Thursday, February 01, 2007

WIP Wednesday

I've been working on my piece for the 12x12x12 Challenge and also for Sharon's Take a Stitch Tuesday series. The photo above shows a seam embellishment made from two layers of overlapping cretan stitch dotted with French knots.
This photo shows that I've embellished the central image with a second hummingbird and that I've given the Madonna a kind of veil of some old rick-rack with crocheted lace to which I added beads. I'd made the mistake of cutting off the top the the Madonna's head when I pieced the block, but I feel I conpensated for it by creating the arc and filling in the space above her head with detached chain flowers in some of the colors from the image and with clear seed beads. Although Sharon recommends in her fabulous Encrusted Embellishment class that we add "hard"embellishments last in order to stitch with a hoop, I wanted to see what this focal point looked like with the beads before I proceeded, and I find that I can manuver the hoop around the beads well enough to continue to use it.
My other project, my daughter's sweater, is coming along nicely. The pattern has only charts for the cabled panel, but I find it easier to translate the chart into conventional written instructions, which are just easier for me to work from. I'm zipping along and hope to finish this sweater before the weather warms up.

7 comments:

Susan Elliott said...

I love our lady's veil -- very nice idea and thanks for the sweater update. Beautiful work!

Rian said...

You're really goin' to town on this embroidery business. Way to go--looking good.

Finn said...

Hi Barb, had to pop over and see where you thread your needle to stitch..*VBS* Love what you are doing with the projects you've signed on for. Very beautiful stitching..love that hummingbird.
And what a good way to encourage yourself to take the time to sit and stitch.
I look forward to seeing more. Hugs, Finn

Debra Dixon said...

Those are really cute little hummingbirds!

I think the veil over Madonna is fine!

Susan said...

I don't know how you manage to keep track of so many different talents, and find time for them all. =)

I love the French knots on the cretan - looks almost like bluebonnets in a row. =)

His Office, My Studio said...

Love the stitches you are doing.

Vicky aka Stichr said...

I love the rainbow of threads you have in the sweater picture...using those in the sweater too?

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