Stella’s Birds Finished
Once I got the design settled for Stella’s Birds, the principle elements remained pretty much unchanged when I got the stitching done. The details, not so much. The drawing shows where I intended to put most of the raised sections and the patterning. Note: intended!
I ended up not filling in any of the bodies of the birds, to leave the effect a little lighter and less blocky. Every time I tried to fill them in, they went grumpy at me, and if nothing else, I’ve learnt to pay attention when my embroidery shouts at me! Furthermore, Stabby has a leading edge, rather than a shoulder, and I simplified the structural details slightly, using the same stitch for all the curlicues, and another same stitch for all the stalks for the leaves.
If you recall, the idea was to create something that might evoke the idea of a light, carved wood, but using a technique reminiscent of Mountmellick Embroidery. It gave me a chance to use some well-beloved stitches, and to rejoice in the textural effects available from those stitches and the choice of threads to stitch them with.
I’m pleased with it.
And so you should be! It certainly is a pleasing scene illustrated with interesting stitches and threads in light tones.
I think it’s a real success. The gentle colours and intriguing stitches give it plenty of visual interest. The raised parts don’t overwhelm everything else. It is cheerful, light-hearted and nicely finished. I have enjoyed watching the decisions and changes as the growing piece started to tell you what it needed. Congratulations.