Caroll Lenthall Dreamstitcher

Mystery Challenge : Snowflake

2011-05-01T14:05:00.002+02:00

Here is the result with an other yarn.
Thin yarn : 70% mohair kid and 30% silk (213m for 25g)
Finished diameter : 14 cm

Hook - Mystery challenge

2011-04-28T14:38:00.002+02:00

My friend Sophie Gelfi has a mystery challenge on her blog here :
http://sophiegelfi.over-blog.com/

This is my result for the third step :

Wild Stitches 3

2010-07-29T19:05:00.006+02:00

Size : 15 x 15 cm

Full view

Close-up

New work - Wild stitches

2010-07-28T17:56:00.007+02:00

The beginning of a new serie : Wild stitches.
Size 21 x 29 cm

Background encrusted with varied materials on felt using an embellisher, hand stitching.

# 1 - full view
Close-up

# 2 - Full view

Close-up

Exhibition

2010-07-28T17:53:00.002+02:00

Bead journal project - Square # 12

2010-06-15T16:44:00.002+02:00

At least, It's finished

The close-up

Bead Journal Project - square # 11

2010-01-04T17:32:00.004+01:00

The close-up

Bead journal project - square # 10

2009-10-04T22:13:00.002+02:00

The close-up

2° Exhibition : Le 7° sens

2009-07-29T22:59:00.003+02:00

Château de Brindos - 1, allée du Château - 64600 Anglet
7 - 22 August
11h00- 20h00

Painters - sculptors - a ceramist and me !!

If you are around Biarritz (France), don't miss this exhibition, it will be a great one with a lot of pieces to buy.

Exhibition

2009-07-26T11:40:00.001+02:00

If you are around Rodez during your holidays, come and see this nice exhibition.
I'll present 12 pieces and shall be there on Saturday August 1.

Bead Journal Project - May

2009-06-11T16:15:00.000+02:00

The close-up

BJP 2008 - April page

2009-05-08T12:00:00.003+02:00

Some cross stitch in silk thread.

The close-up

BJP 2008 - March

2009-03-31T12:00:00.004+02:00

Border in wool and Palestrina knots.

The close-up

Happy St Patrick's day

2009-03-17T18:47:00.004+01:00

PSP tutorial here.

Bead Journal Project - February page

2009-02-28T15:58:00.002+01:00

The close-up

Breath, relax and play !

2009-02-27T17:41:00.002+01:00

Just go HERE

Choose your fish on the left, your seascape on the right and then move slowly your mouse ...
Enjoy !

Epiphany Garden

2009-02-05T13:09:00.007+01:00

I finished this piece last year.
Size : 28" x 28"
Materials : hand dyed fabrics, velvet, painted laces, organza ...
Machine and hand embroidery, work with soldering iron.

Close-up

Closer ...

The star has been designed in PSP, then printed on vanishing muslin, machine embroidered, embellished with embossing powder, distressed with a heat gun and at least stitched in place.

Bead Journal Project - January

2009-01-24T23:40:00.003+01:00

The close-up

For cat lovers

2009-01-08T12:33:00.001+01:00

Go there : http://www.broenink-art.nl/maukie2.swf

Up the sound and play with your mouse.

Enjoy !

The Mom song

2009-01-05T15:10:00.002+01:00

24 hours of a Mom's life condensed in a 3 minutes song : very clever and exhilarating !!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMhuAtyFCrw

Have fun !

Happy New Year !

2008-12-31T16:28:00.002+01:00

Peace, Joy, Love and Creativity are my wishes for all men and women of good will.

BJP 2008 - December page

2008-12-31T16:25:00.002+01:00

Finished just in time !!

The close-up

Merry Christmas

2008-12-23T14:36:00.002+01:00

BJP 2008 - November

2008-11-20T12:17:00.004+01:00

I've used some needlepoint for the middle : wool thread and seed beads.
Corners in silk thread, cotton thread and seed beads.

