Sunday 15 June 2014

Stitching, playing


Perhaps it’s because I’m teaching three separate crochet workshops during the week, but the past few days I’ve been less inclined to pick up my hook and more enthusiastic about my embroidery hoop...


You may recall here that I happened upon some incredible hand-dyed embroidery supplies – I hesitate to call the bundle “floss”, because none of the materials can be separated into thin strands. But they are stunning and magical and I just had to buy them!

So now I’m playing with my new threads. I started by drawing a simple heart shape onto some thick natural linen – I was drawn to the opposing textures, the slubby, rough linen with its earthy tone, contrasted by the ethereal hues of the threads. I love the variegated blues, purples and greens, with the gold shimmer sparkling against the weave.


I used a stem stitch with the shot-gold thread to outline the heart. I also did stem stitch for a silky thread that is almost crinkly in texture – it is a twisted thread, but not simply in a spiral, it is bumpy and windy and just fun to use. I like how it gives an almost silky rope-like texture to the embroidery, see on the curlicues on right side above.


I’m going to embellish this heart with ribbon roses, buds, leaves...I have no set design in mind, but I am enjoying the freedom of the stitching. Oh, and I’m not entirely sure what I’ll use this for when I’m finished – another hoop hanging on the wall, perhaps a bag, a cushion...suggestions?


Recently I received some incredible embroidery in the post. I took part in the &Stitches Stitchy Swap, and my swap partner, Jeanne, sent me the most amazing piece!


This is an embroidered and quilted project bag, large enough to hold a 10-inch embroidery hoop and associated supplies. It is so vibrant and detailed, and the most interesting and creative aspect is that some of the patches are actually photos of my garden, taken from my blog, which Jeanne printed onto fabric then embellished with floss!



I must admit, I went a bit teary when I read her card and admired her work (I’m a soppy ol’ bird!). This is such a treasure, made with such care and thoughtfulness, especially considering that we never met! The parcel was also filled with stickers, stationery, treats for the girls, I've been spoiled!


You can see the embroidery I sent to her here. Thank you Jeanne, from the bottom of my heart!

Guess who made a visit to the garden this weekend?

Bottom left, top right



Happy Father’s Day to all the wonderful daddies out there! Now it’s time to go back to spoiling Darling Husband!


Chrissie x

35 comments:

  1. Serendipity indeed! I've just started up, enthusiastically, with a few fledgling embroidery skills of my own. So both your work and your wonderful swap partner's have filled my heart with delight! Aren't those threads AMAZING?

    Stephanie

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  2. Absolutely love your embroidery !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And your quilt.....and the pictures too.....
    Have a great week !
    Anna

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  3. I love your embroidery, the materials are beautiful and the design looks really lovely. and the swap goodies are wonderful!

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  4. Such cute birdies !!! What kind of bird is it ? I have never seen something similar around here... Lovely, how the male and the female are coloured differently...

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    1. They're Great Spotted Woodpeckers, the mother and father have been visiting lately, now here's their little baby!

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  5. Your stitching is always so inspiring - and this project is no exception. I do love all-things-hearts, and the textured threads are just lovely. Have fun creating this as you go along.
    Hugs xx

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  6. Such a beautiful gift to receive Chrissie - and so uniquely special to you, not surprised you were teary.
    Loving your embroidery too, its good to ring the changes isn't it ?
    Have a good week,
    Kate x

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  7. Your embroidery is so pretty, Chrissie. I agree, the contrast in textures is wonderful there. Your swap gift is so pretty! Jean did lovely work. I enjoyed seeing your woodpeckers, but I hope they're not causing any damage! I have some here too and they're pretty but I keep a close eye on them. :)

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  8. I love both of those stitching projects. what a heartfelt swap present. Jo x

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  9. Your heart is beautiful Chrissie!! I love the different colours in the thread. What a beautiful swap gift you received, there really are some wonderful people out there to share lovely things with aren't there - just like you!! xx

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  10. Loving all the beautiful makes Chrissie. I also love how you have managed to photograph the birds.

