Learning by Sewing

Fruits and flowers

Hejsa!

The sun is shining and there are crocuses in our garden. It is starting to feel properly like spring (the 17°C yesterday helped too!) although rain is forecast, so I’ll try not to get lured in by false spring! :-)

This is a page for my 100 day project, finished yesterday with no. 26, the olive branch.

I have really enjoyed making something that is more naturalistic. Although I probably won’t be making loads of pages that are in a naturalistic style. They do take a lot longer than the others I have been making. I’m not supposed to be spending a whole day making each of these pages!

But it’s a fun challenge. First turning an idea and some image research into a sketch and then making templates. Then cutting out and assembling the various elements. Using thread colours and the stitching to add textures and blend the fabric colours. I am learning a lot!

Among other things that it’s not always easy to turn something into a fabric version of the thing. For example, I’m not 100% sure that someone would look at the objects in the bottom right corner and think ‘oh yes, those are figs’. Did you recognise them as figs before I told yo just now? ;-)

I have started working on a page to go with this one, I’ll show you the finished pages next week.

I am actually a bit surprised that I decided to do this appliqué and machine stitching project for my 100 day project. I have to admit that I used to think the people who did mostly machine stitching/embroidery were kinda cheating. Which is of course complete BS. Although stitching this by machine is faster than doing it by hand, it is still work. And it is creative too. There are many little decisions to make when stitching by machine that I don’t need to make when stitching by hand. Always keep learning! :-)

I hope you have a lovely weekend!

x Carina

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Some Things I Am Enjoying

Reading: The Art of Sutherland Macdonald, Victorian England’s “Michelangelo of Tattooing”. Interesting article from The Public Domain Review. With a small gallery of tattoos and some excellent moustaches too. :-D

Watching: The Embroiderers. A film about Palestinian embroiderers. Very moving.

Music: Zeyne. Especially this song: Yamma Mweil il Hawa. Beautiful.

Instagram: @jordannassar - Palestinian embroidery artist. Also check out his website. Stunning work.

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🍉Free Palestine.