The close-up

SAQA Auction : One foot square

2008-11-05T13:25:00.004+01:00

Here is the square I've made for this auction.

To know the dates and see the pieces, go to this page :
http://www.saqa.com/hotnews.aspx?id=176

Thank you for supporting textile artists.

I've been tagged ...

2008-11-05T00:49:00.006+01:00

I've been tagged by Sylvie.

Here are the rules of the game :

1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blog.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

7 things about me :

I love black cats
I love tea
I hate the telephone
I love playing MMORPG games
I don't love people who ask "Which thread did you use to make that ?"
I don't like to wake up early
I don't like talkative people

Here are the happy tagged :

Mixpix : http://fibrefan.blogspot.com/
Glass0beads : http://glass0beads.blogspot.com/
Soe : http://soebeadsalot.blogspot.com/
Diane : http://mountainsaltstudio.blogspot.com/
Sandy : http://focus-on-fiber.blogspot.com/
Timaree : http://freebirdsings.blogspot.com/2008/11/october-bjp08.html
Jann : http://jannblock.blogspot.com/

BJP08 - October page

2008-10-19T10:09:00.003+02:00

The close-up

Daily Window - Beaded bag

2008-09-26T18:44:00.003+02:00

In fact my "Millefiori" beaded piece was created for a bag, you can see it in the Designers Gallery here
and read the some words about it here (September 24) : http://dailywindow.wordpress.com/

Thank you, Ronda, it was a pleasure to participate.

BJP 08 - September page

2008-09-10T15:51:00.004+02:00

Stiching : detached chain stitch, fly stitch, cross stitch, couching in wool, silk and cotton threads.
Beads E and # 8, 11 and 15 (charlotte)

A lot of fun to do :-)

The close-up :

BJP2008 - Ready to go

2008-08-31T17:00:00.004+02:00

I've got the idea for the final piece using the twelve squares, found and/or dyed the fabrics and threads, collected the beads and bought some more (I always need more colors, sizes, you know what I mean... LOL) and prepared the 12 backgrounds (boring task).

The background is a simple off white square 4" x 4", stitched on a turquoise 6" x 6" fabric (3 different tones of hand dyed turquoise)
The little square, which is my BJP page, will be embellished with various stitches and beads.

NOW begins the pleasure !

New beaded piece

2008-08-27T16:33:00.005+02:00

Here is a piece I've just finished
Size :7"3/4 x 5" 1/4
I've named it : Millefiori

The close-up

Sooooooooooo funny

2008-07-25T13:09:00.001+02:00

Just wait a couple of seconds and watch what happens : http://producten.hema.nl/
It made me laugh to tears !

Shimmering Gardens - Midnight

2008-07-15T12:58:00.003+02:00

The last panel with the 4 "blue" pages of the 2007 BJP : Midnight

Shimmering Gardens - Sunset

2008-07-15T12:55:00.001+02:00

Here is the second panel of this tryptich : Sunset
Made with the 4 "pink" pages of the 2007 BJP

Good surprise !

2008-07-13T12:29:00.002+02:00

Surfing this morning , I have had the good surprise to discover a very nice article on my beadwork on the Craftgossip Blog Network : read it by clicking HERE
Thousand of interesting informations about all sorts of crafts can be found on this blog.
Thank you, Denise.

Morzine : My exhibit

2008-07-13T11:54:00.019+02:00

My exhibit was settled in the beautiful "Salle des expositions" between the church and the town-hall.

Thank you to all the visitors who came, I have had great pleasure to meet them.

Below some pictures of the pieces I presented.

Back from Morzine

2008-07-13T11:20:00.006+02:00

First of all, a big "Thank you" to Caty Richard and all her staff for the organization of the first edition of "L'art du Quilt" in Morzine and their warm welcome .

We had a room in the nice hotel "Le petit cheval blanc" (The little white horse) and here is what we see from the balcony .

Beautiful, isn't it ?

