The devil is in the detail

Week 38

I have to start by saying that this year is going to have 53 weeks.  It may even have more, it just depends on how far I get behind with this challenge.

This weeks dragon had 38 pieces in that 6" square, to match week 38, (I'm joking) and so much machining.  I lost count after 4 hours at the machine.  I have started to experiment with using the programed fancy stitches on my machine as part of the applique.  I'm not so sure if I like it or not just yet but will persevere for a while yet.

This dragon is taken from the ceiling of the main part of the pagoda.  Once again, the design is limited by that 6" square but that's alright.  I was looking at some pottery from China on my visit to the Ekka a couple of weeks ago and they had used a green mane. 

 

Also the feet of the dragon was in colour and this gave me a better understanding of the carving.  Eastern dragons are not supposed to fly, or maybe it is just that they don't have wings?  This fellow on the ceiling looks like he is flying to me.

Week 37

I just can't get the look I want with this dragon.  So far three attempts have ended up in the bin.  I've tried it with various backgrounds and ended up with the one I tried first off.  The problem is I'm trying to show that I can only get a glimpse of this dragon's personality.  It seems to be all in it's tail.  I have used shear fabrics to try and show that the image keeps fading on me. ( I took the photo image and printed it onto this fabric.)  The only clear thing about it is the curves of it's body, that I have tried to show with the quilting and that reptilian tail.

I have dyed the tail fabric and then highlighted the details with coloured pencils.  I don't know why it is green somehow or other I just couldn't see any other colour.  If I had more time I think I would have used sequins on that tail as the scales.  But at this point I'm over it.  I feel it is only the tail that escaped out of the stone where that dragon is trapped.

Week 36

These visits to the Doctor are really taking me away from my sewing.  Add to this the complexity of the designs and I am slipping behind.  (Only a few days.)  So here is this weeks dragon.

He sits up above the doorways in the Pagoda.  I would have liked to have been able to have a complete picture of him but it just didn't suit the 6" square.

Again, I am surprised at how fierce he becomes when put into fabric.  To fit him in the 6" square I drew a grid and then drew him in the space.  I did this on drawing paper because once the drawing is finished I can turn it over and outline the applique pieces in reverse.

Once I outline the pieces I number them so that I have a guide to what piece goes where.

Drawing it this way means I never get an exact copy of the photo but then these dragons are taking on a personality all their own.  A bit creepy really.