Further shading

Working one colour into another is not as simple as stopping one colour, and then starting the next.  When I shade through colours, I would possibly have four different colours/needles working together at the same time, but I would lessen the first colour, increase the second and third, and introduce a forth, before finishing the first, and then repeat . . . 

If one colour is worked, then stopped, then the next and stopped, and so on, the shading will be striped throughout, rather than softly and gradually shaded throughout.

Blending tones of colour, the angle and length of stitch need to be considered also, especially when working around a curve.

Herringbone stitch returns . . .

I have returned to this sampler again lately . . . 

Shelley Rhodes workshop in Northumberland

Over this last weekend, I have been fortunate enough to join in on a Shelley Rhodes weekend at Gallery 45, in Felton, Northumberland, with the north east textile group - Fusion.
It was lovely to be able to create if only for a weekend, using various mixed media textile art techniques, which are generally quicker than traditional embroidery techniques.

So my fascination with textile art begins to grow, whilst most of my working life is dedicated to traditional embroidery.

Here is one of my creations based on edges.

The start of shading . . .

Shading, long & short shading, natural shading, and blending . . . 

Contemporary trellis work . . .

Beginning the trellis . . .

Basic running stitch across the trellis . . .

Using four colours . . .

Using heavy chain stitch for the edging . . . 

Running stitch outside the heavy chain stitch . . .

Back on the crewel work . . .

Back on the crewel work, but only just!  So, so busy with the 'teaching', but hope to do more on this over the summer.  Still experimenting with ideas, and colours.

In the meantime, I have been feeding my creativity exploring textiles arts.  

Coming soon . . . 

An alternative to trellis work . . .

Straight stitch - working with the twill weave of the fabric

Whenever I have any time, when not teaching, I try to return to this crewel work piece.  I am still playing around with a few ideas, including working with the twill weave of the fabric.