this article about Rifle Paper Co, their christmas stuff looks lovely.

And a feature about gift wrapping which lead me to discover this fantastic blog about packaging. I want to start wrapping christmas presents now! Do you think there is a gap in the market for a professional present wrapper? Thats a job I'd like to do!

Da da da da da da daaaaa!

That is meant to be a fanfare because...I have finally finished the new look juliastaite.com! That's where I have been for the last few weeks, working very hard! Its been a long time coming but now looks all shiny and tidy. As you can see I've made a few changes to the blog too to match.

Devon

Here are a few photos from a recent long weekend in Devon. They were taken in Dartmouth looking over the water to Kingswear, which looks like Balamory! It was a very cold, misty day so Bea was dressed like an eskimo.

A red belated birthday dress

I didn't quite finish the red dress in time for Bea's birthday. Luckily she didn't notice! It is still too big anyway as I made the 18-24 months size as shes such a giant baby!

I'm very happy with the way it turned out. Its quite simple but the heart detailing is lovely.

Here's all the info:

The pattern is Sweetheart by Tora Froseth Design. It is pretty easy to follow and knitted on circular needles which was a first for me.

The yarn I used was King Cole 4ply merino in scarlet. It is quite soft although probably a bit itchy directly against the skin.

I think I will make another Tora Froseth dress for Bea at some point.