Be back in a few weeks

Posted on April 30, 2013 by

Sorry, folks, but school is keeping me very busy. I should be done soon, but unfortunately it looks like I won’t be posting regularly in May. As the Terminator says, I’ll be back.

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Virginia Visit

Posted on March 20, 2013 by

Y’all, I had a lovely time visiting the Woodlawn Needlework Exhibition. I won an Honorable Mention! Hurray! (I looked over the winners – really lovely stitching. Mine is also lovely but you can tell in a few spots that I had just started learning a new stitch. I really haven’t been embroidering that long!) Sadly, they don’t allow photos inside the show :-(

Fortunately for the blog, though, Anna of Talliaferro was kind enough to invite me to dinner!!! I had the most wonderful time! It was fantastic to finally meet in person! And I got to look at ALL of her embroidery :-) Aren’t you so jealous?

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I asked for advice on one of the most irritating problems in embroidery for me: how to transfer a design to the fabric. She recommends high quality artist’s tracing paper. It’s carbon paper, but if you get it from an art supply store for professional artists (not advertised for embroiderers) instead of a craft store, it’s higher quality and generally works a whole lot better than the stuff usually advertised for embroidery.

 I took a few photos of her house (only a few! there was a lot more embroidery there – it was a show all by itself!). Here is the Royal Persian Blossom:

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And this is La Serenissima, which is the next design in line to be released! Isn’t it gorgeous? Really, the photo doesn’t do it justice.

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I got a chance to peek at her works-in-progress and design instructions in the middle of editing. Sneak preview! Here is the cover for the not-yet-released La Serenissima:

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May Mouse: Maypole

Posted on March 13, 2013 by

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Here is the maypole so far. It’s padded for a raised effect (I haven’t quite reached the top yet). I’ve gotta run – I’m visiting the Woodlawn Needlework Exhibition this weekend and I have packing to do! See you later!

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May Mouse: Head

Posted on March 11, 2013 by

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I’m working the mouse head from the back towards the nose, so that the stitches lie on top of each other like fur does. I use short little stitches because mice have short little hair. I used longer stitches for the pink ear: see how it looks smoother and less furry? I’m also  trying to make the stitches look random to avoid lines (this mouse is not supposed to have stripes).  I might have to add a few extra stitches near the right eye. I think the color change wasn’t quite random enough, so it looks more striped than blended.

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Rooster: More Feathers

Posted on March 6, 2013 by

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I’ve been working away on the feathers. Maybe the upper layer of feathers could have a vertical pattern, as if they are drooping.

I’m afraid the PhD dissertation takes priority, so I’ve got limited time for embroidery and posting.

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Rooster: Feather Experiment

Posted on March 1, 2013 by

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I tried a couple of experimental feathers (on the right) before finding an arrangement I liked: solid outline on one side with horizontal lines filling it in, which creates stylized feather shapes. This covers the same blocks that the cross-stitching would, but I find it less irritating to work and more interesting stylistically, while still fitting in with the geometric theme. I am still debating what to do with the row of black feathers above the gold feathers – maybe similar but with a diagonal fill? Something else entirely?

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May Mouse: Start

Posted on February 27, 2013 by

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A while ago I worked the April Mouse kit (see the finished result) from Woodland Threads as a present for my cousin’s new baby. There’s another one on the way, so it is time for mouse number two! This one is the May Mouse, and it is dancing around a maypole. Ain’t it cute!

Posted in My work, Surface embroidery | Tagged , , | 4 Comments