Where has the time gone?

Firstly, I cannot express to you all that being here feels a little surreal after all this time!  I checked and my last post was 17th June 2018, literally 7 years ago!!! WOW! Let me tell you an awful lot has happened since then! I will try to unpack....

I had just completed my first year of my Textiles degree, in Sussex. Updating this now I am thrilled to express that I have completed my Textiles degree, after moving to Cardiff Wales to move to a better Textiles degree.  I graduated with First Class Honours June 2022.

For my final major project as part of my Textiles degree I created a a totally new 3D structure all hand embroidered apart from the huge wooden tree ring base, the tree branch within and the woven willow around the structure.  It was developed from exploring seeds and seed pods, I was fascinated at how seed shells protect the inner seed.  I using this concept to create an environment that was protected by a woven willow shell like form. Some photos of some of the elements I embroidered below:

It was whilst on my Textile degree that I started to push the boundaries of conventional hand embroidery.  I really liked experimenting with 3 dimensional 360 degree hand embroidery. Below a few of the things I have been experimenting with.  But also sharing with others as I launched an Etsy store with Hans (daughter) help. Sadly with all my studying my Etsy store had taken a back seat for a while, soon to be upon and running more active shortly now I am free again! 

I did go onto studying a Masters degree In Cardiff at the University of South Wales, and graduated literally this June 2025! More on this to follow!

I launched my own business : keeping a touch of Germany I adore so much having lived for so long there as a child and adult.  Zenf, this is something I love with my bratwurst when visiting Germany! Zenf is mustard! I will once I remember how blogger works again add a link on my page to my Etsy .... if I can!

How can I forget!! Whilst studying on my Textiles degree Covid hit..... OMG!!! Those were really tough times, thankfully out the other end now.

I did go through a really tough time alone in student halls all through Covid, to make things easier for myself I shaved all yes all my hair off! Thankfully its hair and grew back! As you can see from this photos that my phone recently decided to remind me off this time too! I left my eye brows! I mean I can laugh about this now, and think WOW I actually did shave all my hair off! Wondering what everyone else got up to during covid lockdown? I didn't really stitch through covid, I did however submerge myself into my university work, that kept me busy.

A few embroidery and stitchings I have done since I was last here! Oh I plan to stay this time, if there are still people that blog? I had to use Instagram for university but never really got on with it, so thought I would return to blogging now that I have the time.

1.Melting ice cream.

2. Front

3. Back

4. Crewel work tree of plenty I designed and embroidered.

5. Close of details.

6. Close up of details.

7. Close up of details.

8. Hand embroidered lizard eye close up.

9. Lizard eye.

10. This was a 100% hand embroidered project I undertook to create a Zen garden, the only element not hand embroidered is the wooden base.

11. Close of the red bridge and bamboo I had embroidered.

12. More Zen garden details.

13. The completed Zen garden.

14. A close up of the raked sand area that is made from thousands of tiny French knots.

15. This is a tiny miniature rubber plant I hand embroidered, only the pot that is not hand embroidered!

I have been cross stitching too, mainly adding a few stitches here and there to ongoing long long long work in progress projects!  I will probably get around to sharing here soon! I have also been designing! Something I never thought I would ever do! I currently have a fascination with strawberries, this one is one of my own creations I am working on, I will share more soon.

What else has happened.... hang got married! photos to follow if you would like to see them? Jon and I are coming up to our 15 year anniversary this Christmas Eve, yes we married on Christmas Eve! and going strong. We all now live in Cardiff, Wales and love it here, but would rather be in Germany! ha ha 

I think this post is long enough and probably a shock to most of you that follow me, to see that I am back after so long! Would be lovely to re-connect to you all again.