Feature Pattern Friday

Today's Feature Pattern is a new pattern featuring a blast from the past.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie

I have three younger brothers: Gavin is 3 years younger than me, Colby 8 years and Stephen 10 years.  The younger two quickly learnt that what ever the older one was in to was 'cool'.  One such thing was Power Rangers.  We watched it a bit on TV, but it is the movie I remember most.  Gavin borrowed out the video from the local video shop a few times, then Colby discovered it and followed suit. But it was Stephen who fell in love with it, regularly choosing it as his treat (occasionally, particularly during school holidays, we were each allowed to borrow out a video on a Friday night).  The thing was, we only had one TV and it was in the family lounge room where we basically lived - the toys were all down there, mum's sewing machine, the comfy couches, and my bedroom was a sectioned off corner of the room (my walls were cupboards). So it meant that whenever Stephen wanted to watch it, I would watch it or listen to it as well.  By the time he outgrew it 1) my parents could have bought it several times over with all the hire fees and 2) we pretty much knew it word for word.

Did you know the original movie was filmed in Sydney?  A number
of Sydney landmarks can be spotted throughout the film, including
Sydney  Tower (which Ivan Ooze used as a sword), and the monorail.
My brothers and I used to have fun spotting them when we visited Sydney.

When I heard there was a new Power Rangers movie coming out, I messaged Stephen and said we had to go to the cinema together to see it.  He'd made me watch the initial one on repeat, he owed me!  I complain about it a lot - I actually enjoyed the ridiculousness of the original film and TV show - all the over-acted head movements, the sound effects, the dodgy special effects.  I wanted to see the new film because of nostalgia and to make sure they hadn't ruined the essence of it, and because I enjoy a good superhero film.  

The new Power Rangers

I really enjoyed the new film.  It was a quality superhero film. There was enough setup and information that you didn't have to know anything about the original to understand it.  There was enough new stuff (including the outfits) that it wasn't a straight remake, and plenty of nods/winks to the original so fans (like my brother and I) could squeal and cheer - which we did, in the middle of the cinema last Saturday night.  Important things like "it's morphin time", "make my monster grow", "aye aye aye", the original song (revamped) and a couple of cameos (like the moon).  There was even a hint at a sequel.

As you have probably guessed, today's Feature Pattern is the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

Available from my Etsy store

This is will be my next stitching project.  Austin St. John (who played Jason, the Red Ranger in the original TV show) is coming to Melbourne and the Gold Coast Supanova at the end of April; and Johnny Yong Bosch (Adam, the Black Ranger in the original film) will be at Sydney Supanava. They weren't on screen together, but who cares - they're both "my" Power Rangers.

Guests for Supanova 2017

It's morphin time! Happy stitching.

Feature Pattern Friday - Wicked

Today's Feature Pattern is from the hit West End show, Wicked.

Image from www.express.co.uk

I'm a huge theatre fan.  I love nothing better than going and watching a live show.  I don't care if it's a musical, a drama, a one-woman-show, a professional company or the local am-dram group around the corner.  Providing it involves people acting on stage, I'm there.  If I can afford it that is!  The two years I lived in London, all my spare cash went on theatre tickets.  I loved the easy access to a huge range of shows, with the added advantage of discount tickets.  During my last 8 days in the UK, I saw 14 different shows.  And I've seen Wicked 4 different times - twice in Melbourne, once in Sydney and once in Brisbane (which I wrote about here).  Did I mention I loved theatre?

Enough about me, here's the pattern!

Elphaba and Glinda.  Cross stitch pattern available from my
Etsy Store

Elphaba's hat was more difficult to design than I was expecting, as was her dress.  The hat is so point it's hard to achieve in pixles, but I finally managed it in the end.  The dress on the other hand... when you actually study it closely, the dress is made up of lots of different patches of colour - blues and reds and purples.  There are some blended threads in the pattern to try and achieve the look.  It was certainly a challenge.  Glinda's on the other hand was just blue and poofy.  It looks much more impressive in the images, but sure was easier to design in cross stitch!

Happy stitching.

