Monday, December 19, 2011

Phoenix - a study - finished

It's not a perfect photo but I am anxious to post the fact that I have finished this design.  The hardest part was the beak, done and redone more than a few times.  I opted finally for the very simplest lines to give a suggestion of rather than try to embroider something realistic.


I am happy with the colours and the electric frenzy of the feathers.   What a relief to find that none of the colours bled in the cleaning process so that the precision of all the lines was maintained.


The matting board shown here will not be the final.  I just wanted to give a frame to the piece and show it a little off-centre in its context.  I shall likely mount the phoenix with a gold frame, multiple mattings and the addition of a gold wooden detail on the inner side of the window, very similar to my other framings (check out the butterfly series on my website:  www.artaiguille.com)


Sum total of time invested was close to 100 hours.  I let the work lead me.  I enjoyed every minute.  I had set the deadline for 'before Christmas' which made me focus each day and work diligently.  I had so much fun I may start this design again.  Already I see something in reds, graphite grey and black.  And already I am excited by the prospect.  Better get the gift wrapping done today just in case I can't help myself and start working on this new colour adventure.  


For those that read me, happy holidays and all the best for 2012.  And thank you.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Phoenix - a study (5)


I've made some significant progress on the Phoenix this week.  I also took away some of the work done last week.  It's interesting as I work with the various hues of each of the colours, how the addition of a new colour impacts the effect of another - welcome to the magic of how the eye makes its adjustment when another influence is in the visual path.


I plan to finish this piece before the family arrives for Christmas.  It's a goal which will make me work consistently until the 20th.. I like the feeling of a little pressure.


I think I have solved all the technical difficulties and am not convinced that my decisions have been the best.  When I am finished with the plumage in the tail, I may return to rework the body a little, but in the meantime it will remain as is.    Usually taking a distance from something and returning to it after a rest throws a different light on the troubling area.  I can then make any adjustments with a cool head.  I know I've said this before, but it bears repeating.  It is an approach that I try to apply to pretty much life in general!

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Phoenix - a study (4)

Christmas plans have slowed down progress on the Phoenix, but in the last few days, I have been able to get back to it.  I've also had some technical difficulties, particularly around the breast area of the design and have tried and failed several times to capture the effect I have in my head.


I tried using a needlepainting technique to start with, playing with several hues of the blue and blue-greens; then, not satisfied since it didn't render the idea of feathers in the way I wanted, I thought by adding some highlights of gold thread, this may lighten the effect.  Quite the opposite occurred.  So I took the whole thing out and redrew the lines, giving the effect of scales... this seemed intuitively to be the best and now I sit back and view it, a day later, I shall stay with this final choice.


The eye was going to be tough.  Eyes are difficult.  You really can't embroider an eye, particularly one as small as this. I feel more that you have to give a suggestion of an eye.  Just three very fine lines and a tiny dot gave the effect I was looking for.  I remind myself I am not looking for realism here.  The whole idea about this subject is that it doesn't really exist in real life, so I can interpret the lines any way I want.  What freedom!


Today, I shall complete the legs and claws. I anticipate more challenges on the way.  I started the first leg late last night and as I view it this morning, I think I am on the right track.  It's always a question of balance, so I have to imagine the whole subject embroidered to judge whether the choice of technique, colour and depth are appropriate.  Since the legs are just a detail, I certainly don't want them to be the focus the moment the eye falls on the completed piece.  Thus, the choice of colour is important, but I do want texture, creating that pickled effect that birds have on their spindly legs, so I have to consider the detail of another thread on top of the background thread.  By the end of the day, I should have a good idea as to whether my first attempt has worked.


As a reader, you can judge too.  Let me know.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Phoenix - a study (3)

The play of blues is really rich.  I needed to see what the yellows and golds would do to the overall effect so I did some of the outer feathers.  I'm not sure if I've chosen too deep a yellow and I also wonder about the gold, but I'll leave it in the fabric until I have worked more colour into the body of the bird.  The balance created by working the body with more blues and turquoises will allow me to judge the appropriateness of the choice of yellows.  


