[null, {"document_url": "https://victoriamatthewson.com/blog/", "unformatted_src": "https://victoriamatthewson.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/cropped-ant-and-snake-4-crop-rs.jpg", "src": "https://victoriamatthewson.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/cropped-ant-and-snake-4-crop-rs.jpg", "formatted_filename": "cropped ant and snake crop rs", "rendered_width": 937, "rendered_height": 310}, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, {"document_url": "https://victoriamatthewson.com/blog/", "unformatted_src": "https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/p640x640/22582392_123842394994979_3979613097567453184_n.jpg", "src": "https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/p640x640/22582392_123842394994979_3979613097567453184_n.jpg", "alt_text": "My first Friday #wip shot. I am having a day of wondering why am doing this, it will pass, it always does. I am not very good with words, I never have been, but my 10yr old daughter has an amazing talent, she is mature beyond her years. I often read this section from one of her short stories for inspiration: 'The sun was just starting to sink below the golden horizon, like an egg yolk splatted on the sky.\n\nA beam of golden light was spread across the meadow, making the long strands of grass look like flakes of gold.\n\nA soft summer breeze blew across the meadow, stretching the grass back.\n\nIt tasted sweet, like sugar, or candy canes.\n\nThe moment could have been a picture - no, a masterpiece, never to be taken off the canvas, or for the sun to set, making way for the unremitting darkness of night.\n\nBut it wasn't a picture. The sun would set and the moon would rise.\n\nSo that is why we must treasure this moment, this beautiful moment, for as long as we can' - From 'The Moon Fox and the Sparrow' by Evelyn Matthewson, aged 10", "rendered_width": 640, "rendered_height": 640}, {"document_url": "https://victoriamatthewson.com/blog/", "unformatted_src": "https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/22582640_1566904943367278_3194884901430099968_n.jpg", "src": "https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/22582640_1566904943367278_3194884901430099968_n.jpg", "alt_text": "Sorry, I know it's not embroidery related, it's just a girl and her snail \ud83d\udc0c \ud83d\udc9a Beautiful \ud83d\ude0d .\n.\n#snail #giantafricanlandsnail", "rendered_width": 640, "rendered_height": 640}, {"document_url": "https://victoriamatthewson.com/blog/", "unformatted_src": "https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/22430445_840116796170030_5943494804993212416_n.jpg", "src": "https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/22430445_840116796170030_5943494804993212416_n.jpg", "alt_text": "All ready to go. #embroidery #handembroidery #butterfly #largecopperbutterfly", "rendered_width": 640, "rendered_height": 510}, {"document_url": "https://victoriamatthewson.com/blog/", "unformatted_src": "https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/p640x640/22430422_389738381457334_2190054058167894016_n.jpg", "src": "https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/p640x640/22430422_389738381457334_2190054058167894016_n.jpg", "alt_text": "Fungi hunting in Wentwood. My eagle eyed daughter found me my very first fly agaric, a little nibbled but I was so excited!\n.\n#fungi #fungus #flyagaric #yellowstagshornfungus #yellowstagshorn #wentwood #wentwoodforest", "rendered_width": 640, "rendered_height": 640}, null, {"document_url": "https://victoriamatthewson.com/blog/", "unformatted_src": "https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8888/28176378726_404d70af2b_m.jpg", "src": "https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8888/28176378726_404d70af2b_m.jpg", "formatted_filename": "d af b m", "alt_text": "To celebrate reaching 500 instagram followers you can receive 50% off anything in my Etsy shop until 20th July 2016."}, null]
July 5, 2016 ~ vmatthewson ~ 3 Comments

I have always wanted to have a go at embroidering a snail but shied away from the challenge. Finally I managed to get a photo that I thought would work well: I know that snails aren’t everyone’s cup of tea but I couldn’t resist that little face! I have named him Solomon.

First the sketch: And then the embroidery:

The stitch direction proved to be difficult, getting the curves to go the right way to give a three dimensional image caused a reasonable amount of unpicking.

But finally he is finished: Measuring 8x8cm he is my most ambitious piece to date and I am quite proud of him. But just to show the not so pretty side here is a gratuitous #Hoopbutt shot: 

May 26, 2016 ~ vmatthewson Water vole at Magor Marsh Pond dipping at Magor Marsh Ragged Robin at Magor Marsh Yellow Flag Iris at Magor Marsh Bittersweet nightshade at Magor Marsh Swan at Magor Marsh 

Here is the finished piece:



May 22, 2016 ~ vmatthewson

I have managed to finish two pieces since my last blog, that is fast work for me!