Feature Pattern Friday - Game of Thrones

It's time for Feature Pattern Friday which today is the Game of Thrones Alphabet

Game of Thrones Alphabet

This has to have been the most requested pattern suggestion of the last couple of years, and it made it to my shop about 6 months ago.

I have a confession to make - I don't watch Game of Thrones.  I watched the pilot episode and decided it wasn't my thing - child murder, incest, rape... nope, really not me.  No judgement against those who do watch it (each to their own, and I've been told it improves a lot in later episodes) but I couldn't get past the pilot... which did make coming up with this alphabet a little difficult!  I had to make best-guesses for some of the characters and their outfits (all approved by my GoT friends and family).  However, don't forget you can always request a customised pattern if your favourite character or outfit is missing.

Happy stitching!

Feature Pattern Friday - It's a Slayer Thing

It's Feature Pattern Friday!

Each Friday I am sharing a pattern from my Etsy store - new, nearly new, and were-new-once.

The thirdever Feature Pattern Friday and I'm already changing things.  Today, rather than feature just one new pattern, I'm showing off a set of new patterns.  They're all in the one theme though, so surely that counts (of course it counts - this is my event so I can set and change the rules as I like :))

Today's Feature Pattern Set features quotes from the cult television show Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

Buffy and Dawn

Buffy's Valentine

The Slayerettes

Spike and Dru

Spike

Xander

Although they haven't been overly popular on Etsy, these patterns are a big hit at the Conventions.  I'm expecting them to be pretty popular at the next two conventions I'm attending because...

Watch the video here

David Boreanus is coming to Australia!  For the first time!  He will be attending the Gold Coast and Melbourne Supernova Conventions in April, both of which I happen to be going to as well.  Rather excited about that. :)

Happy stitching (and slaying)!

Feature Pattern Friday - Suicide Squad

It's Feature Pattern Friday!

Each Friday I am sharing a pattern from my Etsy store - new, nearly new, and were-new-once.

Today's pattern is a new one (it was listed on Etsy over the weekend) and it was suggested by my three brothers.

Introducing the Suicide Squad cross stitch pattern!

Suicide Squad Cross Stitch pattern available now from Etsy

I haven't seen the film, so I don't have anything witty to add.  Apart from the fact that at the last couple of Conventions I attended every third couple cosplay was Joker and Harley Quinn.  Lots of shirtless guys and girls in short shorts.  More power to them.

Happy stitching!

Feature Pattern Friday - Dear Mr Potter

Welcome to the first ever Feature Pattern Friday!

On Fridays I am going to feature one of the newer patterns from my Etsy store.  The pattern may be a recently added one, or it may be one that has been in the Etsy store for a few months but, for whatever reason, hasn't made it onto my blog.  Or it may be one I just love and want to shout about.

If you follow me on Twitter (@fangirlstitches) you'll notice that each day I feature a random pattern in my feed (and occasionally on Facebook too).  That really is random.  I subscribe to this amazing service called Seller Tools which lets me schedule social media posts, keeping me active on those sites even when I don't have the brain power/energy to post myself.  I have it set to pick a random pattern to post each day, and I enjoy seeing what pattern gets picked and how many people respond.  I love it, and it's generated a number of sales (which I love even more!).

On with Feature Pattern Friday (which in my head is said by a game show announcer - it's a very entertaining place inside my head).

This week's Feature Pattern is the Hogwarts letter and ticket (sold as a pair).

Hogwarts ticket and letter available from Etsy

These patterns were originally a custom request from a lady in Melbourne - she knew a couple of people graduating (I never enquired whether they were going from primary school to high school, finishing high school, graduating from an extra-curriculum activity...) and wanted to stitch them a Hogwarts acceptance letter and ticket as a gift.  I loved the idea and it promptly became a listed pattern rather than a customised one.

My stitched version of the letter

I stitched the pattern myself on parchment-like fabric from Sew It All.  It was a great draw-card at the Melbourne Comic Con last year... until it was sold that is!  I'm planning on re-stitching it at some stage this year - at least, it's only the ever-growing list of to-be-stitched projects.

Happy stitching!