A weft yarn

Zebras finished

Date: February 2013

Back in July 2012 I was very close to finishing the Zebras. So, after only 5 hours of stitching, here we are!  

My 10 hour rotation scheme really suits me as I like having diversity of projects (rotation) and I also like to see progress (10 hours) and I kind of like systems. All of my life, I've applied systems to the things I do. In fact, I sometimes reflect on what I'd leave behind and it would mostly be organisational systems, cue strange comic-book style evil laugh (mwahahahah). I have some grand plans that I'll leave a series of domestic masterpieces - suburban mum does magnum opus type stuff, but instead what I'll leave behind is plastic folders full of lists and records and systems. We're laughing here, folks. In case you were wondering.

About 12 months ago I had a health scare that I took seriously but fortunately was more about being alive than being sick and when I came out the other side of it, I did give legacy type stuff quite a bit of thought.

I know why I'm making this blanket, as in I know why I'm making this specific blanket as opposed to the many times I've described that I make things because there is beauty in the world and I need to be part of that, because I have anxieties about being human that are calmed by creativity and that sewing is meditative. What I mean is, why Zebras? In my Pinterest I have a board called 'why Animals?' but that's a whole 'nother story. I'm feeling this point is hard to get to, which isn't surprising really, I pretend this is my diary (and it is of course) but its also the internet, home of ridicule and instant shaming.

I have finished my first set of African threadpainted animals to honour my dear old Dad, who died in 2010. That story is buried down in one of those links below as in the inspiration for this project. I'd go back and read it but I've got living to do, and I'm slow enough at these things. Six more embroideries to go: Elephants, Giraffes, Cheetahs, Lion, Gazelles and the Samburu people. Back to work, girl.

Previous posts

Progress on Threadpainting Zebras (July 2012)

Zebras have got legs: African blanket (June 21, 2012)

African blanket: Threadpainting Zebras (April 12, 2012)

Thread painting elephants - Samburu blanket - animal number 2 (September 15, 2011)

There's an elephant on my sofa (August 30, 2011)

Samburu blanket thread painting: Giraffes (June 18, 2011)

Giraffes, Africa, Blankets - embroidery - thread painting (March 23, 2011)

Lion door finished (needs lion though)

Date: February 2013

I am finished one door panel of the casket needlecase. A stumpwork lion is going to sit regally on the mound. He doesn't exist yet. In fact I have to make the leopard's door panel first - and then the leopard, and then the ship....the wrapped drawers...ok, rambling here. 

I am really proud of this. I bought the kit impulsively and optimistically, full of dreams for the future and remembrances of the past. It sat in a cupboard for a few years and then I started an even more daunting task - an embroidered casket course. In the excitement of materials arriving I jumped in, framed this up and started stitching. I think it looks beautiful.

As mentioned before, it is one strand of au ver a soie silk over one thread in the linen weave (not quite sure how to express that). Where the pattern is deeply coloured, every thread is covered. Where it is paler, then it is every second thread that is covered. I really like that effect. It was interesting also working with the linen and the natural imperfections in the linen. As I've not done this kind of project before - tiny tent stitch on 36 count linen - every part of the project was new to me. I'm pretty impressed with the effect but at this stage, probably pretty confident that I'm not going to do my embroidered casket in tent stitch on linen. It allows for beautiful details in the embroidery but is very time consuming.

Previous Posts

Summer Progress on the Casket Needlecase (January 2013)

Starting the Casket Needlecase (December 2012)

Finished the Bargello purse canvas - now just need to make the purse

Date: February 2013

Last we saw this I was very close to finishing it. It only needed a few more rows and some fixing bits of stitching that had unravelled. As the threads were all quite new to me, and as I am mostly self taught, I wasn't 100% sure how to secure some of the slippery. metallic threads. I had also run out of some of the threads previously, so I was keen to be a bit economical with my waste knots. Anyway, some of it wasn't tightly secured enough and I had to redo it. Once that was all done, my 'ta-da' moment took place after 76 hours of stitching.  Here it is. Now I just need to make it up into a purse, or send it to someone who will make it up into a purse for me. In the immortal words of the great Lawrence Oates "I may be some time".

