Yes, some would say I'm three bricks short of load or that my elevator is stuck on the ground floor or that I'm several pickles short of the jar...well, you get the drift I'm sure! When it comes to the landscapes I do things that simply take hours and hours and really, when it comes right down to it, don't show all that much. Case in point....
Can you see that pretty much two entire afternoons will have been spent stitching the waves in the water? No? I thought not. It wouldn't have taken that long except for the fact that my sewing machine balked** at stitching with silver metallic threads. I really WANTED those silver metallic threads to give life to the water. What to do? After much ponderment I ended up stitching the lines with regular sewing thread (longer stitch length) and now I'm in the process of overlapping each machine stitch by hand with the metallic. Looks good but as I said...3 bricks short...
**and, before you all tell me this - yes, I know I can put the special thread in the bobbin and work that way, but....that involves changing the tension on my bobbin and that will just create more problems than it's worth. Someday I will have to invest in a second bobbin assembly that is safe to monkey around with.
Today's quote...."Of all the people on the planet, you talk to yourself more than anyone. Make sure you are saying the right things"
Oh I can see how you'd want that thread for the water--but I do think that the longer stitches with the white really look good, too;)))
ReplyDeleteI am delving back into my beloved "crazy-quilt type- embroidery" on Tuscan Sunrise today..[never mind my scant drawing skills ;000]
I am anxious to begin embroidering my lavenders..but need to work out the spacing first...I guess trial and error and "rip-rip-ing it" will be my pathway....But it's all fun...
~ ~ ~ waving under our fan in the AC-- so darn hot!! Julierose
I live by trial and error! Frogging stitching is quite common here. The water looks much better with the added sparkle but unfortunately it doesn't show up in photos very well.
DeleteIt doesn't matter how you get there Mary Anne, so long as you are happy with it!! I think it's looking great! Hugs Christine xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Christine. It's getting there. I'll soon be able to add the final details and then start figuring out how I'll finish it.
DeleteThis is so nice! Very pretty ❤
ReplyDeleteBlog de la Licorne * Instagram * We♥It
Thank you - and thank you for leaving a comment!
DeleteIt is always in the details Mary Anne Dear and your silver threaded waves will be beautiful. So many great ideas you have shared. Thank You. Very thought provoking quote today. Hmmm...
ReplyDeleteSome would say the devil is in the details - hmmm.
DeleteThe wave effect is very good indeed.
ReplyDeleteAbout that steaming approach to dyeing: I've done it and it works. It's a bit labor intensive. You can get about the same results by hammering the leaf onto the fabric. But some people just love the steaming process, so, good for them!
I haven't done much dyeing I must admit - a brief foray into rust dyeing years ago and now if I do any it's with shaving cream. Messy but it works!
DeleteThe wave effect is very good indeed.
ReplyDeleteAbout that steaming approach to dyeing: I've done it and it works. It's a bit labor intensive. You can get about the same results by hammering the leaf onto the fabric. But some people just love the steaming process, so, good for them!
The water movement looks good already. Metallic whipped stitches will make it perfect... well worth the time you take. While you whip, you can ponder on what next will be added.
ReplyDeleteWhipping while I ponder - that's me to a 't'!!!
DeleteYou'd have a good mind game going here if you posted the before and after pictures. I do scroll back to the last picture to see if I can find the difference. Hey I think anyone that hand stitches tiny, tiny stitches has a ton of patience.
ReplyDeleteThey say that patience is a virtue so that must mean I'm VERY virtuous!!!
DeleteYour process is - in a way - my (very bad) approach to housework. I will be stepping over things to get through my kitchen, but spend 2 hours clearing out and organizing my underwear drawer.
ReplyDeleteYep - squirrel moments abound here at Chez Magpie too. I do things that astound even me and that's saying something!
DeleteOkay... this feels like a challenge. I see quilted pond water, quilting on the large rock (at least I think that's a rock), and you've added the appearance of texture on all the green grase (looks like a netting you've put on there). Did I miss anything? :) Looking fabulous. And I like the new blog header! Oh, and thank you for the link to those cross stitch designs! I've printed out a few. They look look like fun.
ReplyDeleteHmmm - a large rock. That puzzles me because there's no rock. Wonder what you're seeing that looks like a rock and maybe I'd better do some work on it so it is??? No netting on the grass, but there is in the water.
DeleteOh boy... I was thinking before I wrote that I should have gone back to look at the original photo! What looks like a rock to me, I can see in the photo no, is sand (or dirt). That said, in the later photos of your landscape, it looks less like a rock to me. ;^) Is what I guessed to be netting on the grass, hand embroidered stitches? I see something that looks textured. Oh how I could see your creations in real life...
DeleteYes, it's sand (or at least that's what it's supposed to be!). As for the grass - it's stitched, but using the machine just to add texture.
DeleteHi MA it would be exactly like me to sew the metallic thread the way you did it. You’re not the only one three bricks short of a load. LOL Its a beautiful piece!
ReplyDeleteWoo hoo - it's good to know I'm not the only one!
DeleteA very creative idea to get that metallic thread onto the water. Love the result you got.
ReplyDeletexx, Carol
I am nothing if not stubborn and am a firm believer in the old saying that where there's a will there's a way. It worked once again!
DeleteAbsolutely love your work and feel your pain over the practicalities of sewing with metallic thread but still wanting to do it because it is the only way to get the effect that you see in your mind! The results are worth it! Thank you also for the referral to my blog! I really appreciate it. Have a happy day! Debbie xx
ReplyDeleteThanks for the visit Debbie and for leaving such a nice comment! Metallic thread often isn't a great deal of fun to work with but the end result makes it worth the effort.
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