© 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
5 comments:
I was wondering how your stamens appeared were plunged, yet seemed at a relatively loose tension. "Surely they'd move around?" I thought. A quick peer after clicking on the image....they are couched in place with the weeniest little stitches! Beautiful work!
As always I'm in awe of your beautiful work. I enjoy working knots but hadn't even realised that there was a 'japanese knot' yours have turned out wonderfully
I had to study the photos a bit before I understood what you were doing. They are beautiful. I love the color combination, the inner petals remind me of dreamsicles. The Japanese embroidery is so very precise, but absolutely beautiful.
The analysis you have to do to produce a diagram - however awful (believe me, I've produced some shockers!) - is what helps you to understand what you're drawing. It's better than either photos or even films.
I love coming here to see your beautiful work :)
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