Goldwork Pieces...

Today, I'm happy to answer Lois' question about the piece at the top of my cushion. First, let me say that the gorgeous cushion is the creation of my dear blog friend, Dawn Edmondson of The Feathered Nest blog and shop. She has a way with natural materials, and I purchased this piece from her when I first started blogging. 

The Lucky Clover, Sacred Heart, and Immaculate Heart were all the first pieces I made from the classes I took with Clara of Clara Stitching. I've come a long way in technique since that first piece (the clover). I'll likely make another soon to show myself how different another would look from the first.

I also added my koi and first frog to the display for this image. Afterward, I returned both to their fish bowl display. These are all the small class pieces I've done, but I also have my goldwork wreath framed under glass in my studio, and my blue tit bird ornament also hangs in my studio.

Here's a closeup of the beautiful beetle I won in a drawing - also when I first started blogging - from Lee Westfield of Notes From Under the Mountain blog. I tried to link to her blog today, but the link is having issues. Suffice it to say, she's made some extraordinary pieces through the years, and this one is a true treasure to me.

Now that I know more about goldwork, I know that she used red brilliant check purls and black beads on this piece. There is also a piece of suede for the upper body, and the piece is padded. She stitched on a ground of dupioni silk and then mounted the piece to card stock.

Lois thought she was seeing a ladybug in yesterday's photo, but this is what she saw. Funny though, as I've been contemplating a ladybug ever since I learned goldwork...all inspired by this piece Lee created.

So, if you're reading this, Lee, please know that I treasure this beetle as much now as I did the day it arrived. The difference is that now I understand the skill and time it took to create it, as well as the techniques you used (thanks to my tutor, Clara Warschauer of Clara Stitching).

Now, I'll be moving the ladybug up in my goldwork To Do list. Soon there will be a "Loveliness of Ladybirds" in my studio. Isn't that neat (and appropriate) that that's what a group of them is actually called?