The first piece was of a wood and (later named Alexei) based on a photo I took in Wentwood Forest. Here is the original: I had been experimenting with some macro filters and I loved the colours of the ant’s body. Here is the embroidered work:

I know that ants aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, they aren’t as mysterious as spiders, or as lovable as bees but if you look up close there is beauty in everything. The way the light is reflected in its eye, the delicate antennae, the way each leg is made up of so many separate joints. It is so easy to take the little things for granted but sometimes it pays to stop and really look.

My second piece was based on a photo I took of a grass snake at Magor Marsh. I will write about this in a separate blog as there is much to say…



April 4, 2016 ~ vmatthewson 



March 20, 2016 ~ vmatthewson

This blog is long overdue, I know, but here is a quick update. As you may remember, back in January I was off up to Liberty’s to show my work at their 2016 open call. I won’t bore you with too many details as the day was long, very long. After about five or six hours of queuing I sat down in front of two lovely representatives from Liberty’s jewellery department (I know I should have taken their names but I was so flustered my brain went to mush). With all of my drama training you would think I would be good a presenting but this was different, it was very personal to me. I found myself gabbling through my prepared presentation and almost hurling my pieces at them. (I had been told before that they were keeping very strictly to the four minute time slot). Still, They were very positive about my work and said they could see the craftsmanship that had gone into them but, as I could have predicted, it all came down to my old enemy: pricing.

I had set out my cost prices being completely honest to the formula: materials + Labour + 5% overheads + 20% profit. But then of course with their markup (Something like x 2.75) we were looking at selling each piece for over £200 and for that they said they would expect solid gold or silver frames. It is a fair point. They did go on to suggest trying another well respected shop to approach so I believe they thought there was something in my work that could fit in given the right audience.

So, where do I go from here? I have looked at sterling silver frames and found a good supplier, but as they are really designed for semi-precious stones I found it difficult to insert the embroidery. I had to adapt the designs as I couldn’t find exact shapes: This is one way forward. Another way is to look at how I can reduce that cost price. I won’t pretend that each piece can be done in an hour, it can’t, on average I spend between 4-6 hours on each piece. I don’t want to simplify the embroidery as this is my Unique Selling Point. So, I am working on some smaller pieces again.

A simpler image in a smaller frame was where I started and would always draw the most interest at craft fairs. I am still making the larger pieces, in the bigger frames, as sometimes I need to think outside the tiny box.

In my next blog I will talk about Instagram and the amazing community of craft people I am getting to know there. I have already drawn inspiration from joining in with the #dailysketchbookgroup which has led to these new designs: There is such a warm craft community out there, even my six hours queuing at Liberty’s was made enjoyable by my queue buddies Claire Gaudion and Half Cut Candles


 January 10, 2016January 11, 2016 ~ vmatthewson ~ Leave a comment

I am trying to put on a harder business hat this year. I have been told by many people, from other small business owners to actual customers who have just purchased my work, that I am not charging enough. I have struggled with this a lot, the urge to start paying off some of my initial outlay has led me to put prices so low that I end up paying myself less than minimum wage and not making any profit.

It is very easy to become scared of pricing. After doing a basic Etsy search for ’embroidered pendant’, the average price seems to be between £20-£25. I am at a loss as to how anyone can make a profit at this price.

To start this year I am working on five new designs after being introduced by Mother Eagle to embroidered jewellery frames by Kailea on Etsy. The designs are inspired by my love of autumn but looking forward to the hope of spring and summer. I am also using a more stylized design, after doing some sketches inspired by Celtic artwork I am employing a much more free technique, I am loving the swirl.  I start with a curl to fit the jewellery shape and then see where it takes me.

Here is what I have done so far: Rosehip and web brooch

I had started on the field bindweed design but I wasn’t satisfied with it so I have gone back to the sketch.

This Saturday I am off to Libertys to attend their open call. I am not really going with the idea of getting my work stocked, I think it will be a great opportunity to get some professional advice. Can I really charge the amount I need to (probably nearer the £80-£90 mark) or do I need to completely rethink my work. I am extremely nervous, I can’t completely get the thought of being laughed out of the room out of my head. Ah well, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Wish me luck!



