Day Two
Day Two is in the books. I’m amazed at how quickly some of the stitching is going; one embroiderer has completed everything that can be done on her frame (it was one of the smaller ones, but still!). Some parts can’t be worked until the threads arrive, and all the goldwork has to wait till last. So she’s sharing a frame – two people working on opposite ends of one of the larger frames. I’ll try to get a picture of that tomorrow.
A huge thank you goes to Tricia Wilson Nguyen, Wendy White, and Justyna Teverovsky of Tokens and Trifles for donating kits for this sweet needlebook to all the stitchers. This project was designed by Wendy using motifs adapted from one of Plimoth Plantation’s samplers, which we’ll see Friday.
Another huge thank you goes to Ann Blalock of Coats & Clark, for donating the threads for the kits, and supporting embroidery outreach in general. Tokens and Trifles plans to donate kits for all the stitching sessions, ‘personalized’ with the dates of each session, as you can see on the back here.
Thank you doesn’t even approach what is due Kathy and Laura. Wendy nicknamed Laura ‘our girl Friday’ because she’s everywhere something needs to be done. This whole week would be impossible without Laura’s good humor and willing hands and Kathy’s quiet attention to every detail.
Here are a few pictures of the progressing embroidery. My photography doesn’t do them justice. The bits of embroidery look like little jewels on the mostly-still-black-and-white pieces. Every day there are more jewels. The stitchers are now working mostly on their own, giving Tricia time to trace off a right-side-up coif pattern, and transfer it to linen. No silly paper hats today.
Wendy and Kris bagged the next batch of kits, which are waiting for one more element and then should go out Monday.
I have been taking notes on what’s working schedule-wise. I’m thinking next time we’ll have to build in a time for show & tell. Several people have brought in original embroidered pieces or latest new creations for us all to admire during breaks.
I spent quite a bit of time walking around in the humidity, planning tomorrow’s Needle Arts Studio filming. It should be a great show. I’ll post the airdate when we know it. Likely it will air in early 2008.
See you tomorrow.
Tags: Ann Blalock, coif, Kathy, Kris, Laura, needlebook, Tokens & Trifles, Wendy
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:26 pm
I\’m curious.
Since the majority of the embroidery is being done with one strand of the soie perlee, how will you be handling the parts that are embroidered with two or more colours mixed (such as on some of the butterfly wings and some parts of the leaves).
If I recall, I remember seeing a blue/white/gold and some green/yellow blends.
Thanks,
-Crystal.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:42 pm
I can`t tell you how much i`m enjoying reading this blog…it`s a wonderful story of a spectacular undertaking..I even dream about the jacket! (of course, in my dream i`m doing the embroidery as well). I have told everyone I can think of about what you are doing, and have talked about it on the needlwork board I belong to, and also on my blog. I`m looking forward to the next installment..I only wish I could be there stitching along side you all.
June 22nd, 2007 at 11:05 pm
Crystal,
Hopefully Tricia will have time to talk more about this in an upcoming entry, but I can tell you what will be done with the jacket as I’ve just returned from working on the piece. The pieces with multiple colors (for example, there are leaves with 4 colors in them) are worked in one color and then a new thread is brought in with the next color. The outline is worked is the same color as the corresponding buttonhole stitch. This isn’t what Tricia believes was done with the original, but I’ll let her share that info.
For some of the pieces that have gold mixed with a color, special thread is being made that is gilt wrapped over silk. Unfortunately it wasn’t there for us to use yet but the small amount that I have seen is amazing!
Working on the jacket (I’m hiding behind Tricia in the picture above.
) was a fantastic experience and the interest being show is just wonderful! Today we had a chance to see the two samplers in storage and some of the ‘findings’ that have been dug up, including scissors, pins, needlecases, and some gorgeous buttons!