One of the best restaurant of the town "La Chamade" offered to the artists 4 wonderful meals : surprising and delicious tastes. I remember with emotion the chips made with red beet-root ...

For the dessert, judge by yourself !!

Departure to Morzine

2008-06-30T16:54:00.002+02:00

Tomorrow morning : departure to Morzine
where I'll exhibit from July 2 to July 6 as "invited artist" (salle de l'ancienne Poste) in l'Art du Quilt.

I bring 37 large pieces (the small ones are still in the USA) of creative embroidery : Pomp and Circumstance, Vert Attitude, Florae Solis, Jungle Fever, Tangerine Stitches, Alien Armor, etc ...
and Shimmering Gardens - Sunset (the pink panel of 4 BJP pages) finished yesterday in a hurry.

I'll put some pictures of the exhibit when I come back home.

I hope the weather will be fine as the country is wonderful and, with my husband, we plan to walk a lot in nature for resourcing our minds.

BJP - May 2008

2008-06-28T22:24:00.003+02:00

Here is the last page of this wonderful adventure.
May, in blue with lots of flowers.

The close-up

Reinventing color : the MOMA color chart

2008-06-26T08:42:00.002+02:00

This morning, I discovered a very interesting site about color :
The MOMA color chart HERE

Bead Journal Project - April page

2008-06-24T22:25:00.005+02:00

I'm a little behind ...
My April page is in pink with a large cabochon and blue flowers.

The close-up

A meme

2008-06-14T13:37:00.003+02:00

I've been tagged by Pam Truog and Helène Henderson

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
In 1998 I was working, in Avignon ( France) with 2 architects as secretary-book-keeper and many other things , in fact all what was not pure architectural drawing ...
I lived alone with my daughter who was 17 y.o. in a charming little town named Villeneuve lez Avignon.

2. 5 things on today's to-do list :
- Emptying my suitcase (I came back home yesterday from my trip to the USA)
- Answering the numerous e-mails which came when I was abroad
- Up-date my blog
- Set the washing-machine going
- Read the last SAQA magazine

3. Snacks I enjoy:
Black Chocolate
Cold chicken
Smoked salmon with fresh cream and blinis

4. Things I'd do if I were a billionnaire !
- Buy a beautiful flat with a large room for my studio
- Travel to assist to musical festivals like : Salzbourg
- Buy some pieces of textile artists I love
- Travel in Italy

5 . Places I have lived :
- Avignon (France)
- Tananarive (Madagascar)
- Saint-Cloud (France)
- Sanary sur Mer (France)
- Paris (France)
- Montauban (France)

6. Peeps I want to know more about :
- Bead Babe
- Morwyn Dow

If you've been tagged copy and paste the questions and post the answers in your own blog.

I love beading

2008-05-14T18:36:00.002+02:00

Even if I'm a stitcher, I love beading !
Beads fascinate me.
You can find beads in almost all my pieces, they add light, glitter and colour.

I discovered heavy beading, years ago, with a book written by Robin Atkins and you'll not be surprised if I tell you that, after the 2007 BJP, I've joined the 2008 one !

To learn more about this great project/journey/adventure, follow this LINK
and come play with us :-)

Shimmering Gardens - Midday

2008-05-14T17:06:00.005+02:00

The green serie of the 2007 BJP is finished and here is the first panel of what will be a triptych with the blue and the pink series.

It will appear in my exhibition in Larchmont in June (see below)

Exhibition in Larchmont

2008-05-06T18:34:00.007+02:00

I'll exhibit in duo with Valerie de Gaulmyn, who is a mixed media artist, at the Oresman Gallery (Larchmont Public Library) from June 3rd to June 30th.
121 Larchmont avenue - Larchmont - NY 10538

Larchmont Public Library hours :
Monday & Thursday : 9.00 am - 9.00 pm
Tuesday and Wednesday : 9.00 am - 6.00 pm
Friday and Saturday : 9.00 am - 5.00 pm

I'll present about 38 pieces of contemporary embroidery.

