Summer stitching.

Well, it's summer again..where time flyes ? I'm home  until the beginning of September so I've been able to do a bit more of "serious" embroidery, the stumpwork mirror is mounted on to a very large slate frame which is not handy and needs to be replaced every time I stop working on it to keep it safe from my cats who always seems to dedicate it a very special attention, sigh ! So having a bit more of time, the pear tree is finished ! My initial purpose for this summer was to finish the Elizabethan panel but could not resist to those tiny pears, leafs and details waiting to be attached so it came as first. Here is the result.

The bird tail has real feathers !

A side view to show the depth given by all the detached elements.

And here a detail on how I did the pears, the form of the fruit has been made by needle felting some wool, then I applyed on the finished form a coat of water based acrylic varnish to give it a bit more  body and to stop the fuzzing of the wool. Forms made this way makes the covering process easier because it's possible to start and stop threads into the form and also stitches does not slide on the surface being it a little rough.

Then those where covered in corded buttonhole with Au Ver  a Soie 100/3 silk thread  in various colours.

Now I think it's really time to give some attention to the Elizabethan panel...maybe I'll have another finish ? :)