A little bit different

I've been inspired by Janet Edmonds for a long time, ever since I bought her book "Beginners Guide to Embroidered Boxes" & thought I'd NEver be able to make one of these, let alone stitch something like it. I took it along to my wokshop in February for inspiration so it's been knocking about, not hidden in the bookshelf desperate to be read. So I've been reading it & thought, now's the time, not to make a box but to make a panel. I read every word of the instructions, instead of skipping half of them & getting in a muddle. I drew bits that I liked, aiming for my own spin on her designs.

I'm pleased, my first symmetrical pennant type thing. It's a ruler by 4 1/2". My DH is gobsmacked, finally, something he understands! It went a little skew in places but I like that, a bit quirky & NOT perfect, Heaven forbid!

As I didn't want to make a box I just turned the box side shape on it's head. I used chocolate paper foil, (of course ;) & can't seem to get away from burgundy & dusky pink. I don't mind. Janet usually stitches thru 3 layers - felt for the base/inner box, Vilene in the middle then a good cotton fabric for the background. I used shiny cotton (old curtain lining I think) & a white damask napkin from the 'stuff I'd never use in real life, why did I get it?'  pile for the middle layer. Once I'd finished I zigzaged round & attached it to the inevitable sturdy backing of denim.

Janet then builds designs from shiny fabrics or painted vilene or netting, lots of things. She seems to stitch all over the background, then adds the design but I've got to say I'm a skinflint where gold thread is concerned so I fme'd round the additions once the shapes were stitched down ;)

The sketch. I turned the udder lookalikes into arches using sari silk 'thread' I zigzaged over embroidery yarn on top of organza 'ribbon' that I made - hopelessly slippy, I shall be looking out for more braid - all I could find in that dept was the piece in the v at the bottom. Then I stitched turquoise all round, subtle but makes a difference. I made the 4 ovals which looked a bit like leaves but I loved using 2 layers with inner stitching, knowing I was going to expose the second layer by snipping off the top sliver later - fancy thinking ahead like that! Really enjoyed the bulbous circle in the middle altho I nearly lost my fingertips!

I made a cord, haven't done that since,  you guessed it, the Jan & Jean class 100 yrs ago ;)

(I think all these smily faces mean thanks for being patient with me! )

I added it next to the braid at the bottom & then used it to make a little dangly bit with a tiny tassle. I beaded in the corners, really. Being so symetrical I was kind of 'told' where the beads should go. (oh no, my piece isn't 'speaking to me' is it?!) I had to remove the bead from the bottom tip to zigzag round, I might remember to put it back.

I've really enjoyed this departure from my usual mess - Jill said my work had 'sponteneity' which I was delighted with, thank you! It's relaxing tho to have a different way to work. I must find my own patterns in old buildings & watch the Tudors again for symbols & shapes. I not long ago started a little found pattern book, now here's another place to use it. No samples this week, I was too excited to get on! I will make some tho, Janets are beautiful & she made a fabulous book to put them all in, to die for.

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I need to go & unbend my stitchers neck & wander about the garden for a bit - my sweetpeas have germinated!