Works in progress
Posted By: Sam
Cross Stitch
June 14, 2012
October 01, 2010
With every season comes change
A few things have changed these days. Bringing a whole new meaning to the name Pin Pals, I've moved far away to Denver, Colorado. Pin Pals will still be based in Montreal so we'll still be keeping up shop and chatting online. It's going to be a new and exciting chapter in the land of Pals where one Pal is in Denver (a lot of big mountains) and one in Montreal (one cute little mountain).
Denver is a great city and I'm living in an amazing area full of used book stores, vintage boutiques and restaurants. I also live close by to my new favorite craft and fabric shop, Fancy Tiger. I've already taken advantage of their free craft night and I'm looking forward to taking some of the great workshops they offer so I can learn how to crochet or maybe even to properly sew a skirt!
Well, even though the leaves are turning orange in Montreal it feels like summer here in Denver. But warm weather can't stop Halloween and in the spirit of Halloween, I've added this sad pumpkin to our Etsy shop. He's a drawing that I printed on to fabric using Spoonflower, and I stuffed him with cotton from Fancy Tiger. He's so fun to hold onto and he has lovely long and skinny legs, making him a super fun dance partner.
And in the spirit of the season, wouldn't these sweetly stitched acorn buttons be perfect addition to your fall cardigan?
And, another reason to love this time of year, Puces Pop! Our favorite craft fair. It's this weekend.
As the website explains, it's Montreal's largest do-it-yourself festival where people can come and celebrate all types of independent creation! Proudly going into its sixth year, Puces POP takes place during the last two days of the POP Montreal Music Festival, and features a marketplace where over one hundred local and international artists, crafters, and indie record labels come to sell their wares. In addition, Puces POP hosts several other events such as Lil Biz (a business seminar for artists and craftspeople), Fashion POP and the Record Fair & Gear Swap!
Sam will be there with our wares so be sure to stop by.
Have a beer for me at Puces Pop Sam (^_^)
That's all from Denver! I'll be sure to post some pics soon, there are some beautiful neon signs in this mile high city. Phew, I'm out of breath!
Posted by: Sara
September 15, 2010
Witch Craft
I'm over the moon on a broomstick to be a part of Witch Craft!
This is a very cute and spooky book guaranteed to satisfy your autumnal craft cravings.
Here is my entry for the book, Cross Stitch Witch and Friends. A set of instructions for earrings and a little brooch.
Published by Quirk Books, a house known for releasing books that truly live up to it's name, I couldn't be happier to be a part of such a talented group of crafters!
(Check back for a give away soon ^_~)
Posted By: Sam
This is a very cute and spooky book guaranteed to satisfy your autumnal craft cravings.
Here is my entry for the book, Cross Stitch Witch and Friends. A set of instructions for earrings and a little brooch.
Published by Quirk Books, a house known for releasing books that truly live up to it's name, I couldn't be happier to be a part of such a talented group of crafters!
(Check back for a give away soon ^_~)
Posted By: Sam
June 01, 2010
A wee bit new
We've been up to some things as of late and we'd like to share them with you!
Meet Joséphine, she's a new hanging paper doll, and I was lucky enough to receive the first ever of her for my birthday awhile back. I love her. Look at those pom poms!
The Joséphine's and their beau homme were Sara's entry in the Hiatus group show at the Long Haul.
My entry was a Cross-Stitched piece of a fictional ferris wheel called the Hiatus.
We're gearing up for Puces Pop Printemps happening this weekend, so we've been stitching, and cutting and pasting away.
A couple of new barrettes include watermelon hearts and cat hats.
Mini Joséphine's will be for sale this weekend, along with other spring Pin Pal goods.
We hope to see you!
Posted by: Sam
Meet Joséphine, she's a new hanging paper doll, and I was lucky enough to receive the first ever of her for my birthday awhile back. I love her. Look at those pom poms!
The Joséphine's and their beau homme were Sara's entry in the Hiatus group show at the Long Haul.
My entry was a Cross-Stitched piece of a fictional ferris wheel called the Hiatus.
We're gearing up for Puces Pop Printemps happening this weekend, so we've been stitching, and cutting and pasting away.
A couple of new barrettes include watermelon hearts and cat hats.
Mini Joséphine's will be for sale this weekend, along with other spring Pin Pal goods.
