I have just returned from a nice relaxing break in the hot sunshine of Florida. I took lots of hand stitching with me ( for the Dubai project of course). There was no way I could have spent a couple of weeks without stitching. I did have my laptop with me so I was able to keep abreast of everything.
We had all our photography gear with us and although we didn't do a lot of photography this time, we did have a super shoot at a Harley-Davidson outlet which was not far from the villa. All the bikes were outside - everyone different and a work of art - lots of chrome and reflections. They all had their keys in them so that anyone could sit on and start one up!!!! (There was also a burly biker sitting under a tree watching.) We were free to take as many photographs as we wished. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Here are a few of my images. I like to take images within images, close ups and unusual angles so not many full bikes. My OH did those..
Now that I am back - on with my Dubai project.
This next set of pieces is based on a motif which was on a large panel inside one of the very opulent 'shops' in the Dubai Mall.
I managed to isolate one of these motifs and created patterns in different sizes. From these patterns I made stamps and stencils and I digitised the design to stitch out on my embroidery machine.
The first piece I created was a bag tag using the digitised motif.
This was stitched onto black felt and then cut out.
As usual, a set of jewellery using this motif design. All these pieces use the sheer sandwich technique.
Using the sheer sandwich technique again, this small hanging/mobile.
Having just acquired new glasses so I made myself a case to store them and to wear around my neck.
I used this motif again as the focal point for a book. I embossed the motif onto gold metal shim. The background was a fabric which I couldn't resist and have had in store for some years.
The pages inside were colour washed and a part of the motif stencilled onto the bottom corners. I also made a little pocket folder for keepsakes which hangs inside.
I made a second book, this time using a stencil and molding paste. The motif was 'pasted' onto pelmet Vilene which was then painted and the raised motifs highlighted with gold gilding wax.
Again, I made the pages for the inside. They were colour washed and then sprayed with gold mist.
Moving on from the motif but staying in the Dubai Mall. There are many different area of the mall and each has its own roof or dome. One of the domes was filled with hanging butterflies - thousands of them.
This butterfly dome is now the desogn source for some more pieces. The first completed piece is a small, hand bag sized, duffle bag. The butterflies were made from a white sheer sandwich, free machined, cut out with a soldering iron and beaded. When applied to the bag fabric the wings were left free.
I made many more sheer butterflies which will be made up into a mobile hanging as they are in the dome ceiling. Hopefully for the next blog.
That is all for now. Stay tuned as they used to say.
Cheers everyone.
