50 Shades of White and Peacock Cushions

I've made up my fifty shades of white applique into a cushion

and also my white embroidered peacock is also a cushion.

Because it is white on white it doesn't show up very well so I messed about with the image just to try and make the embroidery stand out.

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!