I have no colour reference as I work, so my eye is the guide.  I like to execute a project intuitively.  I don't have the same challenges as a painter of realism.  I can take my interpretation in any direction, particularly with this subject which by the mere fact that it is a mythical bird is open to an infinite number  of renderings.


I had put a roll of red silk thread in the colour palette that I chose at the start and I am tempted at every change of thread to introduce this bright contrasting colour, but my original vision was to stay with the blues and golds, a royal combination.  I am trying to discipline myself to stay with this first thought.  I want to keep the vision sober;


... but at the end I may put in a little element of surprise.



Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Phoenix - a study (2)

I continued working on this challenging project today.  Minus 12 degrees Celsius early morning, a chilly walk to the gate and back (finally the technician was coming in to fix the motor on the heating system in the house - good timing!)


I had the whole day ahead of me to work.  Once the technician had left, nothing but quiet, open-ended time, and the pleasure of watching the colours jump off the fabric.


I'm working with Piper's silks.  I have chosen a palette of jewel colours, but I visualize primarily the Stewart blues for the plumage on the body and yellows and the Kreinick 002J gold thread for the tail feathers.   I'll experiment with the turquoise and teal greens.  I'd like to create an iridescent effect along with an illusion of feathery lightness.  I wonder how close I'll get to what I have in my mind's eye.









Monday, November 21, 2011

Phoenix - a study

I have been in another lull.  It has been hard to get back to work in my studio.  The cold weather is now here and we had some last minute things to take care around the house, not the least of which is finding the right tree in the garden to string up the Christmas lights.  But today, with some of these things now taken care of and because it is so cold outside, what greater joy is there but to  choose a new and exciting project to focus on and stay warm indoors.


The Japanese Embroidery Centre in Dunwoody, Georgia, puts out a catalogue of designs.  It is a treasure trove of inspiration.  The Phoenix is a design I have been thinking about for some years.  Today, I transferred it on to écru linen and tonight began working.  The colour scheme will be rich blues and gold threads.  I'll photograph the threads tomorrow and show the progress.  I'm excited about this project which should carry me through the Christmas planning and create that much needed oasis of quiet amidst the frenzy the holiday season creates.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Anemone Huphensis - finished


I admit to this project not being my best.  It stretched over too long a time and I am not as happy with my colour selections.  The flowers translated well, but the details didn't.


It is however full of lightness and reminds of these last flowers of the summer in the garden.  These anenomes survived some rain storms and chilly evenings, so their lightness and fragility belies their sturdiness.


I think I may try again and concentrate on the full flowers which were a joy to work.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

The Tapestries of the Apocalypse - thoughts







As you walk through the gates of the Château d'Angers, already the atmosphere of a bygone era hits you.   There is an exquisite calm within the strong and imposing walls of this castle.  Music was wafting from the chapel in the grounds, a rehearsal for the concert that would take place that evening.  It was late September, but it felt like a midsummer's day and the coolness of the chapel was a welcome respite from the heat of the midday sun.




We wandered through the gardens, beautifully manicured and then entered the gallery which houses the Tapestries of the Apocalypse.  This gallery, redesigned in 1996, with its grey blue walls, provides an apt setting for these magnificent hangings.  It provides a quietly dark room where the tapestry panels are highlighted by the strategically arranged indirect lighting.   Details of each panel are discreetly displayed and in numeric sequence in order to follow the story unfolding.  It is a pictoral rendition of the Gospel according to St. John, transcribing his visions and hallucinations, the battle between good and evil, the struggle between God and the Devil where the whole question of humanity is placed in jeopardy.  The story, as depicted in the tapestries, ends with the victory of Christ and his church over the evil temptations of the world.