We hope to see you!
Posted by: Sam
May 13, 2010
Frankly, we love you
We've gushed about Frankie before here on the Pin Pals blog, and how if ever there was a magazine that embodied our style and interests, it would be Frankie, hands down.
We were so pleasantly surprised yesterday to see that they were guest editors on etsy, and that they had included our smiley/frowny barrette!
We were featured with some amazing work including Sarah McNeil's adorable prints and hand knit bunnies, Ninainvorm's colourful and whimsical ceramics, and the sweetest little tea cozies you've ever seen from Andrea Lesley Crochet.
Along with vintage inspired notebooks, and delicate watercolour drawings, we felt right at home.
Thanks Frankie for returning the love!
Posted By: Sam
We were so pleasantly surprised yesterday to see that they were guest editors on etsy, and that they had included our smiley/frowny barrette!
We were featured with some amazing work including Sarah McNeil's adorable prints and hand knit bunnies, Ninainvorm's colourful and whimsical ceramics, and the sweetest little tea cozies you've ever seen from Andrea Lesley Crochet.
Along with vintage inspired notebooks, and delicate watercolour drawings, we felt right at home.
Thanks Frankie for returning the love!
Posted By: Sam
April 26, 2010
March 12, 2010
Assemble Yourselves
As Sara alluded to in the last post, a very charming gallery and studio called Assemble Shop in Seattle, Washington commissioned some Cross Stitch pieces for their March ArtWalk.
These pictures are courtesy of Assemble Shop and show a cozy space brimming with creativity.
The two girls behind Assemble, Andie and Emily (R-L) are as sweet as the store they run
For the art show, I decided to theme my work around the phrase "Welcome Home".
"Welcome Home presents a glimpse inside the creative & cozy spaces we build around us. Each piece is designed and hand-stitched with the home in mind, along with the individuals who live there. From modern day samplers expressing the love of a dwelling, to small-stitched stories representing the quiet and not-so-quiet everyday activities. This series celebrates the indescribable feeling of creating surroundings that you can truly call your own."
If you are in the Seattle area tonight, feel free to assemble from 6-9 at:
Assemble Gallery and Studio
7406 Greenwood Avenue North
Seattle, Washington 98103
I suspect you'll feel right at home!
Posted by: Sam
These pictures are courtesy of Assemble Shop and show a cozy space brimming with creativity.
The two girls behind Assemble, Andie and Emily (R-L) are as sweet as the store they run
For the art show, I decided to theme my work around the phrase "Welcome Home".
"Welcome Home presents a glimpse inside the creative & cozy spaces we build around us. Each piece is designed and hand-stitched with the home in mind, along with the individuals who live there. From modern day samplers expressing the love of a dwelling, to small-stitched stories representing the quiet and not-so-quiet everyday activities. This series celebrates the indescribable feeling of creating surroundings that you can truly call your own."
If you are in the Seattle area tonight, feel free to assemble from 6-9 at:
Assemble Gallery and Studio
7406 Greenwood Avenue North
Seattle, Washington 98103
I suspect you'll feel right at home!
Posted by: Sam
February 14, 2010
Work Week in Review
I admit to things being a little Cross-Stitch centric the last couple of posts, but that is only because my partner-in-crime is scheming up a series of illustrations which, when combined in rapid succession, will form a delightful little animation.
That being said, I will not hesitate to re-cap what I have been stitching away in my corner of the studio with the radio on and the sun beaming in.
A new Bow Heart necklace with adorable beads from Beads Planète
Bouquet Cross Stitch Earrings in black
and a sneak peak at a "Happy New Home" sampler.
I heard an interview on the radio with someone called an Efficiency Expert, and while I wouldn't compare my small computer set-up at home to a large corporate environment, I realized that my scanner placement was at a disadvantage where it was sitting. So, I re-configured my space more efficiently, and proceeded to scan pictures with ease.
These illustrations are from a very charming french book called, Pere Nuage, by Laurence Delaby with illustrations by Annette Buclet.
It is my mission to read this book word for word and figure out what is going on. It looks like a fairly incredible story based on the pictures. Anxious cats! Smoke rings! People doing some sort of shuffle!
Be advised that I will be scanning pictures on a regular basis now that my scanning system is at peak efficiency. Sometimes a little re-arranging is all it takes!
