Castle black work, the end is in sight

I’m still busy working away at my castle, my tutor recommended I changed the stitch for the drive way, to this zigzag pattern, rather than the original choice, which looks a little like block paving.

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Castle Blackwork update

Slowly getting there! The grass is done. Starting work on the archway next.

Shadows

Trying to keep the momentum going on my Blackwork castle, & the pesky sun keeps casting shadows, off for a little walk I think & enjoy the sun while it’s out.

Turret 2: Blackwork

I’m still slowly working away on turret 2 of Cooling Castle (Kent,UK). Moving on to the middle archway next. I’m leaving turret 1 until I’ve seen my tutor, it’s got BIG issues, I think I might be unpicking ??? I’m not happy with it now I’ve completed turret 2’s top.

Blackwork update

I’m slowly getting towards my goal, of finishing & in for assessment before Christmas. The bulk of the second turret stitching is done. I’m not sure if I will start to put the stone work in or put some more of the grass in next.

Puffin eye

Eye design in silver, red & black metallic threads

I’ve been busy working away on the upper part of the head & eye. I’m really pleased with the look of the finished eye. I hope it’s going to look even better once the silver leather cheek is in place.

I’ve now got to start working on the beak design, I have various metallic threads & machine threads to help me create a stylised, but natural looking beak. This is definitely going to need working out on the practice frame, I hope to have something suitable for my tutor to comment about on Friday.

Wing area in progress

The wing area is still in progress, unfortunately I ran out of the gold passing thread I was using, so I hope the RSN still has the same reel & I can get some more of the same. I didn’t like to start the next part of the wing, just in case it’s not exactly the same & it notices. It was nice to have a break from pulling all the way through the layers of carpet felt & especially plunging the ends through, I had quite sore fingers at one point.

Gold work Puffin the couching begins

The first part of my couching marathon has begun. This was my first attempt at a basket weave pattern over hard string padding. The next couching phase is the wing area, leaving the soft string padding for cut work & gold plate to go in near to the end.

Mounting Luna for assessment

Pinning the embroidery to the mount board

It’s hard work pulling the fabric taught & pinning it to the mounting board, especially when you can’t seem to get it completely straight & no puckers around the embroidery

Happy St George’s Day

Appliqué embroidery of water dragon

I thought it would be a good time to share my appliqué dragon.

One last push to finish Luna

Silk shading of Luna with source photo

Finished the ear turn backs today, I need to tinker about with the shading under her chin. I need my tutor to check it on Friday & hope we can start to add her whiskers