This weeks stitch is Bullion.

Watch the tutorial and see how you go. Here are some images of where I use Bullion stitch.

Don't forget you can download my stitch tutorials free on this blog.

On the side panels of this blog, you will find all the links to our YouTube Channel, our Apps and our Etsy store.

#bullionstitch

#bullion

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#embroideryapp

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Back Stitch

 Each week I hope to release a stitch for you to try. Expand on the stitch if you wish.

The first stitch is Back Stitch.

Watch the tutorial and see how you go. Here are some images of where I use Back stitch. Can you spot where it is?

The back stitch is used in Blackwork. Here is a needle case I created using blackwork. A FREE tutorial is available on our Free Tutorial Page.

Don't forget you can download my stitch tutorials free on this blog.

On the side panels of this blog, you will find all the links to our YouTube Channel, our Apps and our Etsy store.

#backstitch

#etsy

#youtube

#arlenescrafts

#arlenescraftsembroideryapp

#embroideryapp

#embroidery

#embroiderystitches

#embroiderydesigns

#embroiderypattern

#embroiderytutorial

#embroiderywork

#beginnerembroidery

#learnembroidery

#learnembroiderystitches

New Page - Video links to stitches and useful tips

I have added an extra page to this Blog. The new page contains links to all the current stitches and useful tips that are on in Arlene's Crafts Embroidery Apps, Embroidery, Silk Ribbon Embroidery and those in development - Stumpwork, Goldwork and Crewel Work. 

Jump on over to the page and explore what is available.

Note: those that do not have a link, will be coloured white.

Version 2 - Silk Ribbon Embroidery App - now available.

 Hi everyone. Version 2 of the Silk Ribbon Embroidery app is available for download in the Apple App Store.  I'm sorry I can't give you an Android version, I did price it once for someone else to create one, and they quoted me $30,000, ridiculous. So whilst I can do it for FREE by myself and with a little help from my son, you get just Apple.

What's new: There are now video links within the many stitches and useful tips. I've added new Embroidery Stitches and some new useful tips. I will update the downloadable ones here on this website soon.

Here is the link to watch how to navigate the new version: https://youtu.be/pAwf5ZRu4Mc

New Videos - YouTube Channel

 Hi, have you visited our YouTube channel lately?

 No! you say, we've added many new videos recently. 

I will soon be adding more videos related to other techniques other than Embroidery and Silk Ribbon Embroidery like Goldwork, Stumpwork and eventually Crewel work.

I am currently working on new updates for both the Embroidery App and the Silk Ribbon Embroidery App, with new stitches added, new useful tips added and links to the videos on YouTube will be added as well. The Silk Ribbon Embroidery App update is due at the end of September, and the Embroidery App not long afterwards. Hopefully, I can get them out sooner, I will certainly try.

Do you own an iPhone, iPad, or MacBook Air, the apps work wonderfully on them. I have created videos on how to navigate the apps, click the links below.

I'm sorry I can't provide them in an Android version, but the cost is prohibitive. Using Apple I am able to do it all on my own. (with a little of Son's help, of course - he was the original coder after all)

New Videos and Updates to the Apps

After 18 months away, we are back in Sydney. 6 months in Tasmania, 6 months in the States and another 6 months trekking from the east coast to the west up to Exmouth and back along the Nullarbor and the South Australian Peninsulas.  It's been a busy time here at the Whites House. 

I've recently started a University Diploma in Family History, so life is going to be very busy.  I've released some new videos on my YouTube Channel and working on the new updates for the two Apps. I have started working also on creating three new Apps, Goldwork, Stumpwork and Crewel Work. We shall see how we go.

Click the photo for the link to my new videos: 

New Silk Ribbon Embroidery Samplers

 

Busy putting the finishing touches to my new Silk Ribbon Embroidery Samplers. Should be up tomorrow. 

Kit's are there now can be purchased with/without hoop and embroidery scissors.

Updated QR codes

 QR codes are a quick way to link to either an APP, a website or even a document.

I have discovered a great free site that allows unlimited scans of the QR code, so they never expire.

This company: https://qrcodegeneratorhub.com/qr/my/campaigns does just that, thank you.

Just love how you can have so many designs for free.

More will be added as needed.

Facebook:

Instagram

Embroidery App

Silk Ribbon Embroidery App

Our Etsy Store

Our You Tube Channel

Beginner Embroidery Course

  Hi friends.

I've been busy creating a new beginner Embroidery course.

Learn to Embroider or refresh your embroidery knowledge. What is included:

These instructions help you from start to finish, from how to separate your threads from the skein, to starting and finishing your work.  Comes complete with links to videos for all 20 stitches as well as printable instructions, and a Useful tips guide. 