December 22, 2015December 22, 2015 ~ vmatthewson

Now we are right in the middle of the busy Christmas period, with two very excited children, I find that work has come to a grinding halt. I keep on looking out of my window, through the fourth consecutive day of torrential rain, at my little office.
During the summer I decided that my sewing was taking over the house and needed a home of its own. So, with hammer and drill in hand, and the best neighbour you could ask for, we started building the summerhouse I had bought. Having never put up a structure bigger than a pop up sun tent I was grateful for my neighbours experience and assistance. After a few days of work my office was complete, next I treated the wood and set about painting. I was so excited to move my work in. We had an old rug under the stairs that I cleaned up and put down to add some insulation, an old garden table was revarnished and fits perfectly and other charity shop finds have made it quite cosy. I love working out here, I actually feel like I’m leaving home to go to work. I am a little concerned about damp and I would like to get electricity linked up (at the moment I am limited to trailing an extension lead from the house.) I don’t keep anything of value out there as security is difficult. It can be chilly but once I get my heater going it is very cosy. Next year I am aiming for curtains and insulation.

52.130661 -3.783712



November 29, 2015November 29, 2015 ~ vmatthewson

I have now finished the Honeysuckle which is framed and available for purchase in my Etsy shop or my Folksy shop if you prefer. In total this piece took me 6 months and many tears!

I recently had a stall at a local Christmas Fair, my initial thought was to show the prints and cards that I have had made of my work to get some feedback, but I also thought it would be a good opportunity to sell the last of my jewellery. Well, I wasn’t expecting the response I got, not only did I sell more jewellery than ever before with really lovely feedback but my spider also found his forever home. Prints of the spider are still available in my online shops.

I am now considering my next piece, I love the idea of doing more insects, perhaps a dragonfly. I am also considering trying to create a piece of embroidery based on the photo I took of a grass snake which recently came 2nd in the Gwent Wildlife photography competition.

At some point remind me to show you my new office.



July 11, 2015August 15, 2015 ~ vmatthewson

Just a quick post to show you how I’m getting on with the honeysuckle. The main flower is finally finished. I am having a few puckering problems but hopefully I can stretch them out when I mount it. I need to keep my hoop drum tight. Being a full time Mum it can be very difficult to find the time to set up and focus on the fine silk work during the six week summer holiday. To keep my fingers supple I have drawn up a practice piece that I can pop in a handbag and work on without using the magnifying lamp. The design is based on a Celtic shield boss found in the Thames, Wandsworth. After doing a lot of family research recently, I have managed to get back to 1726 and, while I do have Scottish and Welsh blood, I am predominantly English. As a Celtic race this has led me to start researching original Celtic art, I am very excited to visit the Celtic Art exhibition at the British Museum over Christmas.



March 27, 2015April 11, 2015 ~ vmatthewson

So, I have been dipping in and out of embroidering my small tortoiseshell butterfly, however, whilst waiting for my daughter at a swimming party I decided to re-read the book ‘Long and short stitch embroidery’ by Trish Bur, a book I have read many times but not picked up for awhile. It dawned on me that I had got lazy, I had skipped several steps that are there to help me as well as improve the final look of the piece. If you look closely you can probably see that I forgot to split stitch the edge of the wing before starting, this has meant that I haven’t got a sharp image. I also didn’t bother to mark stitch direction lines so moving from one colour to the next has got a bit confused.

This has been a good exercise in keeping my mind sewing and seeing how taking the time to do these extra little bits of process can improve the image.

Right, I am going to start from the beginning and try not to skip steps.

I am going to use this honeysuckle photo as a start for a new piece, the focal point is a bit confused but i can work with it: I started with the drawing, improvising the rest of the picture with some leaf and berry photos: I haven’t got my paints out for many, many years but I found this great fun. Acrylics: I am using a silk/cotton blend of fabric and backing the piece with cotton. To transfer the image onto the silk I use a lightpad, I love this pad, before I had this I would be rushing to the patio doors every time the sun came out: Then, finally, I have wrapped a wooden hoop with cotton to protect the fabric and stretched the image drum tight: Deep breath, what to do now, direction lines….




