Fishy Tales!

Having completed the central elements, apart from the hound that I'm thinking about, I've moved onto the supporting dolphins. The crown is known as a celestial crown and has stars at the top of each point. These I've just done in DMC Diamante thread in straight stitches to keep the look light and in proportion.

The dolphins has black silk satin stitched eyes and nostrils and his scales are laid and couched gilt passing

His gills are pearl purl laid in a zig zag pattern. The thread has a stitch holding it at each turning point and then gently manipulated round the turns. Then the whole shape is outlined with the pearl purl.

Once the tail is done - more tight turns! - it's one down and one more to go.

Lettering next!

Bit of Goldwork

I've finished Mark's slippers and have now moved on to another commission.

First to tack on the design...

.....there is a pattern here, honest!

A gold coloured silk is appliqued down and the design tacks removed.

After a quick press, I can start applying the gold metal threads and any surface embroidery.

I'm hoping that enough people can follow this. Blogger's reading list links are up the spout at the moment. Here's hoping they get it fixed soon, I'm suffering withdrawal symptoms!

What now?

Having finished the Sweete Bag for Gawthorpe Hall it was time to take some R&R and where better than the Scottish Borders.

We really were this close to the Tweed, England is the opposite bank, and in the midst of Reiver country. Mark took fishing rods, I took embroidery and even the dogs were quiet.

Back home I dragged out the trusty turn to project - a pair of slippers for Mark that I have been embroidering forever. They've even been to the Borders a couple of years ago!

I'd completed one foot and was determined to complete the other

And weh heh, only about 8 rows to go. Now just to decide how to turn them into slippers!

As well as these I am doing a private commission, and will be embroidering a pair of canvas work chair seats for a friend. But then....

I want to return to my sampler book of historic embroidery, remember Mrs Delaney's flower? So I will probably do some goldwork this time, maybe on velvet? And I need to think of the cover for the sampler book. (Get your ideas down in a sketchbook girl!) Oh, and I've to frame up for fine whitework with Tracy and then Christmas is coming up, and the church Fair..............

No chance of getting bored then!