 

Previous posts

Bargello purse (September 2012)

Midnight peacock purse nearly finished stitching but put aside nonetheless (May 2012)

Midnight peacock purse (April 2012)

Cat Tapestry progress

Date: February 2013

So in February 2013, I can see Aldo's eyes and this project is officially 10 years old. The international governing body of needleworkers gives you a certificate if you've worked on a needlework project for 10 years. Its just a paper anniversary. It isn't until you've been working on something for 20 years that you actually get any gold stuff for your anniversary. Making it up. But still....folks, its been a long time on this and we are so 'not done yet'. I am not despairing. I am celebrating!

For those of you with eagle eyes, you'll notice the little yarn markers in the margin on the right hand side. The little marker at the blue box which is also at Aldo's eye level indicate the half way point.

In the photo below, draped piles of wool for stitching adorn the sofa. I've mentioned before that this tapestry has a lot of colour, which I love, of course. And when I am finished, I'll have a lot persian tapestry wool left over I think.  There was a time back in 2011 when I thought I may have problems if some of my colours ran out (and they were running out). The Paternayan yarn was getting hard to find and production ceased on this at one stage. I had to set up some excel spreadsheets and record the colours that I had, the ones getting low or missing and then I emailed Australian suppliers and ebay suppliers trying to find the precious skeins. This was going to have an impact not just one my cat tapestry but also on Jenny McWhinney's Samburu African blanket, and on her Camel blanket projects as well.

 

During this period we thought it was gone, then we started hearing it might come back, then it was on its way back

Now this company have ensured supplies will continue. Excerpt below from the Saco River Dyehouse website.

The company sounds pretty interesting and they do a lot more than just ensure that ladies with old needlework kits can finish their tapestries (even if it takes 20 years). They seem to have embraced organic and sustainable practices and contract dyeing services. Sounds like a good way to re-invent a segment of this industry.

Previous Posts

Where or where has my little cat been? (October 2012)

Cat tapestry - progress (May 2011)

Cat tapestry (March 2011)

 

Summer progress on the Casket Needlecase

Date: January 2013

As I mentioned previously, I've started stitching the Casket Needlecase kit from Thistle Threads. I’m not 100% sure how it got bumped out of the cupboard and into the 10 projects rotation stream, except that the Cabinet of Curiosities course may have prompted me. Once I broke it open and started, I was dismayed by the tiny scale of it: 36 count linen, one strand of silk, what was I thinking? This will take me forever.

I spent about 50 hours over Dec – Jan and have nearly finished the lion door – which is about 1/8^th of the total project. My estimate of forever seems accurate. Instead of my usual 10 hour rotation, I ended up spending 50 hours because the room was set up for Christmas and it was too difficult to move frames around and rotate projects. It made for an unbalanced mid-year point but it did mean I gave the casket needlecase a real go. Having come this far, I am now feeling more proficient with the tiny stitches but still there is much stitching to do.

One of the benefits of being in an online specialist learning community is the sharing of tips and tricks and the encouragement and inspiration, and the temptations. In the forum, people discuss the latest in research and study of 17C embroidery. So somehow my library is expanding and I am finding a flutter of little Australia Post Cards that tell me a package is ready to be collected. I am going through an explosion of Casket related book buying: Twixt Art and Nature from Hedgehog Handworks ($100 plus a bonus – I bought a lovely hand turned wooden paperweight with glass dome to house the California Poppy sampler so I can finish it).

I also bought the Thomasina Beck book, Embroidered portraits from Jan Messant, Trish Burr’s Colour Confidence, Canvas Stitches, Boston needlework – all because of the Ning forum – I’m also thinking of buying the Needlelace book....hmm will I resist the purchase to save a bit of money? Sigh.

All of this is great for the mind and soul, maybe not so great for the wallet.

 

Previous Posts

 Starting the Casket Needlecase (December 2012)

Six felt Santa ornaments finished

Date: January 2013

I finished the last of the felt Santas in October 2012 and told the story of their journey in this post.

These guys have adorned the tree, of which, for some reason, I have no photos.

What I can share though are the memories of the piano recitals. So, the Fat Red Santas and the Berry Blue Santas were stitched almost exclusively at the children's weekly piano lessons. Both children took lessons from a wonderful piano teacher and once a week for an hour, I sat at her kitchen table and embroidered my felt Santas while I listened to my children play their weekly accomplishments to her, and then she'd assist them, they'd play duets and she would usually finish the lesson by playing something herself. And I was happy. Of all my mother jobs, taking my children to piano lessons was one of my happiest.

