Good day to you all. It has been a busy time since I last wrote, but not necessarily with stitching! Life does have to have a balance! We had a lovely time recently with long standing good friends. It was a little like “old times”. Something that feels like a sort of “normality”.
I have made a start on my new stitching project, It is slow and steady! I think it is because it is the first piece of fresh work, and I am changing my mind so much about what I am working towards, that it is making me unsettled!
I am calling it “The circle of life”, and have started a fresh sketchbook with all my thoughts, some sketches, with one or two sections of photocopies from sections other work I have been doing. I am also recording the thoughts and ideas buzzing round my head.
I am sure this will all help to keep me focussed. Working intuitively is a style that suits me, but I do feel more comfortable when I have given myself some parameters! My latest thoughts are that this will be a long thin hanging. I do like this particular format, and have used it several times in the past.
I have also starting a second hand sewn project. I like to have two or three things on the go, because each project goes through various stages, and sometimes it is easier to be doing one thing rather than the other! This project is not new to me! I first designed and worked with it back in 2006, and loved the results. It took a lot of working out, and experimenting at the time, indeed I made several before I even realised the salient points of my design! It looks incredibly simple, but believe me, it’s not! Fiddly and small but it feels good to be working with them again! All will be revealed in due course! I have all my design work, and have cut out the templates; chosen my fabrics, recorded my calculations in the present sketch book, so will have both projects on the go! I am using hand dyed fabrics; some are commercial fabrics which I have overdyed. For this project I shall be working with the English method of patchwork and hexagons. However I do have to have my wits about me as they are distorted, and divided into three sections, therefore every template is a different shape! Hence I have to lay everything out and be very organised! I feel I may be able to make a start with the sewing when we visit family for a few days! Whether I even open my box is another matter, of course, with little fingers exploring everything in sight!
I have also decided on my Christmas card for this year, too. It isn’t my original idea but that was going to take many hours to complete, and, to be honest, I just don’t have that time available at the moment. For the eagle eyed amongst you, you may well think “I think I have seen this before”! It is actually one of my samples from Unit 5 of the machine embroidery course; which I was working on earlier this year. It is very nice to be actually using it!
It is not a traditional “Christmas scene”, rather a traditional “winter scene”, and I have called it “First Light”.
I had made several pieces of felt in a workshop many years ago, and I used one of my stash for this particular background. I made a template of a deer with antlers, and cut him out of brown needle cord; an appropriate texture, colour and contrast to the felt. The foliage and trees are machine stitched.
I usually print off three sizes of photograph; 4 to a sheet; 9 to a sheet; and 35 to a sheet! The tiny ones are for gift tags! Now all I have to do is assemble them with double sided Sellotape, Another few hours work!
Until next time, happy stitching!
Di