Stumpwork Fancies

Stumpwork is a type of embroidery that incorporates 3D structures to create beautiful pieces. It is often used on leaves and flowers, but can be used in a variety of ways. After some lunch time stumpwork browsing, I discovered these beautiful pieces.

This beautiful Lilly Stumpwork is so good it looks real! Head over to Loretta's Custom Stitchery for more details and Stumpwork Instructions.

I love the boldness and brightness of this stylish purple stumpwork bird by Maison Bee on Deviant Art.

This cute deer stumpwork kit by Jane Nicholas Embroidery Kits  is one you could try for yourself.

All of these beautiful pieces of embroidery have reminded me of the Stumpwork kit I got ages ago, which I started but have done nothing on for months (if not longer) When it's finished it should look something like this

So far all I've done is the background leaf stitching and flower centre, and 1 1/2 petals, so it's probably time to free it from it's hiding and get stitching again.

Have you done any stumpwork? how was it?

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All a Flutter Butterfly Treasury
Friday Finds: Sunflowers
Hardanger Finish: Purple Delight

Stitches Past!

Hello!

A brand new Nikon Coolpix s6200 arrived in the post for me yesterday, which means I have a big task ahead to re-photograph my products - and catch up with the ones I've missed, so I can update them on my website to better quality ones.

Eager to try out my new camera I have taken photo's of a couple of (relatively) recent cross stitch pictures that are on display in my house! (I have completed others, but they are all sitting in a draw awaiting framing...one day...)

Anyway, what do you think of my Siberian Snow Lynx?

He hangs in my kitchen, guarding the door...! I started making him when I was a teenager, but left him uncompleted for ages during uni - to tell the truth, I was a little embarrassed at first of my cross stitch hobby. Looking back I was just being daft, but hey, we all are when we're young! Eventually he made his way up to Sheffield, and I occasionally did a little to him, but it wasn't until I moved in with my boyfriend, Chris, that I finally got working on him again properly, and it wasn't long before he was finished!

Before I finished I was already searching for a new kit to buy, but I wanted one that both Chris and I would like, so I gave him a shortlist of ones to choose, and this was the result!

This Winter Sunset kit by DMC now proudly hangs pride of place above the fireplace in my living room. What do you think of it? It took me about a year to stitch it. Sadly I haven't completed a large piece since, as I've been busy focusing on my cross stitch jewellery, but hopefully that will change soon.

I am currently working on this Purple Delight hardanger that my sister gave me for Christmas. I'm not too far off, but it has been sadly neglected recently. I am enjoying learning the new techniques and new stitches though!

I also have a stumpwork kit, which is also a bit neglected, purchased from WYE Needlecraft in Bakewell, (I can't resist going in whenever I'm in Bakewell, they sell all sorts of needlepoint work, and have plenty of completed works adorning the walls). I have done very little embroidery work, so I'm finding it a bit more challenging and fairly time consuming, as I've only done one petal, but I'm looking forward to getting it finished! Hopefully when it's finished it'll look something like this!

Anyway, I'd best get back to photography and stitching!

New Year, New ideas!

Hello and happy New Year!

I am determined to post more on here, and maybe start another blog about hiking (another passion of mine, and how I met my lovely boyfriend). Anyway, time will tell...

All of my current stitching experience is cross stitch based which I enjoy loads. I have spent the last several months increasing my repertoire of hand stitched earrings, rings, key rings, fridge magnets and hair clips, as well as experimenting with adding seed beads to bring out detail.



However, after spending so long making lots of small items, I fancy a bigger project. I'm a bit too scared (and short on time) to begin with either converting a photo I've taken into cross stitch, or in making my own one with the help of 'The Royal School of Needlework" design disc (which I have used to create all of my designs) so I have decided to go back to the tried and tested method of buying a ready to make kit, and getting stitching!

I've got a stumpwork kit, and a hardanger kit, both of which are recently discovered techniques. Stumpwork involves embroidery (something I've dabbled in but have very little experience) and uses wire to form shapes, e.g. petals, but more about this later...

The hardanger kit, a present from my lovely big little sister (She's younger than me and taller than me, boo!) also involves embroidery, along with some new stitches for me to learn. It also involves cutting out some of the threads to create cut out patterns. I'll show you how I get on later...

For now, I'd best get stitching!