BEADS and CURVES

Over the last few weeks I have spent a lot of time switching between the two chairs in my workroom as I have alternated between hand stitching on one and legs tucked under the sewing machine on the other. I was still exploring the possibilities of curved edges and although I never set out to make a slightly raised edge somehow during the making process I did! I am not sure if it will be a technique that I will need in the future but I can at least repeat the method. The other thing to note is that for someone who has never been over fond of the ‘bling’ of beads I now seem to have almost used up my complete supply; nasty addictive little things!!! 

 

From wavy edges to a full circle just because I wanted to see what it looked like? Suffice to say that I moved on very quickly having failed to see where it might lead me, plenty of scope for different stitches but it just looked too rigid. Not to be viewed as a waste of time however, just a learning curve quite literally! I much prefer the movement of stitches as they meander and flow. For the time being this one will be filed in the ‘possibly, maybe, one day’ box!

 

My hand embroidery threads stash was rapidly dwindling but I managed to find enough for another piece with matching curved edges. I stayed with the beads for the edging as I very much like the soft finish that they give. The mixing of hand and machine stitching gives me greater scope to vary and control the textures on the surface. I was also interested to note that the same stitch worked in different thicknesses and types of thread gave a very different finish almost to the point of it looking like a different stitch. All very obvious really but it has given me plenty of ideas to try out both by hand and machine. I had for instance been working with thicker threads in the bobbin for added texture using the sewing machine but now I will be working on the premise that if the thread will go through the needle and doesn’t break then it will be good to stitch on the surface with.

 

My last piece to share with you is more of the same but taking a rectangular format (not overly sure if I am quite so keen if I am honest). It wouldn’t be my first choice as a colour scheme but along with a dwindling supply of beads I have now run out of sparkly threads and my supply of hand threads is woeful indeed. But, trying two curves was a good idea and also facing the curves in the same colour beads worked well. 

Moving forwards I will need to consider whether I am exploiting the curves to their best advantage and if the work is at all suitable for 3D or robust enough for any kind of accessory. But before any more stitching I will urgently need to replenish my supplies. 

Sometimes I can be very inspired by a design idea perhaps taken from a photo or sometimes a single colour will be enough to spark a train of thought. When printing or dying fabric I make and mix my own colours which I thoroughly enjoy and are an integral part of the design process so it will be interesting to see where going shopping for colours leads me!

I didn’t feel that I had travelled very far on my creative journey over these the last few weeks. But, looking now at the photographs I can see that I have; it’s just that the finished pieces are comparatively small in size.  So very time consuming in the making but every stitch was worth it.

I frequently see horses when out walking, hardly surprising really as there are several large stables close by. But, in all the years of treading the pathways in and around my home I have never found a horseshoe. This changed very recently when to my surprise I found three in as many weeks! I am very aware of the many superstitions surrounding horseshoes but I have decided to take this ‘find’ as a large hint that I am long overdue an Eco Dyeing session and the rusty shoes will be the perfect addition for my bucket of 'dirty pot water'.