I was back in Durham with Tracy yesterday, and so I getting back in gear to motor on with this piece. It may not look very different but ..................
The imposts are in place. I had to look that term up - they are the white bits of stone at the top of the pillars. The bricking is almost finished - I have left a gap in the middle because there is going to be a horse and rider there. The balustrade on the tower is in place and the cording almost in place. The cording cost a bit of effort, we broke the huge needle that we used and a piece of the eye stuck in the fabric. no-one thinks that embroiderers need pliers and wire cutters in their kit, but they do!
I'm pleased with it at the moment, it is looking quite lively.
People keep telling me that I have spelled my blog name incorrectly. Well I haven't! Catastrophy is merely the old-fashioned spelling of catastrophe. Which would yield plurals of catastrophies or catastrophes.
I like the -y and -ies, so I'm keeping them!
When the holiday is over I will get back to stitching - honestly.
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!
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!
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!)
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.
I have been working on the trailing. I must say that I find it quite difficult to keep it smooth and shiny. Only practice will improve it I suspect. I have started on the eyelets which means that you can finally tell that this is an Appaloosa!
I have put in two photographs designed to show different things. The first is a shot using normal lighting.
The next one uses side lighting, which highlights the trailing.
