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