The white silk pouch is finished in terms of surface embroidery. It was damp stretched overnight and is now waiting to be backed, folded and to have the edges finished with buttonhole lace.
The lemon, handkerchief pouch isn't too far behind either. That will almost certainly be finished before the end of next week. Don't you love it when a plan comes together!
The craving for fondling Liberty scraps was also fed a little last night. I have used them in what I think is an unexpected way. I will share that with you when the simply stitch 3 group have seen it....
This is the final handkerchief for the handkerchief pouch. There is another section, on cotton cloth, which forms the main body of the pouch that requires a little embellishment and then it will be all systems go putting it together. This time next week both pouches, this one and the white one, should be completely finished.
There are a couple of other things outstanding here that will get more attention soon........... the body bag and a paper and cloth art piece which is being planned with the simply stitch 3 group. However!!!! I foresee a problem, quite a big problem. It's of my own making but I just can't help myself, call it a compulsion.....I am desperate to do something, even a little, tiny thing with my new Liberty scraps. What's a girl to do????
Another day another ledger, this one is for the body bagdesign work. I am developing this slowly, at least it feels as if I am developing it slowly, the actual physical side of having finished pieces to put in here appears to be happening at a less than speedy pace. It doesn't matter really, I don't have a deadline but my mind is about three steps ahead of the ledger.
Later today I am starting another piece to go in here. You might think that I could continue to work on the actual body bag, to construct, to embroider without any of this ledger work and you would be right. Why do it then? The main reason...evidence. That word again from yesterday. Evidence I was here. Evidence of what is going on in my head whilst I embroider the cloth and join panels. Evidence of ideas for future work. Making feeds ideas, for me at least. If I am working on one thing you can bet your life something else is being planned in my head aside from the supermarket shopping and the housework. I will have that here, in this ledger. Inspiration for future work, a prompt,a spark for when those blocks appear. And another very important reason for gathering ideas in this way.....it's the best kind of ''play''.
There are open ledgers everywhere today. They inspire me. They prompt, they suggest, they also bring back memories. I can remember how I felt when both these spreads were worked. I can remember where I was geographically and where I was in my head (the two were never the same).
I know of people who threw their work away when they finished studying. I can't understand that any more now than I could then. I would be totally lost without this work. It's not only inspirational, it's evidence. It's evidence of a plan, a possible piece of work and importantly this work is evidence that I was there, doodling, thinking and working towards a goal.
So if you're stuck, creatively stumped, get your old work out and take some time to browse. If nothing else it's a brilliant way to spend an hour or so.
No. I'm not showing you the same pictures as yesterday. This is a newly embellished frill and a newly embellished seam. The same pouch but new embroidery. There is cross stitch and there are French knots. There is one more flounce to add to this and then it will need to be lined. I ordered some cloth for lining this morning.It's here. I'm actually not sure it will be suitable, it may be too open. I was hooked in to buy it because it's so gorgeous. A lesson in how not to buy, don't buy based on how gorgeous something appears....buy on how suitable something is for purpose. OOps....nothing lost, I will still use it. When it arrives I will let you know if I can line with it, I will make that decision when I see it 'in the flesh'. Then again, if it's not suitable for lining I will be delayed.....(buries head in sand and hopes said potential problem doesn't occur).
I'm a bit later than I intended today. I have been to get my feet done. I had a traumatic experience with a parking meter and charmed the socks off a traffic warden. Consequently I was delayed....but without a ticket.....result. I think there was mention of giving him my firstborn but it's OK because he doesn't know where I live. (I did buy a ticket....don't want you thinking I am a lawless scoundrel....just not from the right machine...long story....air head Ruane)
Anyway....it's almost dark and I've still got a video to make. I made two this morning but titivating is expected over in SS3 tomorrow and they're a bunch of slave drivers so I need to get on with it. And whilst I'm on the subject....SS4 is now listed here....different format, longer, less expensive...
You probably know that I am making pouches, two of them to be precise. One of them has a base of white silk and is mostly embellished with white embroidery along with a scattering of pale pink and green. The second one has vintage handkerchiefs forming most of the background, again it has mostly been embellished with white thread however this time lemon stitches have been scattered across it to echo lemon stitches which are present in one of the handkerchiefs.
You will be seeing these pieces a lot over the coming days. They are both almost finished, both spoken for. I have one or two seams to titivate and they will both need to be backed/lined. I will then concentrate on the body bag along with an art piece I have been working towards with the simply stitch 3 group. So pretty perfect plans I think........if only it would stop raining!
To those of you in the U.S. stay inside. keep warm. Keep safe......that's an order.
