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Spiral Rose - PATTERN & VIDEO

I know I've been promising the step-outs for Spiral Rose for a while, but I've been......ah..........distracted. The pitfalls of a short attention span. hahaha

Today finally, I have it ready to share with you, and in case you are scratching your head and are all like....."huh, spiral what?".........
Here's the step-out:
I think these rose patterns have been a bit of a flash back to 90's folk art painting. Pretty sure I'm done now.

Here's the video:


As a rare treat (in which you may read "treat" to actually mean "cruel and unusual punishment"), I am subjecting you to some narration in this video. It's been a few years since I've talked in a video as I really hate my voice - I pretty much "broke" it 10 years ago when I had whooping cough and after months of intense nightly coughing I damaged my voice permanently, practically losing it for a year. It's never been the same since. Though, to be fair, it was pretty awful before too. hahahaha.

I am interested to know - are captions or spoken instructions more helpful for you? I can't guarantee that I'll always narrate the videos as it takes much longer to produce them but, as always, the feedback is useful to me, and I will not be offended at all if you say you prefer captions :)

In some other "blog" news, I discovered (thank you Bonnie!) that if you try to reply to my blog feed emails they have been going to a noreply email address. Not sure how this happened, but I have changed the setting so you should now be able to reply to my emails again and they will come to me rather than going to the big interwebs noreply mailbox.

You have all given me a lot to think about with regard to full or update editions to the pattern folio each year. I did want to mention though, if you prefer to print your copy but don't like wasting all that paper - you can just print selected pages (i.e. only the new patterns). The exact settings to do this depend on your specific printer, but it is generally very easy to do.

Have a great day!

Comments

Lianne said…
Fabulous video & clear instructions Helen. Thank you.
Captions or spoken instructions? My preference is spoken instructions so I can watch what you are actually doing as you speak the instructions. In saying that though you are probable aware that some people learn better with visual learning and some prefer verbal learning. So both would suit different types of learners. I know that would mean a great deal of extra work. I am happy with either though. Just putting it out there. :)
Ann said…
Thank you for the step out for this beautiful pattern!

I love spoken instructions, but that's just because it gives me the feel of sitting here drawing with you, and we have such a good time! :D
But if it's a hassle, I have no problem at all drawing alone. I learn just as well without. I enjoy your voice and adore your accent. But don't everyone hate hearing their own voice?

The reply to email in the newsletter is still broken. I get a 404.
Also the video is not in the email, it wasn't there in the last one you sent out either. (Gmail)

Thanks again. Have a great day!
Alice said…
you have another winner here! I've been playing with string rose, now I shall move on to this one <3 thank you!
Roseanne said…
I love this pattern, Helen. I personally prefer your spoken voice. I find it helpful to hear what you say and watch as the pattern unfolds. Thanks so much.
Great video and instructions. I like the narration but can easily work with captions! Thank you for beautiful work!
Helen said…
Thanks, Lianne :) I know we all process/learn in different ways. Back in my scrapbooking workshop days, I would hand out notes, do a slideshow with written steps and photos, talk people through the process and demonstrate. hahaha. all bases covered! Not as easy to do that online. Thanks for your thoughts. h
Helen said…
Hi Ann. I know! We do have a great time drawing together! hahaha. Yeah, everyone probably hates their own voice, but I don't know if they have the ability to set of whistling keys like mine does :)

I think the video link may have something to do with your email/server settings - maybe it gets stripped out - I know that happens for some and I used to put a note under the videos to visit the website - I might have to go back to doing that.

When you get a 404 when replying, it that when you hit return in the email, or try to use the "email the author" button (I've now removed those links, but a simple return/reply should work).
Helen said…
I love string roses! On my "to do" list to do a better video and a step out for these as they're a lot of fun! Thanks, Alice :)
Helen said…
Thanks, Roseanne. I think the benefit of spoken instructions is that I can point out tips as I'm drawing (like the wonky spiral!) I probably wouldn't have noted it if I was writing captions. h
Helen said…
Thanks, Cindy :) Great to hear your point of view! Hope you have fun with the pattern :) Helen
Helen - Love your work.

If you turn on community contributions on your YouTube channel, I would do some captioning for you to get kickstarted. As the channel admin, you have the final authorization to post it to subscribers. The only thing you need to do in prep is to talk while the camera is running. FYI - Including closed captions on your channel improves the hit rate when people are doing searches. That is not true if the captions are just a picture of words.

