Cushion-making workshop coming up...

If you'd like to learn how to make an envelope backed cushion from your own material, then come along to the workshop I'll be running in June! (see the workshop page for details...)

And to whet your appetite, here are a few cushions that were produced for a commission. They show use of blanket stitch, straight stitch and my hand-printed imagery.

Reverse Applique Piccies

Here are is an image of some reverse applique I've recently produced - hope you like it!

I will be running a workshop soon, so if you're interested do get in touch and let me know!

Amy x

postponed ready Eggy Brooch :(

Due to poorliness, amy aardvark will not be hosting the Ready Eggy Brooch workshop this Wednesday - sorry for any inconvenience. 

x

amy aardvark's fabulous flyer!

West Norwood's Feast!

Today has been fabulous - amy aardvark has been soaking up the sun in the heart of West Norwood where a new, monthly event has been unveiled.

West Norwood's Feast, http://westnorwood.spacemakers.org.uk/, will be held on the first Sunday of every month and kicked off with a great fanfare, plenty of bunting and pre-ordered sunshine. The rain stayed away and the West Norwoodians came out in their hundreds to find the treasures on display in the Retro Village, Gardeners Corner, Artisans' Market and the Food Fair.

amy aardvark could be found in the fArtisans' Market, promoting her next bout of courses, the first of which will be the 'Dark Art of Applique' on Saturday 9th April. She was also to be found with the prints by rather talented Amy Hutchings http://www.etsy.com/shop/amyhutchings

I will post up piccies later, but for now, it's time to play with the baby (I've missed her today)!

Adult and Childrens "Ready Eggy Badge!!! - places now available

Ready Eggy BROOCH!

amy aardvark’s adult and childrens workshop

When the holidays seem to be endless, why not join amy aardvark and friends to learn new skills and create something special together?

Ideal for adults and children, “Ready Eggy, Brooch!” is an opportunity for you to work as a team to create the most beautiful Easter badges…ever.

You will be provided with everything you need to create your very own Easter-inspired brooch, why not don your creative hat and then decorate it with your own design?

Package deal – one adult and one child for £10, each additional child £2.50

Drop in from between 12 and 2pm

Wednesday 20^th April 2011

Location: St Barnabas Village Hall, Dulwich Village

Book your places in advance – limited space available. First come first served!

Another location TBC…watch this space! x

something special in the making...

Keep watching this very space for the exciting unveiling of amy aardvark's adult and children worshops!!! I have something reet special up my sleeve that involves being creative and having lots of fun!

the voodon't valentines workshop

On Saturday, t'was the time of year when a twitterpated individual may wish to express their love by the giving of gifts...so we at amy aardvark thought, "why not make the keeper of your heart their very own voodon’t doll?"

For those not in the know, a voodon’t doll will enhance the feelings you share – so popping a pin in the doll’s heart will increase the sense of love, whilst poking the doll’s toes will not cripple your intended, but act as a relaxing foot rub!

Here at amy aardvark, we found ourselves entertaining a 'twitterpated' couple, who wished to create voodon't doll replicas of each other. The course commenced with tea and cake - the finest accompaniment to learning embroidery stitches. Designing followed, with a pattern shortly created thereafter. Phew - what a morning! 

Fortunately, with the aid of coffee and toasted hot cross buns, the couple lovingly appliquéd and embroidered, embroidered and appliquéd, using the chain, satin stitch, back and blanket stitch, to perfect their mini-thems.

The amy-don't doll had blanket stitch defined boobs and satin stitch was used to create the effect of her hair tucked behind her ear. The Joe-don't doll had a felt, embroidered heart appliquéd onto his tee and a leaf with 'bits' embroidered and attached over his, ahem, bits. Scatter stitch described stubble and Blanket stitch was utilised for eye lashes.


These dolls bore an uncanny likeness to their muses...lets hope that love remains in the air with these two and the voodon't dolls never become voodoo...

festive applique - the results!

...and here are the results of our talented, hand-embroidering, cushion-making ladies:

Jane appliquéd leather and fur onto cotton and sateen to create the bodies of her cats, adding detail to the design with beading and a felt collar

Erin used the split stitch in a metallic thread to create the cage around her appliquéd birds:

And Lisa created a felt 'dove' design, using blanket stitch to attach the heart and 'weaving' a basket with ribbon threaded through a ladder stitch.

Each design was so very different and adventurous in their approach. We over ran oh-only-by-a-wee-bit, but perfection takes time - and the results were worth every extra minute!

See what the ladies thought of the course on the testimonials page...

time to talk about festive applique!

I know I know, it's now February and I hear am, about to share with you the fun we had in December when a gaggle of girls got together to learn hand embroidery and applique. With no carols to be heard, we got stuck into a variety of stitches and - feeling confident - we began the material selection and discussed how to approach each individual design...

...and off they went in splendid style! The outcome of the workshop was fabulous - the cushions varied greatly in approach and each participant went home with a unique artwork, hand crafted from start to finish by theirs truly. x

wow - blogtime!

well, it's getting late and the stars are out.

And here I am, setting up this fab, new blog. From here on in, amy aardvark will let you know about the fun she's been having and sharing with you the brilliant stuff that she and friends have been creating.

'amy aardvark applique's...' is a monthly workshop that started in December 2010 amid the crazy snow. The first group came in to learn festive applique: sustained by mince pies, toasted tea cake and fresh coffee and tea. Learning hand-embroidery and applique stitches they created unique designs before being shown how to make their creation into a cushion. Relaxed, fun, educational and not a note of christmas music to cloud the brain. 

Since then, amy aardvark has devised a programme for 2011 to pass on the skills of applique, hand-embroidery, badge-making, cushion making, toy making, lamp shade design and stencilling.

The first 2011 session was the 'amy aardvark voodon't valentine's workshop' held just yesterday, 12th February, Enthusiastic, twitterpated -  the couple who signed up to the session made their own mini-replicas of each other. A voodon’t doll (for those who have forgotten) will enhance the feelings you share – so popping a pin in the doll’s heart will increase the sense of love, whilst poking the doll’s toes will not cripple your intended, but act as a relaxing foot rub!

Come tomorrow, I will post up the pictures from both of these events, but for now, I think it's time to say goodnight...

...Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite xxx