TAST Week 8

Chain stitch this week.  Had some fun, but very disappointed with the main photo.  I experimented using some great silver chainette cotton and lurex I've had in for a while was awkward to use but worth it,  The wired 'Daisy chain turned out quite well.  I combined it with perle 5 and perle 8 cotton.   with a few bits of mixed media for extra interest :)

I am half way through a P/Card for the March swap over on stitchinfingers.  The theme is architecture and I am enjoying creating it. It's based on a photograph I took of a local landmark not far from where I live. It's a lovely castle, although now it is in rather a sorry state, but we often walk to it through the grounds and I can almost hear the voices of those who have lived and socialised there. I'll post up a pic when my recipient has got it.


Hope everyone connected to the TAST challenge is enjoying the experience and  now I'm off to view everyone's eye candy !
Wishes & stitches
Barbara

More stitches for the TAST Challenge!

As promised, all my catchup pics of the stitches and I even found time to make a new needlecase for this year.  You may recognise the fabric from the background in Week 3 - just couldn't throw it away :}

Week 4 doodling with Cretan stitch

Week 5 Herringbone Stitch

I really enjoyed playing with this stitch especially the starburst!

Using Aida fabric seems to restrict my freedom, I know it sounds strange but I think if I deliberately use it regularly for samples, I may be able to ignore all those little squares and enjoy myself"

Week 6 was Chevron 



Finally finished my week 7 detached chain stitch sample for the TAST challenge and I must say that at first I thought this little stitch was a bit boring!
I'd always used it as an isolated, dot-dot, sort of a decoration. I was going to stitch onto aida fabric but decided to use a re-cycled wool scarf that I'd dyed a while ago as the feel of wool is so tactile I thought it would encourage me to spend a little longer experimenting.
Once I got into the stitchzone I got quite excited by the way this single unit can be varied and how easily it makes friends with feather, fly and many other stitches.

 

I am going to use it as a little bag for storing some beads and bits in.  Looking forward to seeing what's next!
Did any of you find this week's stitch uninspiring at first??
Love to know!

Barbara

Looks aren’t Everything, are they?

I got up this morning and forced myself to book a much needed hair cut. If you could imagine a woman who looks like a cross between a Yeti and Freddie Boswell’s wife from ‘Bread’, you’re not even close! (and, No, I won’t be posting photographs- lucky you :)

The last of my decent finger nails has just snapped off, I’m talking real ones, y’know. Maybe it’s because I’m a totally 'Hands-On' kind of girl when it comes to dyeing, painting, melting, inking and gluing - all without the aid of a pair of Marigolds! 
My husband, bless him, always surprises me with novel gifts for Valentiune's Day and this year was no exception, due to our very recent house move I was the proud recipient of 5 floorboards and a circular saw( I can hear those envious sighs)

I think when you’re immersed in your craft and plotting your projects, writing your Blog, Spring cleaning the house,emptying the garage, arranging visits to familly …………and trying to control the urge to test drive that circular saw....

Appearance sort of slides down the priority scale, doesn’t it?

I am a social person and like to interact with like minded people, after all, it is nice just to have some feedback from someone on the same wavelength, isn't it?  So to avoid any poor souls who may come into visual contact with me turning pale and fainting - I'm off to the hairdresser's :))

I will be playing catchup with the Tast photos soon

Wishes and stitches!
Barbara

Week 4 of TAST - Cretan stitch

I don't know why, but I can't seem to take to this stitch, maybe because life is really hectic at the moment and major things are going on.  Hard to concentrate as much as I would like.
I may finish another sample later on.  It is such a pleasure seeing the wonderful variety of stitches and the way we all translate them.  
 I have started an album of stitches that inspire me over on flickr.
I thought this sample was finished, but it had other plans(I think this stitch is trying to endear itself to me), maybe I'll embroider further after the next stitch is tried out.
For now, here are my shots. 

Hope you're all enjoying yourselves

Best wishes
Barbara.

Week 2 TAST Challenge

Bit late posting this, so here's week 2 and 3 in one post.

Week 2  and Buttonhole stitch.  I decided to go free-style and for me this means no sketches no pre-planning;  just going with the flow.  The bonus this week for me, was working on linen for the first time and I must say I loved it!  The feel of the fabric as you work and handle it, is lovely, 

I have included some close-ups as when I view other people's work I love to fathom out how they've done something and get a proper feel for the stitches.

So, ogle away! :)

The motif here is done using detached buttonhole which is worked on a foundation of straight stitches and worked across these without piercing the fabric.  The stitching is only secured at the outer edges.

The Number  and the semi circle with beading were worked over a piece of felt for a 3D look.














I am really enjoying this but love to embroider on different surfaces sometimes they inspire a design. Week 3's background was a little sample I had lying around for quite a while and although I need the experience of working on aida fabric I am still drawn to surfaces with of variation and irregularities.

The back ground is white velvet and I ironed on painted bond-a-web (an old favourite of mine.  I don't know wether the metallic streak across the sample shows up but this is an experiment in  laminatiing paper and metallic organza with pva glue!.



Feather stitch is one of my favourite stitches and can be delicate or bold - a really good traveller on the fabric.  With this sample I wanted to concentrate on creating depth and texture.  Layers were the answer, including an attached scrap of organza which was pleated and held in place by the stitches
The plant life in the foreground were made bolder by whipping part of the stitches (the same for the blossom on the tree).
Any way hope you like the photos and if you stop by to take a look, please leave a comment :)
Especially if you are taking part in TAST yourself!  I'm off to see what week 4
has in store for me :)
Happy stitching
Barbara

Barbara