Just a quick update on my RSN crewel work coursework. I spent a quiet afternoon finishing off all the little ‘bitty’ bits – by which I mean all those little gaps that I had been putting off! First I filled the bottom petals of the large flower with herringbone stitch – although I am not sure that I like this. I think I will have to live with it for a while. I then broke up the birds breast with detached fly stitch. Finally I used scalloped buttonhole to create feathers under the birds chin. Again I am not sure about this either!
So all I now need to do now are the birds legs and feet, and the large petals of the flower, and maybe a little stitching around the unfurling ferns. This is how the piece looks at the moment. I hope to finish it soon as I am really beginning to dislike it – purely because it is not how I imagined it would look.
sweetfallenangels 
Lovely work! You should be proud of it. I think disliking our RSN pieces is part of the journey. You will like it again I’m sure, all in good time!
It’s looking great Deborah! I like the scalloped buttonhole under the chin but the eye seems to be immediately drawn to the dark shade in the centre. What is the shading like on a real life bird? I’m wondering how it would change the look if you used the same stitch but shaded from light to dark instead? The easiest way would be to do some doodle stitches on a different piece of fabric to see what looks best. Once the eye and beak are in will also make a difference as well. When is your next lesson?
I think you are right Jen, I didn’t notice it before – but now I look at the picture the central scallop is far to dark. It bears no resemblance to the real thing – which is why I am struggling with Jacobean crewel.
Wonderful to see this piece progressing, you are getting close to the end now. I really understand your comment that it not how you imagined the piece to look – but remember that you have learned so much along the way! Keep going.
Very true, I have certainly learnt a lot of new stitches – and the importance of spending time on the original design.
I’m still outragesly impressed by this work – but I can see how spending such an enormous amount of time on something can make you dislike it. Do you have time enough left for a ‘time out’?
Thank you – The working week provides time out – so will look at it with fresh eyes come the weekend.