SAL 21: Making a start

Hi everyone, another 3 weeks has whizzed by and the evenings are drawing in quickly. I don’t know what it is about this time of year – but I just seem to pack everything away at 4.00pm and shut myself away in front of the fire! But I have managed to make a start on my blue wren (Kit by Jenny Adin-Christie). I have started with his tail – this involved silk shading three areas in three different blues before outlining with silver purl pearl. Blue passing thread was then used to fill in the remaining areas.

 

Happy stitching everyone.
Thank you for popping in. Happy stitching and I hope to see you all in another 3 weeks.
We are a small group of crafters using a variety of different techniques. Please check out the fabulous stitching by all the other members of the SAL. If you are interested in joining us you can contact Avis for details.
Avis,  Claire,  Gun,  Carole, Sue,  Constanze,  Christina,  Kathy,  Margaret,  Cindy,  Linda,  Heidi,  Jackie,  Sunny,  Hayley,  Megan, Mary Margaret,  Renee,  Jenny ,  Carmela ,  Jocelyn ,  Sharon ,  Daisy ,  Anne, Connie

The Final push….

I finally got back into my canvas work this weekend after a long summer break. Following a trip to the RSN I managed to finalise the stitches for the last elements on the canvas to be sewn. Last time you saw it – it looked like this….

After much sampling I decided to use long and short stitch for the woman’s hair. It seemed to be the only stitch that would flow around the shape and create a definite parting at the top of her head. The lower left hand corner of orange ‘squares’ was also proving problematic as they were a mix of almost square and almost rectangular shapes on a bend. After talking with the tutors, I finally settled on a Bargello stitch. This gave the impression of a curved area – but still gave blocks of colour. The area around the face was  to be turkey rug as I wanted a velvety look for the coats collar. So after a day of stitching here is my progress….

The turkey rug needs a little shaping around the woman’s nose and chin as it looks rather lumpy – but other than that I am nearly finished. Yippee! Just a couple of little bits to fill in and then I can take this off the frame and get it mounted.

Roll on Goldwork!

Happy stitching everyone!

 

Here comes Lenny….

I just thought that you might like to see the final, finished Lizard that I started at a two day workshop with Georgina Bellamy of ‘That Embroidery Girl’.

Last time you saw him, he looked like this….

As you can see I then went on to the cutwork along either side of the lizard and continued this along his tail. Cutwork uses small coloured metal tube like threads. These are cut to size before being sewn in position.

Rather than lay the cuttings flat on his feet, I decided to overlay them. This meant that they cracked quite a lot – but I don’t mind this as it adds a little more texture. Looking at the finished pictures I can see a lot of mistakes, particularly where I have not cut the metal threads to the right length – but on the whole I really like the finished lizard.

Happy stitching everyone!

SAL 20 – A new beginning

Hi all, hope you have had a productive 3 weeks. Where does the time go?  You will be glad to know that I have finally settled on a new project for the SAL. Some time ago I completed a 3D wren etui kit by Jenny Adin Christie which I loved stitching and I have still to stitch the base for her to sit on, but that can wait for a little while longer.

So imagine my delight when she brought out a new bird themed kit. This time it is a blue wren etui which holds a little silver waxer in it’s back. So here is a look at the kit and it’s contents. I hope to have made a start by the next time we all get together!

Happy stitching everyone.
Thank you for popping in. Happy stitching and I hope to see you all in another 3 weeks.
We are a small group of crafters using a variety of different techniques. Please check out the fabulous stitching by all the other members of the SAL. If you are interested in joining us you can contact Avis for details.
Avis,  Claire,  Gun,  Carole,  Sue,  Constanze,  Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy,  Helen, Linda, Heidi, Jackie,  Sunny,  Hayley,  Megan,  Clare,  MaryMargaret,  Renee,  Jenny ,  Carmela ,  Jocelyn ,  Sharon ,   Daisy,     Anne

The tale of the tail….

Finally managed to find some time to stitch and decided to try to finish my little lounge lizard. However goldwork is a slow business and after 6 hours of stitching he now has a tail! The tail is made up of soft string which is then sewn over with cotton thread. This is the base that the smooth purl will be placed on. I also managed to fill the back area with red bright check chips and outline the whole shape in stretched gold pearl purl. So he now looks like this….

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All I need to do now is add the smooth purl over the sides and tail – ooh, and finish the feet!

Happy stitching everyone.

Lounging lizards…

I was so excited a couple of weekends ago as I headed around the M25 to Blackheath – another 3D goldwork course with Georgina of That Embroidery Girl. This course was over two days and we were learning how to make a beautiful bejewelled lizard.

Once again the first day was spent preparing the padding for the lizard body. Three layers of thick felt and two layers of fine felt were ordered and applied to an organza base. Once secured, the organza around the head area was then cut so that the head could be manipulated into shape. Felt eyebrows were then applied before the eyes were inserted. Then the gold work could be applied. The eyes were outlined and chipping added in-between.

Padding applied over organza

Raising the head

On the second day we turned our attention to the body of the lizard and practiced s-ing. A tricky skill, especially on a 3D shape. I found changing direction along the back particularly difficult. After the two days – here is where I am at….

Head, eyes and chipping

S-ing along the body

Unfortunately it is now back to work, so I am not sure how long this little fellow will take to finish off!

Will keep you all posted on my progress. Happy stitching everyone.

SAL 19 – Too many things, to little time…

Aaaaah, hi everyone. Having finished my little fish I had my next project already sorted out. I was going to finish the goldwork lizard that I started on a course with Georgina Bellamy   however I was too impatient and have now almost finished it! So now will have to go back to my stash to find something else!!

I have been busy sewing in the last three weeks, but mainly on my goldwork and trying to finish off Christmas gifts (yes, I did say the C word!) for two sewing swaps that I have signed up for. Below are pictures of my goldwork bee and nearly completed goldwork lizard.

Hope to start a new project next time we meet up. Happy stitching everyone.
Thank you for popping in. Happy stitching and I hope to see you all in another 3 weeks.
We are a small group of crafters using a variety of different techniques. Please check out the fabulous stitching by all the other members of the SAL. If you are interested in joining us you can contact Avis for details.
Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret Cindy, Helen, Linda, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny , Hayley, Megan,  Claire,  MaryMargaret, Renee ,  Jenny , Carmela , Jocelyn , Sharon