You could call it playing I suppose....moving bits of embroidered cloth around on backgrounds, looking, thinking. The purpose is to inform. Did it? Not sure yet, you can be the judge of that when I'm done. These are all pieces which will be added to the ''lemon pouch''. That should be finished before too long and then you can let me have your verdict.
I'm getting frustrated at inconvenience today. Nothing serious in the big scheme of things, just normal, every day things but at the moment they are an annoyance because I just want to be reclusive, be left alone to play, to stitch, to make notes, to plan. Remember when you were a small child and you thought that if you couldn't see people then they couldn't see you? Like hiding under the covers in bed? (maybe that was just me!) anyway, I'm considering whether that is an effective strategy for an adult, considering putting a bag over my head in the hope it makes me invisible.
***you do not need to have participated in any of my previous online learning programmes in order to take part in simply stitch four. There are no prerequisites for simply stitch four.***
=============================================
Simply stitch 4 has no deadlines, no set tasks. Groups which are formed through my online learning programmes are communities, friendly, interactive, supportive communities. It is my hope that each individual course takes place within a relaxed, informal and ''comfortable'' online environment. You are welcome to dip and and out of our experience as and when it is convenient for YOU. Access is permanent....forever.
============================================== Access to a private blog with regular, minimum twice weekly blog posts which will be created specifically for this group included. These posts will NOT appear on my public blog, they will be exclusive to this group. Video posting fortnightly minimum.
==============================================
Commencing Monday February 24 for SIX MONTHS Simply stitch 4, a gathering of cloth and embroiderers is my latest online learning programme born from a desire to get ''back to basics'', hand stitch at it's purest. This online creative experience will take the form of a very relaxed and gentle gathering of cloth and embroiderers, those who have an affinity with handling cloth, working with cloth. We will gather together and embroider, I will discuss my plans, my inspiration, the preparation and creation of embroidered cloth. I will demonstrate technique and process throughout. I can guarantee that there will be embroidery, embellishment, manipulation of cloth. I will share thoughts along with the more tangible sources which drive me. I will doodle, you will be encouraged to do the same.
It is my hope that you bring your own work along with you, to share and discuss with the group. We will guide and support each other, sharing tips and process, a gathering of girls for ''online'' afternoon tea.
You are welcome to continue and /or begin your own projects within the forum of this class. You are also welcome to observe and plan work around the pieces I create. If you do not wish to embroider then that is fine too. You can just follow along with us as I record my personal, creative process. You will be given access to me, my day, my embroidery with demonstration, discussion and instruction throughout.
*** There are no deadlines. There are no set tasks. This is an informal and relaxed process which is purely concerned with enjoyment and companionship.***
Video will be hosted on our private pasword protected blog and there will be a dedicated flickr group where you can upload images and interact with your peers by means of private discussion.
Upon registration you will be sent a brief e-mail to confirm your seat at the table.
I have a lot of pieces ''on the go'' at the moment, mostly they are wrapped up in SS3. I finished one of those SS3 pieces last night, quite early, a few hours before bedtime. That was damp stretched and then I had a choice, thumb twiddling or embroidery. No contest...is there ever?
White came to the rescue. A few pieces which no longer fit within the ''body bag'' yet will fit together perfectly and form a white silk pouch. Lace was added to a seam and one single solitary web stitch was embroidered. (I can't believe I didn't photograph the web stitch, capture it in these pictures if only as proof that it exists. You will have to trust me on that one)
This may well be laid aside again for a few days. Tonight will be about a hexagon...yes just one hexagon and perhaps a little cross stitch.
Happy Wednesday everyone. I said I would and I am. Show you the lemon work close up I mean. Here it is. One of these pieces is new, the prominent piece with the plain background. Laid next to the other pouch pieces it appears to fit, to be at home. A hand bound buttonhole has also found its way into these pictures and that will form part of the surface of this pouch too. I feel as if i've never been away. One week on and I've slipped back into my usual inane rambling easily, without as much as a stutter. It's all pouches, embroidery, buttonholes, cloth.....
This time last week it was so very different. It wasn't pouches, embroidery, buttonholes and cloth It was turkey and rich food, gravy and tasty morsels. Today? Nothing at all of any excitement taste wise is to be found in this house. The memory of last week has me longing for last weeks food. Today, for lunch, I had a slice of chicken that was drier than a desert dwellers flip flop.....the cupboards are bare. I say sack the housekeeper, (yes that's me. I live in hope). Or, an even better idea, if you are planning a turkey dinner anytime today please invite me, save me a seat.
English definition of “flip-flop”
flip-flop
noun [C usually plural](SHOE) /ˈflɪp.flɒp/ /-flɑːp/ (US andAustralian English thong)
