a further experiment
Yesterday I was tagged/flagged/mentioned by the peerless Karen at Contemorary Embroidery as being worth visiting. I am deeply honoured because I think Karen’s work is so glorious in its simplicity and so perfect in its execution that she has my endless admiration. If you don’t know what she does-check out her blog. If you have never thought of white on white as being eye candy, be prepared for a delight.
As Karen is wonderfully unorthodox, I don’t have to do anything except enjoy all of your visits but I am tidying up my blogroll at the moment to more fairly represent what is on my Google Reader. Karen’s blog has led me to some new and exciting places, so if you glance down my list and see names you don’t know, check ‘em out. There is so much talent on the web now and so many talented people producing astonishing things, that I am glad awards and memes and tags are there to lead to undiscovered treasures. I also appreciate blogrolls on new blogs I visit, for the same reason. Often treasures lurk on the sidebars of someone else’s blog.
Today’s experiments follow on from musing about trapping threads and fabrics between two layers of chiffon. I imagined something along the lines of a glass dream catcher that you can hang in a window. After my walk on Sunday, I chose to work on poppies. I tried to visualise a piece that would be double sided, so cut out the flower petals in pairs that would look the same whichever side they were viewed from. In my excitement I forgot to lay the couching threads between the two petals of the poppy, so they show on the back of the piece-but with a bit of pinning I think I could achieve something almost reversible. It was difficult to sew at first-everything slid about but again, with some judicious pinning it would be easier.
Click to enlarge
It was also difficult to square it up-the knitting ribbon is to give some strength to the edges as well as to frame it. This little piece is roughly 5 inches square. Looking at it now I think it needs more machining, but now I’m wondering if smaller pieces could be set into a quilt as “peepholes”…..hmmm further experiments for another day.
this is a great idea – a new take on the stained glass quilt. NOw I can look to you and Judes ‘what if’ for experimental musings….
i agree about the awards – I have found some great new blogs by following the links when people give awards and by checking out their blog roll (one reason I did my new ‘links page’). i think follwoing the links is more fulfilling that getting the award sometimes
How very pretty this turned out! It’ll be fun to see where you take this concept… thanks for sharing Karens blog, too!
Your chiffon experiments are great. I’m intrigued by your idea of using this technique for peepholes in larger quilts I think that would look wonderful!
Thank you for introducing me to Karen’s blog – how beautiful. Restrained yet complex – very very clever!
Your wildflowers captured in chiffon are lovely – it’s clear you’ve been inspired by wildflowers growing among the grasses. Looking forward to seeing more of these – will you do a larger piece?
Celia
You are really having fun with these ideas! Great technique!