Sunday 29 April 2012

I'm suffering from "lady flu"

You've heard of "man flu", Mr T had it last week - not actually flu - but you know, generally feeling grim, coughing, sneezing and sniffing etc.  I must say he is not a demanding patient, but suffers in 'silence'.  This weekend it is my turn, my head feels as if it is stuffed with a nice cotton/polyester wadding and my chest feels as if I've drawn my gathering threads too tight and the day is passing in a fuzzy dream. Hopefully it will all be over in a couple of days, Mr T is much better now and is making tea on demand and being very understanding. I have no intention of doing anything demanding as I have already snipped a corner of one of my "samples" from below, which tells me not to get out the sewing machine, it could lead to a disaster.  The weather is foul, cold, wet and windy, so at least I didn't feel bad about not cutting the grass. Instead I shall share what I have been doing since my last post.

At last I have reached the stitching part of my City and Guilds course and here are some samples I have made using my dyed fabric.  They are illustrating the techniques of 'echo' and 'void'.

'Echo' is drawing or stitching the outline of a shape and then echoing that line. 


 Below is the sketchbook page I took it from


'Void' is demarcating a shape by stitching the negative space around it - here is my sketchbook page

and a little stitched sample.

This is another example, this time the negative space is left unstitched.


Now I need to put all of these into a folder or book of some sort and write up notes, but not today...

Meanwhile here is my A4 size piece first shown last week.

 I free machined in the details and then practiced my vermicelli stitch in the background.  I started off with a variegated thread, but soon decided to change to one that blended in as the stops and starts didn't show so much.


I have added some hand stitching.


I had envisaged encrusting it with lots of french knots and bead work, but now I'm not so sure.


I will bind the edges and live with it a bit longer before deciding if it is finished or not.

Not sure what I shall do for the rest of the day - may be plan my calendar page for May or another little quilt.  Meanwhile I hope you keep warm and dry and sniffle free,
have a good week,
Jill


11 comments:

Gina said...

Such beautiful work Jill. I hope you feel better soon.

Jane said...

Sorry you've got the lurgy, Jill. No surprise with this weather, I've been drenched several times in the last few days, and the heating thermostat has been going up and down like a yoyo. Love the embroidery.

Clare Wassermann said...

I bet you're glad to be on to the stitching at last! It's interesting to see your processes. I've got something fluey and hubby had it last week only he ended up in intensive care! Anyway he came out today so our children are having to do lots of fetching and carrying. get well soon Jill.

flutterbycrafter said...

Sorry to hear you're not well, however, your work is so beautiful, I just love to look at all the details, fantastic xx

Sandra Hall said...

Sending you suitably soothing sympathy noises Jill... hope you feel better soon :)
Your course seems to be going well, lovely work you've got there - gorgeous detail. x

LAC EMP 2020 said...

Sorry about the flu thing Jill but I see it has not stopped you working. I love those stitched samples. I rarely stitch but when I do I like nothing better than slowly doing little seed stitches on things. They are beautiful and I'm getting the impression you want to crack on with the course now.I like that throwaway line at the end....'or i might make another little quilt'....throw awya those tissues and go, girl!

ju-north said...

Love what you have done with the A4 piece!

Rae Ann said...

Beautiful work! I hope you do better than I did. I've had that bug for 3 weeks now and I'm still now feeling myself. Get well.
Rae Ann O.
http://joyinart.blogspot.com

menopausalmusing said...

Hope you are feeling better by the time you receive this comment Jill. Loving that little quilt and the way you have depicted the flower heads in particular. A lovely piece of work.

Liverpool Lou (Anne) said...

Hope you feel better soon. Fantastic work as always Jill :-)
Anne x

Linda Vincent said...

Just been admiring all your lovely pieces...you're a talented lady.