Here’s a very quick update on my embroidered Christmas ornament in goldwork and silk!
I had to change my mind on one idea because I was short on the metal thread I wanted to use – I’m running short on check purl… you’ll see what I mean…
The area between the green and gold twist and the pearl purl (the inside area of the border) was the problem. I wanted to cover the yellow felt there with check purl, like the middle diamond shape. Unfortunately, I didn’t think I’d have enough to get around the whole edge, so I reverted back to the idea of the passing thread couched in gold.
I think the gold passing thread couched with the gold silk gives the ornament a nice beveled look, but I really wanted a few more sparkly areas on the ornament. The other disadvantage is that I had already couched the pearl purl – the one wrapped in green silk and the one that lines the inside of the square. It’s not the normal order to use when couching passing thread, methinks. The green and gold pearl would’ve been ok, but having the other edge of pearl purl makes it quite difficult to couch the passing thread. I’m going to have to sink some threads.
You know, I think I might be back to that dilemma – do I want it on point, or square? Oh – don’t worry – we won’t start that again! It’s funny how different it looks in photos. I don’t see it from far away when I’m working on it, and can’t really get an eye for it, but when I see it in photos, I think I can be a bit more objective.
Maybe. Can we ever really be objective about our own work?
I am loving watching this come together. Keep it on point!
The only problem I see with the ornament is that it’s so pretty, whoever ends up with it will want to hang it up year-round–not just at Christmas-time! Beautiful job.
Hi
This is beautiful. I hope I get as good as you one day.
Nora
This is such amazing work.
I don’t know if we can ever be objective DURING the creation of an intense project…only afterwards!
I love it! I think I like it better without the chipping on the border. For me, at least, a little chipping goes a long way.
So pretty work, Mary, as always is!
Dear Mary, I love your website! It’s so so inspiring. Needlework is my passion, and am working on some beautiful (if I do say so)christmas stockings with lace and some embroidery,satin materials. Am 64 and need a joint replacement on my right hand so my working time is limited. But after the surgery, look out. Again thank you for an incredibly beautiful and informative site! Raine
I can’t tell you the number of projects that I have started and then stopped because I didn’t think it was good enough, only to look at it again months later and realise that it was actually quite good really. I am currently on version 5 of a piece of Goldwork (A partridge in a pear tree) which I intend to give to my mother for Christmas. It would have been cheaper to buy her the real thing.
What a gorgeous piece…I can only imagine it in “real life” with all the sparkle and angles…WOW! My preferred “view” is a square wall hanging…probably comes from my “logical” accounting background…thanks for your continued inspiration in needle art.