The works are breathtaking.  It's worth remembering too that they were executed at a time where society was just barely emerging from medieval times.  The work addresses in filigrane the harshness of the times (1373-1382), war, poverty, famine,  and the consequences of same on society.  It also by its luminosity offers up an antidote, a faith in Christ and the existence of a better life beyond the terrestrial world.


The tapestries are brilliantly conceived, peppered with a myriad of symbols, angels (messengers of God), animals both real and fantastic, each one having its own significance, musical instruments of the time, people of all stations in life, representative of the era, and the different colours, each with its message:  white for purity, red for war, black for misfortune and famine, and the colour 'pale', the classic symbol of Death.  


Bible, Revelation 6:8: "And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him...."


I walked through the gallery and marvelled at the intricacy of the design, the originality of the techniques since there were several variations on the usual weaving practices creating almost a three-dimensional aspect to what would normally be two.   'Guimpage'  (effect of hair), 'battage'  ( fine differences in colour), and 'perfilage'  ( uneven edge to a shape)  being the terms used for such unusual techniques creating their unique effects.


If I was a believer, this magnificent masterpiece of story telling would not just be impressive by its execution, its vibrancy and its compelling narrative, but I would be moved to a state of wonder and continued faith.   But even without a real spiritual link to the message, I could not but admit to an overwhelming sense of connection to the work the Tapestries represent, the committment and patience required to complete such an endeavour and the stunning result which, by all measures, is of a great purity.









Monday, October 31, 2011

Château d'Angers - Tapestries of the Apocalypse

 There were many reasons why I might have been drawn to the city of Angers.  It was the first weekend of our holiday, an easy train trip on the TGV after a night flight from Canada, and a propitious choice for these first days where we are fighting sleep and working on adjusting to European time frames.  The city is quite stunning.  Our hotel was situated within a 10 minute walk of the train station and only 15 minutes from the old section of town. 


Once settled in our lovely corner room with the sun streaming through the windows, we head off on a reconnaissance trip, attempting to find our bearings in order to take full advantage of the next day.   Within a short time, we fell upon the castle, its vast moat and the impeccable gardens laid out in typical medieval fashion.  Maybe not by accident, we found the Cave à Vin in very close proximity.  We could anticipate an enriching time the next day once refreshed from our travels since not only would we visit the castle and taste some great wines, we would have the opportunity of seeing the famous Apocalypse tapestries (www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6hQkh5wixA).


The Tapestries of the Apocalypse is a remarkable piece of 'art'.  Commissioned by Louis Ier of Anjou,  coordinated and financed by Nicolas Bataille,  designed by Jean Bondol and executed by the work shops of Robert Poisson, a Parisian weaver, the final work measured 140 metres long by 6 metres high.  The work was done over a period of 5 years between 1373 and 1382.  With the passage of time and inevitable damage through  almost 700 years of its existence, the current dimensions now measure 103 metres by 4.5 metres.  It is a miracle that this work survived some of the most destructive periods of history.


The Château of Angers is a perfect resting place for such a significant work relating with majesty the visions of the St. John the Apostle as written in the last text of the New Testament.  Since 1954,  it hangs in a gallery  especially conceived for the work.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Quimper, Brittany - discoveries

Cathedral St. Corentin, Quimper


We have been travelling, exploring another corner of France, Brittany, which if Philippe and I go far enough back in our family geneology, is a place of our common celtic heritage.  Remarkably, despite a lot of travelling over the years, we had never seen this part of the world.

I was excited to settle in Quimper for the week of exploring.  We had found a simply delightful little apartment right next to the Cathedral St. Corentin, in the centre of town amongst all the old paved walking streets and beautifully asymetric buildings with their lively colours and ancient wood detail.  Within minutes,  we could walk to the market, buy fresh fish and vegetables and in a few more minutes, we could drive out of the courtyard of our temporary home and be wandering the small country roads in search of the next dramatic sea vista.



