Mabel's designs 2024

[Mabel Figworthy]

[Serinde]

Lovely designs.

You could make the snowdrops' green markings resemble a variety called Daphne's scissors just for fun...!
https://www.ashwoodnurseries.com/shop/p ... ssors.html!

[Mabel Figworthy]

So I could! I have to play with the snowdrop anyway, as I need to make sure the petals are distinct enough to show up as separate petals. Have saved that picture....

[Serinde]

You could use a bit of artistic licence to make the scissor-y ends more distinct, of course. I happen to love this variety, and when I win the lottery, I'm going to acquire a dozen bulbs.

[Mabel Figworthy]

A bit more progress on Llandrindod - more gold outline couching (and also filling in a few bits of dark gold silk):

[Steam.Jo]

I like that

Jo

[Serinde]

The outlining is subtle, but does make a difference -- crisps it up, if you see what I mean.

[Mabel Figworthy]

Hurrah! Just shy of six years after I first started designing this, Llandrindod is finished!

It was going to have outlining and some embellishment on the light gold arcs as well, but when I had finished the Elizabethan twist outline of the dark gold part I realised I preferred it this way, with the arcs almost receding into the background and the cross getting the focus.

Infuriatingly difficult to photograph so that all the subtle bling shows up!

[Serinde]

Surely this warrants a party in the S&G?

[Mabel Figworthy]

I'm in!

[Mabel Figworthy]

Idea for a black and silver badger brooch

[Serinde]

Nice! How are you thinking of creating the larger black areas and nose?

[Mabel Figworthy]

It will be stitched on black faux suede, so the black parts are actually unstitched. The eyes I'm envisaging in a black-but-shiny thread so it contrasts with the suede but doesn't stand out too much. The lighter part of the nose will be grey kid leather, and the "white" parts various types of silver threads and wires.

[Serinde]

Thought that might be the answer (or something similar). Very nice, indeed!

[Steam.Jo]

That's cute. How big were you thinking of making it?

Jo

[Mabel Figworthy]

Ideally 5cm high, but having printed it at that size I think it may be too small for the materials. So it may have to be 6cm high and be a Statement Brooch!

[Mabel Figworthy]

Materials picked, and a badger face transferred (with the kid leather for the nose on there but not attached)

[Serinde]

Excellent start!

[Mabel Figworthy]

I've started proper stitching on the badger. It is very difficult to photograph because of th eblack background and high contrast!

The nose highlight has been attached, and I've made a start on the pearl purl outlining. I have also couched one eye in black metallic but have not yet decided whether it is visible enough. I'll have to study the photographs of badgers I used as inspiration

[Mabel Figworthy]

And a bit more - all the outlining finished now, which I think is as much as I'll do today as it;s quite hard on the eyes. More tomorrow!