Tuesday 22 December 2015

Starting applique

I am slightly anxious about applique. I have used applique as part of quilting and never particularly enjoyed doing it, so to do an entire project is a bit daunting. 

As ever, choosing the right image is a large part of the challenge. I have chosen an image that I found in Spain after walking the Camino de Santiago. It is complex but rustic. (I may need the emphasis on "rustic" as I go on!)

I am using silk fabrics throughout and predominantly silk threads also. Thank heavens for The Silk Route - a wonderful shop, so many colours, weights and textures of silk. I end up like a kid in a sweet shop! Working in silk adds it's own difficulties however - the tiny pieces tend to fray. The silk pieces are stitched on to, and completely cover, a background of calico. Then the layers are built up using a variety of paddings to give depth and texture. There is a fair amount of stitching to give detail and depth also. the shields are leather with coloured purl applied. The spears will, eventually, be cocktail sticks I think.


There is masses to do yet, not least of all figuring out how to do two horses and riders!

Friday 18 December 2015

My horse revisited

My horse (whitework) returned to me last week, so here is the final, mounted image. I used pale green silk behind the piece.


The RSN may not like him, but I do!

Thursday 17 December 2015

Grumpy Old Man

And here he is at last! My finished, mounted blackwork. The RSN didn't think much of him, but I have become quite attached to his battle-weary face. The scar on his lip adds character I think (OK, so I'm weird!)

 

Wednesday 16 December 2015

Where has the time gone?

Where has the time gone? I hadn't realised just how long it has been since I posted here. We have been off on our travels again: Shetland in the spring, Devon and Suffolk later in the year, and then Tuscany for a bit of wine tasting. Finally I spent the last four weeks in Japan - a big adventure.

Anyway, the kingfisher has finally returned from his travels. He has been in an exhibition at Hampton Court Palace and also took a trip to Glasgow. I haven't posted a picture of him fully finished and mounted before, so here he is:-




I have several finished pieces to show you as well as the piece that I am working on currently. I will post them in the next couple of days.