If you ever feel inclined to read a truly exceptional tale of Piano Lessons, then I highly recommend Anna Goldsworthy's memoir of the same name. Anna Goldsworthy is an Australian pianist who is a daughter of a famous Australian playwright and novelist, Peter Goldsworthy. While she has used her talents for music, her memoir is a lyrical book which develops the story of the profound bond between teacher and student. It also has some fantastically lighthearted stories of adolescence and parenting of adolescents, which as you can imagine, I am going through, so I appreciated being able to laugh at this period of life.

Our teacher Rebecca organised piano recitals twice a year. We attended our first in December 2007, when Nicholas was in Grade 4 at St Matthew's Primary. In 2008, we moved to Kaleen Primary and then Tess, who was in Grade 1, joined Nicholas at Rebecca's home for weekly lessons. The recitals were usually in churches in Page, Waramanga and Ainslie. These below were taken at All Saints Church in Ainslie. Afterwards, there was cake and chatter with the other parents.

Previous posts

Blue Felt Santas Finished (November 2012)

Felt Santas: so close (September 2012)

Berry Blue Felt Santas (June 2012)

Felt Folky Santas join the Fat Red Santas (Jan 2012)

Fat Red Santas - done and done (Nov 2011)

Red felt Santas - October 2011 (October 2011)

Santas - embroidery update (June 2011)

Felt ornaments - Christmas santas (April 2011)

Starting the Casket Needlecase

 Date: December 2012

I bought this Thistle Threads A Casket Needlecase kit in December 2010.

The text on the beautifully packaged box says it is 'A needlework accessories case inspired by the Leverett cabinet from the Peabody Essex collection. This eight inch by eight inch case contains pockets for a rose needle book, tulip pinkeep, and several of the included die cut threadwinders. Additional pockets can hold your scissors and other accessories in your collection. Kit includes 24 colours of Au Ver a Soie Silk, 36 and 32 count linen, all gold threads, needles, wire, gold webigmpe ribbon, pink lining silk, die cut finishing pieces, die cut metalized leather 'hardware', threadwinders, 30 page instruction book, and CD ROM with photographs of the embroidery and finishing process for the casket needlecase, rose needlebook, and tulip pinkeep."

 

I'm not 100% sure what drove me to select this kit out of my stash of historically inspired needlework projects that need starting...perhaps I selected this because I had enrolled in the Cabinets of Curiosities course and I really wanted to make something cabinet related. Once I broke open the kit, and put the linen on the frame, I was slightly daunted by the tiny scale of the embroidery. I have never embroidered on linen like this before (36 count).

I am also not convinced that my needlepoint technique (courtesy of Dominque Siegler Lathrop) works so well on this tiny scale. It certainly is slow (but I am kind of used to being no speedy gonzalez). Anyway, a start has been made and the kit is gorgeous, the colours of the silk wonderful...so I press on.

 

My antique sewing box table

Date: November 2012

I have always liked putting things into things. Beautifully designed and practical storage, like boxes and bags, appeal to me. Way back in May 2009, my husband was attending an auction and came across a sewing table that he thought I might like. I have it today and it sits next to my sewing chair and I use it both as a table and as storage of sewing supplies.

I have no idea how old the table is, nor what woods were used to make it, or where it was made. It was purchased at a deceased estate auction in Yarralumla in Canberra and we also picked up some other lovely pieces of old silverware, and a beautiful coffee table as well.

I don't quite know what to call this piece of furniture. I think of it as a sewing box table and this article provides a little bit of historical information on antique work tables for sewing and crafts

If you google images of antique sewing tables you find quite a lovely selection of old and interesting tables.

If you happen to be a Cranford fan, you would know of the wonderful scene where the lovely young doctor is attending a deceased estate auction and he bids on small table for his home. He has arrived in the village and his empty house needs furniture. It is only after he has seriously outbid some of the fussy old ladies of the village and arrived to collect his piece of furniture that it is explained to him that this is a needlework sewing table. Despite his disappointment, given he is a gentleman, he naturally enough honours his commitment, purchases it and takes it home. He then 'lends' it to his middle-aged widowed housekeeper who manages to misconstrue the gesture. When this and other gestures are added together in the romantically over-imaginative minds of the village ladies much comic, but some awkward moments unfold between the lovely doctor and the women of the village. My daughter and I giggle over that scene every time. We also love the pyjamas for the cow, but that's a whole other sewing story.