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  11. Beautiful embroidery Chrissie and I love your pretty threads
    Oh my those embroidered images of your garden are amazing, what a thoughtful gift!
    V x

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  12. What a gorgeous embroidery thread, magical!
    Lovely swap gift from Jeanne, such a clever idea and so much detailed work in it.
    Have a great week ahead Chrissie!
    Gill xx

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  13. Wonderful embroidery, I love the variegated colours. I'll look forward to seeing your progress. How lovely to have woodpeckers in your garden, lucky you!

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  14. I love your embroidery heart that you made, so pretty!

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  15. Your stitching is beautiful. Aw look at those woodpeckers made me instantly smile x

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  16. What a wonderful gift! Oh, I love what you are doing with the hand-dyes.

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  17. I'm loving your threads and beautifully designed heart, Chrissie - and is that the French linen you acquired recently? Don't they go well together! Those colours are wonderful and I really look forward to seeing more of this gorgeous piece: you really do such wonderful work and never cease to inspire me, you lovely young thing!
    Your swap gift from Jeanne is so beautiful with so much thought and care gone into it - she really went the extra mile for you didn't she. I also greatly admire the gift you sent Jeanne - a gift that causes one to think and dream and imagine: that's a good thing!
    How lovely to have those gorgeous looking birds in your garden, and very nice of them to stay still long enough for you to photograph them!
    Have a happy week lovely, xoJ

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  18. Your stitching is amazing, the color of the floss is so beautiful, it deserved something equally as beautiful to be made into and you have done it. Love your gift, very thoughtful.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  19. Anonymous7:37 am BST

    What a pretty heart, those beautiful threads make it sing!
    Your swap gift is beautiful too, it's a great idea to use photos to embellish and how lovely that they were of your own garden.

    ukcitycrafter@live.co.uk

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  20. What a gorgeous gift, and your freestyle heart is lovely

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  21. Oh self patterning yarn/floss/any name is great. What a pretty heart. We are watching Frozen all the time at the moment and the heart reminds me of somthing from that film, my little girl would love it! And what a nice swap gift! Clever idea to print pictures on fabric. Definitely another thing to put on that famous to-do-list! Have a lovely week! Anna x

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  22. Your heart is lovely. The thread colours a subtle but striking I adore them. The swap you received is beautiful I can only imagine the amount of work gone in to it x x

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  23. Hi lovely, gorgeous embroidery as always. I love the threads you are using, this is going to be really pretty.
    Marianne x

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  24. I love your new embroidery threads Chrissie, your new piece is going to be so pretty and what a lovely swap from Jeanne, beautiful and so thoughtful, no wonder you felt teary. Great pics of the woodpeckers. Have lovely week. Jane x

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  25. You could leave it in the hoop and hang it as a frame :-) The thread is really cool, I love the sparkle!

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  26. Your stitching is exquisite Chrissie and your swap gift from Jeanne is beautiful and so thoughtfully made :-)
    Tracey xxx

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  27. That heart is gorgeous! I have some beautiful special thread I've bought and haven't been able to bring myself to use, but now I want to!

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  28. Anonymous7:58 am BST

    Love your quilt bag. Got attracted by their design and color! Wonderful birds saying hello to each other!

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  29. Love your embroidered heart, the threads look stunning. And such a beautiful swap gift to enjoy! Aren't the woodpeckers amazing....you took some great pictures of them there!
    Helen xox

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  30. How wonderful to see the woodpeckers. and wow that thread is gorgeous, looking forward to seeing the finished piece. What a thoughtful and gorgeous swap gift, amazing and touching that it included pictures of you're garden
    Clare x

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  31. Wow, I love the cours in that embroidery floss, beautiful :)

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  32. I also love the "colours" lol :)

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  33. Beautiful space dye job on that thread.

    You must have nesting woodpeckers somewhere near for junior to be enjoying a first outing to your garden :)

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  34. Ku zu zang po (greetings) from beautiful Bhutan

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