stumpwork

Flower fairies and butterflies in stumpwork

I just received my final piece for my stumpwork assessment back from the framer. Having never had anything framed before it was quite a thrill! I’m glad I chose the more expensive frame as it’s so beautiful and the floral theme ties in with my piece beautifully.

I’ve used a variety of techniques in the piece including my favourite – silk ribbon embroidery.

I can’t tell you how much thought, planning, then work went into this but I absolutely love it.

And another homework assessment finished and mounted. This is a blue morpho butterfly.

The wings are all detached and the body embroidered directly onto the fabric.

So now I just need to finish and assemble my samplers and I’m ready for my assessment in a few weeks, how exciting to have come so far! I’m already planning what to learn next and I feel it must involve silk ribbons!

Stumpwork progress

by Kelly 3 Comments

I’m half way through the stumpwork course I’m doing with the Embroiderers Guild and although it continues to be a challenge I have learned so much and am really enjoying it. I was attracted to this particular course by the reputation of the tutor Alison Cole and haven’t been disappointed – she is an excellent tutor from whom I’m learning so much.

Our latest assignment was to complete a stumpwork flower following our own design and to make it up into an item.

I chose to embroider a viola and make it into a pincushion. Strangely enough, it is the first pincushion I’ve ever made or owned!

I’m really pleased with my end result and was surprised to see such improvement in my stitching. The three petals and the leaf are detached and wired. The stem and back petals are embroidered onto the fabric.
Our next assignment is to be an insect and the final work is to be our own design, a good size and using the elements we’ve learned in class. The creative brain is ticking!
A lot of people will wonder how long it takes to embroider something like this and I don’t know the answer. My focus at the moment is to advance my stitching to the highest level I possibly can – that takes time. To give you a rough idea, one of these petals could take up to 5 hours 🙂

Stumpwork!

by Kelly 5 Comments

I had a marvelous day yesterday with the Embroiderer’s Guild doing a beginner’s stumpwork class with the talented Cecily Dow. This class is in preparation for the intermediate certificate I intend to do later in the year with Alison Cole (very excited about this!)

To give an indication of size, this is in a 4 inch hoop. Even though it’s very small it took many hours to complete, it is very fine and detailed work.

This is a really dynamic form of embroidery and I can’t wait to do more. I’m pretty pleased with my first attempt!