I bloody love being sent customer photos! It's especially lovely to see when customers frame the embroideries as I don't often get a chance to do this myself. The prints and cards being used too are always fun to see!
My Great Aunt Frida is turning 100
Her memory is still incredible, luckily for us though that her eyesight isn't - because my nanny thought her beloved dog was called King. It was called Kim. Oops.
The Radical Nude
I found out about this exhibition with only a couple of weeks left, and the only day I could spare to go and see it was the day before it ended. Given that we went on the day before the show finished, and on a Saturday, it was obviously pretty bloody busy. London on a Saturday always is, but this was the first time that Egon Schiele's ground-breaking nudes were brought together, in an intense, sexy and 'extraordinarily arresting' way (my only note about the show in my sketchbook). Let's remember that Schiele's nudes we're often provocatively disturbing, uncomfortable but honest. So, being in a packed room (which, personally I feel was curated poorly - unless the disjointed room was an artistically brilliant accident), rubbing arms with everyone, I suddenly became very much aware that I was staring at a beautifully highlighted lady garden, while standing so close to a group of men that I could hear their breathing. Sure, it was a Saturday evening (we had to wait all day for our scheduled time slot) at the most anticipated exhibition - but looking around, the room was full of men. Art loving men of course, I'm sure, but I actually became really self conscious. Now, I studied Schiele at uni, of course I did, and the surrounding connotations of his ground-breaking work in a non-sexy Vienna of 1910. Some students came to the conclusion that he was a feminist. Some didn't like his 'pornographic studies' edged with sickness and death. Some just liked his mark making. I liked everything it made everyone think about. But this exhibition? I suddenly didn't like everything his work made me think about, purely because I was brushing shoulders with an elderly man that grunted at that particularly flushed foo-foo (don't think of me as naïve, I studied actual pornography for a while at uni, for art of course). I stepped on peoples feet (by accident, I promise) and shuffled round an odd layout after climbing up a bloody tower of stairs to the Courtauld Gallery at Sommerset House. Luckily enough though, Egon Schiele's beautifully radical nudes really did stand out, scream for my attention, and let me briefly forget about my surroundings. I'm so glad I made it in time.
distract and disarm
I've got endless notebooks filled with to-do lists and a calendar that has those to-do's cross referenced and colour coded. I feel so unorganised in the most organised way. That doesn't make any sense, I know.
Here's a drawing of me looking stressed on the phone, by Boo
Grayson Perry
"The difference between an amateur and professional artist is interesting. A professional is someone who got lucky and found an audience willing to pay for their work"
I can't help but feel this totally, completely, sums up my work.
It's bloody right though, isn't it?
Custom pet portraits - update
So. After being inundated with pet portraits in the few months leading up to Christmas, and after a lot of feedback and a lot of deliberation, I'm re-assessing the custom pet portraits. I put in a lot of time in each portrait and I've developed my embroidery skillz so that I can include as much detail as possible into each portrait - this means more thread colours, more stitches and more time. Even in the beginning, the feedback I most often received reflected the cost and how I don't really charge enough. I've done some more research (I'm not daft enough to think I'm the only stitcher in the world that makes custom pet portraits) and my pricings are pretty low. In the grand scheme of things also, once I've bought thread, times the man hours I put into each embroidery, the margins are very low. I never make work thinking about profit. I've always made something because I enjoy the process, because I love making something for someone and in turn making them happy. The fact that people buy my embroideries will forever astound me and keep me striving to better my work. Another big factor that is going to effect the custom pet portraits, and, a lot of my embroidery hoop art - manufacturers are stopping the production of the coloured flexi embroidery hoops I use. Major bummer. Like, major serious bummer. The 'wood effect' hoops are still available in lots of places, so fingers crossed these will be continued. However, that means the option of choosing a coloured hoop is now out. I have a few left tucked away, so you can contact me if you're really desperate for a coloured one, but lots of people are now charging silly money (see here ) for them, so it's unlikely I can get hold of any more.
So. Let's talk numbers. Previously, the pet portraits were 3" at £20 and 5" at £30. If anyone actually measured their hoop, they'd see that I was actually using a 4" and 6" hoop - I just preferred the sizing in contrast to the embroideries, but never edited this in the listings. So now custom embroidered pet portraits will now be 4" at £35 and 6" at £55. This is for a full colour, detailed embroidery. If your pet is one or two colours, the pricings will be 4" at £25 and 6" at £40 - there will be 4 different pet portrait listings now available on my Etsy page. Sadly, I won't be able to offer oval shaped portraits any more either - these are all no longer being manufactured too. HOWEVER, just contact me and I'll see what I can do, as I said, I do have some hoops left tucked away.
The lead up to Christmas was bonkers and so I'll also be scheduling portraits in now. I'll give you a date of when I can start the embroidery, it then takes me at least 2 days (3 days for the larger ones) and then I'll give you a date that I can post it. If you're after an embroidery for a certain date, contact me first so I can schedule you in properly to ensure that you'll receive it in time, and whether I'm able to do it by that date (depending on other scheduled portraits).
