A new Autumnal pattern release

October - He won't stop
(authors note: this can be rapped)

Jack will advance now
Secretly at night,
Tickling your pipes
With his wintry might.

Silent, surprising,
Unasked, he will come
To your sweet peas and veg plot,
Dismissing the sun.

Shocked now you look
At your withered pile of green,
It's all over now
Not a tattie or a bean

Is left for the soup pot
It's time to retire,
To the hearth, to the stitching,
The the comforting fire.

anon.


Okay, a stitch for the season!  I took leave of my senses and didn't include a single pumpkin or gourd, instead, shaggy ink cap mushrooms and spiders' webs appear in corners.  The central flowers are a more classic embroidery motif, the big 'O' for old was influenced by lettering on illustrated manuscripts which continue to inspire.  The British Library has several virtual tours of manuscripts through the ages, lots of lush pictures to admire which you can keep clicking on to get an amazing close up as if your nose was inches from the pages.  Here's a couple of examples:

Breviary of Renaud de Bar. France (Verdun), c.1303

Industrious bees, doves nesting in a perindens tree (medieval peacock) while a dragon waits below, and a snake and a dragon, England,13th century. I like how the dragon lies diagonally on the page, extending out of his box.

Industrious bees, doves nesting in a perindens tree (medieval peacock) while a dragon waits below, and a snake and a dragon, England,13th century.

I like how the dragon lies diagonally on the page, extending out of his box.

 

I like how the dragon lies diagonally on the page, extending out of his box.

Many of the images seem to have things attacking one another, it's a bit odd to me, but if I saw that image in the 13th Century I may have understood completely.  I can't imagine never reading a word my entire life, which is how the bulk of the population lived in those times.  These hand written scripts were the only written word available, and they were mainly written in Latin and tucked away in a monastery for the few to behold.

Onward to the stitching!

I had a bit of fun with the cobwebs...

Blackwork inspired 'florets' (I'm making that word up) appear beside the fading blooms...

A little spider appears at bottom right, he's not a biter, you'll be safe...

A fancy letter 'O'...

Available now for stitching, the shop is always open :-)

Patterns a' Brewing

I've been working on a couple of new patterns for release next month, one is in the sewing stage aka 'on the frame', of which I'll share a few pics, another is still in the design phase on the mac.  You will all know it's never a quick process!

I've been inspired of late by the intricate beauty of Blackwork.  It gained great popularity in 16th Centry England after the then Queen of England, Catherine of Aragon brought blackwork embroidered garments with her from Spain, the country of her birth. 

Traditionally sewn with black silk on linen or cotton, the stitch used is called 'reverse running stitch' or Holbein stitch after the court painter of the day, Hans Holbein (c.1497-1543).  He painted this 'Spanish Work' as it was often called, in immense detail, it is easy to imagine this cuff in real life:

And so, on to the sneek peek of my next design, 'Old Oktober'...

 

Partly inspired by illustrated old manuscripts, partly by old samplers, and partly by what I spy on my daily walks in nature.  I've used lush autumnal colours here, burnt orange, (or, as we say here in Scotland, 'Irn-bru' orange, hehe), espresso browns, charcoal greys and tarnished golds.  I'm working on my usual 32 count linen in Antique White by Zweigart and enjoying how it's all coming together.

Here's another pause in the work:

You can see above a tiny piece of blackwork has sneaked in, I'm just using it for variety here and there, it's fun to change it up a bit.

And finally, little sheep has become a pillow! Now hanging up and able to keep watch over the stitching area with ease.

Okay! Just left to say a big THANKYOU to all the lovely ladies who have faved and purchased from the shop, I'm inspired to go on creating and appreciate your custom and interest very much.