December journal and new embroidery

A few pages from my perpetual journal from December and two new embroideries.

This piece is based on the colour of Autumn leaves. It took a long time to complete but I loved the slow stitching.

This wren and lichens was only finished a few days ago. These two pieces are for the exhibition at Quenington Sculpture Trail in June. Dates in side bar.

 

work in progress

Just a few pictures of work in progress for next year exhibition at Quennington Sculpture Trail in June.

 

Winter cloth continued.

 I made a few cards to take into the gallery in Cheltenham this week. They are machine embroidered but still take a long time, drawing, stitching,painting and finishing. But they are, with my photocards, an affordable option and when the fancy takes me, fun to do.

 Sitting in the gallery on Thursday stitching was interesting too. Getting to discuss the work with the visitors and the gallery manager ,the lovely Jo. The stitching is repetitive and calming which occupies the left hand side of the brain and allows the right hand side to wander freely. ( see my post on Instagram) It takes a long time but the time, somehow sinks into the cloth. I have the time to consider the symbols and meanings. and it has become a calendar of these winter weeks.

The practical bit- it is thin silk on 4 backing layers of cotton.( an old well washed table cloth so very soft.) the whole thing is lovely to stitch because it is soft as butter for the needle to go through. It is kantha style stitching ( fro India)and tradtitionally old saris would have been the backing layers. The running stitch causes a puckering that the silk lights up. it is worked in the hand rather than on a frame like traditional English quilting where the backing fabric is held taut. Most of the threads are silk and it is destined for the Guild Gallery mini exhibition, Silk, within the gallery in April. So I have to get on with it! I am putting silk binding around the edges - work in progress above.

Winter cloth - meditation and slow stitch.

This piece, that I have named winter cloth, is the next in series from the cycle of the seasons cloth. I have stopped work on that until the spring comes and I can consider spring colours. So this is slow, quiet stitching enjoying the textures created by the rippling effect of the quilting on silk. There is winter sunshine and bare twigs and branches.I think all hand stitching is slow stitching but these repetitions are calming.Not that the design has come easily, it never does, but the stitching itself is soothing.

Back to Autumn leaves.

After a hectic weekend in London, I sat quietly with my Autumn leaves stitching calm and peace into the fabric. I have put a snail shell as the focal point for fragility and the spiral could also be a symbol of the turning of the seasons.

Spots of colour finished

  I have finished this formal summer garden with its spots of colour. (13ins x 18 ins)

It seems a long time since I finished anything but it has been a busy summer with lots going on. Now its time to consider what I am going to show at Newark Park in the Spring. Concentrate the mind! Time to make some lists that always helps.

A spot of summer colours.

 Summer colours, the vivid shades of summer flowers to set against the greens. The camera makes it more blue but

 in the flash you can see it is very green.

 Trying to finish this now because Autumn is upon us, fields are ploughed and cobwebs shimmer with dew.

Judy Martins reverse applique dots.

I ground to a halt chasing ideas that didn't work out. So I tried Judy Martins reverse applique dots - peaceful mind restored- all is well. Sometimes things don't work especially when you try too hard. Now I have a slow piece to stitch and will see what develops with a calm mind.