12 November 2013

Embroidery Overload

Quite a productive last few days here in Emily's Room ;) I have completed a bit more of my Crewelwork Robin...
I have also completed my homework for Embroidery class :) I really want to get to grips with silk shading, I know the theory and have attended a couple of day classes at the RSN, but I think that this is really a technique that you can only learn by doing! I have been planning a piece combining silk shading and Goldwork, based on this wallpaper design by Walter Crane.
I have spent a lot of time drawing and re-drawing, trying to simplify the design.
I have collected my materials, some luscious silks and metallic threads and a small piece of expensive, but very beautiful white silk velvet for the swans...
I then transferred the design onto my background fabric and started the preparation work. It's not much to show for several hours work, but I have stab stitched the silk dupion onto a calico backing and completed the split stitch outline ready to silk shade the leaves. I also applied the felt padding for the swans. Once I have finished all the silk shading I will appliqué the silk velvet over the padding and outline with a silver metallic thread. I will also add some of the other lovely copper metallic threads in too, I am just not sure where yet!
I started the silk shading last night at the base of the leaves, I am reasonably happy with my progress so far, I hope by the end of this piece that I will have mastered silk shading, either that or decided I will never do it again!!

9 comments:

  1. I am amazed at your embroidery projects. Any free hand work would have me running for the hills! lol!

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  2. Wow, so much work! And so beautiful too! Amazing!

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  3. Incredible stitching you've been doing. Your Walter Crane piece is looking remarkable already and such beautiful supplies you have pulled for it - WOW! And you got to take some classes at RSN...dream come true. Thank you sharing all you've been working on - truly amazing. love Annette

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  4. You really have the stitching bug! It all looks lovely.

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  5. Beautiful work Elaine. Thanks for sharing the bird embroidery site with me. I found everything I wanted and more! Have a wonderful day...

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  6. love the cranes - you have patience I will say that - this doesn't look a project that you will be giving up!

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  7. Love love your Robyn and those cranes are going to be just spectacular!

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  8. Funny thing Elaine I spent about 3 hrs this morning searching the net articles on antique gold work, and stumbled on to a blog where the artist was dissecting old gold work and how revealing it was to walk through the stages with her, it was like watching a flower unfold it was so intricate. So having watched that I understand the pre work you have had to do just to get to this stage, it is going to be beautiful though and how wonderful we can watch it grow. Thanks for sharing Glenda Australia. PS your little bird looks gorgeous.

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  9. Even the materials are making me drool - this will be a fabulous piece, I'm sure! Really love what you've done so far!

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