i thought if i just cut a small section of a beautiful shibori on silk it could make a nice applique.
by stitching, i could transform it into a picture somehow.
this one reminded me a of a tree.
i decided to quilt it down and then work outside the border. if i did this i could extend the impact of the patch. below is a quick scan, photo later.
more stitching and i am happy with the result.
it is easy to tint a section with a new color because the stitches are so tiny they sort of blend with the background
the texture is wonderful.
...and the thin flowing silk sandwich has me thinking of a dreamy summer blanket.
the quilting in some way has changed into an embroidery technique.
a quick scan of the back shows an interesting result.
doesn't this one just cry out for faces?
yes i think it does.
a tiny little space and i need to use single strand embroidery.
i want to make all the faces different.
maybe use paint also?
to be continued....
single strand embroidery .
just a quick test this morning on the train.
although reversible is an option here i think i will stick to one side because of the tiny stitches and detail required. not worrying about the back frees up my style a bit. i may back and quilt this little piece of fabric to hide the mess i anticipate.
each face is less than 1/4" across
i love the built in stippling created in the weave.
to be continued...
so it came to be that i asked myself ...what if i just forget this one? ( continued from... ) i mean i wasn't liking it a lot. so it went into my what if it just isn't working basket for a while. sometimes it is just a good idea to step away . before i "junked" it i cut holes in it and cursed and started to tear some of the stitching out and well it was really irritating. this morning it caught my eye as i left (in a hurry) to catch a train and i wondered what if i just sew again for no reason, just to sew.
there was the smallest scrap of silk shibori on the floor leftover from something else. i was thinking what if i just patch up those holes?...with silk again and ....
so here it goes again. still liking the feel of the silk inside and now liking the depth of the ragged silk cut-outs. what if i just keep sewing and see what happens? this is starting to be more about embroidery.
continued from...the combination applique has been completed with rolled arms and an added level of variation.
it was the hair. how to cut and applique those tiny strands of wild hair.
normally suppose i would have left the hair as a direct stitched decoration after applying the applique, but it was already there. i cut the figure out and basted the edges under leaving some backing around the hair and then wondered what if i just stitch around it and over the ragged edge with the ground color and blend it in?
2 strands variegated embroidery floss, split back stitch.
the result was some magnificent mane of hair and sky.
her story is over at spirit cloth now 
some progress from where i started here, i have added a 'dotted line = running stitch' concept and also i wondered what would happen if i create contrast between stitching and appliqué for the dot fillings. the different shades of indigo are working nicely here.
even though this indigo yarn i have is very thick and was meant for weaving, i was wondering what if i use it in some solid embroidered areas? it actually abrades while sewing and there is a nice uneven fade out quality about it. i am using it together with some wonderful hand dyed thread. the greenish color i picked up somewhere and it fits into the indigo range so it looks like part of the fade. the yellow is hand dyed by wonderful sara.
part of a piece that will measure 5" x 12"
freehand pattern drawn in permanent marker on 4" cotton squares. pieced by machine. hand embroidery. (back stitch)
i used a very large eye needle to minimize abrasion. the thread is soft and doesn't hold up for long when stitching through tight fabric. i keep the thread short and that seem to help. worth every extra effort, lovely color ( better photo in next post) and texture effect. continued here
some progress, and a decision to add a few more favorite weaving threads ( jaspe, linen), and a question in my mind, what if, i mean can i handle covering the while surface or most of it with stitch? mini indigo suzani ?
i have some other things on my mind here too.
later.
a little red? a little red!