Silk and Metal Done, Done, Done!

It's done! I managed to complete this Group Correspondence Course on time. I'll be sending it to Rissa next week. Everyone here loves it. I see some flaws, but I learned a lot. The lower picture was taken yesterday evening before I finished. I just got up this morning and worked on it until about noon. Today's been a rainy day in Normandy, so it was a good day to stay home. This makes finish number five of my 25 project challenge. I'm so happy it's complete! I'd been feeling (again) like I'd not been making much progress.

Goldwork Gains

I worked a couple of hours on the goldwork this week and made a lot of progress here in France. I have a really nice table with direct sunlight that I use. It works well. I'm going to try to finish it up next week. I'm so happy it's almost done!

Another Leaf

I got the leaf done before I left for France. The goldwork survived the trip in my suitcase, but all my Blogger instructions are in French. It's weird. Anyway, I haven't been stitching much at all because of all the people coming in and having to be shown around and having to make dinner for loads of people in an unfamiliar kitchen and going to unfamiliar grocery stores and so on. Finally NOT cooking tomorrow, so I plan on doing some needlework. My husband took pictures of progress since the last set today, so ... you get blogged!

Goldwork Slowdown

I really don't see any way that I'm going to complete this before I leave on Saturday, though I'll try. I'll be keeping this home because I don't know that I'll have anywhere to do something this fussy in the chateau. It's also kind of bulky. Hopefully, I can finish this before the deadline after I get back.

Parts H & I - Goldwork

I've made quite a bit of progress on this. The burden stitch turned out better with the silk than with the metallic thread. I like it enough that I'll try to use it in another piece. I'm not sure I can finish the rest in the next twelve days before France, but I'm going to try.

Goldwork Part G Done

So, I was thinking. I don't believe I've ever told y'all how I manage to do goldwork without a frame stand. It works, it's really portable, and it's affordable. I stretch the silk on a frame as usual and leave it on the frame for the duration of the stitching. To have it accessible and both my hands free, I use clamps to attach it to the edge of my dining room table. These clamps are from the hardware store, yes, but they're special clamps. First off, no screws. They have a lever you depress to get them to tighten up. They also have nice cushy pads for the frame and you can make them tight. I've seen one of our cats get onto this (he was promptly shooed off) and the clamps held. I'm planning on taking the clamps with me on my trip.


As for the goldwork, I got another section done - the little blooms of the flower. They're not as round as they should be, but I think they came out all right. Next up - the big leaf in the middle.

Goldwork Part F Done

This week, I managed to do Part F. It's the calyx of the other flower, and I think I did the box couching better on it. At least, it looks better to me. I'm liking the progress when I get to work on this, but it's looking like I'm going to have to take this to France to complete. I really want it done, so I might take a week or a day or two and just work on it to catch up.

Goldwork Flower

Parts C, D and E of the goldwork project completed the flower that's in close up here. I think it looks pretty good, but I did a couple of things wrong - instead of ending the couching every round on the lower leaf, I just kept going round with it. That led to some bumpiness. When I did it properly on the upper leaf, I left some gaps in the leaf on the wider parts. I really need practice! Hopefully I'll get some and some in person instruction, which I feel necessary, at the ANG seminar in Baltimore in August. Now on to part F!

Goldwork Parts C and D Done

This week I was able to work on the goldwork twice, making me able to complete two areas. The "beads" in the middle of the flower were all supposed to use Jaceron, but I had extra bits from my last goldwork piece and used them. That means I added bits of copper to it. I think it looks pretty good.

Filling in a Space

I spent a large chunk of my stitching time this week filling in the one space on this flower. I think I did a decent job of it, even though I didn't do it the way the directions said. I really need to read them more carefully next time. The two petals flanking this one are next, and they too will be completely filled - but with a different kind of thread to be couched.

Goldwork - Silk and Metal GcC

For some reason, the background fabric looks really yellow in these pictures, but you can still see the progress I've made. Tomorrow I'll be filling in the flower petals with couching. There's still a chance of me finishing this before I go to France; otherwise, I'll have to fit the frame in my suitcase. I have until the end of July to get this done. I really want it done before that.

Goldwork Part C Started

I got the inside of the bell shaped flower done this week and will be outlining it with Jaceron in the coming on. I'm SO glad I started this after I did the other goldwork project. It gave me half a clue as to how to go about things. It's getting lots of attention from the family whenever I pull it out.

Second Leaf Done

Yay! I got Part B, the second leaf, done today. They look pretty good together. Now, if only I could find more time for this. I really need to get it done before I go to France, as I don't want to have to carry it in my suitcase over there and risk something happening to it. On to Part C, the inner part of the flower.

On to the Second Gold Leaf

As my husband commented on my last posting regarding the goldwork, gold is not normally my favorite metal. I'm far more partial to silver and bronze, and will, eventually, do goldwork in both those colors. For now, I'm enjoying learning the technique and I think the gold looks good for the two things I'm working or have worked on. This week I got the lattice done on the second leaf and will hopefully complete it in the coming week. I still like how it's coming together, even though some of the lines on this second leaf aren't quite parallel.

Goldwork Leaf Done

I completed Part A of the Silk and Metal GCC this last week. I think it looks pretty good. Now to do the other leaf that swoops downward next to it the same way. I still like the way goldwork goes fairly quickly. It's also good my husband has figured out how to make a temporary stand for me. I use two of his quick release clamps and clamp it to the table. Works really well.

Silk and Metal Stitching Started

I finally started stitching this last week. It's going well so far. This picture shows the start on Part A. I finished Part A yesterday and now have one complete leaf on it. I'm really glad I did the other piece of goldwork first, though. There are some things not explained very well in the instructions and having that little bit of experience has helped me. Now to get it farther along before July when it has to be turned in.