Mini wall hanging

Its funny how you always find the right things when you're not looking.  I was walking Bonnie a few weeks ago and found this chunk of wood in some mulch around a tree she was sniffing at, and instantly liked it. 

I'd been getting frustrated how I could finish off my experimental drawn thread piece and then like magic, I found the wood and knew it would work perfectly for me. 

I have to say I'm glad this piece is finished, because it was really fiddly to weave the ends of the threads into the fabric, right, left and upwards, but despite that, it's turned out to be one of my favourites. 

 I can put the magnifying glass away now and give my eyes a rest. 

Experimental drawn thread work

 This past week I've managed to make some progress on my experimental drawn thread sample, and hope to have it completed by the end of next week.

I've used a scrap of fabric that I get from my local curtain shop - they let me have old sample books for free and the sizes of fabric in them are perfect for small design work.  I rust dyed this fabric a year or two ago when I first tried my hand at rusting.  I love the gold marks it leaves on the fabric.  This piece has two different panels of weaving throughout the fabric - one is a more open weave than the other, making it easier to withdraw the threads.

I've used browns, golds, and creams in keeping with the rust colour in the fabric, and also added strips of leather, and some beads for a bit of bling.  I knew those gold beads would come in handy one day - I must've had them over 10 years , I think they came off an old blouse or bag that fell apart, it's been so long I can't remember now.  Just goes to show you never throw anything out, they'll always come in handy one day.

It's quite a fine piece and as usual, a strain on the eyes.  I didn't do a design to start with, as I like just letting the design evolve on it's own, but it's knowing when to stop evolving that's the hard part. 

Drawn, pulled and woven thread work

I thought I was making good progress lately - all I seem to do is sit and stitch at the moment, but I found out yesterday that the cut off date for this year is first week of May.  I have to finish Module 11 and complete all of 12 by then ... somehow I don't think I stand a chance of finishing this year.

I've finished the traditional pulled thread sample, drawn thread sample (above) and needleweaving sample (below) and I'm half way through the cutwork sample.  Then have the experimental samples and my set of accessories to do.  There just isn't enough hours in a day at the moment!!!!!

I went to the city last week to find a special birthday present for hubby and decided to pop into a technical book store (as you do) found Janet Edmond's book "From Print to Stitch" and Cas Holmes's "The Found Object" and JUST HAD TO HAVE THEM .....

 then a few days later happened upon a secondhand bookstore (honestly, it was by chance!!) and what did I find in there .... Gold!!! Yes, another Jan Messant book.  They are SO hard to find ... this one was in perfect condition, so I put it under my arm, then found "Inspired to Stitch" and put that under my arm ...

and then another find .... "Needlemade Laces".  By this stage I had to get to the cash counter before my hubby dragged me out of the shop.

Now I just need the time to sit and read them.  I have the new glasses ... just need the spare time. 

I found the hand sewing quite a strain on my eyes, after not doing fine work for a long time, so went to the optician for a checkup.  Two new pairs of glasses later ... I now have 5 pairs of glasses.  One for long distance, one for the computer, one pair of bifocals, one pair for sewing, and a pair of multifocals which my 2 year old grandson mangled and can only be worn if I develop a head like an alien.

I'm hoping out of all these pairs of specs I should be able to finish my needlework and be able to read my new books without getting mega headaches and boz-eyes ... just got to find where I put the damn things now.