Well, I was all set to post early today & have almost a whole day of catching up with all the things I should have done before like finishing off pieces & actually getting them framed & on to the wall. Oh & a bit of weeding... So I got tangled up in stitching on the beads & the hanging cords - well, you wanted a twiggier twig didn't you?!!! ;) Then a phone call, then could you believe too much sunlight outside, too breezy to set the things down in the shade & so I settled on the studio floor but could I see the shadow that the camera picked up? No. I fiddled with brightness & contrast & just made it worse so here they are as all I can manage.
Sample
I decided to do a creamy gold hanging & was amazed by all the white flowers I have & the weeds in the fields around. I took 8 in all I think but that would be another half day gone if I showed you them all - one day ;) So I chose the Shasta daisy, right on the edge of my garden or it would take over
the common daisy, a blown out pic, sorry, to much sun, see?
& meadowsweet down just above the shore
For the sample & hanging I laid down some undyed wool tops & strips of all my white cream & gold bits pieces. No blending visible with white wool on white fabric but it feels nice & soft. For the large daisy I suggested the white with squares & strips of a shinyish cotton (?) for the tiny daisys, squares of silk only just needled down which ruched them up nicely & builders scrim for the meadowsweet.
When it came to the metalic gold petal stitching I got into technical difficulties, bending the needle by fme stitching thru my index finger, quite a shock but managed to keep the blood from 2 holes off the pale fabric! I then broke 2 needles, thats 3 in less than half an hour! but they turned out to be 70 (70 whats I don't know!) & found a 90 by scrabbling about thru every basket & box. 70 obviously couldn't cope with the intense amount of stitches in the middle of the flowers. Enjoyed meandering over the piece with hand stitching - it felt like plain sailing after the needle incident...til the beads.
While I was in the white mode I stuck together a couple of cuffs - I recently sold a creamy one, a few colored ones , oh & a couple of the 'After Ruth Rae' collages I did earlier this year so as the white stuff is still out I'll make a couple more for the show...time is passing!
The youngest got back from Mongolia safely having had a fabulous time, loved trekking on the horses, didn't like loosing his pics by formatting by mistake - his leader might have a program that will retrieve them...nor was digging a toilet for the orphanage, part of the project, 2m deep by 1 1/2 wide his favorite thing! preferred teaching English & playing with the kids. Took a pic for me every time he saw felt & lined up the felt hostel slippers to show me, very touching, hope the pics aren't lost. He also brought back a prayer flag so I've tied it in the wind & said 'health & happiness' all over it, so here's hoping!
There's an interesting video on felt & a Mongolian 'fantasy yurt' on Quitlers Cottage Norfolks blog, (on my roll). I'm interested in making a prayer flag or 2 but not a ger (Mongolian for yurt) ;)
Right, 7 hrs left til bedtime - I will not be distracted! (she says hopefully)
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24 comments:
Love those little pieces, very intense. You use a metallic needle, don't you? Helps a lot -- the eye is lined with something so the thread flows thru more easily. Hugs
I like the first pic it reminds me of Chicory flowers somehow.
All of the work is scrumptious!
The Meadowsweet lives up to it's name doesn't it? I love the smell of it.
I have some shampoo from 'Faith in Nature' which has meadow sweet in it (they call it meadow foam) and hemp oil in too. It's a really nice feeling when I wash my hair and I don't condition my hair every wash but, use one of theirs' called Seaweed, lovley stuff!
Nearest I get to the Sea these days!
Thanks for sharing...get some of those metallic thread needles and let us all know where you get them from!
Sandie xx
I really like this hanging. What size is it? Those needles really do help, failing that, if you have one sold for sewing denim that's a good substitute.
Glad your son has returned safely and I hope that somehow he can get his photographs back.
So glad you've got your priorities right - never mind the pain - keep the blood off the fabric! Love the white on white hanging. What a wonderful experience your son has had in Mongolia, and yes I also hope he can recover his photographs.
Beautiful! I love both the sample and the hanging - and the stickier stick. I use 90 topstitch needle as standard, and 100 for metallics. I only use a 70 for machine stitching beads directly - need a nerves (and fingers) of steel for that tho!
I love your cuffs....you have put me in the mood to make some myself...I'll put that on my great long list of things to do! How's that!
You know what they say, "A woman's work is never done"...
Have a great Day!
ciao bella
Creative Carmelina
Forgot to add - love the twiggy twig.
I LOVE your daisy pieces.....just delightful!
Glad your son got home safely and had a good time.
Hugs
Linda xx
Oh...nearly forgot...great twig!!!!!! :-)
These pieces hanging from driftwood? are gorgeous. I really am enjoying the direction your work is evolving....At the Mass Sheep and Wool Fair last year there was a full felted yurt and it was unbelievable amazing. I cannot imagine how much work........and how much roving!!! xox Corrine
These white on white pieces are beautiful! I hope your finger isn't causing you too much discomfort. Have you tried putting the metallic thread on the bobbin and stitching from the back? Sometimes that works well. I had to do that with my journal quilt.
I'm glad too that your osn is safely home. fingers crossed for the photos.
I am in awe!!!!
Emma these works are absolutely fantastic - the piece looks just great hanging from the twig/stick. I know exactly the trouble you have been having. I almost permanently use a denim or top stitch needle in my machine these days and metallic thread....well...forget it
..even with a metallic needle I don't seem to have any great success.
All gorgeous!
Hugs and love,
Suzy
Love the hanging, Emma! It's a nice juxtaposition of contrasts having the soft, fuzzy fabric layers against the solid, smooth twig.
I have an old simple Janome and use a heavy duty needle with metallic thread. I was doing some FME with it today.
I am enjoying your work. Hugs
Emma your collages are so beautifully made, great colors and stitched flowers, love them and love the cuffs too.
Anni
They are LOVELY , you are such a great artist !
Love ♥RINI♥ xox
Your work is wonderful!! I just love clicking on the pictures to enlarge and see all the detail and texture you put into your work!! Amazing
These are sumptuous Emma ......its made me want to have a go now ........xx
The white pieces are wonderful and I love how you have used pastel shades of other colours as well as metallics to make the whites stand out.
And I think the twig is spot on! It has some of the same orangey shades as the hanging which ties them together beautifully and the beads at the bottom finish it off perfectly.
I'd love to see some close up piccies of the prayer flag...
Love your hangings Emma! Cuffs are great too.
There is nothing wrong with a bit of burbling now and again; and did you 'bawl' when you stitched your finger? That does sound nasty.
The 90 or a topstitch needle sounds a good idea. Nice textured pieces, so worth the pain.
♥
Oh boy, I have had quite a bit of catching up to do - your pieces are just gorgeous! I have sewed my finger before today so I know what you went through - I dripped blood onto a white silk piece though! I always use a 90 or 100 topstitch needle - they have a larger eye - and loosen the top tension. That makes a big difference. Sometimes though you just have to hold your tongue the right way!! Cheers
Love your hanging, and the cuffs, gorgeous. Lovely to find your blog!
Carole
your hangings and cuffs are just beautiful, what a fabulous adventure to Mongolia, id like to spend some time in yurt....i hope the photos can be retrieved...
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