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August 2013

TAST 2013 -Stitch No 65 Buttonhole Bars

I am working on some embroidered cards that I will donate for a fund raiser.  I am inspired by the work of Gwen Marsden who is a quilter and who works with strip quilting.  I am also looking for a different way to engage with crazy quilting. 

This piece will use strips of silk or silk like fabrics joined by embroidery stitching in silk threads.  I'm not really sure what I am doing here just playing I think.

Now where did that image go?  I know I posted it but it disappeared.  Gremlins again.

DSC09694 - Version 3



6 years ago

Back in 2007, as I was about to head off into the wide blue yonder, I started this blog.  So today is the anniversary of the beginning of that journey. What an adventure. 


I was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress after experiencing an attack in my workplace when I disturbed some intruders.  Now, 6 years later, I have been able to return to that place this week and I had no nightmares, no flashbacks, it was just another place where I used to work.

Writing this blog has been one of the things that has aided in my recovery.  I have always kept a diary, this form of it takes up less space and is more portable.  Looking back over the past 6 years I have packed a lot in.  So here is to the next 6 years.  (I wonder if blogging will continue on or if it will morph into something else?)


Some thoughts on embroidery

I love this quote about Japanese Nuido embroidery,

Nuido literally means “the way of embroidery.” Not merely a decorative craft,
Japanese embroidery combines technical skill with spiritual intention—

the hands become the expressive tool of the spirit.

What is in the heart, in the spirit
of the embroiderer,

is made visible in the embroiderer’s work.

How true, how true.  Stitching my Kogin samples has been quite difficult this month.  Normally the stitching flows, this month there has been a little imp who has been distracting me causing mistakes and consquently lots of unpicking.  I have had to sit and still my spirit to achieve that flow again.  Not an easy task with so much going on in my life.

I am also worried that I only have another 50 or 60 patterns to stitch.  Where are the further 200 there are supposed to be out there?  I have exhausted all my sources on the internet.  Will this be the end of my quest or just a challenge?  I find my inner spirit running around in all directions at the thought of information about the patterns being blocked, like a door slaming in my face. Yet there is something about the patterns that I have stitched that is reassuring and hopeful.  Maybe I am being fanciful, but they have a sort of power in them.

I have just received a new book by Shiela Payne called Embroidered Textiles.

In her introduction she talks about embroidery being viewed as a "pass time for idle ladies" in Western society.  However in all other societies it's uses were rooted in deep cultural and religious purposes. 

We have gained many things through 'progress' but lost a lot as well.

I bought my book, a paperback edition, through the book depository and it cost $28.00AU including freight.  Wonderful images and some great information.


The work of shoe

Shoe is the name of a Dutch graffiti artist who's work I have been following for a while now.

Niels Meulman imagines medieval monk Eadfrith like a fellow graffiti artist "straight outta Lindisfarne"

He is currently working on a commission to paint six pieces inspired by the Lidisfarne Gospels.  There is a very good article on the BBC site that gives an insight into how this artist thinks and works.


Another page

This photocopy is dated September 1981,  jee I wish I knew what the publication was.  It is only one page and reads;

SVARTSTICK DESIGNS

In the March 1981 issue we featured patterns from an 1809 scarf in Swedish blackwork, from the province of Dalarna.  We are printing more patterns from other old scarves.  For the detailed background of this technique, read the March issue.  The material in the original old scarves was handwoven linen, about 20 -25 threads to the cm. (50 to 60 threads to the inch).

This is a bit different to the original article that quoted 25 threads to the inch, big difference.

Looking at the crosses around the borders I think that the straight lines conection them have been drawn in by another party as a guide to how to stitch.  There are no lines like this on the other patterns or in the original Museum piece.   There are a lot of marks for counting threads on the sides of these patterns that have been drawn in but the copies are discoloured and being a photocopy and not the originals I'm not sure.  I'm used to looking at precise digital patterns not hand drawn ones.

IMG_0014 - Version 4

IMG_0014 - Version 3

IMG_0014 - Version 5

This looks like a do-able project to begin with, before I tackle the full scarf.  I have a few hurdles to cross first.  I can only buy 60 count even weave linen and thread from overseas, so I will have to order this and wait until it comes.  In the meanwhile I have purchased some fine 36 count linen and bought three different types of silk threads to see what looks the best.

I think this qualifies the project for the Work In Progress Wedesday slot.