Sunday 26 January 2014

Stitching Sundays 21

Stitching Sundays again and I have spent another happy few hours stitching away, trying to complete my 'magnum opus' as this is what it has turned out to be!  When I eventually started the embroidery on this piece of felt, I didn't feel all that confident of my skills but I decided to just give it a go, because I could always unpick what went wrong.  I did have to unpick here and there, but not nearly as much as I thought.
 So, all the layers are finally in place - foreground, mid ground and background, even though I actually worked them the other way round.
 Here's another cropped image, showing the layers.
 More close ups - can you tell that I am just a little bit pleased with the end result?
 Last close up - just another view.
To remind you, this is how it was when I started stitching.  The background was interesting, but it needed the stitching to bring it to life.  Right, enough prevaricating!
Here is the finished piece, in all its glory.  It is the most complicated piece of embroidery I have attempted, and it has taken me eight Stitching Sundays to complete, but I am so pleased with how it looks.
I would just like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has left such lovely comments week by week, as your support really spurred me on to get it finished.
My next project?  Something little and quick and not too taxing - felt snowflake decorations, I think.

26 comments:

  1. I love it, it looks fantastic.
    Great idea for your next project. I love snowflakes and it looks like we may get a few real ones overnight too. brrrrrrr x

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  2. Thanks, Melanie. I am so pleased to have finished this project (after starting it 3 years ago!). Hopefully the snowflake decorations won't take me quite so long!
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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  3. Wow, well done, Ellie, it's fantastic. x x x

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    1. Thanks Joy. It is all down to Stitching Sundays that I finally got it finished and although it took me eight weeks, I enjoyed embroidering it.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  4. Ellie, I knew this was going to be something spectacular and I'm certainly not disappointed - you can be really proud of your handiwork, it's a beautiful piece! I love it! Wishing you the best, Joy x

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    1. Thanks, Joy. I have really enjoyed working on this piece and am so pleased with how it looks. I used simple stitches but they have worked well to give the texture and layering that I wanted.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  5. It's quite lovely, what are you making with it, or are you framing it?
    Briony
    x

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    1. Thanks, Briony. I think, having put so much work into it, that I'll be getting it framed. Then we just need to find a suitable place to display it!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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    1. Thanks, Louisa. I am really pleased with it. Now on to the next project...
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  7. Congratulations! Indeed you should be extremely proud - it is a work of art! I'm so glad you joined in Stitching Sundays with such a beautiful and involved project! Chrissie x

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    1. Thanks, Chrissie. It took a while but was worth it, I think. (I'm looking forward to a smaller project next though.) I really enjoyed the embroidery and am pleased that I took photos every week to document my progress.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  8. That is a stunning piece of artwork. i saw your link on Chrissie crafts. I have a giveaway if you popover to my blog and scroll down to the weekend. Jo x

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    1. Thanks, Jo. I think that it has turned out really well. I'll have a look at your blog.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  9. What a beautiful piece of embroidery! I love all the grasses and seedheads.

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    1. Thanks, Ginx Craft. It has taken a while but has slowly evolved and I have enjoyed building up the embroidery.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  10. Wow, that is spectacular. What a creative person you are.
    S xx

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    1. Thanks, Jessie's Needle. It has turned out pretty much like the image I had in my head, so I am really pleased.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  11. Oh my goodness, it's soooo lovely!!
    Really something to be very proud of Ellie....
    And now you can just admire it and be thankful it's done ;-)
    Love from Mirjam.

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    1. Thanks, Mirjam. I am really pleased with it (as I think you can tell). It is good to have finished it, even though I really enjoyed the process and I am looking forward to some smaller, quicker, simpler projects now.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  12. Fabulous! And it would match my wallpaper perfectly lol
    A GYb visitor here and Ive had a lovely wander round your happy place : )
    Lyn

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    1. Thanks, Lyn. A warm welcome to you - I'm so pleased you dropped by.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  13. it looks fantastic, you should be very pleased. I'm a bit late to your post and just realised that you reply to comments here, I had never noticed as i don't come back to see if the blogger has replied! I thought you'd been ignoring me!

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    1. Thanks, Wendy. No, I definitely wasn't ignoring you! I have seen a few bloggers recently trying to decide what is the best way to reply to comments - I'm not sure there is a best way, but I always reply to comments here. I know that means you have to come and check, particularly if you have asked a question, but if you are a follower, there is a chance you might check back (as you did!) Anyway, I'm very pleased that you did check back!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  14. How lovely. I really like the way the grasses and seed heads seem to lie in layers and the background fabric was perfect for your project.

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    1. Thanks, Catherine. I made the background felt fabric about three years ago, using a photo for inspiration, but then it just sat there. I always knew I wanted to put the seed heads and grasses onto the top surface, but I was a bit dubious as my embroidery skills seemed a bit limited. However, I took the plunge, finally did it and am really thrilled with the result!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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