Fractal of the day

2008-04-25T15:26:00.003+02:00

Here is my first fractal all made by hand following the tutorial HERE
and using another gradient.

Fractals

2008-04-21T01:06:00.002+02:00

I've always been fascinated by fractals and I've just discovered a wonderful tool which generates fractals : Apophysis
This little program is free and can be downloaded here

Combining Apophysis with PSPX2 allows to create designs which could be further translated in embroidery.

Here is my first try.

BJP - March page

2008-03-30T16:56:00.002+02:00

Spring is here or it could be ...
So, this month is in green

The close-up

Another cuff bracelet

2008-03-12T23:08:00.003+01:00

This one is made with 4 large amber cabochons, lampwork beads, swarovski crystals, mother of pearls beads and seed beads

Top

and bottom

Sentence of the day

2008-03-06T12:10:00.002+01:00

Louise Bogan (1897-1970) said :

I cannot believe that the incrustable universe turns on an axis of suffering ; surely the strange beauty of the world must somewhere rest on pure joy !

Read her poems here

Bead journal project : February page

2008-02-15T11:33:00.003+01:00

This month in pink and gold with a large glass cabochon.

The close-up

Bead journal project : January page

2008-01-20T22:42:00.000+01:00

This month in blue with a large glass cabochon, crystal seed beads and bugles and gold E beads.
2 paisleys in light blue E-beads with filling in fly stitch crystal seed beads
Background in black french knots.

The close-up :

Just finished : Entre sommeil et rêves

2008-01-17T09:41:00.000+01:00

Size 10,5" x 27"
Background hand dyed + incrusted organza
Hand and machine embroidery

Beaded cuff

2008-01-03T10:21:00.000+01:00

I've made this beaded cuff for my daughter as a Christmas present.
It combines seed beads, Svarowski crystals, semi-precious stones and dichroic glass.

Happy Holidays

2007-12-20T18:07:00.000+01:00

I wish you a merry Christmas and a wonderful creative Year 2008.

I've made this tag following a tutorial written by Yoka.
You can find it on Topgirlz site HERE

Digital design is also a passion as well as embroidery.

Bead Journal Project - December page

2007-12-08T16:04:00.000+01:00

A green one, this month with a large cabochon.

It seems that there are more gold flowers than usually ... perhaps it is due to Christmas ...

Tiny one are made with charlotte #13 beads.

The close-up :

Fairy slippers finished

2007-11-29T16:49:00.000+01:00

Here are the pictures of the finished fairy slippers.

I have a great pleasure making them. It was not as difficult as I thought it could be.

It was not easy to get a sharp picture, I'm not very clever with my digital camera :-<

The real color is this one (scan) :

Fairy slippers 1

2007-11-25T22:10:00.000+01:00

In the current issue of Stitch, I discovered the explanations to make fairy slippers, I couldn't resist to make these exquisite shoes.

Here is an image of the tops before mounting.

and a close-up

Bead Journal Project - November

2007-11-14T10:02:00.000+01:00

As I plan to make a tryptic at the end of the BJP journey, I have decided to work in three main background colors : black (August, October) , variegated green/blue (July, September) and pink/purple (June) .

November is in pink :-)

Bead Journal Project : October page

2007-11-13T18:56:00.000+01:00

To keep some unity between all the pages, the big E gold beads are in each page. I try to use the same motifs in different arrangements. Here, in blue like August page.

Net in crystal beads fly stitch. Backgroung in black wool french knots.

Bead Journal Project : September page

2007-11-13T18:54:00.000+01:00

It appears that flowers motifs are recurrent in the previous pages, so I decided to make the twelve pages all with flowers.

I've learned recently how to insert cabochons using peyote stitch. You can see a large green glass cabochon at the bottom.

Background in french knots with a variegated wool thread, the same as July.

Bead Journal Project : August page

2007-11-13T18:52:00.001+01:00

Heavy beading again with a large golden spiral and many little flowers.

