I enjoyed stitching The Gawthorpe Needlecase by Jenny Adin-Christie so much that it was only a matter of time before I worked on another of her kits. As with the previous kit, The Peacock, is beautifully packaged and contains a selection of delicious threads, crystals, and beads. The design employs a number of different techniques, all clearly explained in the instructions. The peacock was a joy to make and I am really pleased with him. The Mariner’s Compass was made during a six week on-line course by Cynthia Jackson.

Peacock
© Carol-Anne Conway

The Mariner's Compass
© Carol-Anne Conway

Robin and Swift

Worked in free machine embroidery.

Robin
© Lynn Pilgrim

"

Swift
© Lynn Pilgrim

Church

I was asked by my aunt to do an embroidery to celebrate one of her bridesmaid's 50th wedding anniversary. I decided to capture an image of the church where she married in Gloucestershire. The image was taken from a screen shot of the church which my aunt found on Google Earth and sent to me from Alberta in Canada where she now lives! It is hand embroidered with a little free machining for the golden tree. As I was also a bridesmaid (the little 10 year old one!) for my aunt it was rather a fun piece to do as it had a personal link.

Church
© Lynn Pilgrim

Carnation and Cornflower

Many years ago, one of my favourite designers, Amy Mitten, started offering a range of kits called Castket Keepsakes. These small, three dimensional, items where inspired by antique enbroidered items found in 17th century caskets. I have collected several of these kits but had not begun to work another until this year. The first four kits are named after the seasons. The first in the series is Winter but I decided to do Spring first as that was the season when I started stitching it. The first Keepsake in the Spring Caskets Keepsakes kit is a little silk drawstring bag which holds a thread winder. The petals of the Carnation are worked in 17th century techniques. The size is 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" not including the finger loop drawstring. The second keepsake is a tape measure in the form of a Cornflower. The tape measure is revealed by pulling on the stem and rewound by rotating the spindle. It measures 2 1/2" x 3". There are twenty petals made using the same technique as the Carnation. Both keepsakes are made using Amy's hand-dyed threads and antique metallics.

Carnation
© Carol Anne Conway

Cornflower
© Carol Anne Conway

Another Autumn Glory

I wanted to preserve eucalyptus leaves from my garden, but the glycerine darkened the leaves and they lost definition. Painting dried leaves with acrylic wax kept the detail. I tried a slightly ‘leafy’ stitch, which I didn’t like. The simple cross stitch was more successful. Eco-dyed silk and cotton fabrics, threads and buttons.

Autumn Glory
© Karen Rowe

Autumn Glory

October 2020 We couldn't be together, but we could stitch together! Some of us 'Zoomed' too. A loose theme of 'Autumn Glory'. Posted to Karen Rowe for a 'Stitch Swap', here are the first arrivals.

© Alex Messenger

© Hannah Thompson

© Jo Edwards

© Lynn Pilgrim

© Margaret Craig

© Rosemary Meara

© Sue King

C&G Samples

Done in the early 1990s as part of my city and guilds work (part 2), I can’t even remember what it was based on! Layers of transparent fabrics, burnt through with a fine soldering iron, hand embroidered on top and each section connected by machine embroidery done on water soluble fabric. I’m still proud of it!

C&G Samples
© Amanda Smith

Granny Squares Blanket

My daughter’s baby is due on 12th October so I have been busy through lockdown sewing and knitting. Finally finished this “granny squares” blanket which i backed with Tana lawn and anchored to the backing with large cross stitches at the corner of each square. Seems to have worked!

Granny Squares Blanket
© Sue King

Jug of Flowers

My completed piece, inspired by Suzette Smarts, workshop in a box.

Jug of Flowers
© Judy Siemers

"

Hand Stitching

Some lovely hand stitching - just the thing to be working on during these 'home-based' times.

Hand Stitching
© Maureen Ergeneli

Japanese Embroideries

Embroidery Bridge, East Meets West is a design specially designed for the world exhibition of Japanese embroidery held in Cambridge in 2007. As this is not one of the phase pieces for my Japanese embroidery course, it has spent most of its time hibernating while I worked on phase pieces. However, it make a good demonstration piece as there are so many different techniques on it so I would take it to exhibitions and demonstrations to work on but never managed to do much more to it. During the lock down, I have been doing more stitching than normal and, having been working on completing some of my WIPS. This piece was very enjoyable to stitch and it is a good feeling to finally finish it.

Embroidery Bridge
© Carol-Anne Conway

Morning Glories was stitched for a group project devised by the Japanese Embroidery Academy. It was inspired by a panel designed and stitched by Studio Kusano Shizuka. The panel is made up of 40 individual sections each embroidered with a flower circle. Some of the flower circles are duplicated with one stitched in full colour and the second stitched in a softer colour palette and more open design. JEA supplied the fabric, silks, and line drawing for each panel but each stitcher could interpret their design there own way given a very broad brief. I chose the Morning Glories panel.

Morning Gloryh
© Carol-Anne Conway

Fish

I've been trying out some fish for Oxford Young Embroiderers Group (YEG) to make. The shoal is growing!

Fish
© Kate Medcraft

Pots

The results of attending a virtual workshop called 'Papercloth' (and the weather changing, keeping me indoors). Inspiration from the garden and local walks. Great fun and it beats housework anyday!! Gazanias, Ox-eye Daisies, Purple Salsify.

Pots
© Karen Rowe

Pots
© Karen Rowe

In the Style of.........

Here are some images of a recent travelling pages challenge ‘in the style of’ all done during.

in the style of Mondrian
© Lynn Pilgrim

in the style of Gustav Klimt
© Kate Shaw

in the style of Gustav Klimt
© Sue Hollebone

in the style of Jackson Pollock
© Rose Freeman

I painted calico with acrylic paints and then embellished the images with lines of free machine embroidery. These were inspired by my walks of the local wildflower meadows, river and woodlands during lockdown.

One of the images was used by singer/song writer Andrew Major as art work on his latest single. You can listen to it here.

Inspired by Walks
© Lynn Pilgrim

Stitch Challenge

I finally got to try out one of the stitching challenges. This is the first one - taking one stitch and playing with spacing (both vertically and horizontally), and direction. I didn't get as far as using different thread thicknesses. I then did a sample in colour which again only uses straight stitches.

Stitch Challenge
© Alex Messenger

Boro Workshop

Only 6cm wide. I really enjoyed picking out the small bits of fabric, working my way along the length, then stitching more and more on whatever bit took my fancy. And finally adding a few buttons. I do love a button!

Boro Samples
© Karen Rowe

Boro Workshop

Like Sue King I attended Zoe Hillyard’s Boro workshop last year. I continue to add to what I started at odd times, sticking to a blue and white theme and using, in the main, fabric that I’ve dyed myself. Holding it in my hand and gently stitching without any great plan is hugely relaxing. It may become quite large and I still haven’t decided what to turn it into!

Boro Samples
© Amanda Smith