The final needle-case for this series is finished. It is also stitched in woollen thread from Modern Folk Embroidery. This is a lovely thread and a joy to stitch with and Jacob has some wonderful patterns to tempt you..
I found a scrap of fabric just about the right size for the linning, so I didn't have to cut into a new piece.
So no outstanding work. For the minute.
The desk is clear, I have out my reference books and I have started on a new Kogin project. I do not have access to that many books but I have a set of black and white photocopies of pieces from some old Japanese books from a Museum. These were given to me by Phillis Maurer and to whom I am eternally grateful.
The work she has done for Ethnic Embroidery Arts is outstanding. Do follow the link to her site, it is a treasure trove of embroidery techniques. All her booklets are available as downloads from Nordic Needle.
I have decided to start with a part of a pattern from an old jacket. As you can see it isn't that easy to see how you would chart this.
But there is a close up that gives more detail.
And from this I am able to work out the pattern. It is defining just what the basic pattern is in all this detail. But once this is identified the pattern repeats . On close inspection you can see mistakes and how they were worked into the pattern. I find that the Japanese patterns are assembled in a program that is hard to follow if you are new to this techniques. It is like a cross stitch pattern but doesn't show the threads.
I have re-charted my patterns so that you can see just where the needle goes into the fabric. A lot of work but it does make stitching easier.
So away I go. There is a lot of computer work to do before I can start to stitch. I will keep you posted on my progress.
Some pictures of temple bells from Thailand that inspired me to buy the bell for the front door.
I bought my daughter some ceramic fish when I was in Guatemala. When I was last at the town house I saw one of the tails was broken so it came home with me to be repaired and I think they will stay here.
Coming home we sailed through this beautiful rainbow. It is a bit deep at this point in the bay so that treasure is buried deep.
And I have finished the last needlebook so that has got the desk cleared.
I designed this stitchery for a children's class but it didn't make the cut. It was stitched on a scrap of Aida using a cheap sewing cotton that I found on a sales table for 20cents. Just shows you, when you are stitching you should use good materials and thread. I think this would have looked better on a piece of even weave linen. I was going to just discard it but I like this little design, so it is for me.
There wasn't enough fabric for the back leaf so I had to improvise and used the same fabric I had selected for the lining.
If I keep looking at this design I might be able to make something else out of it.
.
I have got stuck into finishing those needle books and clearing my desk and tidying my sewing room. The desk is clear with all the threads returned to their correct boxes. The sewing room is tidy and I have finished off 3 of the needle cases to take into the Guild for the sale table.
The one stitched in red is done with a wool thread. I haven't used this before and it is lovely to stitch with.
The colour is fast but I worry about moths as all woollens are attractive to them in this climate. I used a dark red fabric for the linning and the lack of seam allowance was a problem but it looks alright.
I had a few problems, of my own making with the stitch sampler one. Again, lack of seam allowance was frustrating.
The design on the back isn't what I planned. I used an air drying marker pen to mark the circles and then ironed it! I had to over sew the fly stitch to cover this up. It still shows a bit but I the end result is acceptable.
I sacrificed some of my treasured fabric, (the type you take out and pat), for the lining of this one. I love this fabric.
Two more to go to get these out of the way.
I want to start a new work but before I can do that I have to finish off some old ones. I don't know about you, but I just can't throw away left over bits of linen or good threads left over from some other project. I try to use them up on needlebooks and things like that. Trouble is I don't finish them!!
So, this weeks WIPW is all about getting back to these pieces and completing them. The only one I have completed out of this lot is the little rabbit. (But I have got one finished.) There is not a lot of work on the two red work pieces and the experiment on Aidia will have to be for me.
This is the lining for the bunny needlecase.
This last one was all about the left over thread. I bought the little book on a stall in Germany back in the 1970's and carted it around the world with me. Because of the fine thread this is taking a lot longer than I thought and looking at it there isn't a lot of space for seams. Hope it works out alright.
When it came to putting the leaves in the books I just couldn't cut into my good wool flannel and used flannelette as I will be donating these for the Guild sale table.
I bought a temple bell whilst I was in Thailand . We were visiting a Buddist temple in Chang Mai and this day was a public holiday so was super busy. There were all kinds of things for sale around the temple and these bells were for people to chime as the walked around the Budda.
It has been sitting on the shelf for the want of something to hang it on and I finally found a bracket at Paddington Hardware. (They have things that no other hardware store have and the men, who are mostly retired, know every piece of stock.)
Now it is my front door bell.
Everytime it rings I will remember that visit
Monique has been quietly watching a cooking show on TV and has fallen for the work of Zumbo on the show "Just Desserts" on Netfllix.
Seems pretty ordinary doesn't it? But then she heard that the national cake decorating competitions was going to be held in Brisbane. She had to go. Her father said "it will be too expensive." Her reply, "kids are free." So off they went.
She loved the demonstrations and when the host was walking around talking the 'spiel' she bailed her up and asked could she please get Zumbo's autograph. She told them how much she admired his work and that he was the best in the world. So, being young and cute she got to meet her idol.
And got her autograph and a whole lot of goodies from the sponsors.
Aunty Laura is green with envy. He is her favourite desserts chef. We better watch this child. I was president of Chefs of the Future back when I was teaching and didn't realise just what an impact I had on my daughter, Laura, until she dropped out of her prestige Uni course to do hospitality. Luckily I was able to talk her into doing a business degree with a major in International Tourism and Hospitality. Looks like we have another one who might go this way. Although just at the moment she wants to do something in science.
One of my past students, who is an outstanding embroiderer, (she has won numerous competitions for her work), and is also a fellow tutor at the Guild, sent me some photos of how she had used some of the patterns I had included in a Kogin Class I gave. She used part of a pattern to make this wallet. and it is so cool.
What a great project.
Nothing to report here. Charlie and I have been doing a lot of just sleeping!