Drum roll please....... Day 365!

I can't believe I did it!(Yes that is my congratulatory pat on my own back).

I'm putting my feet up and my needle down.

What a crazy year!

What have I learned from completing a 365 daily project?

• If you do not water your plants for a few weeks they will die.
• Laundry does not fold it self.I
• If you don't sweep and wash floors for a prolonged period of time you husband will take notice.
• Sitting on a sofa sewing for 6 hours is not exercise. (back to the gym tomorrow? who am I kidding ... next week...)
• My husband was right and there was no way I needed as much fabric as I've been collecting. (I can't believe how much remains... )
• If you live in a house where someone is hand sewing every day you are bound to step on a needle (sorry guys!).
• If you work until late in the evening and only allow yourself a few hours sleep you will get burnt out and sick (and no one will feel sorry for you because what rational person would ever choose to embroider every day for a year?).
• I am not the only one who is still has a crush on Emilio Estevez.
• My parents always complained I never stuck with anything... and guess what... I did.
• That there is actually 366 days in 2012 but guess what? I had two day 97's (brain freeze... what can I say... there is NO way I am going back to renumber them all... gotta cut a girl some slack). 
• If you work at something every day you get pretty good at what you`re doing!

So what's next?

• I am very excited to announce that the work featured  during the 365 are going to be available as prints! I am hoping to get a few up and listed by the end of the week in the Etsy shop.
• Lots of new embroidery patterns from the 365 are coming soon too for you all that need to get your craft on!
• The Impresario Gallery is hosting a gala opening of the 365 Lucky Days show in Cobourg, Ontario this Friday 3-6pm all is welcome, if you are around I would love to see you there! The show is open until the end of September.
•  Some of the 365 is also being showcased in the group show "Seeing Stars" at the Campfire Gallery in San Francisco opening this Thursday. If you are in the area check it out and tell them Lucky says "hi"!
• I want to take this opportunity to announce my availability as a freelance illustrator. This is the work I enjoy most and now that the 365 is completed my schedule just opened up!
• If anyone is looking for illustration work done with a needle and thread, I am an extremely dedicated artist with an excellent work ethic (another well deserved pat on the back ). You can contact me here!

But for now I am going to make myself a cup of tea. Get in my PJ's and reflect on what a great year I had.

Thank you everyone for your support. I couldn't have done it without you!

Day 364 Shout-Out to My Guy

I am the luckiest girl in the world. I have the 2 greatest girls. And the best husband a gal could ever want.

This project has been hard on my guy. Sewing every night, stressing about emails and deadlines, complaining about not having any time. My boy has heard and seen it all this year.  I know he thought this project was crazy but he  supported me from beginning to end.

This is a big shout-out to my best friend and husband Ben. I love you more and more everyday and I can never thank you enough for your encouragement and patience.

Day 363 Shout-Out to Ellie

You might recognize this beautiful girl from past embroideries. Ellie is all kinds of fabulous. Gorgeous, wicked smart, sharp witted with confidence that could rival Kayne West,  Ellie is the kind of girl I always wanted to be. She has plans of being a famous performer when she grows up and I don't doubt that she will become whatever she puts her mind to ( I am thinking a doctor moonlighting as a pop star! ). I love you Ellie and I thank you for being such an amazing kid.

Day 362 Shout-Out to Claire Bear

Claire is the funniest kid you'll ever meet. She has been hamming it up ever since she was in a high chair and would  roll her eyes for a laugh. She has lent her beautiful mug for many portraits during the 365, wearing masks that itched her face, capes that didn't actually make her fly, and for a measly two dollars a portrait and an ice cream cone at the local dairy.

I love you Claire Bear and thank you so much for being such a fun and happy little girl. Thank you for being so patient with Mommy sewing.

 I love you!

This is an instagram photo I took of Claire as we were patiently waiting in a very long line for Cotton Candy at the fair. I dare you not to laugh.

Day 361 Shout-Out to Jenny Hart

One cannot think of  Embroidery work without  mentioning Jenny Hart.

In Peterborough we had the coolest little indie bookstore "Speak Volumes". This is where I first came across Jenny Hart's "Stitch-it Kit" in all its polka dot glory. I had that kit for some time before I actually opened it.

I thought that embroidery was going to have all these rules (not a big fan of rules myself). I thought that it was going to be frustrating and hard. But Jenny has a way of making embroidery so accessible, easy and fun. That was it. I started stitching and I haven't stopped. 


I can't thank you enough Jenny.

Day 360 Shout-Out to Rob Kalin and the Etsy Peeps

I started this journey years ago when my husband Ben entered me in an art show. I had nothing for the show but he knew this was something I was meant to to. He simply told me I had better get started making art and I did. After that show surrounded with all this new work I came across Craftster which led me to Etsy.

I opened my shop and listed all my new work and that day I received my first sale. This was all the affirmation I needed. This handmade life was for me.

I have since closed my freshman shop and opened my Lucky Jackson shop,  focusing on making fun, happy art. I am such a lucky girl to be able to do what I love.

I want to give a shout out to Rob Kalin the founder of Etsy and all of the Etsy team who have made it possible for so many of us to live our dreams.


Thank you Etsy!

Day 358, Day 359 Moonrise Kingdom, We Will Be Together soon

Preordered on Amazon.

Soon we will unite.

Day 357 I am Strangely Attracted to You, Even Though You Scare Me Silly...Walter White

Because I know you will take care of business.

Day 356 Girl Crush. Audrey, You and I and some Apple Pie.

