Friday, May 20, 2011

Lettering

About a year and a half ago, I took a lettering workshop from one of my Guild members who is also a needlework artist and designer, Canby Robertson. You can read about that workshop here --

It influenced greatly my lettering for this piece.


I ended up using four shades of Guterman sewing thread to stitch these letters. Starting with the medium, medium-gray shade, I stitched the main body of each letter.


I then used a darker medium-gray thread to create the three-row "trunk" sections of the letters...always keeping thread direction consistent from row to row.

I used stem stitch and stitched top-to-bottom and left to right.


Next I added the shadows using a dark gray; using my original picture as a guideline and assuming that my light source was coming from above (there's a chandelier hanging over that sign)...


Lastly, I added the highlights using a very light-gray thread...


And here's the block...


Ready for the next step...

Happy Weekend everyone!

15 comments:

Gerry Krueger said...

Wow that really turned out great. I love using the 3 colors like that. and I can see the chandelier in the works... Ger

gracie said...

Magnificent! I would love to be able to do that!

Anonymous said...

The lettering looks wonderful. I was wondering what type of guild you belong to that they would have a workshop like this? I was hoping that we might have a branch here in MO. Jane

Susan Elliott said...

Hi Jane...

The Guild I refer to is our local chapter (The Constellation Chapter) of the Embroiderer's Guild of America.

You can search for a chapter in your area by going to www.egausa.org

Susan

allie aller said...

It's that care in the details that will make this piece truly dazzle!

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Very nicely done. It's a lovely bit of work and I can just imagine how wonderful this piece is going to be when completed.

FlowerLady

Rachel said...

Very dainty, and a great example of the value of working small details with great care!

Shirlee Fassell said...

Lovely job can't wait to see the next step!! cast shadows!! I never can figure out which way the light is coming from and if I did one minute I would forgot the next!!

Balwearie said...

Beautifully done! I hope you never get aqua out of your system -- it's a wonderful color!

DolceDreams said...

Just beautiful!
Nathalie

Judy S. said...

Fabulous, Susan! Was this just the normal Guterman sewing thread that you use on your machine? Do you often embroider with it?

Anonymous said...

Beautiful!!!

Mosaic Magpie said...

Just the right touch of glint on those letters! Sewing thread and lots of patience!
Deb

Unknown said...

Haven't had a chance to comment lately, but have been loving reading all of your posts lately even if being remiss on commenting.

Gorgeous work going on with your Tiffany's block, love seeing what and how you are working on it.

coral-seas said...

The lettering looked good before you stitched it but now, with the cast shadow and highlights, well that's a stroke of genius. I love the fabric under the lettering with the embroidered edges.

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