Sunday, October 17, 2010

Road to Ribbonwork: Week 3 of 4


This is the third of four Monday posts where I'll show pictures of pieces of antique ribbonwork that I have in my collection while preparing for a ribbonwork workshop with Candace Kling in November.

Today I'm sharing three ribbonwork sprays. None of them are in very good condition but we can still envision their beauty once when they were originally constructed.


I always enjoy seeing how the leaves were stitched. In this case, three stitches only using an ombre green ribbon and attached using a silk-wrapped cord or wire...


All three of the sprays are built on a piece of buckram separately to be applied to a garment at a later time.

The one below has really faded but it's one of my favorites...


Mainly because of the shapes of the leaves.


They're round like geranium leaves.

And that little bit of curved stitching on the ribbons for the calyx of these buds?

It's the perfect touch.

And the last spray today is one of the sweetest...


I love how it's wrapped and constructed similar to the techniques we would use for real flowers; using wire, pips and silk thread to wrap rather than florist tape.

I think I love all the pips and stamens used in this piece the most...


I hope these little sprays have given you some inspiration for your own work.


Happy Monday everyone!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

They are so delicate and pretty.

Catherine said...

They are all lovely! Thanks so much for sharing such pretties on a Monday morning!

Rachel said...

It's really fascinating to see how these things are constructed. Have you any idea how and where they were used?

Mosaic Magpie said...

Only you with your great eye for detail would notice the curved stitching on the buds in the one piece. All of these are just so delicate and feminine. I said it last week they make you relaxed to look at them. Thanks for sharing.
Debbie

Gerry Krueger said...

Oh the second one is my very mostest favorite... but I love the pips one too... I'm thinking I might be missing old ribbonwork on my treks through antique stores... I will have to start looking for them... Gerry K.

Cheryl said...

These are beautiful reminders of my Grandmothers days ,I know she has never worn them on anything but seems like they maybe were used on handbags or something like that ,is there any history on these ?
I love how they were made .

kaiteM said...

i adore their faded and frayed beauty, just as they are. thanks for sharing. k.

Judy S. said...

Wouldn't it be great if these pieces could talk and tell us more? I hope you've warmed up from your earlier adventure; I'm still shivering over that photo of you being sprayed off.......

Createology said...

What a treasure you have in all of this beautiful handworked ribbon. Almost a lost art I am certain. Thank you for sharing...

MeganH said...

Those olive leaves in the last spray look *just* like the French Wired ribbon from Vintage Vogue that I've been wibbling about in my blog.

Lots of design ideas there - Thanks! They are gorgeous!

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