Corncockle and Dragonfly

Life sometimes gets in my way.... I finished corncockles and dragonfly several days ago but didn't find the time to blog it. I decided not to add the botanically correct name to the bottom as it looks really hard to do and I somehow managed to loose the thread I was supposed to use. SOOOO I can not do it and not feel guilty about it

Another thing I have been doing is collecting "stuff" for my next class I have signed up for with Candace Kling at Maureen Greesons.. I am soooo excited. I went to one of my favorite places last week in Brattleboro VT to collect fabric. If you ever get to this neat town go to Delectable Mountain Fabrics. Yummy yummy yummy . Its a small shop but packed with silks, velvets, vintage laces, buttons, etc... A little slice of Crazy Quilters heaven.

I am ready to go and looking forward to the class . I think there are still spaces available!!

Flying away

These are the wings for my dragonfly. I have no excuse now but to add her to the corncockles.

These are good wings for a beetle. I saw a beetle in flight and its wings come out from under the hard outer wing cases (elytra). I have some beetle elytra somewhere and I may try an experiment......

These are for some fantasy bug yet to be born!!!

Now if life will get back to normal whatever that is I can get back to stitching.

Sequined and Beaded Pins

I am still busy with "wings", however, I came across some sequined and beaded pins I made in another lifetime.  The first one I made as practice for my first Ecole Lesage classes. The pattern comes from Ecole Lesage Chez Vous page 116. As the book is in French and I do not speak or read French this is my copy with the sequins and rhinestones I had on hand.

My interpretation

Original pattern Ecole Lesage Chez Vous page 116

I also dabbled in beading and particularly like Laura Macabe. She had a shop in Mystic Ct at one time and gave classes there. I was fortunate to take a class from Laura at Maureen Greesons and also at Ann Benson's shop in Manchester Ct. This was my interpretation of some of the "eye" jewelry she loves to make. The eyelids were my idea.

They tend to freak people out so I don't wear them much. In case you want to check out Laura's web site here are a couple I found ...

http://justletmebead.com & http://lauramccabejewelry.com

Corncockle and Dragonfly... continuing saga

Well I have just about completed the corncockles... A few finishing touches the center of the open flower, one of the ribs on the bud... (a bullion stitch ... 1 strand of silk on a #12 sharp needle with 24 wraps), and some bends with the tweezers to turn and twist the sepals into more pleasing places??

The top two dragonfly wings are almost done but I am afraid I will not be able to stop with this set of 4 wings. I can't possibly put scissors to these two sandwiched pieces of Divine metallic organza and waste the rest. I am on a mission to find some wings for another deserving butterfly or dragonfly or whatever to make at least one ... or more... sets of wings. I will be doing a lot of cutting when the time comes!!! soon I hope

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Corncockle and Dragonfly

I just love this project but when I take pictures of my work I can see all the crocked stems and things I don't like. I really appreciate Jane Nicholas precise needlework.

Tuesday

Thursday

I have lots of new ideas for my circles but I want to finish this first while I still can remember what I am supposed to do.

EGA class with Jane Nicholas

Corncockle and Dragonfly

What a great class with a great teacher . Jane Nicholas has a way of getting you to work hard and enjoy it! This project could be a 5 day class but Jane managed to fit all the information into two days.

The products of my labor. The outline of a leave and stem, a tiny blue beetle, one corncockle,5 sepals, 8 corncockle petals and one dragonfly wing.

Photography can not do justice to such dimensional pieces. Jane had many samples of her works from her books Medieval Flora and Stumpwork and Gold Embroidery inspired by Turkish, Syrian and Persian Tiles on display. You do not realize how tiny and really magnificent the pieces are until you see them in person. I came home bursting with ideas for my current project. Before I return to them though....... I will have to finish this.

Jane NicholasShirlee Fassell

I was fortunate to sit next to Jane at lunch and dinner. A truly delightful two days!!!

EGA class with Jane Nicholas

The June Newsletter from my local EGA chapter offered a class for members in September with Jane Nicholas. I did not think twice but sent them a check and registration form. The class was first come first serve and registration ended August 1. I found out mid August that I had gotten into the class.

I took a dragonfly class with Jane in 2003. These are two of the dragonflies I made in class and I incorporated them in a quilt.

Jane's book on beetles came out shortly after I did the dragonflies and I made the following beetles and also incorporated them in a quilt.

The piece I am doing this weekend is from her Medieval Flora book and is titled Corncockle and Dragonfly.

I will be spending the next few days getting together all the needles (28 in all) and 6 hoops etc for the class. I am looking forward to taking the class and showing you all the results.