At the moment I am completely immersed in embroidery and couldn't be happier, except for my sore eyes and shoulders from sewing.
Another reason why I have sore eyes is that I haven't been able to stop reading
this blog about embroidery. There is so much there with videos and detailed information. I discovered a link there to
this blog about sewing with beetle wings.
So, I've been asked to replicate a banner for the Mother's Union at
Swaffham Church and have been beavering away at it. Here are some pictures of where I've got to so far. I'm using the blue silk that
I managed to get from Watts; the symbols are for Saints Peter & Paul, crossed keys and crossed swords.
Here's the old and ...
new.
Plotting the design.
The gold lettering starting to take shape.
Here's the banner as it was. Old & really faded. The blue is hardly even blue any more.
Another bit of inspiration is this amazing Chasuble our buddy Jeremy dropped off the other night. It seems the vicar had taken it off rather hurriedly & ripped it at the neck. It's completely
salvagable but I need to find some matching red silk damask.
Jeremy thought it was from the 1970's but we discovered a
label inside from a French
company that dates it somewhere in the late 1800's. The narrow fabric width helps date it back to when looms were much narrower. I love this kind of detective work. There are tiny sequins sewn on it to make parts of the embroidery sparkle.
The swirly pattern is all done in tiny chain stitches and I wish I'd seen these grapes when I did mine.
There are moonstones too.
It's not every day that Vogue magazine plops onto your doormat with one of your cushions in it! QUICK unwrap it fast.
It's here.... get out the magnifying glass and see if you can read it. They did brilliant things with the words. Who ever thought Exotic cushions would sound so glamorous!
Now let the games begin.
My fabulous long table that Ricardo made for me. Never quite big enough either though.
My trusty sewing machine and the thing I couldn't work without....the radio; small and really crappy, but all I need to take me to lands far & wide.
new.
Plotting the design.
The gold lettering starting to take shape.
Here's the banner as it was. Old & really faded. The blue is hardly even blue any more.
Another bit of inspiration is this amazing Chasuble our buddy Jeremy dropped off the other night. It seems the vicar had taken it off rather hurriedly & ripped it at the neck. It's completely salvagable but I need to find some matching red silk damask.
Jeremy thought it was from the 1970's but we discovered a label inside from a French company that dates it somewhere in the late 1800's. The narrow fabric width helps date it back to when looms were much narrower. I love this kind of detective work. There are tiny sequins sewn on it to make parts of the embroidery sparkle.
The swirly pattern is all done in tiny chain stitches and I wish I'd seen these grapes when I did mine.
There are moonstones too.
Last year my friend David Hill asked me to make a stole for him for his entry into the Church. I had no idea how it should be made. After a lot of trial & a few errors I worked it out. Lined & interlined, all hand sewn, I was proud of it when it was finally done.This is my third one now and it does get easier. It's still a huge amount of work though; this one's taken me weeks. I took it to France with me and it was lovely to be making something with grape vines on it when I was surrounded by them.
Let's hope she likes it.....
Look what I found growing in my garden..... 
The rain held off & we drank "lashings of ginger beer" on pink petal party plates. I made meringues & we had clotted cream & strawberries too.
