Legong Dancer: Design questions

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

I am feeling rested enough to be creative. That means dithering over this dancer again!

The top edge of the wings is very pale green (I am not sure it shows in this picture. I will have to try again with better light). I want to finish outlining the wing with it. This is standing in for gold, and in person it looks good.

Below it are are scallops in variegated blue (in satin stitch), then scallops of variegated red-brown buttonhole stitch, then variegated red-purple in buttonhole stitch. I think I may like the buttonhole stitch better, so I am contemplating whether I need to take the satin stitch out and replace it with buttonhole. In the bottom purple row I worked the buttonhole in two different directions to see how it looks. Which way do y’all like better?

I am thinking about how to fill in between all these scallops with the pale green – rows of running stitch? herringbone? nothing? Something different? I am not sure I want to completely cover the background. She’s supposed to be dancing at night, and I think it is neat the way the dark shows through. It makes her part of the night. And the gold background design makes me think of stars and the moon. But the background pattern is very strong, so I do want my dancer to show up clearly. Think, think, think!

I am contemplating trellis stitch in purple on the skirt, with a different color to couch it down. I’m not sure I like the yellow herringbone at the bottom of the skirt – it may not fit in well. I’m considering switching it for another color….

Also, this was a really dreadful way to transfer the pattern. Maybe I’ll try the prick-and-pounce next time.

Opinions, everybody? The creative design process involves lots of dithering!

Posted in My work | 8 Comments

Bird Brocade: Bird Feathers Finished

IMG_0961

The bird has a tail!

Posted in My work | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

Bird Brocade Returns

IMG_0934

I hadn’t worked on this project in over a year. I pulled it out this week and felt inspired, so here it is again! The bird is acquiring feathers rapidly.

Posted in My work | Tagged , | 12 Comments

Chikankari class: Almost done

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

I’m almost done with Anita’s chikan embroidery class! What a dramatic design! All that’s left is a little embroidery inside the paisley, under the heart. I’m still debating what color to use. What do you think?

It’s also time to start thinking about what to do with the finished piece! I think I will need to use some kind of fray preventative on the edges of the fabric and hem it before I do anything else. It might be neat to frame it so that both sides can be seen. Or I could sew the entire thing onto the back of a jacket or something. Ideas?

Posted in Indian embroidery, My work | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Chikankari class: More progress

IMG_0959

You can see the progress at the bottom and the top of the piece. I won’t be adding new colors to the piece – I decided that reusing some of the colors will tie the piece together.

I like the interplay between the shadow work and the surface embellishments.

IMG_0957

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

Chinese Temple Embroidery 3: Extreme Sculpture

img_0683

This post is contributed by my mother Laura, who spent the summer in Taiwan.

Extreme sculptural 3D effects are common in the tapestries. The dragons especially seem about to leap from the surface and fly free.

img_0686

Those silver spiral horns on the dragon are at least 2 inches (5 cm) high. The temple doors that the dragons are guarding and the silver roof tiles and spirals are all extreme high relief.

img_0685

A surprise for me were the dragon eyes and whiskers. I checked for an elaborate special stitch only seen in dragon eyes.  Nope.  All fuzzy wuzzy pom-poms! And on the tips of dragon whiskers as well!

img_0709

img_0708

Posted in Embroidery around the world, Mother | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

May Mouse: Almost done

IMG_0938

All done except the ribbons. I found them! It turns out that I left them in a sensible location so they wouldn’t get lost. Ha. So those will be the final step for stitching. I also need to iron it – the fabric has a crease in it. I’m a little tired of stitching fur now, though it did come out well.

Posted in My work | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Chikankari class: Wave stitch

IMG_0943

OK! Back to work on Anita’s chikankari class! I learned wave stitch (in the center of the heart). I also finished the buttonhole leaves with running stitch filling. I think the trickiest part is hiding the tails. Since the fabric isn’t opaque, I have to be extremely careful or they will show.

IMG_0945

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

Chinese Temple Embroidery 2: Still in Tainan

img_0693

This post is contributed by my mother Laura, who spent the summer in Taiwan.

Although some few elements are sewn by foot powered sewing machines (no electricity)  the amazing sculptural elements can only be done by hand. The artisans work at bamboo trestles where the embroidery frame is tied to the bamboo sawhorse. Thus it is easy to adjust a frame to fit any size tapestry.

img_0696 img_0691

Padding under the silver thread adds height.

img_0692

Another bench, another work in progress possibly even more elaborate than the first.

img_0695

And another!

img_0687

And yet another!

img_0694

Posted in Embroidery around the world, Mother | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

May Mouse: Tail

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

All that’s left is the belly and the ribbons for the Maypole. Unfortunately, the ribbons are missing – they somehow separated from the rest of the kit. I’ll be spending the evening searching for them. Where could they be?

Posted in My work | Tagged , , | 10 Comments