Wednesday, February 5, 2014

"O" -- One of the Monkeys on My Back

Stumpwork has been on my work table this week.  This project is one of those monkeys on my back that I mentioned earlier this year.




If you ever get the opportunity to take a class with Jane, you should do it.  So much of my base stumpwork knowledge has come from her.  Her new book, Stumpwork Butterflies and Moths is a real treat, with very detailed and precise instructions.  The only thing you need to add is good light, good magnification and tons of practice.


What this piece will be used for will become clear in my next post, suffice it to say that it is a project for my Embroiderers' Guild...and it's very late.

This has been a great exercise in warming up my stumpwork skills for the completion of Mrs. Rose...I hope to get to her as soon as I get some of these smaller projects complete.

One of the tricks I learned from Jane was the use of a very large-eyed chenille needle to sink wires into the base fabric.

Pulling the needle to where the eye is halfway above and below the fabric creates a "channel" through which you can place the wire and pull it easily through to the back side...




I've also been making a few more of these three-dimensional berries that I learned from her.  They're so simple it's almost a sin.

Fill an oval on muslin with french knots and beads, baste a running stitch around the oval, and cut them out.  When you pull the running stitches, it makes a "berry" that you can applique to your background.


Easy peasy, right?


Japanese embroidery has gotten me in the habit of embroidering with two hands.  My right hand above the hoop and my left hand below.

When I'm working on something in a hoop, I find these clamps from the home improvement store to be invaluable.


Unlike many clamps, they can open up very wide to fit around the lip of any table, including those portable ones with the big wide plastic top.  These are about 8" long and cost about $5.75 apiece.



That's it for today.  Just giving you a peek into my world today.  I'm off to finish off my composition and attach all those petals!  That's the fun part.  

19 comments:

deanna7trees said...

thanks for the hint on the berries. i will try that. have never tried stumpwork...maybe some day. it is so beautiful.

Mary Ann Tate said...

I've always wanted to try stumpwork. It's on my "to give it try" list:)

Lorraine said...

Adore your stumpwork samples Susan. I agree, good light and magnification are a must. Happy stitching....

wendy said...

Love the berries and can't wait to give them a try! Thank you for sharing!

Purrfect Lady said...

Absolutely beautiful

FLOWER FRIEND said...

Your lovely dragonfly looks like it will fly away at any moment.I love stumpwork and have yet to attempt one of Jane's designs. I have her books, I just need to take the plunge.

Margaret said...

I admire stump-work but have absolutely no desire to do it! LOL! Fortunately, I can look at yours and say, "Ah-h-h-h...how lovely!" :-)

mary ruth in NC said...

I use the same clamps, but I put them on so the handle is under the table. I don't catch my thread or hands on them that way.

Lovely work. Thanks for sharing.

Sonja said...

Lovely Susan. Cant wait to see it all finished. Is this part of your WORK for this year?

Maureen said...

You do such pretty work...always checking it out but seldom commenting. xo

Cynthia Nicole said...

Fabulous photos - thanks again for your generosity, Susan!

Was wondering = do you have a mail order source for your fabric covered wire that you can share?

Vicky aka Stichr said...

Those clamps are going on my wish list, cuz not even binder clips will work on those plastic table edges! But... how do you have the hoop sitting? Is it actually resting on the table, then clamped?

Createology said...

You certainly do not have any idle hands. Your stitching work is art itself. Those little "berries" are precious. Great tip on the wire opening. Do the clamps hold the hoop together so the fabric stays tight? Creative Stitching Bliss Dear...

Judy S. said...

You are so talented, Susan. I love seeing your projects.

Lisa Boni said...

Lovely! And timely! I need to get that book as I want to put a stump work butterfly on one of my current projects. I too would like to know where you get the covered wire that you use. Also about the squarish "hoop" that you are using! It looks marvelous and ever so practical! And one last question.... what type of fabric did you use for the dragonfly wings? They are just perfect!

margaret said...

this is going to be wonderful, thanks for the tip re the berries, might use this on my crazy blocks

Rachel said...

It is always so encouraging to find something that looks impressive but isn't difficult. So often things look easy and unimpressive right up until you try them!

Suztats said...

Love the berries tip! Thanks. I've done a wee bit of stumpwork, and love it. Looking forward to more delicious eye candy.

Catherine said...

I love the berries and am looking forward to seeing how this work will be incorporated into Miss Rose...I've been wondering where she has been...

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