Whitework begins

Well, I have mounted my blackwork and handed it in, so it is straight on to whitework. I am running a bit behind schedule, so there is no time to draw breath between pieces. There is very little to show for an awful lot of work so far. Like so many things whitework is all in the preparation. So the linen is on my slate frame; the design is tacked on; the centre is found and I have counted and recounted threads into multiples of 12. There is really nothing to take a photograph of at present, maybe next time.

Tracy to the rescue!

We had always planned to highlight the curls in his hair, but I got cold feet about it all and panicked horribly. Anyway, Tracy steadied me down when I was in Durham with her last week and here is the final result.

I am not at all sure that his mother would recognise him - but I rather like him (after all that grief).
I will be quite pleased to hand this piece in for assessment, he has hung around my house for far too long. Now it is just a case of finishing touches, mounting and handing in.

Kingfisher revisited

I forgot to say. My Kingfisher has been at the RSN for ages. He was part of their Glasgow exhibition earlier this year and now will be in their Hampton Court studio exhibition "Inspired by the garden" from September 2014 to March 2015. Check out their website (www.royal-needlework.org.uk) to see more. There should be loads of lovely stuff to see. Hampton Court itself is always worth a visit.

Panic!

I have been putting off posting this image. All there is left to do is define his curls and finalise the background. But ................. I hate the hair! I know that Tracy will help me to sort it out, but, right now, I can't imagine how!

Sorry! I have been away - again.

Well, at least I went to the RSN at Hampton Court this time! An excellent few days with Jenny Adin Christie. I can highly recommend it. Mind you, it was awfully hot, but I shouldn't complain about being warm.

I have been working on my man since I arrived home and, as you can see, the hair is slowly growing. Tracy and I made the decision about the background when I was in Durham a couple of weeks ago - I am going to stitch the background (the paper is foxed in the original), but only very lightly and sketchily.

And now the other eye!

OK. Sorry about the long absence, but we have been away again. This time it was up the East coast of Scotland and then a little way along the North coast. We must have done something right - the weather was dry! 

Following that I had two days in Durham with Tracy trying to catch up and sort out in my head the way forward. On due consideration, the other eye (his right eye) needed a bit of a sort out.

I have put before and after shots below, see what you think.

Before

After

A quick eye transplant

I took the eye out and replaced it. Was it worth it? I am not sure, but probably.

Before

After