Sake Boxes - Gold Leaves

There is not nearly as much goldwork on the upper part of Sake Boxes as there is on the bottom portion but there was on challenge remaining – a few goldwork leaves.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

Like the gold centres of the round petal chrysanthemum’s they are stitched round and round but, unlike most of the gold centres, They are highly irregular in shape!

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

I began by following the outline of the leaf. In some cases, the leaf is partly obscured by something else, as is with this one. For the first few rows I stopped where the two met and restarted a fresh row.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

I continued in this way until section of the leaf becomes closed and then proceed to couch round and round until that area is completely filled.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

The remain areas where then completed in the same way.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

Happy Stitching.

Sake Boxes - Buds

Sometimes, reaching a certain point in a design is so monumental that can feel like you have completed the entire piece. Sometimes that feeling of having finished can rob you of all enthusiasm for going on with the design. When I completed the gold work on the section of Sake Boxes where I had already completed the silk work, I certainly felt that I had reached a milestone. Fortunately, I felt energized and more than ready to push on with the rest.

What remained was a few pointed petal chrysanthemums (some in full bloom, like those I had already stitched, and some partially opened or in bud) and a scattering of leaves. I was particularly looking forward to stitching the buds and partially opened flowers.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

I always enjoy stitching padded elements. It literally adds another dimension to the embroidery. The unopened buds are highly padded and look deliciously plump! You can see from the shadow on how rounded this one is.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

I did not add as many layers of padding to these buds as I did not want them to be more prominent than the partially opened flower on the same stem.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

As with the fully opened blossoms, some of the petals on the partially opened blooms are padded.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

I enjoyed stitching these and think that they really add to the overall appeal of the design.

Happy Stitching.