Weekly Photo Challenge: Purple

When I saw this weeks theme, I decided on a very specific set of photos. And when I say very specific, I mean very hard to find as I didn’t remember if I still had them on my hard drive, or maybe on a USB which I’ve lost some time ago or maybe on a CD. See where this is going? Yes, it took me days to find them and in the end they were on my hard drive. In a folder I had specifically created to hold my, and I’m using this term very loosely, artsy photos.

Okay, I’m no horticulturist but I think this plant is syringa. A good tip to find out english names of plants and animals is to type the name in your own language in Wikipedia, copy paste the latin name in English Wikipedia. Latin, surprisingly many uses in modern-day writing environment. In this case it was from Finnish: Syreeni to Latin: Syringa to English (disappointedly): Syringa.

 I love the photo challenge. It gives me an excuse to play with Photoshop Actions. Once again I used the free sets available from The Pioneer Woman. My favourite and thus the most over-used action is Seventies which gives that lovely golden sunset vibe on every picture.

When I was playing with the said actions, I began thinking I could do something more with the images. Another freebie I’ve downloaded quite some time ago, a French cancellation mark set by Just Something I Made was perfect for what I had in mind.

You know what I made? I made small, postcard sized posters thus suitable sending for a friend:

 Or maybe use one of them to make a bigger card:

Click on the text below images to download:

ThriftyFinnVueCard

 ThriftyFinnLilacCard2

 ThrifyFinnNantesCard

Let me know who you sent your card to! Or if made something crafty with them!

TAST 1: Lilac Botanical Fly Stitch

Remember Take a Stitch Tuesday? Well, I decided to join and I’m happy that I did. Even though the challenge itself is on fourth week, I’m doing it from the beginning, starting with the fly stitch. Or should I say DID it from the beginning as my first sampler is done! I like to think that I was inspired by old botanical prints and all things french AND managed to portray those inspirations at least on okay level.

I didn’t have any particular design in  my head, I just doodled some lines with my disappearing ink pen to help my stitching. The lilac colour was also incidental. It was the first thread I pulled from my stash and then decided to go with it.

 The first two shapes/foliage on the left were done around those narrow lines but as I progressed I got annoyed that I couldn’t create more leaf like shape. I took out my trusty pen and drew the leaf shapes. It only didn’t help the shape to form but stitches got more even too.

 Lovely, lilac foliage almost done. I’m not too keen on the spots where the shapes overlap but in person the focus is in the overall effect so I’m not too bothered about it.

 The botanical print idea came after I finished embroidering and thought that some type of label to identify the stitch would come handy. I made a stencil with my least favourite washi tape and used covering white textile paint to create background for the text.

 Nothing too technical, just some finger painting, and I had my oval shape ready for some stitching. I left it to dry overnight to make sure the white wouldn’t get on the floss I was going to use but I’m sure if I’d used blow dryer I could have continued within minutes.

I don’t think I’ve managed to keep the back of an embroidery this neat! I used 2-strands of floss for the fly and all six for the label edge. Both were stitched using back stitch.

And here it is, my Lilac Fly Botanical Sampler

Next time: Buttonhole Stitch!