In the Studio

This is an example of the work I'm doing right now- not exaclty my style- but a good learning tool-I really love the way the thread looks in those french knots

the winter tree from the seasonal apple tree needlecase the group is working on presently

I also really love this picture of N, though it's not as clear as I'd like- I've been spending a fair bit of time this week dressed up as a princess fairy.

This week has been clay light- embroidery heavy- just getting the batch of clay ready to fire- smoothing out the edges of my test tiles, pulling out supplies- organizing threads, learning how to make French knots. I've been totally inspired this week by the Embroidery group- the breadth of the projects they're working on is amazing, not to mention the dazzling quality of the supplies.

I'm thinking that I'd like to design some of my own patterns for this hankie project, but I realized this week that I'm completely naive as to the availability of embroidery patterns out there, not to mention stitches- and might need to spend a bit of time familiarizing myself with that. I am somehow reluctant to use someone Else's pattern on a project- but at the same time I can't quite explain why I feel that way. I'm aware that any attempt at pattern making on my part would likely not be as complex or sophisticated as some of those available. I'm not a professional embroiderer- and I have no plans to become one- but I really appreciate the form, and I'd like to do my own stitching- I feel like that aspect is important to my finished work. That said I am a very very beginner- and so for now my work is more sampler like than the end works are in my minds eye.