Mabel's designs - closed thread

[rcperryls]

Fantastic!!!

Carole

[fccs]

Wow, it's great!!! I can't wait to see more of the sunflower. You are just so talented (she said, shaking her head with a slight feeling of jealousy).

[Mabel Figworthy]

What I found interesting about doing split stitch was how almost hypnotic it was going round in circles like that, concentrating on splitting that single strand from below (and very often failing...)

[Mabel Figworthy]

Two more projects started - A Sheep for Trina (designed for a friend who loves sheep) and Forever Frosty, the goldwork snowman. I've actually done some stitching on the sheep (attaching the felt for his topknot and the kid leather for his face), but for the snowman I've only done some cutting out - kid for the hat band, and felt for the scarf.

[Squirrel]

Something really different and most interesting. I am looking forward with anticipation to seeing the finished designs. You truly are amazing the ideas you come up with Mabel.

[Garnet]

Oooh, more lovely stitchery from your busy needles.

Can I ask does this tyoe of stitching/embroidery have a name as such or would it be surface work?

Whatever it is, it is gorgeous.

[wendywombat]

I do like the way that you show us step-by-step how you create and stitch your masterpieces...or should I say....Mablepieces! ??

[Mabel Figworthy]

Can I ask does this type of stitching/embroidery have a name as such or would it be surface work?

These two pieces are both goldwork, or as it is sometimes more accurately called, metal thread embroidery (as there is silver and copper in it as well, and some of the threads/wires come in colours too nowadays). "Goldwork" is shorter and easier, though, and more widely used.

These two are "pure" goldwork in that they don't combine it with other techniques, but you can use it with freestyle embroidery, needlepainting etc. as well - like the daffodil I did recently, or the colourful flower in my other thread.

Wendy, I like "Mabelpieces" - doesn't put such high expectations on them as "masterpieces" does

[rcperryls]

Wendy, I like "Mabelpieces" - doesn't put such high expectations on them as "masterpieces" does

Around here I think "Mabelpieces" works and I'm sorry, Mabel, but I think it does have some pretty high expectations, or perhaps "anticipations" based on what we know you have created before!

Carole

[Garnet]

Thank you Mabel for the terminology

I like Mabelpieces better too, much more friendly, and as high as masterpieces based on the lovely designs I've sen since I've been back.

Does the sheep have a name yet?

[Mabel Figworthy]

Does the sheep have a name yet?

It's known as Trina's Sheep, after the sheep-mad friend who inspired it

[Mabel Figworthy]

I received some essential supplies for Frosty today

The most exciting bit are the two black wires I ordered to represent coal; the rough purl is like a cylindrical tube, and would have worked, but I'm very pleased I also ordered the wire check which is more angular and will look much more like lumps of coal.

[Squirrel]

They all look interesting Mabel and I am sure you will have fun experimenting with them.

[Mabel Figworthy]

Every year when I do my workshops for our Church's building fund, a young girl from our teenager group who enjoys needlework comes beforehand to be my guinea pig - I go through the workshop with her, and in doing so find gaps in the instructions, or things which could be presented or packed differently, and so on. She was 12 when we did the first one, and astonishingly is now 17 - time flies!

Anyway, this morning she came to be my goldwork guinea pig; she was presented with a pre-transferred design with one of the two pieces of felt padding sewn on - everything else is her own work, done in a little over two hours. I was seriously impressed! (AND I got some excellent feedback for the kit and the instructions )

[rcperryls]

Good work. She must be a pretty skilled stitcher. And very forward looking on your part to test your instructions and teaching before holding the actual class. A good thing for you and for your students!

Carole

[Squirrel]

I agree about time flying Mabel. One day my children are young and now they are heading into the 60's. Years do fly by far too fast.

What an amazing amount of beautiful stitching in 2 hours. She certainly is very talented and must be a great help to you.

[Serinde]

She definitely gets a Gold Star!

[poppy]

What a good idea, to test your workshop in this way! Wonderful too, that this young lady is so talented. You will have to tell her, please, that we all think that she is brilliant.

[Mabel Figworthy]

I'll see her at church today so will definitely let her know!

[wendywombat]

What a good idea, to test your workshop in this way! Wonderful too, that this young lady is so talented. You will have to tell her, please, that we all think that she is brilliant.

Indeed !

You have a talented 'guinea pig' there.