 The instructions cover two samples each containing 10 stitches covering 20 basic stitches, including Back, Bullion, Buttonhole, Stem, French knot, and many more, that fit in a 7” hoop. 

Visit our Etsy shop for more details: Etsy

The useful tips guide covers many things Embroidery related, including wrapping your inner hoop, storing ideas for your threads, creating backgrounds for your work, and many more tips.

Both the stitches and useful tips are from Arlene’s Crafts Embroidery App, download your FREE copy:

Click the link in the side column.

Also available is Arlene's Crafts Silk Ribbon Embroidery App: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/arlenes-crafts/id1129993350

A kit is available for purchase with or without a hoop in our Etsy Shop.

Copyright:

It is my vision to share what I am currently working on, finished, or thinking of working on, in a hope that my work inspires and teaches those wishing to learn the wonderful art of embroidery in many forms. All the content in this tutorial and on my blog; including photographs, tutorials, text, and the design work are copyright to me Arlene White, unless otherwise noted. You have my express approval to copy any photograph, tutorial, blog post from this tutorial or on my blog for your own use. If you want to use on your own blog, website or as teaching aid/hand-out, I do expect you to give me the appropriate credit by including an active clickable link to the blog which states - source information is from Arlene White's blog http://arlenes-crafts.blogspot.com/ or tutorial or class. You do not have the right to make money from my ideas, tutorials, text, and photographs without express written permission from me. Nor do you have the right to reproduce any item from my blog or my classes or tutorials for mass production purposes.

Gold Beetle Published

 It's so exciting when you get published. My beautiful Gold Beetle was published back in 2016 in Pauline Browns - The Encyclopedia of Embroidery Techniques. I had forgotten all about signing the paperwork to have him added to the image section at the back of the book.

2020 & 2021 are behind us now, here's to better 2022

Well my dear friends, it's been too long since I've put anything up here, as I mainly now work though Facebook, but find I still need to catch up some here. This is a long post.

2020 and 2021 were certainly years with ups and downs, unfortunately more downs than ups, but we have to move on. 2020 we lost a few very close friends and our beloved Beagle Miss Rosey. She had a good life with us I feel, and at the ripe old age of 15, that dreaded Cancer took her too soon. It also took 3 wonderful humans that year, that I miss everyday. Thankfully I can say we did not loose any family or friends to COVID, unlike many others around the world. 

We started our year 2020 on the road in Victoria, happily awaiting the arrival of our son and his wife from America to tour the Great Ocean Road. We did, and as we were saying our goodbyes, airports around the world were closing down. They made it home by a couple of days.

Michael and I continued to travel around Victoria, as we had house sits organised, but as the days progressed it became increasing apparent our travels were going to come to a halt. In fact they did, and as we had our house sits cancel and caravan parks and free camping areas closing down we only had one choice and that was go back to Sydney, Michael went back to work and wait it out. Unlike many people, financially for us, a good option. We have now been in Sydney since Easter 2020. We will finally be back on the road in a fortnight, COVID permitting.

Our trip back to Sydney we passed through the areas that were devastated by the Bush fires of late 2019-early 2020. The growth on the trees were just coming back, the ground scorched and black.  It is so hard to imagine the lost to the wildlife in the area, not only the lost of homes and unfortunately some humans.

 

This time in Sydney we were hoping to see some more of the sights, but kept in lock-down, didn't really help things. We finally got out and about (with some restrictions) but were not allowed to travel too far from home.  

We manage to get a couple of house sits back to back at Razorback in July (the ones with Goats and dog and the other with a Cow, her calf and chickens), that took us through to December. Thankfully keeping us away from all the COVID drama's. August 2020 as I mentioned we lost our beautiful Miss Rosey. One of the families that we house sit for at Razorback graciously allowed us to bury our beloved pet on their land.

October we went to Canberra to visit Michael's Niece and meet up with his brother too. We took the bikes, and had fun riding around Lake Burley Griffin. For my early birthday present this year Michael upgraded my e-bike. As I had done nearly 5000 klm on the other one, the battery was starting to give us a little grief. My new bike is wonderful, has three power settings, as well as a walk assist. It can give me up to 120klm of battery life on the lower setting, and also had 9 gears and super good disc brakes. It also has an adjustable seat, which is it's best feature as far as I'm concerned. And before you ask, yes, I do still pedal, it's pedal-assist, not fully electric and no throttle.  I sold my old one to a man in the Van park.

