Nature Picture - Inktense

My picture finished at last. I started it a few weeks before lockdown which is 7 weeks now I think, so it has taken some time to do.I wanted to use one of the pictures in my sketchbook but it wasn't big enough so I added more to it. I've had a canvas measuring 24" square [61cm] waiting to be used for a long time so I wanted the picture to fit around that. I started by painting the fabric with Inktense blocks and crayons. Then came the freehand machine embroidery. Hand stitching came next, this took a long time. When finished I wrapped it around the canvas and fixed in place.

It's Friday, so it's time for Paint Party Friday

WIP and Collage Pages

WIP - I've painted the fabric with Inktense blocks and pencils. Then I outlined the main features with black thread using free hand machine embroidery. Next came the hand embroidery which you can see some of above.

After painting

With the machine embroidery

Below  are pages from the collage book

Happy Paint Party Friday!

Stay safe!!

Embroidered Quilting Sample

In May I started doing some quilt samples with a view to making a book but I got bored so didn't continue with it. This is one of the samples that I've been working on and off since then and at last I've finished it. I may put it in a book of fabric pages or perhaps use it in the centre of a cushion.

For the design I chose part of a page from a colouring book and used Sulky Sticky Fabri-Solvy. {print it then stick it on your fabric, rinse off after sewing}. The thread was Madeira Decor which I found shredded a lot especially with the Fabri-Solvy as it was quite sticky.

I used mainly back stitches in various sizes with some French Knots.

Rabbit Applique

I've started a new sketchbook, this one is for fabric work.

I used one of my recently made stamps for the rabbit, printed on fabric {I think it was lutradur}. The 'flowers' were cut from a large crochet doily.

White Embroidery - Peacock

According to my blog I started this around the 9th July so it's taken about three months which isn't bad as there is a lot of stitching on it, all hand stitched. I've used a variety of stitches including - back stitch, running stitch, chain stitch, stem stitch, French knots, couching, fern stitch, satin stitch, blanket stitch. It's stitched on a light cream linen with two strands of white stranded cotton. The photos don't look great, I may try taking some more in different lighting conditions.

Normally I would draw my own pictures but I took a fancy to a page in a colouring book - Secret Garden by Johanna Basford

Wondering how I transferred the image?

I enlarged the image on the computer then printed the design on Sulky Sticky Fabri-Solvy [over more than one sheet] which you stick to your fabric then stitch on top of it. I did find that it started lifting at the edges so I put running stitches around the edge and that sorted that problem. Because it is sticky the needles got sticky and I had to regularly clean them.

Then the fabric was rinsed, washed and ironed.

I did notice while taking the photos there was one tiny spot of black left. grr

I'm joining in the party at Simply Neutrals Tuesday, if you want to see more work in neutrals take a look here

WIP - Squares on Brown and Whitework Peacock

One of the items I started recently is the above. I had some upholstery samples lying about waiting to be put to good use. I'm hand stitching them on with running stitch. I may put fancy stitches on after....not sure yet.

I've also had this piece of linen in my stash for years so I decided to do some white stitching on it. I decided to use a page from lovely colouring book [Secret Garden by Johanna Basford] a gift from a friend for my birthday. I printed it on Sulky Sticky Fabri-Solvy and stuck it to the fabric. 

Since starting it I have had a few problems:

my stitching is not very neat nowadays

I had to print the pattern on more than one page [I enlarged too] and I am finding the edges keep lifting especially where they meet

the needle keeps getting sticky so I have to keep cleaning it with isopropyl [rubbing alcohol] 

 I won't see what it looks like until I've finished it and rinsed the solvy off

 keep changing my mind on which stitch to use

It will take a long time to stitch!

Book with Blue Cover

I've had a stack of pages ready for book binding since November and now I've actually bound them at last. For the cover I used a hand painted, stamped and embroidered piece of fabric.

I had done a little hand embroidery but it was so stiff to stitch I decided to use the machine instead. The tension wasn't right but I quite liked the effect so I stuck with it.

I put pages together in groups of three before stitching.

The pages are a mixture of hand painted, printed art work, music, envelopes, maps etc

This was the book before covering with the fabric. I used the cover of an old hard backed diary for the end pieces.