Love this.....My mother was brought up in a convent in Belgium. Apart from God and Jesus, embroidery appeared to be a key part of life. She took it up again after a 30 year gap and began embroidering almost anything she could get her hands on, mainly her grandkid's shoe bags. I'll never forget the look on my daughter's teacher's face when she arrived with her gym shoes in a red cloth bag with the most extraordinary bird of paradise exquisitely stitched onto it. It looked like something out of the Vatican.....
It could be worse, couldn’t it? I started visible mending a few years ago, which I loved doing. Then I realised that most of what I was doing wasn’t mending but embellishment ie embroidery…..😬
Oh yes! My current creative outlet is fair isle knitting ! It’s become a bit of an obsession - in particular creating and knitting my own fairisle hot water bottle covers in proper wool for proper 100% rubber bottles. Oh the pleasure; the warmth, the smell, the texture, the homeliness. Pure pure comfort in a rather worrisome world
Your embroidery is beautiful and I love how you have achieved the effect on the fritillary. I am one of those annoying people who is quite happy both making and inventing... as long as I'm doing something. That includes just making marks on paper!
This is brilliant, Laetitia! I can’t get over how clever those fritillary heads are. Beautifully conceived and executed! Embroidery is an lovely endeavour, and I think gardeners are especially gifted at stitching botanicals because they KNOW the plants so intimately. It just shows!
Designing your own piece can be so challenging and confronting at times, but I must say I always enjoy the stitching and result much more than doing a kit. You put your whole self into it and I think you learn a lot more about layout, details, colour, etc. That being said, sometimes you finish the piece and can only see what you’ve done wrong, but you actively grow by doing it. I’m speaking from a personal viewpoint here — I love your piece!
One of the things I learned is that although you stitch close-up, you view from a distance…that’s why my cat’s face looks fine close-up but from far away it looks like she’s wearing goggles 😝. Yes I agree - so much more to learn when you design your own piece. I will have to gear myself up for the next! X
Trying to get students not to give up because they think it’s not good enough is a big part of my day. I say a lot of “oh you think you’ve made a mistake? That’s good then because you are learning!”
I wish everyone (including me!) didn’t care what something looks like and just enjoyed the flow. X
Ok so what’s your secret…what do you do when your mind tells you it’s not good? Do you say something to yourself? Do you change your position? What’s the action you take?
I usually leave it aside and either work on something else or come back to it the next day or a week later…..sometimes a break from it helps see the good. If I can’t get past thinking it’s not good I’ll do something else with it, and rework it. Sometimes cutting things into smaller pieces and making new work with it so all the work isn’t lost….
I think your design is beautiful, and I wholeheartedly agree about embroidery, if someone suggested a ten minute meditation I would be fidgeting after 30 seconds, but give me needle thread and lovely colours and I will be lost for hours! Sharing a skill is a lovely way to share the joy!
I love your kitty embroidery, especially the colours and the basketweave stitch for the fritillaires is PERFECT! I also love embroidery and always have some on the go. It's a great portable craft. I am as happy working on someone else's pattern as I am my own. It's more mindless. I'm currently doing the Ann Wood 100 Day Stitch book project. Only mine will be way over 100 days as I've been away the last few days and didn't take it with me. Highly recommend if you struggle starting as it's very low/no pressure.
I LOVE the Fabled Thread so much that I’m running out of space to put all my completed designs (also running out of money!).
I feel Eppie pushing me to do my own designs but at this stage of my life - very full time job and 3 kids under 12 - part of the joy of it is in the not thinking! But I love your fritillaries and particularly the weaving stitch; really charming.
Thank you and yes I’m very much the same when it comes to the thinking part! Funnily enough though I’m very glad that I didn’t have much time to get it done- I think more time might have scuppered me!
Beautiful work. I find it hard to do it all myself. I very luckily got on one of the Fabled thread retreats, it’s so much easier being surrounded by enthusiasts and also having the nudging/ encouragement.
Beautiful design and a gorgeous piece of work! I would buy that if it were for sale. Not an embroiderer or creator myself (and also hate ironing, sweeping and weeding!) but appreciate beautiful things created by others x
May I just say your design is FABULOUS! I am in awe! I am not a natural creative, although like to "have a go" occasionally and then deeply regret my life choices haha! I've made play capes for the children, and a wigwam and whatever else I decided I could do "better" (i.e. to my own design). Creativity is wonderful mindfulness. Bravo!!
Thank you, and I think really that the ability to push through that regret and keep going is the thing that separates ‘the naturals’ from the rest of us!
Oh Laetitia I am a Fabled Thread convert as well - it has become an enormous part of my life and I am booked into another Studio Day with them in April. Shout if ever you want to hang out and sew together. I haven't yet met a friend who loves the same xx
Love this.....My mother was brought up in a convent in Belgium. Apart from God and Jesus, embroidery appeared to be a key part of life. She took it up again after a 30 year gap and began embroidering almost anything she could get her hands on, mainly her grandkid's shoe bags. I'll never forget the look on my daughter's teacher's face when she arrived with her gym shoes in a red cloth bag with the most extraordinary bird of paradise exquisitely stitched onto it. It looked like something out of the Vatican.....