But the first item on the agenda was to explore the Museum of Fine Arts and specifically to see some examples of the regional embroideries.  Brittany boasts a wide variety of different techniques:  Modes Bigouden,  Vannetaise et Pourlet,  Melenig, Glazig,  and Cornouaillaise, each specific to the detail on costumes of their region, all influenced by the immediate environment of the area, whether it be of the country or the city.  It is a school of embroidery all of its own and I encourage readers to visit the website of 'L'Ecole de Broderie d'Art de Quimper' .  The work of Pascal Jouen is well known and he has promoted the arts for many years through his school.  (www.ecoledebroderie.com)


 The photographs are not particularly good.  I was taking them through the glass of the presentation unit, but they give you an idea of the type of work practiced by the artisans. These two examples were detail of work on sleeves of various costumes on exhibit at the Museum of Fine Art.  To the left,  this work is  done with silver metallic threads and sequins.   To the right, the example shows a detail in satin stitch and chain stitch in the bright colours typical of the 'Mode Glazig'.


As we were about to leave the museum, my eyes fell on the sculpture by a contemporary artist, native of the nearby village of Plouinec, René Quillivic (1879 - 1969).  This piece is a homage to the embroiderers of Brittany.  It is called 'Les Brodeuses'.  It captures the meticulous nature of their work both in the posture of the subject and the detail Quivillic brings to it.   Go to Quimper.  It is a deliciously beautiful and interesting city.







 






Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Anenome Hupehensis - transformation to silk - progress (1)

 We are leaving again for a  two week holiday so the last weeks have been devoted to tidying up the garden, cutting back the remaining flowers and shrubs, transplanting hostas and astilbes into the new garden.


The anenome is still in flower, wafting in the wind each day.  It is dying back too, but I managed to capture one of the last fresh flowers of the bunch, a perky little thing growing very close to the ground.  I had people in for dinner on Sunday evening, and plucked it for my centre piece.  It seemed a little heartless to take it from its earthy base, but it added a little asiatic touch to the table, (we were serving a Thai curry as the main course, so it seemed appropriate) and was even the subject of conversation for a while.


 But on the quiet evenings, as the sun goes down and I sit quietly, I have been able to continue the silk work.  The first full flower has come out nicely.  Adding the touch of spring green brought an interesting contrast to the piece and all in all I am happy with the results


And then yesterday evening, I began putting in the myriad French knots of yellow to represent the stamens.  I have been working with a combination of the Pearsall's and Piper's silks for the petals, starting with the thicker thread and finishing the contours of each petal with the two ply Piper's.   There is a perfect marriage of colours with the two types of silk.  The French knots are done with the 3 shades of Piper's.


Unfortunately, I will not be able to take this project with me to Europe.  It's just too detailed to work away from the studio.  So my good ol' friend, William Morris, and another bird pillow design will accompany me.    



Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Anenome Hupehensis - transformation to paper

Today, I did my colour study of the anenomes I found in the garden this week (see Sept 12 blog).  There is a certain freedom exhibited by these simple blooms and in my watercolour study, I tried to keep the unstructured nature of these sweet flowers.


Tonight, I will choose the silks and ground linen and try to protect the cleanliness of the subject.


I already anticipate some technical difficulties.  The smaller the form the more difficult to translate the essential detail in those buds.


I've been in a lull creatively. Hopefully this project will draw me out.

Cape Cod, Marcel Duchamp quote, art, and a change of pace.

I should have posted this before my last post since I wrote it before leaving our sweet little rental on the Cape.  Here it is:

"Cape cod, U.S.Open, endless walks on the recently-abandoned-by-holiday-makers National Seashore, where the only social contact is with the curious seals.  Add to that fresh lobster tails,  and some great Zinfandels.... this has been our tried and true formula for the last four years, the week after Labour Day.

These lazy days, out of our usual context of forest, garden and family visits, are a total change of pace and place, in other words, a holiday.  It seemed this year, that I needed this week more than other years, and it is only on this 6th day of our week away that I have finally found calm and peace. 