For those who have never ventured to Twin Peaks. You must go.

Day 355 Girl Crush. Nancy Botwin You Had me at Diet Coke

Day 354 Down With Naysayers

 I can't stand naysayers. I believe in offering support to any one's endeavors. We all live to dream and we should support each other. It's so easy to criticize. And so very lame.

Day 353 (The Secret Life of Toys)

Home is Anywhere I am with You.

Day 352 (The Secret Life of Toys)

Sometimes when my husband and I are sleeping in late he will say "Let's pretend this is our raft and we are surrounded by sharks. Let's just never leave the raft ok?"

Day 351 (The Secret Life of Toys)

I will be answering emails. Soon. I wince every time I here my inbox go off. I LOVE emails! don't get me wrong but I have to admit this project has wiped me out and it is most apparent in my email correspondence. My apologies. If only I had a cute fluffy bear to help me....

Day 350 (The Secret Life of Toys)

Hello Beautiful.

Day 349 (Crisp White Shirt and a Taste for Blood) Tarantino Week

Yeah, yeah, but "Mr. Brown"? That's little too close to "Mr. Shit".

Mr. Brown, Reservoir Dogs, Quentin Tarantino

Day 348(Crisp White Shirt and a Taste for Blood) Tarantino Week

"I might never have liked you. Point of fact, I despise you. But that doesn't suggest I don't respect you. Dying in our sleep is a luxury our kind is rarely afforded. My gift to you. "

Elle Driver, Kill Bill Pt. 1 (Daryl Hannah)

Day 347 (Crisp White Shirt and a Taste fora Blood) Tarantino Week

"I do believe Marsellus Wallace, my husband, your boss, told you to take ME out and do WHATEVER I WANTED. Now I wanna dance, I wanna win. I want that trophy, so dance good."

Mia, Pulp Fiction (Uma Thurman)

Day 346 (Crisp White Shirt and a Taste for Blood) Tarantino Week

Mr. Pink. (Steve Buscemi)  Reservoir Dogs

Because Purple is for another job.

Day 345 (Crisp White Shirt and a Taste for Blood) Tarantino Week

"Are you gonna bark all day, little doggy, or are you gonna bite?"

Mr Blonde, Reservoir Dogs (Michael Madsen)

Day 344 (Crisp White Shirt and a Taste for Blood) Tarantino Week

" I ain't saying it's right. But you're saying a foot massage don't mean nothing, and I'm saying it does. Now look, I've given a million ladies a million foot massages, and they all meant something. We act like they don't, but they do, and that's what's so f-ing cool about them. There's a sensuous thing going on where you don't talk about it, but you know it, she knows it, f-ing Marsellus knew it, and Antwone should have f-ing better known better. I mean, that's his f-ing wife, man. He can't be expected to have a sense of humor about that shit. You know what I'm saying? "

Vincent, Pulp Fiction (John Travolta)

Day 343 (Crisp White Shirt and a Taste for Blood) Tarantino Week

"Well there's this passage I got memorized. Ezekiel 25:17. "The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness. For he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know I am the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you." I been sayin' that shit for years. And if you ever heard it, it meant your ass. I never gave much thought what it meant. I just thought it was some cold-blooded shit to say to a motherfucker before I popped a cap in his ass. I saw some shit this mornin' made me think twice. See now I'm thinkin', maybe it means you're the evil man. And I'm the righteous man. And Mr. 9 Milimeter here, he's the shepherd protecting my righteous ass in the valley of darkness. Or it could mean you're the righteous man and I'm the shepherd and it's the world that's evil and selfish. Now I'd like that. But that shit ain't the truth. The truth is you're the weak. And I'm the tyranny of evil men. But I'm tryin', Ringo. I'm tryin' real hard to be a shepherd. "

Because there is nothing better than a Samuel L. Jackson rant.

 Jules, Pulp Fiction

Day 342 (You Had Me At Meat Tornado)

Remember a while back when I had the contest to win a custom Lucky piece? Well it's done. Ron Swanson in a racoon cap.

day 341 Frida Kahlo

Day 340 (Blog Crush)

The sweet, unbelievably cute, creative Katie Shelton creator of Skunkboy Creatures.
Thank you Katie!

Day 339 Another Super Hero (In his downtime)

Day 338 (Flickr Love) Ana Luísa Pinto [Luminous Photography]

Ana Luisa Pinto is another photographer whose photos I was taken with. I love the photo I found of her's  and decided that the she resembled a super hero and traded the sweater for a cape.  Read her post of how she took the shot here http://www.flickr.com/photos/luminous-lu/4757283477/. Did I mention she is also working on a 365 Project? Fabulousness everday.http://www.flickr.com/photos/luminous-lu/.

Days 333, 334, 345, 346, 347 (Flickr Love) Rekha is Batman

I found some of the most lovely photos on Flickr and found the kindest of photographers who allowed me to stitch their work.

Rekha Barton  (Rekha is Batman) takes the most beautiful portraits of her and her partner. Just Breathtaking.

Subject matter all courtesy of Rekha Barton.
Found on flickr.
Day 333 http://www.flickr.com/photos/_rekha_/6824705505/
Day 334  http://www.flickr.com/photos/_rekha_/6868639647/
Day 335 http://www.flickr.com/photos/_rekha_/6370764997/
Day 336 http://www.flickr.com/photos/_rekha_/3823304331/
Day 337 http://www.flickr.com/photos/_rekha_/6370740065/