The crystal and blue net is done in fly stitch (crystal beads) + one blue AB bead in the middle of each stitch.

Background in black wool : french knots and straight stitches.

Bead Journal Project : July page

2007-11-13T18:49:00.000+01:00

I've had so much fun last month that I've continued in heavy beading :-)

Background stitched all in french knots with a variegated wool.

Bead Journal Project : June page

2007-11-13T18:38:00.001+01:00

To learn anything about this project launched by Robin Atkins in May 2007, go to the Bead Journal Project blog.
My pages will all be 6" x 4".

I've joined this project with enthusiasm because I needed something to boost me.

7 years ago, I've discovered a book which radically changed my artist's life. Perhaps some of you have read it and practiced the exercices given, I can only strongly advise it to anybody who wants to progress : "The artist way" by Julia Cameron.

Since then I've learnt to listen to myself and understood that our work is the reflect of what we are inside , i.e. : what we have learned, lived, felt, seen, listen to, our joys and our tears, our experiments and researchs ...

Now, it's time to go one step further and study more precisely how the creative process could be awaken and enriched. I thank Robin for giving me this opportunity.

The first image is the full view, the second one is a close-up.

How to grow an idea ?

2007-11-12T09:34:00.000+01:00

Surfing randomly this morning , I've found this site giving some interesting tips :
How to grow an idea

Spring melody

2007-11-09T23:36:00.000+01:00

Created in 2007

Size : 12" x 31"

Background : velvet , application of narrow strips of fabric, ribbons and fancy threads.

Embellishments : metal, hand stitching and beading

Fragments d'Ys

2007-11-09T23:27:00.000+01:00

Created in 2007

Size : 22" x 15"

Background : hand painted silk on hand dyed fabrics.

Applications of printed organza, machine stitched and little squares of fancy fabric.

Hand embroidery and beading.

Falling Night

2007-11-09T23:21:00.000+01:00

Created in 2007

Size : 20" x 28"

Hand made felt on hand dyed fabric.

Embellishments : couched fancy threads and organza strips, hand stitching and beading

Burgundy Revel

2007-11-09T22:59:00.000+01:00

Created in 2007

Size : 18" x 24"

Background : velvet with couched threads, foiled, layered with organza, machine stitched and zapped with a hot gun.
Felt and fancy fabric motifs, weaved painted laces.

Hand stitching.

Le souffle du Dragon - Dragon Breath

2007-11-09T22:51:00.000+01:00

Created in 2005

Size : 12" x 16"

Background : handyed fabric.
Center piece : black cotton, painted, application of velvet, metallic net and various fabric snippets.
Heavy machine embroidery to hold everything in place, then holes burned with a soldering iron.

Heavy hand stitching and beading.

Rivendell - Fox and Oak

2007-11-09T22:37:00.000+01:00

Created in 2006

Size : 20" x 28"

The second of the Rivendell serie, there will be more to come ...

Background : crazy pieced with cotton fabrics.

Hand embroidery, beading and ribbon flowers.

Road to Madhepura

2007-11-09T22:29:00.000+01:00

Created in 2007

Size : 20" x 24"

Background : hand dyed fabric painted with gold embossing powder, free machine stitched .

Embellishments : braids, snippets of fabric, beads, sequins and hand embroidery

Alien Armor

2007-11-09T22:23:00.000+01:00

Created in 2006

Size : 16" x 20"

Old painted laces on a black background + some hand stitching.

Glass cabochons trapped under free machine lace.

Variations in green and gold

2007-11-09T22:14:00.000+01:00

Created in 2006

Size : 24" x 32"

6 monochromatic, monostich hand stitched rectangles, mounted on a pieced and machine embroidered background with thin metal inclusions.

Where have all the flowers gone ?

2007-11-09T22:02:00.000+01:00

Created in 2006 listening to the song written by Pete Seeger in 1961.

Background : old real army treillis worn from 1996 to 2006, free hand machine quilted.

