Buzy Bobbins

Thursday, 14 May 2020

Excel Saga - Anime Cross stitch design

Excel Saga - Cross stitch design

Full design preview

Colour	Where is it used	Anchor Thread numbers
Black	Outlines and glove	403
White	Highlights in eye, on collar and on tooth	1
Pale fleshtone	Main colour on face	1009
Mid fleshtone	Shadows on face	4146
Pink	Tongue	8
Dark pink	Inside mouth	10
Light blue	Clothing	1060
Mid blue	Sky behind character	159
Dark blue	Details on clothing	131
Blue-grey	Cuff on glove, shadow on clothing (above hands)	922
Grey	Highlights on glove and glove cuff	900
Dark green	Center of eye	246
Light green	Iris	226
Dark orange	Main hair colour	324
Orange	Highlights on hair	298
Light yellow	Highlights on hair	292

Hello everyone. This is a cross stitch design of Excel from Excel Saga
I chose to do this design after digging out an old denim jacket I had tried to embroider on with this exact picture. Its been in my cupboard for so long that it doesn't fit me any more.
However I still LOVE Excel Saga and want to show everyone this new design for the Excel Saga jacket (2nd try). Its only about 10 years after I started the first one.

For anyone who hasn't seen it Excel Saga it is a rather random and energetic Anime based on a manga comic written and illustrated by Rikdo Koshi. The author appears in every episode and declares what type of story it will be this time. It ranges from Horror and sci fi to a really cool Micky take of 90s western animation. (this episode is awesome) Then the characters have to carry out that episodes story within the confines of the new genre leading to certain hilarity each time. In addition this anime is very self aware and it plays with themes common in anime as well as this episodes genre.

This was actually the first Anime I really watched which wasnt one of the common kids shows around in the 90s. (like Pokemon) I knew very little of the tropes they were referencing and several references to other popular anime and manga flew right over my head at the time. However I still thoroughly enjoyed it and once Excel Saga started me on the path of being an anime fan I came back to it once in a while able to appreciate even more of the jokes, references and subtle nods to other media making this a series that many anime fans should at least try.

This anime does contain loads of specifically Japanese references but on the DVDs there is a cultural reference mode where a small pop up appears throughout each episode to explain references either to Japanese culture, media or subtleties in language which may not be apparent in the direct translation.This is a really cool feature to turn on while watching the series a second time. It'll really give you a few 'Oh so thats what that was' moments as well as a whole new bunch of laughs as a few more jokes just click into place. I also learnt a few things about Japanese culture along the way.
In addition on the DVD I owned there were two sets of English translations, one direct and one which is more tailored to a western audience. This means that some jokes are told in rather different ways in each of the sets of subtitles making it yet another way to rewatch the series (and like I need any more excuses to get out this set of DVDs)

For more anime themed designs here are some links:

Anime

Cardcaptor Sakura cross stitch design
Sumomo from Chobits cross stitch design
Large Pom Poko Cross stitch design
Chi and Freya from Chobits cross stitch design

Anime style (not from a particular show)

Cute girl bundled up in a purple scarf cross stitch design

For the Buzy Bobbins Index page Click here.

Thursday, 7 May 2020

Just my luck - Unlucky Dungeons and Dragons player cross stitch design

Just my luck - Unlucky Dungeons and Dragons player cross stitch design

My finished stitch of this design, this design was made into a fluffy green cushion.

Hello everyone,

This is a design I drew for my boyfriend. When we play Dungeons and dragons together he often rolls a Natural 1 (critical failure) at the worst possible moment. At least it keeps the game interesting as we run away from the alerted guards. But then when everything turns to an utter shambles out he comes with a Natural 20 (critical success) and saves the day. The phrase Just my luck is something he says often when fumbling his rolls.

I have no suggested colours for this one. I unfortunately lost the original design file when my laptop broke but luckily I kept a back up of the pattern itself somewhere else to allow me to at least post this and actually finish stitching the cushion.

On my stitched piece the top right die is stitched with variegated thread. To create the swirled patterns I filled in the design by filling the gaps by stitching in curves instead of straight lines back and forth. This is an easy way to mimic a marbled design dice if you want to try adding one of your own luckiest or unluckiest dice in your collection

I recommend if the colour you choose for the dice ends up being too light for the number to be clearly seen then add some darker colour backstitch to make it stand out. You can see that I have done this on my stitched design on the bottom left dice outlined in a cheerful orange.

Much love and happy stitching

Gemma xx

For another D20 cross stitch design heres a link: D20 small dice design

If you like this one why not check out a few more nerdy designs

Trollface/problem? face meme cross stitch design

Awesome face/ epic face meme

True story meme

Not sure if... Fry Futurama meme

Meme caption alphabet

Are you Serious?/ Seriously? Meme

For the Buzy Bobbins Index page Click here

Sunday, 19 April 2020

Crafting for charity (Charities based in the UK)

Crafting for charity (UK focused)

Hello everyone,

Do you love crafts? Are your walls full of your makes? Do your friends and family have no more room for your wonderful creations? Do you want to make people smile with your creations? Then this is a small list to help my fellow UK crafting friends to donate your craft work. Some of these charities accept international donations but please be aware of postage costs to UK headquarters.

Love Quilts UK

Crafts: Cross stitch, quilting

Website: http://www.lovequiltsuk.com/

This charity makes quilts for children in hospital or have lifelong illnesses. They aim to make special personalised quilts to brighten their beds. Cross stitchers make up designs based on a childs interests and a amazing team of quilters put them together into an amazing quilt with matching fabric.
This group also has a awesome Facebook group which is so welcoming and supportive of new members (find a link to the page on the website) so new stitchers and quilters can join a lively community of crafters all wanting to make children's lives happier.

