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There's a tiny vintage cuff tucked under a seam on this piece and if you look closely you can see the little button, the original button. Lace has been laid over Broderie Anglaise on the top section before the whole piece was laid on top of some pretty floral patterned cloth. The gold ribbon has been used to cover a raw edge, an alternative to a hem.
I think it's fair to say my sampling is going well. My collection is definitley growing.
The most recent samples I've been creating have been quite restrained, unadorned in terms of beads, sequins and bling. With that in mind I had these two pieces out today in an effort to inspire a blingy piece, a new sample that glitters and shines. We shall have to wait and see how that turns out as I haven't even begun to piece it together yet. First I need to add one or two finishing touches to a sample piece I started yesterday. I hope to show you that tomorrow.
My '12 month stitch along' is filling up nicely...thank you!! We start on Saturday so get your needles threaded girls.
Yes, still practicing, sampling, sewing litle bits together and adding beads, buttons, ribbons. It's fun, you should try it. I'm cramming my head with all things embroidery and making the most of the inspiration whilst it's here. I could go on and on and on.....not sure if my fingers agree and they certainly don't work quick enough to keep up with my head.
Practicing.
I'm still gathering samples here, recently created samples, homeless samples and all the while I'm being inspired to create more.
Yes, I am surrounded by samples. That's a good thing. They inspire and regardless...they are wonderful just to 'have', to pick up and put down. There's no end to this sample love to be honest because I'm about to put another one together. Another bonus of this sample factory situation is that very soon I will have two more artist books (one cloth, one paper) crammed with inspiration and reference. It's a win win.
If you are registered for the '12 month stitch along' you should have received an email from me today. If you didn't receive that could you please let me know.
The pages from yesterday....now laid between embroidered samples, embroidered cloth samples. I am loving the ribbon here, the green vintage inspired ribbon. There will definitely be more of that appearing in my work.
I'm not stopping long today. There's paperwork to do....I wish I could insert an emoji here....
The pages from yesterday....now laid between embroidered samples, embroidered cloth samples. I am loving the ribbon here, the green vintage inspired ribbon. There will definitely be more of that appearing in my work.
I'm not stopping long today. There's paperwork to do....I wish I could insert an emoji here....
There's quite a collection building of these little white sheets. A mix of paper, cloth and lace, each of these has been enhanced with hand embroidery. Some have ribbon, some have sequins, some have beads. For quite some time I have been wondering what to use them with. Initially they were born from my 'overlay' making. I guess they are 'overlays' but this time they will be used as a protection for cloth samples, embroidered cloth, applique and cross stitch as opposed to providing protection for embroidered papers.
This morning I have spent a few hours preparing for the '12 month stitch along' which begins in less than a week. My table has been covered with these pieces and more. (the gingham bag holds my vintage handkerchiefs) I have begun work on our first piece for class....it's all becoming very real.
Yesterday I had all my cloth sample books out along with samples that have yet to find a home. The cloth book in progress which you last saw here received a little attention too in terms of the raw edges being turned under and slip stitched into place.
When you last saw this one I was umming and ahhing about whether to make a lining for it, whether to titivate cloth for the reverse. Well....I decided. This morning I have pieced some cloth which I now need to embellish before using it on the reverse of the ribbon and sequin piece.
In artist book class we are currently creating a tiny artist book which will be protected with an embroidered sleeve. I have laid those pieces here alongside more pages from my embroidery stitches book which I showed you last time. You seemed to like that one. I have shown it before on here but it's always good for me at least to look at it again, to remind myself. Recently, as I said in my last post, I have been referring back to that one a lot in preparation for the new embroidery class which begins in just over a week. If you would like to read more about the '12 month stitch along' just go here.
Have a fabulous weekend.....I'm off to do my chores, the boring housework ones before I get my stitching out.
The little stitch book we created in the last 'embroidery school' has come in very useful for the next embroidery schoool, my 12 month 'stitch along'. It's been by my side as I've been making stitch videos for the new class.
It might be time for another little stitch book to be created. Guilloche stitch definitely deserves recognition in this way, recorded, referenced along with the many other stitches not present in the little book you can see today. I guess it's time to make a list.....
If you are signed up for the new class you should have received an email from me today. If you didn't receive that then please let me know.
These four pieces have kept me busy over the past week or so. One of them, the paper piece, is something we are working on in artist book class. The other three pieces are embellished 'overlay' pieces. I am unsure what will become of those but I have a hankering for an all white overlay artist book, a record of these surfaces (which I love and am obsessed with), a reference, a library of surface and seam ideas, of edge adornment.
In the centre of the second image you should be able to see where I have worked two rows of 'guilloche stitch' side by side. That stitch is fast becoming a favouirite.....another favourite. The 'how to' is demonstrated in this post.
Thanks so much for the response to my last post where I speak about my embroidery essentials. Someone asked where they could get 'coton a broder'. I buy mine here, (and no, I'm not on commission...I wish!) As for overseas? perhaps someone out there could help with that in the comments?
The response to my new stitching adventure has been amazing too....thank you. You can read more about that here. I am so excited for that to start and am spending time at the moment creating video demonstration of my favourite embroidery stitches for the new group.
Finally, last weekend....... Indulge me please. I spent Saturday in a muddy field, in the rain at the foot of Stirling castle. It was amazing, never to be repeated, history in the making, the last ever gig by a band I have been following for as long as I can remember. I still feel sad, very sad. A world without Runrig? Hard to imagine.....
One of the band put this on social media and I couldn't agree more.