The academic regalia is hanging in my room, a sign that another school year has come and gone. We had graduation this weekend, so after I wrap up some odds and ends and turn in grades, I'll be done for the summer. There's always some work-related project to do during this otherwise down time: reports, new course preparation, but otherwise, it looks like smooth sailing from here on out.
So here's my fantasy schedule for the summer:
Get up early and write. I've got some academic essays I want to finish.
Walk to the gym twice a week and take a yoga class.
Read.
Garden.
Finish some UFOs.
Work on my 12x12 bird series.
Things will intervene. You notice I didn't include housework or cooking in my schedule, but I can dream.
I haven't been totally idle in the needlework department, although I've had the same unfinished scrap quilt on my design wall for months. I've been knitting, and I crocheted this little bucket purse for my mom for mother's day.
I've also stocked up on silk threads from ThreadArt, an ebay vendor, in preparation for my next 12x12 bird project.
This project is actually going to be a pair of images, the goddess Sarasvati (Saraswati) and her peacock. I got these images from one of those free Dover downloads. They are captioned "Goddess Sarasvati and her peacock; second folio from a Chitrakathi series, northern Kanataka." Here's Sarasvati:
I felt it was fitting to make an image of Sarasvati, as she is associated with wisdom, language and learning. I love that she looks like she's climbed a tree, but from what I've been able to tell of her story, she is usually portrayed in a lotus. I'll have to decide weather to render all those fan shapes a tree leaves or as lotus petals.The peacock is very ornate and folkloric and I'm going to embroider him first.
Both pieces are going to be embroidered to a pair of white damask napkins. Sarasvati is portrayed as white-skinned, so I intend to outline but not fill in her body and face. I've drawn the peacock on tear-away stabilizer. I usually use water soluble stabilizer, but I didn't want to wet the silk threads. I imagine using beads on both pieces.As you can see, I'm ready for the summer to begin. I think Louie is too.
8 comments:
May your wonderful summer be all you dream!
I have Saraswati up in my sewing room...I will send you a picture.
Your embroidery projects look very ambitious! I always think those Dover images would be good for embroidery and am glad to see you are working on them.
Bring on the summer! That is a beautiful Saraswati image.
Looks like a fun and challenging piece to embroider. It will be fun to "watch". Isn't summer great? My only complaint is that it's way too short! Have a great one.
May your summer be all you hope for. That is such a fantastic peacock image, I really look forward to seeing what you do with this piece.
Wonderful bag! I went through a phase two years ago knitting and crocheting those with fabric strips. I was a freqent visitor to the LQS for beauties to cut up for knitting - very effective!
Hi Barb, congrats on another year wrapped up sucessfully! I know the summer will be wonderful and just fly by.
Love the bag for your mom, it's very pretty and stylish too! And new stitchery project is simply wonderful. I sense a great deal of work in both images, but I'm sure it will be stunning. Enjoy the summer!! Hugs, Finn
Great plans for great projects! And congratulations on another year completed :- )
I'm going to have to check out ThreadArt. Right now though, I'd sure like to curl up with Louie!
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