Angel Progress

 

The navy background is just a pin board surface I use as I work, not the final background color. No sign of arms yet. I happy with the skirt fabric. Shape and embroidery for the skirt are still in the playing stages.

 

The halo was an experiment, but will probably be replaced.

The Garden Angel

 

One wing and the bodice almost done. I am enjoying the challenge of bring the garden to the angel. Not sure if this will be the face I use or not. She is handy for now.

Angel Wings

 

I had great fun stitching today. The foundations of the wings are ready to be sewn together. The red area is a backdrop for garden elements to come.

Probably little stitching will get done in the next couple weeks.

Busy, busy time.

The Casket Chronicles Begin

 

I've added a new subtitle to my blog; The Casket Chronicles.

I look forward to telling the story of my planning, designing and stitching for my very own Embroidered Casket. 

 

For practice I have found an old flatware chest. The top is about 11" x 16". Perfect for practice.

 

This is my new blank canvas.

And my theme is "Garden Angels".

 

I began with a very traditional layout. This is a rough sketch.

That's as far as I took that idea. It just isn't me.

 

So I started drawing angels. I like to embroider angel wings, all those feathers. And who's to say what an angel looks like?

 

And I want my angels to have the charm and fantasy of my folk embroidery.

 

So I am stitching!

 

 

Another UFO Completed!

I drew this in 2010.

 

And I have finally finished the embroidery.

 

It isn't fancy or complicated, just sweet.

 

I'm glad I took the time to finish her.

Rules and Creativity

I've been thinking about rules and creativity lately.

Creativity, because I attended an embroidery show last week with a wonderful exhibit of work made by the workshop participants.

The work was beautiful but it left me cold. 

I have been trying to verbalize or even just mentally define what it was that didn't appeal to me.

Today I figured it out.

Today I had to deal with rules and I failed miserably.

 

I hope this sun can help me explain my problem.

This design came directly out of a notebook ready to be worked in wool. I didn't try to make the circle round, or the eyes symmetrical. I don't know if there are the same number of sun rays on each side of the design.   I've always loved this design and now I know why. 

I didn't follow the rules that seem to pervade the embroidery world that say everything must be precise.

 

This face is symmetrical but the circle is not.

 

The same with this piece. In fact these are still almost interesting because of the funny rays, and the cross eyed look. 

But the original is still my favorite, I won't change a thing.

And I won't follow rules.*

*Hope you love irony; as I drove home today I was almost rear-ended  by a semi because I slowed down in a school zone!

Rules.

  

   

Life In A Box, Homework 1

The wait is over. The Cabinet of Curiosities Class has begun!

Home work assignment number 1 is to define our goals for the class and ultimately for an embroidered casket.

I of course want to jump right in.

 

But Tricia, our fearless leader and mastermind behind this joy,

is right. Slow down, savor, enjoy and journal thoughts, dreams, and

goals.

So, Possibilities, which is what I am all about, are listed below. I love the idea of being FORCED! to set this down. I do it in a haphazard way already, in journals I have kept for years. Here it is in a very public format.

THEMES

1. The World of Possibilities

 

2. Architecture, a progression of rooms.

 

3. Folk Embroidery/ Costume

 

4. The Enchanted Forest

 

5. Doll House

 

6. A Stage

 

7. My Silk Road

 

8. Shop in a Box

 

Materials and Techniques I want to consider;

Stumpwork

Woodburning

Paper Mache

Wire

Simple Crank Mechanics

Sea Shells

Resin

.............I'm sure there's more.  

 

  

 

A Sampler Finished At Last

 

A whimsical little sampler I have finished at last.

 

As a rule I don't like to sign and date my work until I am done.  In the top photo you can see JCB '11.

I guess I thought I was sure to get it done 2 years ago.

Looking at it here on the screen always gives me a new perspective.

The little gap after the 11 is just begging me to change it to 2013.

That should be easy enough to do.