'step one' and 'reilly'

two more embroidery projects i managed to bang out:

the first one was inspired by... and this is going to sound incredibly pathetic and cat-lady-esque, but... my cat. she was meowsering around, bidding for attention, which is both cute and annoying, and i blurted out at her, "how can i love you better?" the phrase struck me as something that could be really romantic in the right context. (i did fear that it could sound sarcastic, but i think the bright bold colours sway it to the more sincere side.)

the second one was inspired by a viewing of the film Cyrus.
 

if you're familiar with john c. reilly, you know he has an expressive face. if you're not familiar with him, pick up a movie and watch it. any movie, seriously, he's probably in it. i was just so taken with his profile, i had to commit it to 2D embroidered form. watching the trailer now, i think the nose could use some work... but overall, i love this piece, particularly the colours. i love love love the muted, warm yellows in the fabric. so country rose. i also love the placement. i don't really plan ahead too much, so it was a happy surprise when i noticed that one of the flowers lands perfectly in front of reilly's mouth. it just looks pretty. like he's smelling the rose.

 

as for the the movie, it's really funny, as is the insanely talented mr. reilly!

something for myself

well, now that i've finished with the major baby book project, i finally got around to executing one of the many ideas i've had floating around in my head lately. this was a really quick embroidery project (it took one and a half evenings to complete).

i didn't necessarily want perfect lines, such as the kind i strive for in my baby books. i made a rule for myself that i couldn't undo any stitches. if it looked wrong or awkward, i just had to keep going forward. (okay, there were two or three stitches that i re-did.) i think the result gives it a sort of lively, hand-drawn quality. i absolutely love the natural linen that i found at a value village. i need to find more!

i draw the image on the canvas with a disappearing ink pen. is that cheating? i don't know, but i really like the look of the sketched ink on the canvas...

the image is one of possibly more to come of what i guess could be called a diary series? words and images that may or may not shed some light on what sometimes goes on in my brain.

not really sure what to do with it now. i don't feel inclined to hang it on the wall, but i do like it. maybe i'll sell it on etsy one day. but the important thing is, i finally got to produce something for myself. and that feels pretty good.