Stitched flowers

Good morning, good morning, its another colour-fest this morning, hope you're not feeling delicate cos these are knock-your-socks off Bright. With a capital B.
Following on from Wednesdays stitchy reveal, I've been inspired to show you some more of my work.

My textile work is made using pure cotton fabrics, bought from an amazing mail-order company called Strawberry Fayre. They stock 200 plain colour 100% cottons, as well as prints and wonderful charm packs, and furthermore, they are lovely lovely people to do business with.

Each image is built up in layers and is mainly stitched using free machine embroidery where you lower the feed and use a darning foot, moving the fabric under the needle to "draw" freehand with the stitches. It has taken me many years of practice to be able to do this competently, but now it's as easy for me as drawing with a pen.

I love to use hand embroidery to add detail to the the finished piece though, there is something lovely about hand stitch, something so personal. I think whenever you see hand embroidery, you can just picture  the maker sitting and working quietly with needle and thread. I never feel my applique pieces are complete unless they have some hand stitch added.

Goodness, but the colours zing, don't they??!! Even I am a little overwhelmed!

I have tried using softer colours in the past, have tried limiting my colour palette, but it never works out for me.
There's something about such vivid colour combinations that absolutely makes my heart sing, and when I am working directly with fabric and playing with colour in this way, I do get very very excited :: remember the Dahlia Walk? Well yes, I get the same giddiness with fabric too, no surprises there really.

The above picture, the tulips in the zig-zag jug is one of my favourites. It measures 15cm x 21cm, just to give you an idea of scale, and I rarely made work any bigger than this.

 

And these last three pieces are some of my smaller ones, they appear bigger on my blog than in real life as the originals only measure about 8cm x 11cm. I always used to leave the edges of these pieces free and "raw", rather than backing and hemming them like I do with the larger pieces.

I quite like to see the frayed edges of textile work, but I used to find it hard not to neaten and straighten the edges. I think on balance, I prefer the finished look of the larger pieces.

     

Oh, it's been REALLY good to have a look at these images again, it's been a while since I really contemplated my textile work.
It's been good to remember that yes, at one time in my life I was able to create things that gave me (and other people) a lot of pleasure and simultaneously allowed me to earn a modest living.
It almost seems impossible to remember that I achieved that :: sometimes life BC seems so very very distant and far away. And as much as I adore the Little People, and adore my role as a SAHM, it has  rather taken over my life. Perhaps now's the time for me to start to reclaim some of my old, working life back again, create more of a balance?
I figure that if I did it once, then perhaps I could just do it again?

So, once again *thank you* for your enthusiasm and encouragement, you have given me the confidence to think that I can do this. Your feedback is invaluable, and I am so grateful to you for giving it so generously.

I will keep you posted, an etsy shop possibly??? :o)
xxxxxxxxxxx

Edited to add:: you probably know this, but if you click on the images, they will enlarge and pop up in a separate window :: you can then see more of the stitch detail in close-up :: Love that!

Comments

[inkberryblue]

These are soooooo pretty! =]

[Tara Thayer]

Lucy, these floral pieces are really beautiful; you're obviously full of talent for all sorts of things. Don't downplay how creative you are now, at home though, even though you're focused on the kids and house, etc. I'm just as inspired by your house & outlook as a sahm as I am by these wonderful works of art. Keep it up-and maybe this is all to do with 40? I have the same symptoms, myself! Best wishes...

[Cláudia]

Muito lindos seus trabalhos, Lucy!!
Como se faz?
Beijos

[Lace hearts]

Wow, and triple wow, those are definitely worthy of an etsy shop. You are amazing.
Thank you so much for your very generous comment on my crochet post (and for linking), you really helped boost me back up yesterday. But I will work on the next batch of crochet pics very carefully! lol. Crochet is such a wonderful thing, that yes, we should spread it a lot. Your crochet is fabulous. I'd got purple but decided not to use it in the granny sq blanket I'm making, but wish I had now. I'm definitely going to try merino next. xxx

[Roanne]

Thanks for brightening and warming up my morning Lucy! I love these so much - especially the tulips and the 2nd pic. too :0) orange and blue together are one of my favourite colour combinations and the pink in the tulips looks amazing with orange.
A friend of mine had their upstairs loo decorated in orange and blue - now you really needed sunglasses for that!
Must run off to school now .....:) x

[Andi]

Wow...they are fantastic. You have a real talent and yes, I think you should reclaim a bit of you BC and have another go. x

[alchamillamolly]

I went on at work just now to show my colleaugues your work and there they were - even more - fabulous.

[Jen]

Tell me something--are the details like the "shading" on the tulips (the lighter pink) and the stripes on the jog smaller pieces of fabric cut to make that detail? WOW! I love them and would DEFINITELY purchase one to frame and hang. Do it!

[Lesley]

wow fab pieces Lucy you are very talented! I love the 3rd one down (with the dotty border) especially :-)
Lesley x

[Joanna]

I just logged on to check emails and then do a quick blog check by randomly visiting someone in my list. You pictures are so amazing I am inspired to sign off now and go and do some textile work! more of these please and I think your coloursceme is fab Have you seen Lin Pattersons quilts? WWW.linpattersontextiles.com

[Ange]

ps - I meant to say that I really like the unfinished look!

[Ange]

Lucy, they are really are fantastic! I love the one with the tomato and the Cornishware jug. Fab.
Is there any chance of seeing some of the cards you used to make (or did I dream that you used to do that!!)
hugs from over the Pennines
xx

[Mrs Be]

Oh they're beautiful! Clever, clever you. Yes, I think an Etsy store should be on the cards!

[Pink feather paradise]

Oh they are gorgeous, it reminds me of the wallpapers and furnishing fabrics I use to design, I recently had to get rid of my plan chest and I went through all my work that I did when I worked for an agent in Stoke on Trent and I ended up in tears as I threw layouts away, I couldn't believe I had done some of it as it was so nice. Unfortunately every time we have moved talk of a studio has been discussed but I end up without and end up getting rid of more of my stuff to make way for other family items.
Go for it and make the world a brighter place by adding to the colour and variety of peoples surroundings.
Cheers Alex

[do you mind if i knit]

Wow! Wow, wow, wow! Just fabulous Lucy................. and yes............. an Etsy shop would go down a storm methinks! I must admit, I love the colour, it's not too much for me!
We saw the Dahlia walk at Cragside............. it was extraordinary............ I love Dahlias, their sculptural qualities, and the intense colour................... I definately think you're ready to reclaim a corner of yourself.............. go for it!

[Fi]

Lucy, they're beautiful, especially the one with hearts and the one with the tomato on the windowsill. How long did they take to make?
I think a little tutorial is needed here. lol!

[Sandie]

Absolutely beautiful!!!!