A few ''randoms'' today, recent images of work in progress, work completed and everyday creative stuff. The large piece of silk with gingham and embroidery is damp stretching. That is a ''master sheet'' of items from class. There's a drawstring pouch, two pin pillows and six buttons all embroidered waiting to be put together and have final titivation's added. (you can't see the buttons but trust me, they're there) and yes, you did read that correctly, two more pin pillows. There are four finished pin pillows in these images too. The top three are mine, the last one, the blue and white one doesn't live here any more.
More stitching has been added to the pillow top I first showed you here. Not long now and that piece will be transformed into something delightful into which pins can be stuck! The other piece is a small scrap, a small sample of layered lace, silk muslin, a few vintage pom poms and added stitch. There's a single silver, cubed bead on there too, not very visible in these images. (first image, far left of the third pom pom down on the silk muslin surface.) This piece is for my very own artist book.
Speaking of artist books there may be news soon of an adventure regarding ''artist books''......but that's for another day.
Today I will be stitching fine, fragile papers, creating surfaces for my ''stash''. Some of those will be hand embroidered for my book. Fabric scraps will be added to them too, perhaps a few more pom poms, definitely some delicate pieces of lace and beads and sequins will almost certainly find a place somewhere within these plans.
Lace cloth, a pin pillow, the top of a pin pillow. Every time I make lace cloth I question why I don't do it more often. No two pieces are the same, ever. In class, if we make lace cloth, out of 30 or 40 people no two pieces are ever the same or would be the same if we all began with exactly the same cloth. It's always a surprise, a revelation exactly how the finished piece will turn out. I've yet to see a ''poor'', unappealing piece of lace cloth, my own or that made by others. I would be so bold as to say it's impossible to not create a gorgeous piece of cloth this way no matter how much experience you have or don't have, no matter what your choices are when it comes to fabric selection.
Anyway, I digress, I got wrapped up in my love for lace cloth.....now to speak about the pin pillow. It's spoken for. I don't accept commissions for many reasons one of which is lack of time. (another, more relevant reason is I want to make what I want, not what someone else wants. Sorry about that, it's just how it is.)
If someone mentions to me they may like something I say no problem but I can't promise and I can't promise when it will happen if it ever does. I'm no business genius but I'm guessing that wouldn't be a good way to earn money from commissioned work. But, like I said, that's fine by me. I am the non commission Queen...too many potential problems.
So, the pin pillow. Someone wants one. I said yes but don't hold your breath. Eventually , it's here, in progress. You can breathe now.
Embroidery is happening on one of the pieces of cloth fromyesterday. One of the pieces has been cut in two and a piece of silk Dupion has been tacked into the space created. I then added a curly gimp edge secured with bullion knots. So far there is a single bumpy bit on the silk Dupion...there will be more.
Yesterday I also spoke about my ''octagon'' situation. I ordered pre cut octagon templates. My excitement was mounting. They have just arrived. Only one problem......they sent me hexagons by mistake. Can you hear me crying?
You might remember I have been wanting to play with octagons for quite some time. I ordered templates...they were too big, (you're right, I didn't read it properly!) So I allowed the urge to rest, basically I didn't so anything about it because I had other things to do and Santa was coming. However, the urge returned with a vengeance so I printed some onto paper which I then stuck to card, my printer doesn't like card. That was a bit of a disaster.....I am glue averse anyway so that didn't surprise me to be honest. Despite this I managed to get one card template cut out which I then used to draw around...result. There are only seven here, that's as far as I have got. I have ordered more pre cut templates...the correct size I hope.....I will play with this a little more when they arrive. It's those little squares which have got me excited...the possibilities for those open spaces.
The cloth? The snippet cloth surfaces? There are three of those each measuring approximately five inches square....not very big. I have plans for those, pin pillow related plans......
Embroidery School opened it's doors this morning. If you registered you should have received mail from me this morning about Flickr and about live videos. If you haven't received those please let me know.
If you think you might want to join us you can read more here.
A little pillow......for me. It will be used for pins because let's face it, you can never have too many pin pillows. This one measures 7 x 6 inches (not counting the prairie points). It's going to live in the dining room, the front room, the room where I work. There are four other pin pillows in the house. Why didn't you just move one of them you ask? Well, because I wanted to make another one. I felt like treating myself without leaving the house or spending money. I recommend it.
There are circular beads along one edge which are very tempting to play with, to run your fingers along. Let's hope I stitched them on securely! The toggle was added as a finishing touch (despite being created for my happy cloth. I stole it from my happy cloth stash)
Similar images I know but I couldn't pick a favourite....two pillow tops in progress. The biggest one has had more cutwork added. The smaller one which you saw in a hoop earlier this week is finished, it's just waiting for me to decide what to do with it next. I can't decide what to back it with or what to add to the edges. I have too many options.......quite a happy dilemma to have.
This afternoon is going to be another chaotic artist book afternoon. I say chaotic because you wouldn't believe the mess I create when I am putting pages together. It takes me longer to tidy up afterwards than it does to actually put the pages together. A creative space is a messy space......at least it is here.
As you know I am about to get new cabinets in which to keep all things stitch......so....I've been sorting out which mainly consists of moving one pile of stuff to another space and replacing it with another pile of stuff. Whilst shuffling piles of stuff I came across a couple of things which came back from France with me, a blingy pillow and two sets of buttons. They are now in the shop.
I've been embroidering lace clothquietly for a few days now, for a class related project. Meantime, whilst my mind is wandering to all things sample and portfolio related whilst I stitch it also wandered back a few years to a past project. I don't want to say too much about that today in case I create a huge mess which I can't share but this afternoon I plan to doodle with that project in mind, alter it, move it on and hopefully it will be the start of something ''quite'' new....by that I mean, same stitches, same cloth (one trick pony here) but different patterning....hopefully....
A new pillow, doodled silk, chain stitch, cutwork prairie points, applique, gingham and spotty fabric. It's cheerful if nothing else, brightens the day. I'm not sure if this one will come to France with me.....just a niggle that I can't quite put my finger on. Does that happen to you? I will decide last minute. I suppose I could take it but not get it out of the suitcase.......
I'm out today, for most of today anyway...celebrating with this gorgeous little man who is not so little any more.
Happy birthday James. Love you to the moon and back.
A piece of silk, a piece of gingham, a pen, a quick five minutes doodling, add stitch add a few prairies points and hey presto....a pillow top. This one is light relief from my current sewing machine duties, Spring like and cheerful. I do love my cloth which is being created on the sewing machine but if I'm not careful, if I don't take a break with something completely different every once in a while it will become a chore. We don't want that do we.
The reverse of this one is being planned in my head as I type this today. The edges are also being considered, debated. There is another piece , similar to this one but not identical in progress too. A matching pair, a complimentary pair.....by the end of the week I hope.
In case you missed them, or have forgotten about them....a few pieces of previously doodled and stitched cloth.
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