Center motif : silk ribbon embroidery on a background of hand dyed fabric layered with organza, hand machine stitched and burned with a soldering iron.

October Song

2007-11-09T21:56:00.000+01:00

One of my old little crazy quilts remounted in 2007.

Background : hand dyed fabrics, painted flowers, squares of painted laces.

Hand embroidery + beading

Jungle Fever

2007-11-09T21:45:00.000+01:00

Created in 2006

Size : 12" x 37"

Had been selected for "Fiber Force - A Futuristic Approach" : exhibited at the PIQF (October 2007), then Mid-Atlantic Show (Hampton - VA) in February 2008 and WorldQuilt (mid-September 2008)

Background : layers of organza on hand dyed fabrics, heavy free machine embroidery, motifs burned with a soldering iron.

Fancy fabric, heavy hand stitching, needle lace and braids

Asian influence

2007-11-09T21:40:00.000+01:00

Created in 2006

Size : 16" x 20"

Hand made paper squares, snippets of thin metal trapped under silk fibers, bamboo twigs.
Black background.

Hand embroidery, beads and sequins.

Moonlight Serenade

2007-11-09T21:26:00.000+01:00

Created in 2005

Size : 28" x 28"

Backgroung : velvet, couched theads and fabrics strips, free hand machine embroidery
Border : hand dyed fabric, threads and metallic net set in place by free hand machine embroidery.
Strip of organza, gathered and then burned with a soldering iron.

Hand embroidery, guipure flowers, clusters of beads and buttons.

Whisper in silk

2007-11-09T21:20:00.000+01:00

Created in 2005

Size : 12" x 16"

Hand made paper squares, snippets of thin metal trapped with silk fibers, bamboo twigs.

Hand embroidery and beading.

Aqua triade

2007-11-09T21:15:00.000+01:00

Created in 2005

Size : 12" x 16"

Hand dyed fabric background with layers of organza, embellished cabochons.

Hand stitching and beading

Vert attitude

2007-11-09T19:53:00.000+01:00

Created in 2006

Size : 28" x 28"

Background in little squares of hand dyed fabrics.
Border in hand dyed fabric, couched threads, lamé and metallic net + organza, machine stitched then burned with a soldering iron.

Materials : vintage painted laces, organza, tyvek, fancy fabric, beads and sequins.

Machine and hand embroidery.

Pomp and circumstance

2007-11-09T19:46:00.000+01:00

Created in 2006

Size : 28" x 28"

Has been selected to participate in the SAQA "Transformation 07 : reverberation" exhibition (Birmingham - Festival of quilts 2007) , then Crooked Tree Arts Center (Petoskey, Michigan) January 12 – March 8, 2008 and Visions Gallery (San Diego, CA) April 4-May 25, 2008

Background in little squares of hand dyed fabrics + dyed vintage laces.
Border in hand dyed fabric + organza, machine stitched and burned with a soldering iron.

Other materials : tyvek, organza, beads and sequins.

Machine (a little) and heavy hand embroidery. Some needle lace in variegated threads.

Deep inside

2007-11-09T19:37:00.000+01:00

Created in 2005. Now in a private collection

Size : 16" x 28"

The labyrinth in the one of the Reims (France) cathedral.

Materials : canvas, batik, organza, fancy fabric, painted laces, metal, beads.

Hand stitching.

Elizabethan sonnet

2007-11-09T19:31:00.000+01:00

Created in 2005. Now in a private collection.

Materials : alcantara, metal, fancy fabric, beads and sequins

Hand embroidery.

Coeur volant ( Flying heart)

2007-11-09T19:25:00.000+01:00

Another crazy quilt, created in 2004.

Size : 16" x 20"

Background : hand dyed and batik fabrics.

Hand embroidery : silk ribbon, threads and beads

Moderato Cantabile

2007-11-09T19:12:00.000+01:00

Created in 2004 for Artextures contest, it has been rejected.

Size : 20 " x 38 "

Shape willingly limited to the rectangle and the square.

