I’m known as One Pin Smart to a quilting friend of mine but all that is about to change. With shiny and straight new quilting pins purchased I’m about to begin quilting a large embroidery. (120 cams x 125 cms approx)
Here are the first stitches in the embroidery and the last in North, East, South and West.
With the preparation done and the quilting about to start, I know this is going to be a challenge, but nothing is gained from ever standing still.
Happy quilting days …
The inspiration for this new piece, is covered by the title.
“I took a map, and walked towpath, hill and field”
At 120 cms by 125 cms this embroidery has allowed room for exploration with theme and medium. It has also meant that I have had to dig deep in my boxes for the perfect pieces of stitch for recycling and scraps of fabric!
Happy stitching …
Come join me on Saturday, 21st June @ Castle Court Quilters, Whittington for a freehand machine embroidery workshop. Suitable for all skills.
Stitch, shape, add some writing, and we have a bowl with a story. Voila!
For more information you can get in touch by
email … suzettesmart1@btinternet.com
or Tel 07816658633
truly free range …
Following on from a competition piece (on show at the NEC this week), I`ve since stitched and assembled these two. Made up from recycled embroideries, linen/silk shirts and newly stitched cups they were a lot of fun in the making.
Happy stitching …
Since a new lovely sewing machine arrived last Christmas for my daughter, Tallulah, I have had to `budge over` on my work table. Not quite as messy a worker as me, but definitely getting there! I now know where to check when my favourite threads disappear … Tallulah`s sewing box!
As for me, I`m working on a piece which has been quite a challenge. I have wanted to incorporate some of my 3D cups and saucers and also a little 2D embroidery for a while. Sometimes ideas don`t get fully developed until a couple of years later! What can I say, there is always another project waiting …
Here is a little glimpse.
Happy days …
This is the second in a series of works which find me “bashing” out some developing ideas and themes. The variations in textures are created by loosening off the bobbin case and using a wider range of threads. Those to thick for the top get run through the bobbin and stitched from the reverse.
Happy stitching …
![DSCF1928[1]](https://suzettesmart.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/dscf19281.jpg)
There must be something in the air … I am going large creatively! Embroideries have got bigger and so have figures, apples, oranges, cups and saucers.
Not wanting to slave away for months on one piece by only using fine machine embroidery threads, I`ve taken to “stitching blind” (stitching on the back) and running yarns through the bobbin. I`m not a hoarder but I will confess to buying the linen and cotton yarns over 20 years ago from the Handweavers Studio, London. Well you never know what will come in useful when you stitch!
The density of the cotton yarns in particular gives the appearance of crewel work. Mixing this with areas of less intense stitch and finer threads, allows a gentle manipulation of the forming embroidery. ![DSCF1941[1]](https://suzettesmart.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/dscf19411.jpg)
![DSCF1943[1]](https://suzettesmart.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/dscf19431.jpg)
Happy stitching …
Firstly, thank you to the Oswestry Embroiderers Guild for inviting me to run a workshop for them a few weeks ago. Here is a glimpse …
Next Wednesday I will be @ Bickerton, Cheshire, for a workshop with the Cheshire Embroiderers Guild. Looking forward to seeing lots of stitched birds come to life. Happy stitching …
A big thank you to all those who attended my talk @ The North Wales Branch of the Embroiderers Guild last evening for such a wonderful welcome. If you remember the story of the fox, missing chickens and wigwam , here is the very tale illustrated in stitch.
Happy days…
On the Bernina today is quite a large embroidery (110cms by 35cms) which I started stitching in late December. As it is going to hang rather than be framed the finishing off will take some time too. It`s a busy picture with 25 figures, three angels and five rats …
Snowy days spent stitching …