The little Yellow Duck project

Crafts: All

Website: https://thelittleyellowduckproject.org/

The Little Yellow Duck project is a really fun cause to support. The idea is to craft a Little yellow duck and leave it somewhere in your community with a label from the webpage. The label encourages the finders to pass along a kindness. They also suggest that a kindness can be donating blood or signing up for organ donation and gives information on how to do so in each country.

Leaving a little gift not knowing who will find it is like giving a blood donation and not knowing who it will help. It is a fun way to share this concept.

There are loads of designs available on the website to use or make your own duck if you like. Im finding it very fun to hide little ducks. I have so far hidden some small duck bookmarks in books in my local library.
I have created some cross stitch designs for use for the little yellow duck project for my cross stitching friends. You can find those here: https://thelittleyellowduckproject.org/patterns/cross-stitch-patterns/

Knit for nowt

Crafts: Knitting, Crochet, Sewing

Website: https://www.knitfornowt.org/

Knit for Nowt focuses on creating therapy toys for therapists who work with troubled children. These toys are very useful to carry out therapy through play, break the ice and give children new means to express themselves. More information on how the toys are used can be found on the website.

There are loads of patterns on the website to get you started from easier finger puppets to larger worry monsters so there's something for all skill levels.

Making the toys is loads of fun, the worry monsters can be customised in many ways. In fact the brighter and more interesting the monster the more it will appeal to the children so let your imagination run wild.

The Innocent Big Knit

Crafts: Crochet, Knitting

Website: http://www.thebigknit.co.uk/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4835073916

The Big Knit takes place every two years, crafters create cute little hats made to fit on the top of Innocent smoothie bottles. When those bottles are sold in stores a donation is made by innocent for each hatted smoothie. The donations go to Age UK who aid older members of the community get the help and information they need.

The hats are small and generally quick to make. The Big Knit website has a selection of patterns for all skill levels so even a beginner can join in. Also the Facebook page is a lovely friendly place to get advice on hat making or see other peoples creations. Its always nice to take a scroll through the lovely makes.

Theres also a great community making even more hat designs for you to try with all these resources it'll be hard to run out of new things to try. I have personally been able to use these small projects to practice advanced knitting skills before I use them on larger projects.

For a large collection of these community designed hats check them out here: http://www.thebigknit.devonartist.co.uk/patterns.html

I hope you all enjoy looking though these wonderful charities. I have made items for each of the charities mentioned on this page. So if you like to craft but don't know who to craft for why not give one of these charities a try and use your skills to help others. :)

Much love and happy stitching
Gemma xx

For a few more links to crafty musings and other craft related articles here are some links:

For the Buzy Bobbins Index page Click here

Sunday, 12 April 2020

Some fowl just want to watch the world burn - Untitled Goose Game cross stitch design

Thread numbers

Colour	Anchor colours	DMC colours
Black	403	310
Red (on fire)	335	606
Mid orange (on fire)	303	742
Pale yellow (on fire)	289	307
Dark gold (on bells)	308	781
Gold (on bells)	306	3820
White	1	B5200
Brown	898	167
Grey (on Knife)	398	415
Beige (on knife)	391	3033
Bright orange (on beak and feet)	304	741

Hello everyone,

For my first untitled goose game design titled 'This is the way the world ends, not with a bang but a HONK' click here: Here!

I have been spending a lot of time playing Untitled goose game it is such a charming game where you play a horrible little goose causing trouble in a quaint English village. From stealing a gardener's rake and dumping it in the lake to trapping a boy in a phone box you can get into all kinds of mischief.

Untitled Goose game was made by House House for more information and the official merch store check out this link:

https://goose.game/

If you'd like to see some more game themed designs here are some links:

Link from The Minish Cap

Small Doom logo

Cute Chocobo

Phoenix Wright - Objection

Fidget from Dust: An Elysain Tail

For the Buzy Bobbins Index page Click here

Sunday, 5 April 2020

This is the way the world ends - Untitled Goose Game cross stitch design

Thread numbers

Colour	Anchor colours	DMC colours
Black	403	310
Green	210	561
Yellow	304	741
Orange	332	946
White	1	B5200

For my second Untitled Goose Game cross stitch design click here

Hello everyone,

Today I thought I share some fan art from the wonderful Untitled Goose Game. I have been having so much fun running around the quaint little village causing mayhem as a flapping, honking, trouble making goose.

This game is so unique that it as captured the attention of the gaming population who have begun creating so many memes so I definitely wanted to join in the fun.

I have some more ideas for Untitled Goose Game cross stitch designs so watch this blog for more when I have finished the sketch.

Untitled Goose game was made by House House for more information and the official merch store check out this link:

https://goose.game/

If you'd like to see some more game themed designs here are some links:

Link from The Minish Cap

Small Doom logo
Cute Chocobo
Phoenix Wright - Objection
Fidget from Dust: An Elysain Tail

For the Buzy Bobbins Index page Click here

Thursday, 2 April 2020

Home Stay home - Coronavirus lockdown cross stitch design

Home Stay home design

Thread numbers

Colour	DMC	Anchor
Light green	3347	226
Dark Green	3052	262
Light Pink	3326	36
Dark Pink	603	55

Hello everyone,
Today a small design which is a play on the traditional Home sweet home design for anyone looking for a punny design to sew while they are stuck in lockdown. I made this one small so it could be used as a card or a teeny little decoration maybe hung up in a really small embroidery hoop so it can find a place among your usul decorations until all this is over.

Heres a version with the traditional Home Sweet Home text so if you wanted to sew this or even unpick the word stay and re-stitch with sweet to keep this up in your home later.