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!!