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| Needleweaving, a bit of shisha and plenty of bling. |
The winter has been amazingly dark - only managed to make a few cards before Christmas. I've been using two daylight lamps with little success. The sunny days are full of frantic activity to catch the daylight AND the warmth - I work a lot in the conservatory. Can you embroider in gloves?
I'm working on my site specific piece for City & Guilds - a lectern fall and stole for the Hospital Chapel for the season of Lent - no pressure then since Lent starts on 22nd February! I finished the stole today and am pleased with the outcome (another photo) but working on this dark purple fabric is SO FRUSTRATING! It is so difficult to see what I'm doing. I feel a bit like those medieval embroiderers who carried their frames on their backs - I'm moving round the house, following the meagre daylight. I managed almost 5 hours today.
I've not worked in shades of dark olive, purple, brown and blood red before and they make a powerful combination. The cords are machined and the applied motifs were made on soluble - I'd forgotten two vital points - cords take ages to make properly and 3-d appliqued motifs mean changing the bobbin with every colour change! I hope the Chaplain is pleased with the result.
All this detailed work gives me plenty of time to think about all the projects I've got to plan for. My next achievement will be a coat/jacket for me to wear! Haven't made anything of note for over 10 years.
I've roughed my design for the "Reaching Beyond" exhibition in July.
Will keep you posted.