Anyway, after my lovely husband brought home a needlework sewing table for me, I didn't misconstrue the gesture at all. However it did need to be restored and as we have no special skills in this craft of furniture restoration, I found someone in the local area who looked promising - Brown's furniture recovery was in a rural area just outside Canberra. He came and picked up the table and re-lined it for us and polished the wood of the sewing table to a beautiful glossy finish. I was thrilled with the transformation.

Below are photos that my husband took at the estate sale back in 2009. He was on his own but would have liked to have some confirmation that I really did want this table. He sent the photos through to me, however, I didn't have time to take a look at them before he needed to bid on the table, so he went ahead and gave it a go, and got it! I was so thrilled when he brought it home. I was also very curious about the little bits and bobs that the previous owner had left in the table. I kept them as a collection of things. Some of the nicer pieces that appealed to me I have kept in the sewing table. It appeared that she had a handmade felt tape measure that had girl guide symbols embroidered on it. As Tess was at guides I found this a sweet touch of connection. She also had some tatting bobbins and a huge collection of embroidery scissors. I like that I've got her table and have restored it and given it a new life.

Cabinet of Curiosities: the kit

 Date: November 2012

I have written elsewhere about how I came to discover this series of historical embroidery courses which come with instructions and kits. I might have mentioned the Floral Glove and the Glittering Gentleman's Nightcap. Well there is also the Masterclass for 17C embroidery, the Cabinet of Curiosities which I signed up for in the very first group, way back in December 2011. We were required to pay a deposit to get a place in the course that took 300 participants. I dithered and dithered and kept checking back to the website to see if there were still places, yes, ok, give it some thought, can I afford to do it? can I afford not to do it? Can I stitch well enough to warrant such a project?  I had a lot of questions but no one in particular to put them to. After all, they are only questions for me. I have the sense that I was in the very last few people to get in before it filled up. I was checking daily, then the deadline loomed and finally I decided 'ok, go now, who knows what the future holds but if you don't give it a go, you'll never know'. I paid my deposit and the next day the course was full.

The course didn't start in earnest until May 2012 but once started, each month a lesson was posted to a website and we participants logged on and downloaded and read the details.

Then in November 2012, just to make it all seem so exciting and so real, the first kit arrived. When we signed up we were informed that two kits would be sent during the class.  The kits would include four full 32-color thread lines (Soie Ovale, Soie Paris, Silk Gimp and Silk Wrapped Purl) that were reproduced in a colour line that matches what we believe to be the original colours from the 17th century embroidery. Obviously these old caskets today are very faded and seem muted and pale in comparison to the colours that would have been used originally.

As well, we'd also receive the fabrics and finishing materials for the five projects and a wooden carcass for a trinket box with reproduction hardware. This last piece is intended as a small practice run for our larger work.

 

 

Sometime just before the kits arrived a private forum was set up for the participants in the Cabinet's class  to chat and share their stories and pictures. While about 60-70% of the folks are in the United States there is a sizeable group of us who are international participants from Europe, Australia, New Zealand and other countries as well. One person suggested we post pictures to the forum to show our stitching spots and the views from our windows. I really like seeing my fellow embroiderer's places where they spend their time. I like imagining them in their spots sharing this thing that connects us across time and distance.

I also thought they might like to see the Brittle gum (Eucalyptus Mannifera)  from my front window.

Previous Posts

Another new project? Glittering Gentlemen's Nightcap (March 2012)

A new project - what's that you say - A Floral Glove? (February 2012)

Blue Felt Santas finished

Date: November, 2012

These little guys are done.

The story so far. I purchased the Bucilla felt Santas kit from the Fox collection catalogue back in 2007. I started stitching in October 2008 and finished in October 2012. The 6 little felt santas (2 folky ones, 2 red ones, 2 blue ones) took 73 hours of stitching to complete. I did two at at time, finishing the same features as I went...so beards for two Santas, hats for two Santas - that kind of thing. The Christmas tree got to display the first set of Santas in 2010, then another two in 2011, and the final two in 2012. The other four guys are stored away in the Christmas decorations box. At Christmas time the six guys will all get together and I'll organise a group photo. Given they are Santas, I'm sure it will go well.

 

 

Previous posts

Felt Santas: so close (September 2012)

Berry Blue Felt Santas (June 2012)

Felt Folky Santas join the Fat Red Santas (Jan 2012)

Fat Red Santas - done and done (Nov 2011)

Red felt Santas - October 2011 (October 2011)

Santas - embroidery update (June 2011)

Felt ornaments - Christmas santas (April 2011)