Combination of fabrics light and heavy, opaque and transparent, shining and mat : brocade, velvet, scrim, painted lace ...

Very light horizontal machine quilting to hold the pieces in place.

Hand stitching on each piece.

Inner power

2007-11-09T19:04:00.000+01:00

Created in 2004.

Size : 16" x 22 "

Pieced background, mounted on a silk taffetas. Celtic motifs in silver bias.

Hand stitching in silk ribbon and threads + beading.

Mandalas

2007-11-09T18:38:00.000+01:00

Serie of 6 mandalas, all created in 2004 for an exhibition (Saint-Antonin Noble Val - 82 - France) in duo with the painter Kristin Pytlak who designed mandalas.

Hand stitched and beaded on hand dyed fabrics.

Size : 18" x 18"

Heures hindoues

Love and Peace

Heures bleues

Think Native

Over the rainbow

Tuscany

L'ile aux tresors

2007-11-09T18:30:00.000+01:00

Created in 2004

Fantasy fabric : net background , snippets of lace and organza, heavy machine stitched.

Then cut and hand mounted with inclusions of strass, bismuth fragments.

Heavy hand stitching and beading.

Nostalgia al gusto di curacao

2007-11-09T18:23:00.000+01:00

Created in 2003 listening to the song of Paolo Comte

Size : 27" wide x 35" high

Memories of my childhood in Africa.

Pieced background, then machine and hand embroidery.

Further beading.

Squared Sunset

2007-11-09T17:54:00.000+01:00

Created for the Artextures contest in 2003, it has been selected and travelled during one year in France.

Pieced background, then weaved stripes of fabrics, ribbons and braids stitched in place with machine.

Further heavy hand embroidery and beading.

Celtic Spring

2007-11-09T17:32:00.000+01:00

Created in 2001 for the exhibition " Flowers, fruits, gardens" - Helioscope in Rochefort en Terre - France.

Silk ribbon embroidery and beading.

Central motif in heavy beading

Garance

2007-11-09T17:14:00.000+01:00

Another monochromatic, monostitch piece done in 2003

Each rectangle is 18 cm x 13 cm.

All materials and threads dyed with natural Garance.

Further beadind and embellishing with golden elements and metallic threads

The final work is 68" high x 14"

From top to bottom :

- French knot
- Herringbone stitch
- Fly stitch
- Chain stitch
- Feather stitch
- Cretan stitch
- Couching
- Buttonhole stitch

Indigo

2007-11-09T16:42:00.000+01:00

It's a monochromatic, monostitch work done in 2003

The finished piece is 68" high x 14 " wide

Each rectangle (18 cm x 13 cm) has a different background fabric and is stitched with threads of different thickness, all dyed with natural indigo.

Embellish with beads and sequins.

From top to bottom :

- Fly stitch
- Couching
- French knot
- Feather stitch
- Herringbone stitch
- Chain stitch
- Buttonhole stitch
- Cretan stitch

Rivendell - Red bird

2007-11-09T16:07:00.000+01:00

Created in 2003, 40" x 45" panel.

I love J.R.R.Tolkien world since I've discovered "The Hobbit" in 1975.

For those who are not familiar with all his books, it's enough to know that Rivendell is a little country (mostly woods) governed by Elrond, the Elf and where Evil can't enter.

By stitching this panel, I've aimed that those who look closely at it feel peace, joy, harmony and, of course, faerie !

It is a crazy quilt, all in cotton fabrics, mostly machine constructed by the "sew and flip" method (beginning in the center and turning around clockwise), except 2 or 3 pieces which were appliquéed by hand.

I wanted it like a woody landscape, so all the fabrics are in green shades, some printed with tone on tone plants.

I've used very simple stitches for the embroidery : outline stitch, fly stitch, detached chain stitch, French knots, feather stitch. Most of the stitching has been done in cotton thread (#12), except a few silk ribbon leaves and flowers and the ferns which are in #30 variegated rayonne thread.

