What Are You Stitching?

Antoinette Sleep

‘I wanted to share a project that has taken me 18 years. I only concentrated on it about 3 to 4 weeks a year but now I have completed it.’

‘I took a photo from our property and then started the journey from there.’

18 years, Antoinette, that is quite the commitment! You have done incredible work in recreating your photo in stitch, we almost couldn’t tell which one was the embroidery. Well done!

Bunny Goodman

‘This is from the Lilly Legacy of Mike Parr – Ottawa collection and Mary Corbet’s great pattern drafting.’

‘I had inherited an old silver plaque with my father’s older brother Kenneth Goodman’s information engraved on it. Kenneth died as a toddler; March 6, 1915 – 1 year, 7 months. When I got this small plaque, I was worried it would get lost.

I thought about framing it then I thought it might just get lost anyhow in a plain frame. I don’t want it to get lost. He was, he is. Then I thought about some of Lilly’s designs and decided to embroider one and put the plaque in the centre.’

‘I embroidered this frame using only Ellana wool/polyester blended yarn. The yarn was nice to work with. I used satin stitch, Romanian stitch, colonial knots, stem stitch, split back stitch, chain stitch, and raised spider web stitch.

I buttonhole stitched on a piece of wool felt behind the tarnished silver plaque to help keep the satin fabric from being marked. I added Swarovski Rose Montees SS10 beads for bling. You have to have bling! Now I think the odds of this plaque getting lost have diminished.’

This is such a creative way to display the plaque, Bunny! The design is exquisite, and your stitches are beautiful. We love the added bling tying everything together!

Amalia Cunha

‘I worked on this project during my brother’s long battle with cancer. I finished it shortly after he died. It kept me sane during some terrible times.’

‘I was always so worried about leaving tear stains on the linen but decided it just didn’t matter! I have come to love this white egret and I think this bird was my salvation! He will always remind me of my brother.’

‘It is embroidered using DMC thread on linen. I have learnt to stitch from reading many wonderful books by many talented needle artists.’

We’re sorry for your loss, Amalia. Your bird is spectacular, the time and talent you’ve poured into the project makes it a truly special labour of love.

Have you finished any long-haul projects? Perhaps stitched a memorial piece?

Whatever you are stitching, we’d love to see it! Email photos of what you’ve created with needle and thread along with a few details about your stitching journey to news@inspirationsstudios.com