Had a busy day yesterday with a visit from my niece and great niece which was lovely. Over a year since I last saw them at a family wedding so lots to catch up on.
And made a good start on my Chookshed Challenge embroideres. The first one I worked on was a small flowerlet from my Agapanthus - see header picture. The plant deigned to flower for the first time this year - it's fourth summer and following a stern 'this is your last chance' talking to. So worth commemorating I thought in case it is the only time.
I started by drawing with inktense pencils onto my fabric which I then moistened with a water and fabric medium mix. I thought straight away that the colours were too dark but carried on anyway just for the practise. Just as well as at one point I added too much water and the colour spread outside the petal. Having left it to dry and then ironed I wondered if the fabric medium would prevent any watery background colour encroaching into the petals but discovered not. Here is my failure.
After that I tried another with normal watercolour pencils and almost neat fabric medium which has worked very well. I decided against background colour. Here is the finished embroidery over the painted colour.
I have started on the next piece. We grew teasels for the first time this year - well last year from seed and they flowered this year. This is it so far. You can see where I have used the pencils and fabric medium again to go behind the stitching.
So that is it from me this week - I have been knitting and have a nearly finish so will show next week. Also a new knitting project - the needles arrive tomorrow so hopefully will share my start with you next week too.
Have a great week everyone.
Lovely to see your stitching. I adore teasels.
ReplyDeleteI like the flower embroidery. I didn't know teasels looked like that when they flowered.
ReplyDeleteI think your inktense looks very nice. I have also been working with inktense from the layout of a pattern called secret garden by raggedy ruff (of England). Maybe I will post after 3 years of incognito.
ReplyDeleteLove the ones using inktense and stitching... very clever... The teasels make me think of bumble bees...
ReplyDeleteHugz
Lovely family photo. Love the dress your niece is wearing. You didn't start your flower-in-frame project with the easier flower, didn't you? And yet, it turned into a little beauty. The teasel looks great too. ;^)
ReplyDeleteA lovely photo of the 3 of you Lin. I adore your agapanthus drawing & stitchery Lin. Did you know they are considered a "weed" here in New Zealand (incidentally the same for teasels). I know this because we have many agapanthus growing on our property, both full size & miniature. The multiply & seed so much that the "powers that be" have now declared them a weed. But I still grow them & enjoy them & wish I had more white ones as I mostly have purple.xx
ReplyDeleteHow nice to have family visit you! Your flowers for the frames are lovely.
ReplyDeleteLovely picture of your garden flowers, and your stitching journal looks great.
ReplyDeletexx
Both the embroideries are beautiful, especially using the pencils. Small designs like that look so pretty in frames too! How lovely to have your family catch-up!
ReplyDeleteYou are a clever duck, creating your sweet floral embroideries. The little frame will suit it well. It must have been lovely to catch up with your family.
ReplyDeleteLovely to have a catch up with family. You are very creative drawing, painting and then stitching!
ReplyDeleteI don't think you need consider the first a "fail". It might not have been exactly what you intended, but on its own terms it's very effective!
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