New Embroidery Pattern

I am very excited about this one!

Hey friends,

I am beyond thrilled to share a new pattern with you. It has be in the works for ages (not sure why it took so long…) but it was worth the wait because I absolutely love it. It is rare that I make something and I don’t have any criticisms for my own work. So, yay!

The Floral Fiesta Mandala. You can save 10% off the price with this code: FIESTA10 until May 29th (midnight UK time). If you are a paid subscriber, scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for your code to save 20% (valid until the same date.)

It is worked in just two stitches: back stitch and satin stitch. I think there was a time (maybe still?) where I would try and use as many different stitches as possible. But at the moment I am really interested in seeing what I can do with the limitation of just two or three stitches.

And stitching on a colour background is new to me, usually I work on white or off-white. But I guess it’s because the original drawing had this lime green background.

At the start of the year I did quite a lot of mandala style doodles in Procreate and then I got the idea that it would be fun to stitch some of them. So this is the original version of the pattern. More bits were added, as I drew it in vectors, so it would be a more circular design. But I didn’t want to stray too far away from the original doodle. I purposely tried to keep some of the wobbly lines or uneven flower shapes.

I guess I want it to feel handmade, by a human! :-)

It took a while to stitch the pattern but I I really enjoyed it. Especially when I got to the satin stitch. I know some people find satin stitch (and back stitch) a bit boring but I just love-love it. If you want to practice satin stitch, this is the pattern for you. :-)

A couple of posts from my blog:

Last Saturday my blog turned 20!

A recipe for conchiglioni filled with spinach and vegan ricotta.

Have a lovely weekend!

x Carina

P.S. For your listening pleasure: the May playlist.

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Some Things One Thing I Am Enjoying

Book: The Dictionary of Lost Words* by Pip Williams. I know I mentioned this book a little while ago when I picked it up again. Now I am almost at the end and, oh boy, there were some twists and turns in this story. I am enjoying it very much and I’m sorry that I am almost finished reading it.

I am tempted to read another book by Williams, The Bookbinder of Jericho*. Have you read it?

The Dictionary kinda reminds me of 25 Library Terrace* by Natalie Fergie. Fergie also wrote one of my favourite books of the past ten years: The Sewing Machine*. I have read The Sewing Machine many times. Proof of how much I love it: I own it in both paperback, ebook, and audiobook. :-) I think Library Terrace is due for a re-read soon.

*bookshop.org affiliate link.

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Some Interesting Things on The Internet

Printing Types: Their History, Forms & Use. A digitized version of a book from early 20th century. Interesting in itself, but the website is also very beautifully done.

Paper Clip Collection. The London stationery shop Present & Correct received a collection of paper clips. I keep meaning to visit P&C, it looks like they are a very interesting shop. Have you been there?

Doors of Kypseli by Eleanor Lines. A compilation of 100 illustrations presenting the diverse array of wrought iron door designs from this culturally and geographically central Athens neighbourhood, Doors of Kypseli is Lines’s love letter to her adopted city.

Creative Thought Is Essential.

Inside the Archive: collecting online moving image. {YouTube}

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