For week two on the compass, we worked on the compass points and enclosed the area.
D1D2
Thursday, January 21, 2021
Mariner's Compass - Week Two
Friday, January 15, 2021
Mariner's Compass - Week One
I think a year or two ago, I spotted this piece by Cynthia Jackson and just fell in love with it. It was one of the class that was going to be taught at the EGA 2020 seminar in Boston. I couldn't attend and later on that seminar was cancelled but I always kept it at the back of my mind. Then it started popping up on my social media. An online class had been organized and I don't know how but I missed the registration. Luckily there was so much demand, Cynthia decided to offer a second round and I jumped at the opportunity.
It's a goldwork piece, with lots of new materials I've never tried so I look forward to the experience. It's my first official Zoom embroidery class. The way it's organized is that for 6 weeks, we get homework on the Saturday(ish) and have the week to do it. It includes a document and video demonstration. Then on Friday evenings, we have a Zoom meeting with Cynthia where we can ask questions.
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The second part was to put in the kid leather at the center. All this took about three hours and a half of work.
Monday, January 11, 2021
Holiday Stitching
Every year, I take time off between Christmas and New Years. It usually gives me about two full weeks off and I spend a lot of time stitching when I'm not being dragged outside by my family for my own good. This year due to COVID, we had nowhere to go! I like to give myself goals and the two projects I selected were Jen Goodwin's Colorwheel and Hiogi.
I would alternate between the two pieces. In the morning, I would stitch on Hiogi to take advantage of the light. As this piece is big, I concentrated on the fan handle which is stitched in couched gold threads.
(click on the post to see the animation below)
Friday, January 1, 2021
2021 Goals
I did okay this year, could have done better considering I was home all the time. I did make great progress on one of the older WIPs.
- TUSAL posts on the last day of the month --- DONE
- Complete Hedebo Starburst by Jette Roy Finlay-Heath (Hedebo) --- DONE, but still need to finish the edges
- Stitch on phase 2-3 piece Hiogi Fan (Japanese embroidery) --- DONE
- Start phase 4 piece Karahana (Japanese embroidery, goldwork phase) --- Not even close, class was cancelled due to COVID
- Stitch (and complete?) Blackwell Roundel by Jenny Adin-Christie (metal and silk work) --- Not even close
- Stitch Russian Domes class (goldwork) --- Not even close
- Start Midnight Meander by Hazel Blomkamp (crewel) --- DONE an completed :)
- Continue learning tulle embroidery --- Not even close, I can't blame lack of time :P
- Older WIPS:
- Complete at least one page of Ink Circles' Bramble and the Rose --- Above and beyond :)
- Stitch the hemstitch border on Donna M. Olson's Fantasy Lace --- Not even close
- Finish Katherine Drummond's Romantic Rosebuds --- Not even close
- Finish Annie Penin's Fleur de Sakura --- Not even close
- TUSAL posts on the last day of the month
- Finish the Colorwheel by Jen Goodwin (blackwork)
- Finish Tracery Dragons by Teresa Wentzler
- Stitch and hopefully finish phase 2-3 piece Hiogi Fan (Japanese embroidery)
- Start phase 4 piece Karahana (Japanese embroidery, goldwork phase)
- Start phase 2 piece Flow Folio (Japanese bead embroidery)
- Start Goldwork Compass by Cynthia Jackson (goldwork)
- Stitch (and complete?) Blackwell Roundel by Jenny Adin-Christie (metal and silk work)
- Stitch on Dolcetti by Katherine Drummond
- Finish Elizabeth: A Sampler Doll Pincushion Maiden and Trunk by Giulia Punti Antichi
- Learn a new technique - Korean traditional embroidery
- Older WIPS. I'm putting these back in because they still need to be done. I'm hoping I do better this year.
- Complete Hedebo Starburst by Jette Roy Finlay-Heath (Hedebo)
- Stitch the hemstitch border on Donna M. Olson's Fantasy Lace
- Finish Katherine Drummond's Romantic Rosebuds
- Finish Annie Penin's Fleur de Sakura
There are no travel plans this year. I don't plan on travelling anywhere until all my family members get vaccinated and even then I plan on waiting until at least 2023 just to be safe. On the plus side, the EAC seminar may go virtual. If it does, I will take some time off in May to attend.
Thursday, December 31, 2020
Looking Back at 2020
2020 has been a strange year. I traveled for work twice before we went into lock down. Vacations were cancelled all around and a lot of time was spent at home. We've all moved to meeting online, even my local guild embraced Zoom. I was able to see members I never get to meet as they usually join the day meeting while I only went to the evening meeting. One of the best things that happened in my opinion in 2020 that I hope will continue, many teachers have decided to start online embroidery classes. It doesn't replace taking in person classes but it sure is more affordable when you don't have to account for travel costs.
Another one for the plus side, my collaboration with the French Needle has continued. I had the chance to work on some beautiful pieces.
One project that was so close to being finished but didn't make it was Tracery Dragons. It only had the backstitch left. Not sure why, but a few days before the end of the year I suddenly woke and decided this should be my last finish of the year. Sadly it didn't make it, but it will be my first finish of the year instead.
December TUSAL Finale
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Blackwork Color Wheel - New Start
Now that I've completed Dawn to Dusk, I can start a new project. Spoiler alert, I'm way more ahead than I should be. I couldn't help it, this piece is absolutely addictive. The design I decided to start is a "blackwork" Color Wheel embroidery kit by Jen Goodwin Embroidery. I'm using quotation marks because blackwork is traditionally stitched in all black and this one uses lots and lots of colors.
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