New Look

February 14, 2010

The Next Step

After thinking and pondering and several trials I decided that machine embroidery is what needed to happen.  The squares needed detail and that needed to be done before they were joined.  So I first experimented.  I have at least four squares that I probably won't use in the quilt and tried different weight threads, different stitches, and different types of threads.  
Here is my first prototype.  
 
I wasn't thrilled with this...but it tell tell me that lighter colored thread on dark background and probably dark thread on light background.  The more contrast the better. So I started with my least favorite square.....the Water Lily.
  
The stitching helped this beyond what I had hoped.  I don't know if this was on an earlier post but it was a disappointment when I was done and I wasn't sure it would be included in the final...but it just got moved up to most probably.  
I have also been dyeing (of course!) and ground up some oakgalls in an old coffee grinder. Then I put them in the crockpot and cooked them.


I also tried a steam wrap of some oak, maple and poplar leaves.  These I wrapped tight with silk on one side and white felt on the other.  
 
  
I'm also waiting for the onion skin jar to see what happens.


I shall see what these bring over the next week.  But tomorrow.... I will be doing more machine embroidery to go forward with The Quilt. 


7 comments:

Dot said...

Your blog is a joy to visit. Love your textile art.

Doreen G said...

I love the waterlily block Joei and I am glad that you moved it up the list.

Jasmine said...

Your machine emroidery looks great.

I am keen to see your dyepot results :)

Jurga Judita said...

I am also very curious about those onion skins. And leaves! You work beautifully :)

Tammie Lee said...

As I read this post I thought that you are like a fabric magician with leaves and steam and wool and wrapping. What fun!

Diane said...

I really like the waterlily too. I have a question...how do the oak galls smell? Something about the word 'gall' makes me think the odor would not be nice:)
Keep on sewing...It is going to be a masterpiece!
Diane

ArtSparker said...

I like the blue flowers at top very much, they have the same quality as the orange ones directly above them.