The rains of the early part of the week crimped our beach activities substantially but not completely.  The walks were shorter but no less enjoyable animated by our daughter who was happy to escape the constant sunshine of her Californian home and revel in the coolness of the effects of hurricane Katia on the American east coast.

I have done very little embroidery.  I brought the usual traveling project, another cross-stitch, William Morris bird adaptation.  It's hard to do any other kind of project away from the studio, I need too many things around me to accomplish something less mechanical.  And conversation is always so absorbing when Kathryn is present, I don't have the same incentive to focus inwards.  But there is an opportunity to read in the mornings after breakfast while everyone is adjusting to the day, and I continue reading Lewis Hyde's 'Trickster makes this World' which is an immensely stimulating book and has given much grist for our talking mill.  

I liked particularly the quote by Marcel Duchamp: 

                                                                 "'The word 'art' interests me very much.  If it comes from Sanskrit, as I've heard,
                                                                    it signifies 'making'....Everyone makes something."

Monday, September 12, 2011

flower children at play

Add caption

 It's been a while since I have written... lots of visits, family and friends, through the month of August have taken me away from writing, embroidering and gardening.  And then, we went on our annual trip to the seashore, to Wellfleet, in Cape Cod, to stay at this exquisite little 'Laura Ashley' cottage, with a breathtaking view from the terrace on to  the bay.


We have been going to this part of the Cape for 4 years now mainly because the house we discovered resembled so much the house we live in.  We are drawn equally by the wonderful coastline as well as the warmth that this house evokes.  It is one of life's surprises that through the internet, you can fall on a treasure that really feeds you.

The additional discovery in that first year was the magnificent National Seashore that stretches for over 40 kilometres up and down the Cape.  We arrive one day after the Labour Day weekend and everyone, as in every single human person, has left the beach and our only company are the seals that poke their dog-like faces out of the water with an air of such sociability, without exception I am tempted to wave at them and expect them to wave back.  They don't, of course.

And then we returned last night late, leaving the warm sun of Cape Cod to return to our northern forest.
In our absence, it had rained and the garden is water logged, but there was a surprise.  This lovely anenome hupehensis, a gift from a neighbour that had never flowered in previous years, had popped up in the mess of my large central overgrown bed of shrubs, hostas and other vegetation.. it was a sight for sore eyes, like happy children playing in an abandoned park.

As I was standing in the muddy earth, surrounded by the yellowing plants and endeavouring to capture the pristine beauty of these flowers swinging in the light breeze, a bee came and picked out as much of the pollen that was useful.



I was reminded how much these flowers and shrubs feed me, and how much they give me inspiration to return to my silks and try to capture them on the canvas.

Tomorrow will surely be a day of seeking out just the right hue of pink silk to capture the delicacy of this delightfully playful and joyful autumnal flower.

To be continued......

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Morning walk


I'd been watching the lilies over the last couple of days.  Their heads were up but closed and with all the rain we have had through the last two nights, I wondered whether they would survive.. our roof didn't since we woke up to water in the kitchen yesterday morning.  But Nature surprised me on two fronts:  one, that the stems held what seems like disproportionately large flower heads;  and two, they bloomed this morning.  The sun was shining right on them and since I have them in a rather obscure part of the garden, they were a tonic to the eyes as they stood proud.  I was reminded though that they deserve to be on display a little more so once they have died back, I plan to put them in the 'birthday garden'.
Talking of the 'birthday garden', the black eyed susans have bloomed in profusion year.  They propagate wildly and last year I was picking the seedlings up out of the gravel of the driveway and replanting them.  I had also made an effort to centralize them in one area so that we could enjoy this splash of amazing colour for the weeks of August.



