Saturday 26 March 2011

Another week


I have had a really busy week again, but I have manage to fit in an hour or two for practising my free machine embroidery skills. By drawing with my needle, I have stitched two butterflies.
I first painted them onto pelmet weight vilene using Koh-i-nor watercolours.  The top one here, based on a Peacock butterfly, I covered with a piece of 'shot' polyester organza to give it it some shimmer. I then machine stitched using a straight stitch varying the top and bottom threads, often tightening the top tension to bring up the bottom thread to break the colour.

Here I have scanned the two pieces.  I added a bit of hand stitching to the Peacock one.


This is the reverse side which is also quite nice, but the colour is less intense without the painted background.

Here I have photographed them with a packet of machine needles for scale.  Since taking the picture I have cut out the peacock one, using a fine soldering iron which has sealed the edge of the polyester organza.  I am experimenting with making it into a small book. 
 I'll let you know how it goes.

Meanwhile I have done a few tasks in the garden, cutting the the grass always makes such a difference, even if nothing else is done.  I was pleased to see this frog in our little pond guarding her great pile of spawn.  As I was shooting into the sun I used the integral flash to add a little detail and sparkle to her eye.


I was also pleased with this shot of the water iris and its reflection, not looking quite real.


I seem to have yet another busy week coming up, but hopefully I'll manage to fit in a bit of creativity.  I think another week of sunshine is too much to hope for,  but a few more days of fine weather would go down well.

I hope you are having a great weekend, and have a good week.

24 comments:

Crafting Queen said...

Wow, those are amazing!!!

WrightStuff said...

You did that with a sewing machine 'freehand'? Wowzie!

Your photography is fantastic. I could easily see these winning prizes.

Barb Cady said...

OH they are fabulous! The machine embroidery is so clever, I so want to be able to do that! As for your photographs, I always enjoy them, thank you, inspiring stuff.

harmony and rosie said...

This is such a wonderful post, I can't tell you how fantastic your work is Jill. Bravo x

Clare Wassermann said...

A gorgeous butterfly - you are widely talented! I have our frogspawn in a bucket as the wold mallards or the fish might eat it and they are already little swimming tadpoles - the children love it as they change daily. So fascinating.
Keep finding a chink of time for that creativity - it's what makes us buzz.

Carol Q said...

my god - having been trying free machining today, I am DEEPLY impressed. lol they are beautiful as are the photos Jill.

menopausalmusing said...

Beautiful butterflies and as for those photos............. love 'em!, especially the iris one.

Leenie said...

People pay big bucks for that kind of embroidery at the place where I work--at least for the first run. I used to program sewing machine computers to sew things like eighteen wheeler trucks (heaven forbid if I got the details wrong), favorite horses, company logos etc. Then I ran into conflicts with the bosses wife and stayed out of the embroidery--do just graphic design for screen printing now. Anyway, beautiful work!

The froggie photo is a winner! I love how you made the colors pop with the flash. The beauty of the backlit water iris is glorious.

Joanna said...

Those butterflies are beautiful! The backs are just as beautiful, just in a quieter, somewhat ghostly way.

The photos of frog and iris are brilliant - look at all that frog spawn, she's guarding it so well!

Keeping fingers crossed for creativity opportunities next week.

ju-north said...

Lots of wonderful things to look at here! I'm inspired!

JoZart Designs said...

You have really cracked the technique, you're a natural and can transfer your artistic talent perfectly through the machine needle. Excellent!
Great photos too.
joZarty x

LAC EMP 2020 said...

I love the new header Jill. All that colour just sings out at you! There aren't enough superlatives left to comment on your creativity. Suffice to say I am bowled over as usual by your skills. Hope you have another busy, creative week. You seem to have more hours in yours than I do in mine - or maybe I just don't have your energy levels!! Lesley x

Unknown said...

Love the garden pics, especially the frog! Very intrigued to see how the butterfly book develops. As always, thanks for sharing these and brightening my day Jill.

Ticking stripes said...

The new header is great, as are the butterflies and the photography! have a great week!

Gina said...

Your free machine embroidery doesn't look as if it needs practicing Jill - those butterflies are stunning!

Emma said...

These are fabulous, truly drawing with your needle ;)
Great header.

Don't think we've got spawn yet, I'll look tomorrow! The bucket idea is good, there are ducks next door.

thekathrynwheel said...

OOoh I'm really loving your machine stitching - amazing :-) And is that a new blog banner? Very striking.
We too have a pond full of frogspawn - it's very exciting - we look out for it every spring!

webb said...

When the new header popped up, I said, "Wow!" out loud. I really love it. Then I got to the butterflies. Beautiful work!

Linda Vincent said...

Gosh, you're a talented lady. That machine embroidery is amazing (I am in awe).....and the frog photo is perfect!!

Jane Housham said...

Hello Jill
Thanks for your comment on my blog. I hope I don't seem too hopelessly deranged. Actually I've already done your postcard and it IS a bit crazy. So much so that I'm trying to decide whether to do another, less 'challenging' one as I'm worried you might be disappointed. I will muse further on this as I really want you to like what you're sent.
Jx

Heloise said...

Beautiful work. Great skill with both the needle and camera.

Chrissie said...

absolutely stunning butterflies, and I love your new header too

sea-blue-sky & abstracts said...

You can't go wrong with butterflies Jill, as far as I'm concerned, love these - especially the peacock. Great frog photo. Lesley x

Liverpool Lou (Anne) said...

Beautiful embroidery Jill. Lovely photos of the pond, plants and the frog family :-)
Anne xx