For the month of October-November we house sat again for our now friends at Razorback. I did a couple of more classes with Jane Nicholas whilst there too. (I will do a separate post for all my embroidery). We did some more rides down along the Wollongong bike paths as well as closer to Razorback at Camden. We stayed at Razorback until early December, when we did a short trip up to see Michael's family and spend a long weekend with them, whilst there we had a Video chat with our son in the States for his birthday, and were given the happy news we were finally going to be Grand Parents. Our little angel was due in July 2021. Even though the home owners were back from their trekking they allowed us to stay until we left for holidays.

 

We spent Christmas at Milton Showgrounds and explored the area around, taking in from Ulladulla, down to Batesman Bay.We got the drone out and took some photographs and movies of the area. This shot is of our van, all by itself. We stayed at Milton until after the new year. 

Early January 2021 we moved back to Razorback to do one more week for our friends, then moved back to the caravan park at Miranda. Michael bought himself a Stand up Paddle board (SUP), for his birthday in February. 

March we did a week up on the central coast, where Michael went diving and tried out his SUP, we had lovely weather thankfully and got some great rides in. 

We then spent a couple of weeks down at Wollongong, just to get away from the Sydney area. 

 

April, we caught up with Michael's cousins and we also did a day trip over to Manly and a sail up the Parramatta river returning to Miranda by train. It was a great day out, and the last for several months. Restrictions kept as close to the park. I was busy making baby things and attending a couple of classes with Jane Nicholas. Here is a blanket I embroidered for our little one, at this stage we didn't know if baby was a he or a she. (secretly I was hoping for a she).

Here we stayed until May, when out of the blue we got another house sit, back at Razorback. Not the same family we usually sat for, but their friends. They had a massive home and we looked after 4 dogs, 2 small and 2 big, many ducks, geese, chickens and roosters. The home had amazing views from the Blue Mountains down to the southern highlands.

This photo shows our home (on wheels) next to their home.

 

 

We stayed here for a couple of weeks before going back to the one with the Goats and dogs. As you know COVID hit the world hard, and the Delta variant certainly showed its ugly head here in Australia. New South Wales went into a lock-down from mid June through to late September. Thankfully our home owners got away for their 3 month holiday through western NSW SA, NT and QLD, before arriving home late September.

July bought us a wonderful surprise, our beautiful new little granddaughter, Eliza Christine White, was born 31^st July, 2021. She was 8lb 31/2 oz. 19.5 inches long and dark blue eyes. To say that we are over the moon at the arrival of this little one is an understatement.

So during our time in lock-down, Michael had many days off work due to COVID as nobody was allowed to go to work, so we did odd jobs around the house

and I did loads of sewing and creating for our new little Angel. Here is her mobile and Name door hanger I made her. I also made several bits of clothing for her, 

I also made her several other items, one being her Christmas Ornament for her first Christmas, of course had to be Australian, so I made her a Koala.

As time past and the restrictions were finally being eased, in time for my 60th Birthday. Unfortunately it became a bitter sweet affair, as Christopher's Father-in-law, Grand father to our little Eliza, died suddenly. Making it very hard to celebrate. it was quiet a shock to all of us, and now I still struggle to believe this wonderful man will not get to see his little one grow up, be there to teach her life skills that he has to his children, who are all wonderful human beings, RIP Christian Thorikl Host.

We did get to have a few people celebrate with us, at the home with the view.  The night before the party, we had a horrific hail storm. It was like snow. We got a little bit of damage, mainly the side channels above the little doors you see on this side. The Decals also have some pitting, and so do the skylights on the roof. Not as bad as some, that said, it was horrifying.

The next day was my party, a love warm day, and a lovely evening to follow. During the afternoon we walked up to the top of the property where they have a flag pole and had a look around. It was a lovely celebration in the end.

October also saw our little Eliza christened.

We moved on the following weekend, (November) down to Wollongong, unfortunately the weather had not been kind, and it was cold and horrible whilst we were that close to the beach. We had two more house sits for the year, starting on the 11th December, taking us through to the 9th January, 2022.

I've managed to make a few more items for Eliza, her Christmas Stocking and an embroidered jumper set. The jumper set was made by friends (I don't crochet or knit very well), and then using the wool left over from her blanket I embroidered the flowers on her outfit.

Here she is in her outfit. Just too cute.
 

 

So I will leave it here, told ya it was a long post. But to add, we hope to be traveling to Tasmania on the 5th February, and hopefully to the States in July, in time for our little one's first birthday, (here's hoping).

I will end with a couple of my favourite photographs of our little one, just because I can.Eliza's rocking horse, made by her great uncle.

Thank heavens for Video Chat's, they have been our one saving grace.

Eliza's first snow....

Happy New year
Arlene