Price of handmade goods

How many of us have suffered like this blogger, I know I have:


http://whatthecraft.com/overpriced-cant-afford-handmade-pricing/

Blog flog for any other embroiderers out there

Sharon B is asking if people would like to have another TAST Challenge next year.

I had such fun with the last two that I started a separate blog for all the samples I made.

If you want to practice your stitches, learn some new ones or would like an incentive to keep your hand in, follow the first link to read all about it and leave a comment to register your interest.

ADO Quarterly Challenge - Goth

I've just started on my submission for the ADO Quarterly Challenge. The theme is "GOTH".

I'm planning to make a "Christmas Goth" and I've started by making some rough sketches:

First of all I printed out a photograph of one of my dolls and then outlined it in felt tip pen to use as a 'pattern' to design the costume, a bit like a paper dress-up doll except I didn't cut it out:

I placed it beneath the next page of my sketch book and traced the outline for the first sketch.

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I have a piece of net fabric with metallic christmas motifs - I've been looking for a chance to use it. That's the cross hatched bits with red and green dots on the sketches. In some of the pictures I've shaded it purple so it shows up against the black. In this one, the body,face and arms will be white fabric and the legs black. In each case, they would wear my favourite boots, suitably embellished. The skirt lining would be either purple or red.

Here's the back view:

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The centre panel for the skirt here is appliqued black net with a silver stripe. This version would have a white face, with a black body, arms and legs.

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In this sketch, the skirt is black net with a silver stripe. I think I would line the net with red, rather than the purple in the sketch. This version would have a white face and body, with black arms and legs.

Now I just have to choose which one to make and how to further embellish it!
Maybe I will make them all!

2012 Santa evolution!

Here's this year's Santa decoration. I make just a few of these each year, some for gifts and one or two for sale.

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Lots of stitchery, sequins and beads:

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This year's Santa has stuffed appliqued arms and felt hands.

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