Linda


Evy Browning said…
I find it most helpful to hear you speaking at the same time as watching you drawing. I can't concentrate with my eyes on two parts of the screen at the same time - I either watch the drawing or have to read the captions, trying to do the two simultaneously just doesn't work for me. But as has already been said, everyone is different & learns in different ways. Thanks for all you do with patterns & videos - yours is one of the few blogs that I've been visiting continuously over the last 5 or 6 years.
Ellen Schon said…
I usually prefer captions BUT, I enjoyed hearing your voice (love the accent :-) ! ) AND, you do it right - brief, simple and clear. Most people spend too much time talking and the video drags on. Your's is just right. Thank you.
lou said…
so what is wrong with your voice? Hugs!
Helen said…
Hi Linda, Thank you very much for the generous offer - I'll have to go to YouTube and do a bit of a search to properly understand how the captioning works. I (vaguely) know there are then options to change it to other languages, etc., but I must admit I've been too slack to really look into it. Putting it on my 'to do' list right now. Thank you for the tips :)
Helen said…
Hi Evelyn, Thank you for the feedback. How wonderful to know that you've been visiting for so many years!!! I feel very special :)

I know it can be a bit difficult to read instructions - I have found myself stopping and starting videos a heap of times in order to properly understand what's happening (particularly when I watch software program tutorials as they just seem to go so fast!!!). I am hoping now that I am able to record the video on my iPad, which saves me stacks of time, I can devote a bit more to other areas of the videos, and even produce a few more :) h
Helen said…
haha, yes, I think I am going to choose to view my voice as exotic from now on, as to most people watching the videos it is an "accent". I do try to keep the videos pretty quick and to the point as with the constant bombardment of media in our lives now, our time seems to have become even more scarce :) Thank you! h.
Helen said…
Scratchy and wavery I think :)
Susie Ng said…
Thanks, Helen, for such an impressive and beautiful tangle! Does it ever stand out! The video helped a great deal. I don't think I care much whether voice or text, but have to agree with Ellen Schon. I like info fast and to the point. Just the way you do it. No need to change anything!
Now I am going back to drawing some more Spiral Roses...
Karin Godyns said…
Thank you Helen. For me hearing your voice gives an extra "calming" effect to the whole drawing process. By the way: your voice is wonderful and unique! It is part of who you are. One to treasure and I love the sound of it. Thank you for the roses.... what a fun tangle this is! Bless you.
Tracy said…
I dont know if anyone else is having the same issue but the rose pattern video will only play the first 19 seconds and then stop like it is trying to download....
Jan Brandt, CZT said…
This IS a lovely pattern, Helen! I very much appreciate the time you spend in order to share your amazing art with all of us. Regarding narration vs. captions, I really love your narrations. As others have said, your "accent" is charming and hearing your voice while the strokes appear offers me a bit of connection to you that written words cannot create. If ever I am able to visit Australia, I would truly love to meet you and give you BIG hugs in thanks for your being an important part of my creative life! :)
Jan Brandt, CZT said…
Just FYI, I am not experiencing any of the issues others have mentioned here, so I believe those problems are a result of settings, bandwidth, internet connection speed, etc. on the user end.
Helen said…
Thanks, Susie!! Have fun :) h
Helen said…
Hi Karin, thank you for your lovely thoughts! I do feel that you get a little more insight with spoken instructions and I think I'll be trying to produce most of them this way when I can :) h
Helen said…
Hi Tracy - I haven't heard of anyone else having this particular issue - I would say, as Jan mentioned, that this is likely a local issue. If it seems to be directly associated with viewing it on the blog, you could try to watch it on youtube instead. Hope that helps :) Helen
Helen said…
Hi Jan. Thank you! I really love being able to share my creative process with you and honestly feel that I am the one who gets the most out of it :) That others also enjoy it is a wonderful thing. I have decided to view my voice as an exotic accent, as for most of the people hearing it in this format it is an accent. Unfortunately I cannot shield my family and friends from the truth! hahahaha. I do think that you gain a bit more insight to the process with spoken instructions, so it is my aim to try and do more like this.

If you are ever visiting Melbourne/Yarra Valley I would love to organise a meet up :) hx
Lianne said…
Helen, I love your spiral rose . The video with narration is my preferred but happy with either. I look forward to your creative inspirations in my email box. Thank you for sharing.
Wendy said…
Please tally me on the side of those who love you AND your voice! It sounds exotic here in Massachusetts, I assure you. (I live near Boston, where there is also an"exotic" accent available!
I like hearing the explanations as you go along...you posted at least one with no voice or written words at all and it was OK, but not so helpful as with words!
Bobbie Bluegill said…
I love the new pattern and I'm so glad it has come with a video.
Your voice overs are perfection. I think an Australian accent is beautiful and there is nothing scratchy about your voice. It is little like a spoken song. Wonderful in every way.
I have several of your e-books and wish I could hear your voice as I turn the pages. Since I print your books, (I'm old, printed is easier for me), that won't be happening any time soon. I can now "visulaize" your voice while I'm trying to recreate your lovely patterns.
Thank you.
P.S. Love your farm too.
grbev said…
I too love your accent and I also love feeling like I am sitting at the table with you. Keep talking. People can always mute the video if they like silence! Hugs from Utah, Bev
Barbara Burgess said…
Hi Helen. I really like the simplicity of the spiral rose. As far as your voice is concerned, it sounds just fine. I really don't notice much of a change from a while back. It is really nice to hear you as you are demonstrating the step-outs. It is a lot easier to follow! Thank you as always for this great pattern...