Classically, the seams are almost all embellished, either with a serpentine motif to add movement or a detached one evenly repeated (I want here to give credit to Susie Williams whose combinations of stitches are so exquisite that I've stolen some !) : basic stitches in # 12 cotton thread, first round of additional stitches with a thinner one and second round of additional stitches with thin metallic thread.

I think that it is very important to use decreasing thicknesses of thread to make the motif blends well into the background.

The focal point is the Red paradise bird in the tree. For this design I've took my inspiration in a Crewel Embroidery book. The body is a little appliqué piece, I've stitched long and short stitches to join it to the head and tail.

Head and tail are stitched with 2 plies of threads : one variegated cotton (out of 6 plies mouliné) and one metallic thread. I've used fly stitch for the tail.

It took me 3 plain days to stitch the tree (2 plies of silk floss : one plain and one variegated) : trunk and branches in outline stitches close together, leaves in detached chain stitches, flowers in French knot stitches.

The flowers all around are intentionally in white and cream tones except the red/orange ones in the foreground to balance the bird.

In the foreground, are some stones in brown batik embroidered with one strand of black cotton mouliné in long and short stitches to hide the raw edge.

Some thin fancy golden thread is couched with green fly stitches, at the left a dark green guipure motif has been enhanced with silk ribbon flowers (detached chain) and in the middle a little one has been couched to simulate some plants.

A lot of different stitches and threads have been used, sometimes one over the other, to make the herbs and mosses to be as close as it is in a real forest.

I've tried to translate the reality in a sort of "dreamland" by using brazilian embroidery (bullion knot and raised cup stitch) to give some 3D effects and also with fine metallic threads (gold and chartreuse green), tiny charm golden flowers and seed beads to add sparkle here and there.

I can't say exactly how long it took me to complete this panel because I always have 2 or 3 projects at different stages of completion to work on : when one bores me, I take another one and so on ...

However, I think I've passed between 150 and 200 hours from choosing the fabrics to adding the sleeve at the back. This, meaning "effective" work : sewing, stitching, etc… I don't count all the moments passed to think about the project : find the idea, mental construction of the panel, positionning the motives in mind to determinate if it will be better to put it here or there, etc…

The time passed doesn't count, it's the result which imports ! If you feel something into your heart when looking at Rivendell-Red Bird, I've won my challenge.

Indian Summer

2007-11-09T15:55:00.000+01:00

Created in 2002 : beggining of my crazy quilt period.

48" square composed of 16 blocks of crazy quilting finely stitched and beaded.
The center is embellished with large fantasy fabric leaves and small ivy fabric leaves mounted on silk "rat tail".

Mughal Garden

2007-11-09T15:39:00.000+01:00

Created in 2001 for the Hoffman Challenge which theme was "Shalimar".
40% of the surface must be done with prescribed fabrics.

It has been constructed following the draft of a turkish hammam.

The calligraphy design in the top right corner is by Hassan Massoudy : verse of the XII century poet Ibn al Fared and says " What have I not yet done for Love ?"

Kaleidoscope motifs following the advices of Paula Nadelstern's book "Kaleidoscopes and quilts".

Paper piecing and free hand machine quilting.
Hand stitched butterflies and flower.

Libre arbitre

2007-11-09T15:22:00.000+01:00

Created in 2000 for a contest which theme was : Thesis - Antithesis.
It has been selected and won the 3rd prize.

I've choosen : Angel and Devil.
The size of each panel is 21" x 40"
Connecting them you can see a little "human being" torn between Right and Wrong.

Paper-piecing, reverse appliqué, free hand machine quilting

Lanjewels

2007-11-09T15:09:00.000+01:00

Another classical quilt, not square this time.

Created in 2000 for a challenge (Interprétation of pavements of Langeais Castel), it has been refused.

The block motif must be choosen between a dozen of imposed ones taken out from the photos of the real pavements.

It's all free hand machine quilted and many squares are embellished with tatted and beaded medallions