All done...

... and nowhere to go.

I always keep a small stash of inexpensive, ready-made frames, so I have something to put my small pieces of embroidery into as soon as they are finished. I was so certain, I had a square frame that would be perfect for my little 'doodle' piece, that I didn't even stop to check - Big sigh, Big mistake!
As I mentioned last week, I am already late getting it to my brother for his birthday (no, he doesn't read my blog) and I really, really wanted to get it in the post before the weekend. I can still only stitch (and work on the computer) in short bursts of time, so Wednesday, I set my trusty egg timer and set to work adding the final details to the piece.


Some of you may have seen the progress of this small piece on facebook and Instagram, but I have just realised that I have not shared anything here until the picture last week. So, to start at the beginning - well kind of and in short:

I no longer take anything complicated with me when I travel - instead, I grab (literally last minute with one foot out the door) a handful of threads, a scrap of fabric, a needle and a small hoop and shove it into a small bag. Once on my way, I fill a small square with a 'doodle' drawing and spend my time away just filling in. I find it relaxing on the plane or after a day of stitching, to just stitch whatever I feel like without having to think about it too hard. It is all just playing with colours, stitches and textures while filling in shapes.


The interesting thing is, the pieces very quickly start to reflect the place I am in or where I am going and this one is not different. I was visiting my brother and we were enjoying a glass of wine and the view from his backyard, which backs right down to the edge of the water. After a long and unusually hot summer, the garden and the hills on the other side of water were dry and parched and it occurred to me that the small pile of threads I had thrown in my bag before I left Australia, were exactly (almost) the shades of water, the sky, the dry lawn and scrubs, and the hills in the distance. So, I decided I would give this piece to my brother once finished.


I just let the piece grow how it wanted to and as so often before discovered new stitches and ways to fill shapes on the way. Like the area below the yellow spiral - it is filled with pistil stitches of varying lengths so the knots fall randomly across the shape. The only plan I really had was that I wanted to add a bit of silver once the coloured embroidery was finished, so I left narrow gaps along some lines were the metal thread would go later on.


I chose two weights for silver couching thread and couched the heavier one (Jap T69) across the full width of the piece. It slotted neatly into the narrow gap I had left earlier.


The finer thread, went along each of the swirls.


And there, all done... and no frame to put it.

Lyndby 2018
Oh well, there is always tomorrow.
With this piece finished, I can move (swiftly) on to the next. Finalising colours for my new crewel project??.... getting started on the juggling jester???... and I really want to stitch some little Christmas trees???...
Whatever I start, it is undoubtedly going to be a busy week ahead.


I started today taking Tilly for a fabulous long walk 'around the block' in our neighbourhood and now that my trusty timer has beeped (more than once) I will turn off the computer, I enjoy the afternoon outside...

I hope you enjoying a lovely and relaxing weekend and to those celebrating Thanksgiving, I wish you a happy and safe holiday with family and friends.

Best Stitches,
Anna xx

Comments

  1. What an awesome embroidery work, Anna! I so love the wonderful, soft colors, in combination with the silver thread, but also the way you have designed your gift for your brother. But what a pity that you didn't have the right frame for it.
    Hugs, Ilona

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Ilona, It is now framed and on its way around the globe.

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  2. I love this sweet little piece of landscape embroidery . Oh my ! How Tilly has grown ! Enjoy your beautiful country walkies :)

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    Replies
    1. Yes, she is all grown up now. Not sure who is walking who most of the time and she has oh so much, too much energy :-)

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  3. Dear Anna, Thank you for sharing your work. I have always admired embroidery but not done anything of note but that does not mean I cannot admire and appreciate it.
    You have created something special for your brother. Well done.
    Regards Janine in BC Canada

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    Replies
    1. Hi Janine, Thanks for stopping by. I get a bit carried away with my stitches and way too often sidetracked, so it all ends up taking a lot longer than it should. Never mind, it is done and on its way.
      Anna

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  4. You are definitely An Artist with your threads instead of with brushes.
    Looking at the piece above, brings Van Gough to mind- Your inventive selection of colours for the wind, water and land along with your creative stitchery, is Marvellously fully interpretative, and there's no doubt that your brother will LOVE IT- with or without a frame!

    elizabeth

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    Replies
    1. Oh boy, that might be overkill in that comparison but thanks all the same!
      When it comes to stitches, I have oodles of experience in 'reverse' stitching. I guess you can cover up paint but I do like that if the don't work, I simply cut them out and start again...
      Anna x

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