Texture and shape

Isn't this a great image? Karl took this a few visits ago when we found this thing, which I have forgotten what it is - sea anenome?? - on the beach.  Doesn't it just inspire embroidery ideas? There are lots of treasures on the beach with the most wonderful texture.  I love the roundy protuberences on this oyster shell, and look at that subtle colouration.

This abalone shell has even more interesting textures, and love those colours! (click for close ups)

Fabric dyeing and TAST

For years I vowed never to get into fabric dyeing - way too messy - I could see myself splattering stuff everywhere - I have always found the concept of being creative whilst remaining tidy too bizarre for words. However, I recently relented and invested in some Procion dyes. I got some undyed yarns from here. And then I had a play! This photo is a little dark, but I dyed some cotton and some scrim/cheesecloth and a few different yarns.

And here is what I have started making. I embellished the cheesecloth onto some dyed cotton, with a thin layer of dyed merino between - I texturised it quite a bit, embellishing from both front and back - I like the way the little cheesecloth loops come through to the front - then I used some of my coordinating threads to do some of the TAST stitches. I bought a spray of fake flowers (why do they call them silk flowers - who are they kidding?) and pulled them apart - they were white, so I painted them with some Setacolour paints and have embellished them in the centre to hold them down - but the petals stand proud of the base. They aren't very firmly attached - they will need some french knots/beads in the centres.

Obviously this is still a work in progess - needs a lot more stitching - but its a start. And I am quite addicted to dyeing stuff!

The Texere order was shipped promptly, although postage from UK to Australia was a bit steep. Does anyone know of a supplier of undyed yarn closer to home?

Hedebo stick and ring

Well of course as soon as I mentioned Hedebo sticks I just had to go off and find the one my husband made. This was his first attempt, and actually, it isn't quite right. The rebate, or depth of the ridges (or whatever the proper technical term is) isn't deep enough, so the rings slide off. Although once he understood what the problem was he duly went back to The Shed and made one exactly right - except I haven't got that one, as I gave it to my friend Annette who started this all off in the first place, wanting to make Hedebo daffodils. This one is 13cm long.

I used the very bottom of the stick where it widens out to the handle to make this ring. I haven't quite got it right where I ended off (at about 9 o'clock) - maybe I needed one more stitch, or maybe the tension where I started and finished isn't quite right. This is 1.7cm across (1.1cm across the inside)

I think these little guys have potential, especially combined with machine stitched rings using the Flower Stitcher foot , and maybe some free form rings stitched on Romeo - I think I will file that thought away in my 'things to explore further' file. I know what I can call the finished piece - going around in circles - although I am more inclined to go off on tangents- hmmm, I think I see a theme emerging for my 2007 Journal Quilts - the first of which I haven't made yet, but I have until 31 January, and I hate to waste a good deadline!