Camellias - Branches

I had made a start on the main branch in October but did not like what I had done so I removed it. All of the branches are done in twisted silk so my next task was to twist some threads. They are done almost entirely in one shade of brown, but I twisted two threads that combined a little bit of green with the brown; slightly more in one that the other. I used these two threads at the end of the branches nearest the calyxes to give a hint of green in the newest growth.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

The branches are worked in Long and Short Stitch, more over they are done in RANDOM Long and Short Stitch. You know, that double headed monster that reduces me to a jibbering wreck! Well, the monster decided to play nicely and we had some fun together! Yes! I really did enjoy doing these branches. It’s like I finally accepted that you can’t put the stitches in the wrong place because it is RANDOM – there is no right or wrong place. How liberating is that?

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

Apart from the satisfaction I got from stitching the branches, I like how they bring everything together. At first you have a few flowers scattered about. The leaves then start to fill out the spaces and finally the branches bring balance and unity. I am beginning to really like this design.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

Happy Stitching

Camellias - Flower Centers

Next I turned my attention to flower centres. I had previously stitched the flat silk foundations on two of the flowers.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

The ribbed appearance of the centre is created by couched lines of thread. Actually, they are too short to qualify as lines; they are more like dashes! On the first flower, I couched all of the lines before plunging the ends. When I plunged the ends I pulled a few of the shortest pieces right through and had to redo them. On the second flower I couched and plunged each line in turn. I didn’t pull any of these lines out but they were marginally longer than the first set.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

The pollen is represented by Japanese round knots. I have always found knots of any kind a challenge but gradually I have improved and now rather enjoy adding a few knots here and there.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

Japanese round knots most closely resemble colonial knots but the method of working them is different. For a long time I could not get it and would frequently get in a tangle. Then last May, we went to Edinburgh to see the Shizuka Kusano exhibition. I watched the young woman who was demonstrating Japanese embroidery and was amazed at the speed and ease with which she stitched the round knots. At my request, she did them in slow motion and allowed me to make truly awful sketches of what she was doing. As bad as they were, those little diagrams were enough for me to try her technique when I got home.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

I had not done any knots since then so I needed to refresh my memory before I started but I soon found myself stitching knots with ease. Not though with the skill and dexterity of the demonstrator.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

Happy Stitching

Camellias - Leaves

It turned out that stitching flat silk foundations was the tonic that I needed.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

After a few sessions working solely on leaves I was beginning to look forward to working long and short stitch on the white flower; so much so that I decided to leave it to last. I know that sounds a little bizarre but I always like to keep something special for the end of a project. I find having something to look forward to helps me to get me through the more mundane techniques – not that I am finding anything about Camellias mundane.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

All of the silk leaves are done in one of two shades of green.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

Some of them have a line of held thread along the central vein; some of them have a little short stitch holding.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

There is so little variation in the colour or techniques used, yet there is so much variety in the appearance of the leaves.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

This is just one of the many reasons Japanese embroidery delights me.

Happy Stitching