And then to my surprise, I noticed that my one rose bush gave off yet another bloom.  Usually this tiny bush which I protect from the ravages of our Quebec winters by swaddling it in burlap, then hiding it under a styrofoam cone and covering all with a mound of autumn leaves, looks pretty feeble when I uncover it in the Spring.  This year though I cut it back a few times as the branches grew and to my joy I have now two blooms and several buds.   As if to snub the rose, the pink flox also bloomed through the night or early this morning.  The rose and the phlox were like delicate pink parentheses on this long skinny stretch of garden. 


There will be more rain later in the day, but in the meantime, the sun was out and I had quiet morning stroll amongst my flower buddies as I waited for the return of a jogging husband before eating breakfast.


At the risk of repeating myself, the garden is an never-ending source of inspiration, if only for colour associations.  If ever I have a query as I embroider,  I make mental reference to what  Nature offers as a palette and usually find the answer.





Thursday, August 11, 2011

Asian Violets - in context

The Roger's Cup is on television right now.  My mother is an avid tennis fan.  I had put this new piece up over her television on Saturday evening in the hopes that she would notice it.  It was placed in a clear line of vision as she prepared to watch the tennis.


In fact, she didn't notice the addition of the piece.  When I pointed it out,   she explained that it blended with the other pieces of my work in the room that she felt it had always been on the wall.    And in a way she is right.  It did find its place comfortably in the large vacant space over the television which has existed for the last 5 years.


Monfils was playing Troicka and won with the flourish Monfils is known for after a difficult match.


The Asian Violet will be a silent witness to the competition.

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Asian Violets - finished and framed

I've been calling this project 'asian violets' for the lack of a better name, but as I walked my garden this morning, there was one pink spiderwort left after the flowering the others, and I felt that its form was similar to the embroidery.  I was thrilled to know that there exists a blue spiderwort (transcendentia), so I think I shall rename this.  I suspected I might a little while ago.

This piece was of a very spontaneous nature;  the drawing had been sitting in a drawer for some time and with this empty week of projects, it was a gift I made myself to start and finish this simple subject.

My mother is visiting with us for the month of August.  She has always liked simple, clean designs and when she read my recent blogs, she contemplated the photos of this project a little longer than the others.

I have framed the piece and will place it in her room.  She may like to take it home with her when she leaves.  I hope so.
 

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Asian Violets - finished

I finished the project tonight while watching the first part of Ken Burns' remarkable retrospective of Baseball, a gift from our oldest and his wife, a thank you for their Canadian holiday.  There is a deep nostalgic element to this series, along with its well researched roots.   It is soothing to work with this as a backdrop.  I like to learn as I work.  It completes the experience.

The overall effect of the project is clean, pure, and I like the movement very much.  The Pearsalls silks are a joy to work with.  I have no idea what will happen to this project, but I am content that I gave it the time of the last weeks.  It will stay on my presentation 'ladder' until some idea will germinate.

The photography is not impeccable, but I was anxious to post an item tonight having not written for a few days.  I have been so focussed on the garden, weeding, splitting and planting in the new area by the lake.  The weather has been so perfect for being outside.  No bugs!

I think I shall try a new photo tomorrow and render the silks more luminous in the natural light of day.


Also, tomorrow, I plan to dig up and replant a whole bed of irises close to the lake's edge.   Irises need moisture and I fear that these particular bulbs have never flowered because of a lack of moisture.  As well, I am putting together some seedlings that I have discovered hiding under other large plants.   I'll give them to a neighbour who is starting a brand new garden having just finished the construction of her lake house.   I like the surprise of lifting up the hosta leaves and finding a seedling bush or other.  I have also cleaned out some astilbe and black eyed susan's from the 'birthday garden' to plant in my new lake garden.  Grass seed went down also today in this new area.  Have to remember to water this daily. 

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Asian Violets - inspiration/progress 3

 The watercolour of Angus Côté was my starting point.
It's simplicity was compelling.