I hope you guys all understand why I've had to increase the pricing. I feel rather terrible about it. I wish I could make gifts for everyone and just make things for free, but, realistically that's a bit silly isn't it? I bloody love making custom pet portraits though. I look forward to seeing more of your lovely animals.
I'll also let you into a little secret - if I get time at some point soon, I want to try human portraits ..
belle de jour
Do you throw back your champagne like it's water? Do you eat your burger and chips with a knife and fork? Ever been caught walking out the ladies bathroom with your dress tucked into your knickers? Do you swear like a truck driver that's stumped their toe?
Yeah, me too, classy aren't we?
I've had 3 warnings from Etsy about my swearing. The listings now have little stars for words and I can only show detail photos rather than the whole item, so as not to offend people.
I'm ever so sorry.
we got it all right here, here is now and here is where I want to be
'there is beauty in everything, just not everybody sees it' - Andy Warhol
Look up, look down. Look at the details, the colours, the little things.
Take it all in, there's so much to see.
never kisses - all you ever send are full stops
The plan - to embroider more of my illustrations, poems and sketchbook drawings.
The reality - keeping up with commissions.
I'm bloody happy though.
standard
I could go on forever about the meaning and the history of this word.
I could go on forever about the modern day meaning and the modern day usage of this word.
I could go on forever about why people are trying to 're-claim' the word.
I could go on forever about why I love this word.
I will love you better, I will love you better
One of my all time favourite quotes, taken from a love letter Ernest Hemingway wrote to his (first) wife. Embroidered using black silk thread.
www.intwosandthrees.etsy.com
I'm getting quite a large collection of old and found wedding photos too.
"Who's gonna stop me when I'm coming through?"
Live fast, die young, bad girls do it well
Those classic lines from the gritty swag, lady gangsta, girl empowering rap song about female dominance sits so well next to the classic Victorian Crinoline lady, dolled up in her ruffles and covered in pink. Right?
www.intwosandthrees.etsy.com
Intwosandthrees on tumblr
http://intwosandthrees.tumblr.com/post/106354281699/ive-been-a-little-busy-over-the-last-6-weeks-with
I tend to just re-post my images from Instagram straight onto tumblr (as there's that option on Instagram), so sorry for not updating things on here. Once you view this video, you'll see just why I've been so bloody busy.
I'm over whelmed, incredibly thrilled, shocked, stressed, panicked and confused that so many of you lovely wonderful people should request an embroidered pet portrait. You all have such beautiful pets! In 6 1/2 weeks I managed to make 21 pet portraits. I've only cried 3 times, had a near break down once, thought about giving up twice and only had one needle-thread-thumb accident. I thought that was pretty good going, considering I've never had so many commissions before in my life. Towards the end, which so happened to be Christmas eve, I became so worn down, so poorly, that I really did consider apologising to everyone and considered packing it all in (I've had 10 more pet portrait requests for when I renew the listing on Etsy again - I had to take the listing down in the end to stop people from buying it, requesting them and emailing saying 'please can you not just fit me in', despite my replies being 'I'm so sorry, after scheduling people in, I'm unable to make you a pet portrait in time for Christmas'. People were still contacting me and I was finding it very overwhelming). I'm hoping a well earned break over Christmas, some time to make art work for myself and planning future work including fun stuff like exhibitions and collaborations, I'll be back on track and happy again.
The biggest, most massive thank you to everyone's support. I've not really been doing this embroidery malarkey for very long, it's incredible to see how far I've come, and it's ALL down to you guys.
Merry Christmas, happy new year, and a massive, heart felt thank you.
I tend to just re-post my images from Instagram straight onto tumblr (as there's that option on Instagram), so sorry for not updating things on here. Once you view this video, you'll see just why I've been so bloody busy.
I'm over whelmed, incredibly thrilled, shocked, stressed, panicked and confused that so many of you lovely wonderful people should request an embroidered pet portrait. You all have such beautiful pets! In 6 1/2 weeks I managed to make 21 pet portraits. I've only cried 3 times, had a near break down once, thought about giving up twice and only had one needle-thread-thumb accident. I thought that was pretty good going, considering I've never had so many commissions before in my life. Towards the end, which so happened to be Christmas eve, I became so worn down, so poorly, that I really did consider apologising to everyone and considered packing it all in (I've had 10 more pet portrait requests for when I renew the listing on Etsy again - I had to take the listing down in the end to stop people from buying it, requesting them and emailing saying 'please can you not just fit me in', despite my replies being 'I'm so sorry, after scheduling people in, I'm unable to make you a pet portrait in time for Christmas'. People were still contacting me and I was finding it very overwhelming). I'm hoping a well earned break over Christmas, some time to make art work for myself and planning future work including fun stuff like exhibitions and collaborations, I'll be back on track and happy again.
The biggest, most massive thank you to everyone's support. I've not really been doing this embroidery malarkey for very long, it's incredible to see how far I've come, and it's ALL down to you guys.
Merry Christmas, happy new year, and a massive, heart felt thank you.
Apologies.
Hello everyone, huge apologies for being super slack on the blogging updates. My trusty laptop failed spectacularly and now I've lost pretty much everything. I've got a snazzy new laptop but no images. Big sad face! So, I'll start again and try and keep you updated more. For now, you can find me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @intwosandthrees
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