How are you all copying as we enter our third week of lockdown?
Like many people I'm up and down. There are busy days and slow days, but mostly very long days. I relish my daily dog walks and I'm grateful that we live where we do and that it's possible to walk for miles and hardly see a soul. And when we do see others it's a chance to wave and have a chat from a distance. But like many others I'm also struggling with the fact that I no longer have work, which has not only meant no structure to my days but being self employed, also means no income.
To fill my time, I'm teaching myself new skills and have been posting regular mini video art tutorials on Instagram and Facebook, as well as putting them on my YouTube channel. It all feels very scary and I'm learning as I go but it's also good fun. But I'm also starting to think about how I might find ways to fill the shortfall in my earnings
I thought that one way might be to share share some of my old tutorials and so have decided to make my seasonal appliqué hoop PDFs available here with a Pay What You Can system for as long as we are in lockdown. Each one is a fully illustrated guide to creating your own seasonal hoop, complete with traceable patterns. The patterns could also be printed out and coloured in if you have children at home.
At the bottom of this post you will find a PayPal button and all I ask is that if you are able to make a small payment in return for downloading any of the tutorials, then please do. Of course I appreciate that times are hard for everyone right now and if you can't afford to pay anything at the moment, then you may download the patterns for free with my blessing and I hope it gives you something creative to fill your days. We could all do with more creativity!
The spring hoop is perfect for this time of year, especially Easter and I think I will probably hang mine in the window this coming weekend.
Click on the link below for your download.
The summer hoop features beach huts and hazy summer days.
You can find the download for the summer hoop here:
The Autumn hoop features berries and seeds as well as a little fox
You can find the download for the autumn hoop by clicking here:
And finally the winter hoop features a suitably snowy scene.
Although each design is intended to be displayed as a hoop to hang on the wall, they could be adapted to fit in a regular picture frame or possibly made to decorate a cushion or a bag too.
You can find the winter hoop download here
I have been selling these patterns in my Etsy shop but I have deactivated them while I have the downloads available here. You can find my PayPal button below and thank you for your support.
If you have any questions, just leave a comment below... and of course if you make up any of the patterns I would love to see them!
Wishing you all a happy lock downed Easter... We are attempting a family zoom call on Sunday with fourteen of us!
Gina x
"happy lock downed Easter", it still seems surreal that this is happening, it's like some crazy late night film!!
ReplyDeleteYour little hoops are lovely, especially the bunnies and fox!!
Lovely appliqué hoops Gina. I have your beach hut hoop, the one in the four seasons photo. I was going to give it o my mum for a birthday but I couldn't part with it and it is now prettifying my craft room / office space. I want to check-in on your YouTube channel this evening (long working day ahead). Something to look forward to x
ReplyDeleteYou are always full of resourceful ideas Gina. I hope you get plenty of takers. The hoops are so pretty.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your family Zoom link up. My daughter and I have spent hours going round in circles trying to link ourselves, but with no success. Maybe my elderly laptop isn't up to it. Have a lovely Easter.
They are lovely Gina what a good idea to sell you patterns. I have never tried appliqué, I rather like the idea of giving it a go.
ReplyDeleteI'm really enjoying reading your posts about what you're doing during lockdown. It seems vitally important now to be in contact, even if only virtual, with those we know (or, in this case, have known). I love to hear about your (new) village life. It's good to know you are as creative and resourceful as ever. Hope the family 'meeting' goes well. Happy Easter!
ReplyDeleteThey are lovely and I hope they’re taken with the generosity that they’ve been given! Isn’t the Internet fabulous. We can only hope they stop the HS2 rubbish and use the money for better internet and the NHS instead!
ReplyDeleteLove those hoops! I'd signed up for an applique workshop locally but the virus put paid to that. Happy Easter and I hope the zoom call works out (though I haven't a clue what it is!).
ReplyDeleteYour hoop designs are darling and I admire your talent. Happy Easter.
ReplyDelete