In my interpretation, I added a few leaves to give body to my conception.  These long, slender forms are my favourite.  With the silk thread, using a satin stitch, the luminosity that is rendered is breathtaking.  The challenge is to keep a fluidity of movement in the angle of each stitch to reach the tip with a victorious final thread giving the leaf its essential precision.
I have a flower in the garden which produces a pink flower amongst its very linear leaves and although I have entitled this piece 'asian violet', I wonder if it resembles this pink flower in form a little more.  I have to ask my neighbour who gave me these root systems the name of this flower.  Then, I may change the name I have given this embroidery.

Just watched the last moments of the Tour de France.  How exciting to see Mark Cavendish come through with the win in the final étape.  I love his big smile and openness.  And then, the very reflective, composed and moving interview with Cadel Evans, the champion, finally.  

Mais 'chapeau' à tous. 

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Asian Violets - progress 2




Here are the greens - apple greens and moss greens.   I managed to do at least one leaf and the contrast with the Delpht blues is dramatic.. here is tonight's workspace.

Sitting quietly on the sofa with the music and the fresh breeze,  it was a lovely evening not devoid of a certain poetry.





Asian Violets - Progress 1

The blues are bright and energizing.  I'm anxious to put the contrasting greens on the canvas.

Finally, the humidity has diminished and I can work without fans.  The lake is sending off a fresh wind which is wafting into the studio.  A little jazz music... I'll work tonight without having to freshen my palms too often.

Tomorrow, the last stage of the Tour de France.  Already, we have heard an interview with Thomas Voeckler, disappointed by his questionable strategy yesterday, but philosophical about his overall performance and  extends a generous accolade to his teammate, Pierre Roland, who keeps the 'maillot blanc', and who protected him through so many moments during the Tour.

Voeckler has the right attitude:  he is of the school of 'doing his best' and one cannot ask for more.  If this gives pleasure to the French nation, this is the bonus.  And in terms of the future, he was clear.  He would just continue cycling in the way he knows best and whatever the results, this is fine with him.

I like the purity of his thinking.  It can be applied to any activity.  Living life from the inside out is so important and if what one does pleases another, this is the proverbial icing on that ever so proverbial cake.  I try to live like this daily, stay focussed on what I do best and if it gives pleasure, wonderful.

Asian Violets

This drawing is an adaptation of a water color by Angus Côté, an artist from North Hatley, Québec.  I'm not sure what the title of this piece was but its simplicity has stayed with me since seeing it and I have felt it could be interpreted with silks.

It is also the last stages of the 'Tour de France'.  It is very hot in the forest, so we have been confined to the basement with the fan blowing and keeping a keen eye on television watching the Schleck brothers, Cadel Evans and Thomas Voeckler.  Whatever the result, the Tour de France is a feat of inhuman qualities.  

I needed something that would not tax me technically where I could enjoy the threads and the colour.  Pearsall Silks, 3 hues of Delpht blue, 3 hues of moss greens and a little point of yellow... I shall enjoy this project while I follow the adventure of the road the cyclists devour.

From our comfortable seats, I venture 'To finish is to win'.  For these amazing athletes, this is not sufficient and for this reason all deserve respect and wonder.  Having said that, I am sad that Andy Schleck will not come in first.  Somehow he garnered my support more than Cadell Evans in these last days, but I am mostly sad for the remarkable performance of Thomas Voeckler whose place on the podium, despite a magnificent tour, is still not certain. And who can forget the wide smile of Mark Cavendish who can sit back proud of his winning of 4 stages during this 21 day marathon.

Back to my needle.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Pansies - a respite

I remember I had been working on a difficult silk project but was not doing very well.  Technically, I was experiencing some definite challenges and even though I kept plodding onwards, I was not convinced about the effect and was quickly giving up.  I even began to question whether I had lost my hand at needlepainting.  

As with many things, I needed some reassurance.  This pansy drawing had been sitting on my work table waiting for such a moment.  I quickly transferred the design onto Belgian linen.   Choosing the colours was regenerating. I set to work immediately.  Everything came together so quickly and naturally.  The colours were jumping off the linen.  There was something pure intertwined through the threads.

