It is the size of a walnut. And there's no way such an uninspiring title conveys my enthusiasm for this project or for this type of embroidery. In the photo Jane Nicholas gives you at the start of this project, you can see that the finished object can be presented as a tiny pincushion stuffed into half a walnut shell. Or you could mount it on a pendant to hang around your neck. So...not big. But yet, tiny things...can be massive and exciting.
I started this little project on a one day course in Goulburn last July. We were deep in the middle of our renovation and I had to wait to see the builders before I could make the hour long drive to Goulburn, so was late arriving in Goulburn. Then I had to leave the course earlier than planned and so only got to spend about an hour and a half learning the techniques of stumpwork. After this taste of the class with Jane Nicholas I thought I had learnt enough to want to do more, so kept an eye out for another beginner's course in stumpwork. I had been advised that it was wise to do a beginner's level course with this type of embroidery.
Anyway, the little tiny piece of stumpwork sat in the two frames for nearly a year. Then as part of the preparation for the next beginner's piece, I pulled out Jane's book and started thinking about how to be a bit better prepared for the next class. I'd had enough of a taste in the first class to realise that Jane takes you at a fairly focussed pace and there isn't much time for fluffing around not exactly knowing what you are doing. Earlier in 2012, I had signed up for a class at Mosman Needlecraft to do another beginner's piece called California Poppy and Bumble bee. I had the class requirements list and so realised that I needed the two frames that were currently occupied with the ladybug and boysenberries.
The universe was telling me to jump in, finish the the first tiny sampler piece and thus release my hoops for the next two day class. So I did. Thankfully, it was quite a bit easier than I expected. Sometimes I build things up in my mind and they seem way bigger than a walnut! I am pleased I pushed myself because it meant I have nearly finished a project (just need the walnut) and more importantly, I felt that going into the next class that I had done a bit of preparation. Probably most, most importantly though, I confirmed that I really did like this type of embroidery. Playfulness and precision. An interesting mix.
Just as a reminder, this is what I had finished after the course in July 2011. There are two hoops in the photo below. The orange one has a leaf and a stem finished. And the green hoop has a piece of red homespun cotton with a wire coloured red to match fabric and thread, shaped into the opened wings of the ladybug.
Previous posts
Stumpwork - new project (September 2011)