Jack has his final exams this week which means it's busy for me too, including lots of volunteering at school to collect used books and work the prom. No, it's not Jack's prom...it's the senior prom...the underclass parents (Jack is a sophomore) are asked to work the prom for the seniors...I'm not a night person so we'll see how it goes.
In between life tasks, I have been trying to push forward in working on my shell piece. And so I've been auditioning a few ideas before I commit to stitching them directly on my block.
I have a few mirrored-shell cabochons that I would like to use somehow so I tried a whipped spiderweb type stitch over 1/3 of the cabochon. At first I tried a pale pink, but I really didn't like the flatness of just one color...
Next I tried a variegated thread (Vicki Clayton's hand-dyed silk twist) whose color closely matches one of my shells. Unfortunately, it turned out a little too stripey once it was stitched...
Now I'm going to try dyeing my own thread to see if I can get more realistic coloring.
In addition to shelling, I've been playing with different ideas for stitching a nine-armed starfish. At first I thought I might bead a three-dimensional starfish using tube peyote or regular peyote stitch.
I changed that idea because I don't think I could find beads small enough to stitch all nine arms into the center.
At this point, I'm going to try bead embroidery onto ultrasuede, appliqueing it onto the block with padding underneath...we'll have to see how that works out.
If you sent me an email over the weekend, I'll try to get back to you in the next few days. It's just a pretty busy week around here until school lets out.
Happy Day everyone!
I was thinking that you might get to the beach !! Glad to hear that you did! now why was I thinking that Jack was a Senior??? So glad for you that he is not yet- besides there will be a whole lot more going on when he gets there!!!
ReplyDeleteI think that ultra sued might proff a bit too thick for your starfish if you want to keep the arms nice and slender. I might try some good cotton muslin with a bit of interfacing for body. Just my two cents!! Now I have to go off and update my blog!!
Ah yes...volunteering can be a full time job. Your shell is beautiful however I agree the variegated looks too much like a woven basket. I have never seen a nine point starfish and this one is stunning. I see the colors and softness might be done in a felted process to make a replica. As always your work is amazing and pure delight. Stitching Bliss Dear...
ReplyDeleteOh my ~ more beautiful work in progress and inspiring me to do something as I've got lots of different shells that could be worked into something. Hmmmm.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week ~ FlowerLady
A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. Lovely eye candy. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI drool when I visit your blog....ahhhhh.... such beauty.
ReplyDeleteGlad you're having fun amid the busy-ness. I well remember those days.....now we watch others and remember how those times flew by.
ReplyDeletePerhaps if you picked the section of the variegated thread your were going to use, you could get a less stripy effect?
ReplyDeleteNot sure if this can help but recently I finished a starfish and used peyotte beading; the original design had a different centre so I didn't take it all the way to the centre but I was pleased with the result. Hope this helps, with your experience and talent I am sure you'll find a way
ReplyDeletehttp://stitcherie.ning.com/photo/starfish-6?context=user
Isn't that starfish upside down? It looks more like chenille than ultrasuede, but that would be the underside.
ReplyDeleteWhat about french knots? Then you have control over the size and shape and placement of them.
ReplyDeleteI cannot wait to see how you make the starfish. The one you are showing is just gorgeous! Such a beautiful creature from the sea. Hope you have some time to rest during this busy time for you.
ReplyDeleteNeat 9 armed starfish! I like how you used the shell cab with the stitching....how about dyeing the threads after it is stitched? Just a dot of dye here and there over a mottled thread?
ReplyDeleteDeb
Oh yes, the busy end of the year times!
ReplyDeleteYour shell looks great to me, but I can see what you mean about the stripe effect.
That has to be one of the prettiest starfish I have ever seen! I know you will figure something out that will be perfect, you always tweak until you get it just the way you want it!
Dear Susan,
ReplyDeleteWhenever I need a bit of inspiration, I pop over to see what you are up to here. I love how you embrace a challenge and even share what doesn't work.... I find the evolution of your pieces utterly fascinating.
Hope you make it through this busy week.
Best wishes!
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