It could be worse, couldn’t it? I started visible mending a few years ago, which I loved doing. Then I realised that most of what I was doing wasn’t mending but embellishment ie embroidery…..😬
😍😍😍😍😍
LOVE. I fear if I’m lucky enough to have grandchildren that none of their shoe bags will be safe either. Also God, Jesus, Embroidery. Not a bad bunch
Oh yes! My current creative outlet is fair isle knitting ! It’s become a bit of an obsession - in particular creating and knitting my own fairisle hot water bottle covers in proper wool for proper 100% rubber bottles. Oh the pleasure; the warmth, the smell, the texture, the homeliness. Pure pure comfort in a rather worrisome world
As a hot water bottle obsessive this is now going to live rent-free in my head x
Your embroidery is beautiful and I love how you have achieved the effect on the fritillary. I am one of those annoying people who is quite happy both making and inventing... as long as I'm doing something. That includes just making marks on paper!
I envy you - what a gift!
This is brilliant, Laetitia! I can’t get over how clever those fritillary heads are. Beautifully conceived and executed! Embroidery is an lovely endeavour, and I think gardeners are especially gifted at stitching botanicals because they KNOW the plants so intimately. It just shows!
Designing your own piece can be so challenging and confronting at times, but I must say I always enjoy the stitching and result much more than doing a kit. You put your whole self into it and I think you learn a lot more about layout, details, colour, etc. That being said, sometimes you finish the piece and can only see what you’ve done wrong, but you actively grow by doing it. I’m speaking from a personal viewpoint here — I love your piece!
One of the things I learned is that although you stitch close-up, you view from a distance…that’s why my cat’s face looks fine close-up but from far away it looks like she’s wearing goggles 😝. Yes I agree - so much more to learn when you design your own piece. I will have to gear myself up for the next! X
I love this post! That’s a lovely embroidery too!
Trying to get students not to give up because they think it’s not good enough is a big part of my day. I say a lot of “oh you think you’ve made a mistake? That’s good then because you are learning!”
I wish everyone (including me!) didn’t care what something looks like and just enjoyed the flow. X
Ok so what’s your secret…what do you do when your mind tells you it’s not good? Do you say something to yourself? Do you change your position? What’s the action you take?
I usually leave it aside and either work on something else or come back to it the next day or a week later…..sometimes a break from it helps see the good. If I can’t get past thinking it’s not good I’ll do something else with it, and rework it. Sometimes cutting things into smaller pieces and making new work with it so all the work isn’t lost….
I think your design is beautiful, and I wholeheartedly agree about embroidery, if someone suggested a ten minute meditation I would be fidgeting after 30 seconds, but give me needle thread and lovely colours and I will be lost for hours! Sharing a skill is a lovely way to share the joy!
I’m with you on the meditation! x
Love the cat among the fritillaries.
Thank you!
I love your kitty embroidery, especially the colours and the basketweave stitch for the fritillaires is PERFECT! I also love embroidery and always have some on the go. It's a great portable craft. I am as happy working on someone else's pattern as I am my own. It's more mindless. I'm currently doing the Ann Wood 100 Day Stitch book project. Only mine will be way over 100 days as I've been away the last few days and didn't take it with me. Highly recommend if you struggle starting as it's very low/no pressure.
Also forgot to add the children's embroidery group sounds fab, what a terrific idea.
Never heard of Ann Wood - looking up now! Thank you Nicki x
I LOVE the Fabled Thread so much that I’m running out of space to put all my completed designs (also running out of money!).
I feel Eppie pushing me to do my own designs but at this stage of my life - very full time job and 3 kids under 12 - part of the joy of it is in the not thinking! But I love your fritillaries and particularly the weaving stitch; really charming.
Thank you and yes I’m very much the same when it comes to the thinking part! Funnily enough though I’m very glad that I didn’t have much time to get it done- I think more time might have scuppered me!
Beautiful. X
Thank you 🙏
Delicious design 💕💕☀️🌱looking forward to the next. Xx
The next is UNLIKELY to be my own! X
love your creations with a pop of the fabric!
Thank you P! X
Beautiful work. I find it hard to do it all myself. I very luckily got on one of the Fabled thread retreats, it’s so much easier being surrounded by enthusiasts and also having the nudging/ encouragement.
Yes the retreats look like the perfect environment for this. One day x
Beautiful design and a gorgeous piece of work! I would buy that if it were for sale. Not an embroiderer or creator myself (and also hate ironing, sweeping and weeding!) but appreciate beautiful things created by others x
…in which case you are an appreciator and the world needs you!
May I just say your design is FABULOUS! I am in awe! I am not a natural creative, although like to "have a go" occasionally and then deeply regret my life choices haha! I've made play capes for the children, and a wigwam and whatever else I decided I could do "better" (i.e. to my own design). Creativity is wonderful mindfulness. Bravo!!
Thank you, and I think really that the ability to push through that regret and keep going is the thing that separates ‘the naturals’ from the rest of us!
Oh Laetitia I am a Fabled Thread convert as well - it has become an enormous part of my life and I am booked into another Studio Day with them in April. Shout if ever you want to hang out and sew together. I haven't yet met a friend who loves the same xx
Love the studio days- lucky you!