Logo - part four . . .

Starting the Pearl purl from the centre bottom

Encase the thread around the Pearl purl, and make sure it clicks in between the beads on the Pearl purl

Circle complete - meeting both ends - head on

Pearl purl thread is used mainly for outlining and the finishing of gold work.  Outlining is normally applied after most parts of the design have been worked, but in the case of the centre, where I will be filling it with chip work, the outline is applied first, and then the centre can be filled.

I used No.1 Gilt Pearl purl, and started the circle from the bottom middle - a good tip if ever working lettering.  However, this logo of mine, is symmetrical, and therefore does not have a top or bottom as such.

Logo - part three . . .

soft string padding complete ready for the gold cut work

gold cut work - gilt smooth purl; gilt bright check purl, at an angle
worked with a No.10 crewel embroidery needle

gold cut work from the top!

So, here you can see how I do the cut work.  I don't start right at the end, but a little way in, or the centre to get a good angle on the cut work.  These gold or gilt purls are spirals of wire, which bend, and enable the needle and thread to pass through the middle.  I can work this technique quite quickly now with the years of experience I have behind me, although it can be a tricky technique, because these purl threads can fracture and damage easily.

The actual size of this silk and gold cross is about 1½ inches wide, so the images are quite magnified!

Logo - part two . . .

couching over paired passing thread with brick stitch

more couching

couching complete and the ends are ready for plunging

soft string padding ready for cut work

Every time I work this design, I approach it differently, shading with different colours, shading dark to light, or light to dark, working with finer threads or bolder threads. 

I used fine gold passing thread for the couching, which looks very delicate, with the whole piece worked on a linen background.

My Logo . . .

Stage 1 - felt applied and long and short stitch started

Stage 2 - Shading into the long and short stitch

Stage 3 - Detailed shot of shading

Now back after house moving for three months, and working on a small commission, working my logo for a customer - my silk and gold cross.

So you will see all the details I work through to complete my logo starting with applying the felt padding, followed by the long and short shading, also known as silk shading.

The design is worked on a fine linen fabric, worked with Stranded cotton threads, with the design size being roughly 5cm square or 2 inches.  

The photographs are very magnified, and show the work in bigger detail making the technique look coarser than it actually is.

More to come . . .

No.3 Fowlers Yard, Back Silver Street, Durham City . . .

10 years in my studio, come rain, come shine, 

come snow, come heavy rain fall!

See more images of my studio interior in 2003, and today in 2013 on my facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/Tracy.A.Franklin.Embroiderer.page

Lindisfarne Gospels return . . .

section from St Matthew's carpet

detail using Pearl purl and couching with passing thread

detail of couching passing thread and stitching using silk thread

crossed claws using Pearl purl

My piece to celebrate the Lindisfarne Gospels coming to Durham.  Now showing in Durham University's Palace Green Library till 30th September.  Must go myself . . .

Silk Shaded 'T'

tapestry shaded silk shading in silk thread

blending of colour

tapestry shading = vertical shading

I worked this small letter 'T' (about 1½ inches square) as part of a bigger sampler for a friends retirement present where other embroiderers participated.

I worked it whilst away from home as it was a small enough project for me to carry around.

It was one of the quickest things I have worked of late.  Most things I do tend to take their time to complete, so it was nice to work this quick little project whilst on the move!

Fowlers Yard - open studios

Fowlers Yard open studios, Durham city - Saturday 6th July and Sunday 7th July 2013 - celebrating the coming of the Lindisfarne Gospels.  All visitors welcome to see artists and crafts people at work.

Last few images of Crewel work Acorn

front - side view

front - another side view

front - close view of trellis work

satin stitch and leaves

Back view of trellis work

Back view

A few more shots of the crewel work acorn completed, both front and back of work.

Exhibition - A reminder of Nicola Jarvis's exhibition which runs from 6th July to 22nd September at the William Morris Gallery 

Kits - Kits of the acorn design will be available from Nicola Jarvis -  http://www.nicolajarvisstudio.com/store.html

Thank you for following this post - I have enjoyed working on this project.  If you want to see all the images from start to finish - you can now see these on Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/tracyafranklin/crewel-work-acorn/  Please LIKE the page . . .

Crewel work - Acorn - Finished!

original design

finished and worked by Tracy A Franklin

back of work

angled shot

And finally . . . 

this is it completed, with many more images to come from different angles and perspectives.

Details . . .

final detail

this is what I call 'flicks'

finished!

The final detail is around the big leaves - a sequence of arrows in stitch.  I call this detail 'flicks', but if I am honest I may have made this up - some time ago.

So, this is it - finished!  My next post on this subject, will be the finale - the finished article, although I have many images at various angles, so there more be more than one posting.

more trellis work . . .

finishing trellis work using straight stitch, cross stitch and satin stitch

another view

trellis work complete outlined with stem stitch

There is only one more technique of this design to show, then it will be complete!  Keep watching for the final postings . . . 

trellis work . . .

the start of the trellis

measuring from all angles

holding down the trellis at the cross over

inserting the filling

I started working on the trellis late one evening, hence the mood of the images.  However, there is more to show in detail during daytime in the next posting . . .

crewel work continues . . .

fishbone and stem stitch

so far . . .

more detail

As I continued to work this symmetrical design - I disciplined myself to work both sides in unison as I did not want the right to be too different from the left - or vice versa. 

seeding and block shading

seeding with needle action - part 1

seeding with needle action - part 2

seeding complete with Bayeux stitch

block shading over split stitch - stage 1

block shading over split stitch - stage 2

block shading complete!

Seeding - I had worked the seeding previously all over the leaves - then, when I read Nikki's instructions - I realised it only needed to be around the edge of the leaves, which I preferred - so I started again!

Block shading - This stitch is worked similar to long and short shading, except, on the second row, each stitch is worked in line next to one another, so that bands or blocks of shading are created!

P.S. - I have now actually finished this whole project, but I have decided to spread my posts over the coming weeks so you will still be able to follow my progress and watch this crewel work design for Nicola Jarvis's exhibition grow!