NANCY NICHOLSON: May 2014

Saturday, 24 May 2014

New Embroidery Kits sneek peak

The new embroidery kits, four of them, are not quite ready but can't resist showing a couple of details. These are just home photos and nothing flashy, but some flashy ones are one their way ... of all the new things. If you would like to order one of the new kits please email me so I am aware of you and can give you priority. Once they up loaded onto the website we'll be in business, but because of Makegood preparations we are a few days behind.

I will be doing some online tutorials on the cushion kits so look out for those. Right now, the van is packed and we will meet them in London to put up the show tomorrow. So time to relax for the first evening in weeks, some lovely bream and new potatoes, watercress salad, telly, no embroidery! Or crochet.

Long Tail Bird Embroidery Cushion Kit Detail

Pigeon Embroidery Cushion Kit Detail

Friday, 23 May 2014

Makegood Festival

I have neglected you all ... but it is only a week now till the Makegood festival

Please do come if you can as it is going to be quite brilliant! An amazing showcase for 200 creative businesses many who I can say are very cool people indeed as they have been my fellows on this journey we all have been taking at School for Creative Startups. This all reminds me so much of my degree show and I still have nightmares about that! The lists are everywhere, and today is the last day I have in the studio to get the last things packed and ready, then into the car ... on Sunday we will drive there to put it up (there will be photographic evidence) and then it starts on Thursday for us with Press and VIPs coming. Open to public on Friday! YIKES! As I have barely had time to look after myself this last two weeks or more ... I am a little worried about the bloodshot eyes and lack of smartness when meeting the press. I don't do "smart" very well, even when I try really hard.

The photos below are of the work in progress. New embroidery kits which came in huge great rolls which I can hardly lift, mad frantic stitching to complete samples for the show, the colour dilemma, choosing threads for the kits. Many early mornings and late nights.

And I still have inappropriate shoes to wear to this event! I long to wear my Birkenstocks but not sure it would be right. That will be worth a visit if nothing else, to see what I finally manage to cobble together to wear and whether I have had the mental where with all to brush my hair and not put mascara on only one eye. Seriously I would be chuffed to bits to meet anyone who reads this blog. And here I want to thank any of you who have helped with the frantic stitching of samples ... you know who you are ... THANK YOU SO MUCH!

New kit ... Little Bird No.2

New Kits stitching sample detail of Long Tail Bird Cushion kit

Detail Long Tail Bird Cushion kit

Little Bird No.2 new kit detail

New Kits choosing colours for Little Bird No. 2

New Kits on the roll!

Long Tail Bird and Pigeon Cushion Kits on the roll

Tuesday, 6 May 2014

Embroidered Greek Costume

I just want to share this beautiful thing ...

Bank Holiday Monday and off we go to Sissinghurst Cricket Club boot fair! The day was sunny and the temperature was kind. My first boot fair of the season, though some of my friends are champing at the bit earlier in April, eager for the first ones ... the thrill of the unexpected treasure, always guaranteed to get the blood racing. This boot fair is a large and unruly one. There is obviously some kind of plan in the general layout but as the stall holders arrive I feel it all goes to pot and ends up being rather a maze, which I suppose adds to the thrill of the hunt. It is fatal to be indecisive because you will never find which stall that treasure was in again ... was it by that foot bath or next to the pink leopard onesey? Argh!

Anyway I had begun to feel quite smug about my purchases so far, a tiny painted lead monkey, I think an old Britons toy animal, and Ingmar Bergman DVD for a joy evening's entertainment, two duck egg blue 1950s melamine bowls ... happiness. Satisfied we were ready for a stewed cuppa in the pavilion then off home. But then I spotted a real treasure.

It is a tiny little embroidered traditional Greek Costume, a shirt, wool jacket, wool trousers, and a little hat with a blue silk tassel. It is quite the most beautiful thing. The ladies selling it told me it belonged to their son, and was in the dressing up box for 40 years, the son now being 46, but it looks older to me. I shall treasure it ... Does anyone out there have a similar item or any information to share? I took the sellers name so I can relay any information to her ... but I am so enjoying marvelling at the workmanship at the moment ... please enjoy also

Now back to work. I have a press event at Somerset House next week and still waiting for the new kits to arrive ... it is all getting very stressful! The stitch cards are also expected today ... I missed the post on Saturday when they tried to deliver them ... how exasperating!