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?

A Bug From Down Under...

 Whenever I need a dose of Royal Academy of Needlework-quality embroidery, I

head over to Lee's blog "Notes From Under the Mountain". Lee lives in 

New Zealand in the shadow of Mt. Taranaki, and her handwork will make you

 swoon. She creates the most beautiful things and her stitches are perfection.

One day, I stopped by to visit and saw that Lee was offering up a piece of her

handwork in a giveaway. She had four little bugs that she'd stitched and there 

would be four lucky winners. I added my comment and crossed my fingers.

(This was the post announcing the winners on her blog. I was so excited!!!)

 I received my little beetle in the mail on Saturday and immediately opened

the package! Lee had tucked this little beauty inside a card of Mt. Taranaki.

I can't even imagine living anywhere with a view like that!

 I'm mesmerized by this little red beetle. It has bead-y black eyes, a 

leathery head and a puffy body stitched in sparkling red threads. I'm

in awe of the talent that Lee poured into all four of her beetles. Making

them seems to come so naturally to her. She's an inspiring needlewoman.

 For now, my little red beetle is going to sit on my sewing table right

in front of Harris so that I can look at it whenever I want to. I know 

I'll eventually affix it to something special - some time in the future -

but for now, I'm going to keep it close and enjoy looking at it.

I'm so grateful that Lee chose my name, and then was willing to

send this sweet gift all the way to Florida, USA.

I'll cherish this gift from your hands for a long time to come.

Thank you, Lee!