This project will leave the studio next week, in its antique gold frame with midnight blue matting boards trimmed with the same antique gold accent line.  The final result is small (15 cms x 25 cms framed), intimate, perfect as an silky accent in a classical décor.
My client picked it out of a selection of many... she went straight to it as if the piece chose her rather than the other way around.  

I'll be sad to see it go, but thrilled that someone else will enjoy viewing it daily.

Pansies (2009 - L'Art de l'Aiguille)

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

William Morris - Bird Pillow -complete motif

The original design by Barbara Hammett called for a frieze around the central motif.  I have chosen not to do it at this time and have already begun a second motif by Morris, adapted by Hammett.

So here is the finished 4" x 4" design.  I completed it this weekend just before the power failure and while we were watching 'The King's Speech'.  Our daughter was visiting and it was a restful activity for my hands as we talked and watched the movie.  I have mounted it temporarily in a box frame.  When the other 2 designs are completed, I'll see what I shall do with the 3; possibly a single frame with a vertical or horizontal arrangement, the three separated by matting boards.

I am now planning another Redouté 'Rose'.. a long vertical, linear bloom... 

Stay posted.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Blush Rose - the gift

I wish the resolution of this photograph was better.  I depend on sunshine to take my photographs since I am not equipped with very sophisticated cameras and it has been raining torrents for the last two days.  But I am really happy with the result.  The flowers jump off the linen and the luminosity rendered by the silk is wonderful.

The remaining pleasure is preparing my message which will include why the choice of subject and a little of my experience while I worked.  I anticipate two lovely days with this dear friend punctuated by visiting with her daughter who has returned from 3 months of travelling through Europe.  I have known this young daughter since she was 6 years old and have watched her grow into a young adult who has a dream to be a deep, unjudgmental, reflective adult. And my own daughter will arrive from Los Angeles.  Two devoted mothers with two loving daughters will spend an hour over lunch on Friday.  It will be rich and full of laughter as we share.

And I know that my friend will appreciate my gesture of this gift and will also understand that:

'The gift is to the giver, and comes back most to him (her) - it cannot fail....'  (Walt Whitman) 

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Blush Rose - finished but for framing

Well, relief.... the colours were fast, so there was no bleeding.   The next step is to stretch it over the plexi-glass which has been lined with linen.  I'll stitch the final piece, centred on the covered acrylique, ready for the matting board and frame.  Fortunately, I have all this ready and waiting in the studio.

It's humid here, so I have to be patient and see how the fabric moves with the changing humidity conditions.  The important thing is the make sure the piece is well centred and stretched with no play inside the opening before I put it in the frame.

It is pinned right now I'll wait until tomorrow to see how it responds to the change in atmospheric conditions.  If there is little movement, I'll stitch the piece around the edges to the lined acrylique and then trim the excess fabric.

I'll then prepare the glass and frame and put the whole piece together.  It is an exciting and highly gratifying part of preparing a piece.  I love the fact that I can do the preparations for final presentation in the studio.   All that will be left is to prepare a signed 'Certificate of Authenticity'  which guarantees the recipient that the piece was executed by the artist and explains the background of the piece.


Because of the investment of time, parallel to every embroidery a life, many lives are being lived, many stories are being played out.  I'll talk about this aspect of my work tomorrow on my blog.  All I know is that my work is a magical leveller of emotions.  Somehow, fixing one's eye on a very specific point, literally (i.e. where to make the next stitch and with what colour) allows one to take a distance from events that would otherwise drive you into a hole.


I'm not sure if the photos do justice to the effect of this piece, but I feel the roses jump off the canvas and this is a welcome discovery.   The weather people are announcing rain and grey tomorrow.  A good test for the fabric.   I can't wait to wake up tomorrow and see whether I have to make any adjustments.  I'm confident that all will be well.