Posted By: Sam
That being said, I will not hesitate to re-cap what I have been stitching away in my corner of the studio with the radio on and the sun beaming in.
A new Bow Heart necklace with adorable beads from Beads Planète
Bouquet Cross Stitch Earrings in black
and a sneak peak at a "Happy New Home" sampler.
I heard an interview on the radio with someone called an Efficiency Expert, and while I wouldn't compare my small computer set-up at home to a large corporate environment, I realized that my scanner placement was at a disadvantage where it was sitting. So, I re-configured my space more efficiently, and proceeded to scan pictures with ease.
These illustrations are from a very charming french book called, Pere Nuage, by Laurence Delaby with illustrations by Annette Buclet.
It is my mission to read this book word for word and figure out what is going on. It looks like a fairly incredible story based on the pictures. Anxious cats! Smoke rings! People doing some sort of shuffle!
Be advised that I will be scanning pictures on a regular basis now that my scanning system is at peak efficiency. Sometimes a little re-arranging is all it takes!
Posted By: Sam
February 03, 2010
Orbiting the Bead Planet
I finally went into this store today.
I can't believe it took me so long!
I walked around in a daze for the first 5 minutes, until finally, I realized I had a handful of loose beads and was in need of a basket. Even after acquiring the basket, I was tsk-ed at the counter for filling it willy-nilly without noticing the neat little trays full of tiny plastic bags, and loose pens to write down the individual prices.
Luckily, the woman behind the counter was very patient (a prerequisite when working with beads I believe) and took me through the store while I pointed out the little gems I desired, and she carefully wrote down information.
Beads Planet is a marvelous way to counteract the gray February days, the sheer number of colourful beads, and variety of shapes, sizes and textures, is sure to make your head spin!
***^^^***^^^***^^^***^^^***^^^***^^^***^^^***^^^***^^^***
On a completely different note, I have discovered the pleasure of ordering brooch and pendant settings online, and then receiving a package in the mail, and then rushing to the studio to fit Cross Stitch work into them.
It is much much much too easy and fun!
Posted by: Sam
I can't believe it took me so long!
I walked around in a daze for the first 5 minutes, until finally, I realized I had a handful of loose beads and was in need of a basket. Even after acquiring the basket, I was tsk-ed at the counter for filling it willy-nilly without noticing the neat little trays full of tiny plastic bags, and loose pens to write down the individual prices.
Luckily, the woman behind the counter was very patient (a prerequisite when working with beads I believe) and took me through the store while I pointed out the little gems I desired, and she carefully wrote down information.
Beads Planet is a marvelous way to counteract the gray February days, the sheer number of colourful beads, and variety of shapes, sizes and textures, is sure to make your head spin!
***^^^***^^^***^^^***^^^***^^^***^^^***^^^***^^^***^^^***
On a completely different note, I have discovered the pleasure of ordering brooch and pendant settings online, and then receiving a package in the mail, and then rushing to the studio to fit Cross Stitch work into them.
It is much much much too easy and fun!
Posted by: Sam
January 28, 2010
Janvier
Today was a cold and blustery day.
The wind was howling through the windows, and the snow was coming down in thick white patches, covering everything in it's sight.
I stayed warm by stitching the first of four panels for an upcoming show. This one is called, The Stair Climber, and while he's not completely finished, I think he will get along nicely with the rest of the "People Doing Things" gang.
Sara's been working on a little piece of magic which you can see a preview of here, and we'll be sure to post new items as we scheme them up.
January is easily a month to burrow yourself in against the wind, and resort to nothing but hot coffee and work, but there is also inspiration to be drawn from the clear, white landscape, and crisp, cold nights.
Posted by: Sam
The wind was howling through the windows, and the snow was coming down in thick white patches, covering everything in it's sight.
I stayed warm by stitching the first of four panels for an upcoming show. This one is called, The Stair Climber, and while he's not completely finished, I think he will get along nicely with the rest of the "People Doing Things" gang.
Sara's been working on a little piece of magic which you can see a preview of here, and we'll be sure to post new items as we scheme them up.
January is easily a month to burrow yourself in against the wind, and resort to nothing but hot coffee and work, but there is also inspiration to be drawn from the clear, white landscape, and crisp, cold nights.
Posted by: Sam
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