Story cloth.

The obvious way to make a story cloth is to know the story you want to stitch.

My way is to stitch randomly, and then look for the story. If you trust yourself and let yourself "see what happens", a story will emerge. For sure.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 While thinking about where to go next on my cloth, I filled the centre of the flowers with pale blue French knots.

Now and then I have to look at the whole thing before deciding the next step.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 Continuing the cloth. A scattering of wee flowers.

 I read on sri threads that in Japan, there is a certain magic associated with stitching.....


Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 Thank you so much for the tips in the previous post. Since I have heavy gel medium at hand, I will probably try that.

The canvas is dry as a bone, so the next step will be to gently rub off the paper with a damp sponge. I'm procrastinating right now...

 ...procrastinating by adding details onto my cloth...

 Have a fruitful day!



Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

The evolution of a piece of cloth. I began with an antique piece of cloth that already had some embroidery on it; then I stitched a plain cotton panel onto it, and continued. The cloth now measures 3 ft, 2 inches. I add to it as the spirit moves me. Part of me hopes it will never be finished, but I am not Penelope waiting for Ulysses, so it will be finished sooner rather than later, and I will be satisfied.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 WIP - a small sampler, white on white.

Trying to decide what will go in the bottom left-hand corner. Perhaps a word, but it must be the right word, and embroidered in red. 

 
Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 Experimenting with black and white, and textures. Letting the brush go where it will.

 And a little stitching..........

 Happy Wednesday!
 


Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

On a grey, rainy day, a comforting thing to do curl up on the couch with a hot drink and stitch. The temperature will double by tomorrow and I'll be out and about, so today I'm taking the opportunity for a little quiet time with my sewing.

 
Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 Stitching is the perfect winter occupation. There are snowflakes falling outside, but nothing serious. Just an excuse to curl up with needle and thread. I started with this blank piece of linen hand-loomed in Nova Scotia (the maker's label was on it and I included it as part of the markings), and started improvising.

Yesterday I added a few colours to my stash. I'm partial to Van Gogh tube watercolours right now. I wanted to experiment with pink. I got a permanent rose (Cotman's because that's the only pink I  could find) that I mixed with titanium white -- I prefer pale pinks, the paler the better -- and added some azo yellow, and ultramarine, also mixed with white.

 
Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 I was thrilled that Adele won the Golden Globe for Skyfall. It is a beautiful piece of music and I was rooting for her. I saw the movie last month and loved it. It's the first Bond film I've seen in ages, being a die-hard Sean Connery fan when it comes to Bond, and I've not cared for the other Bonds. But our current Mr. Bond is perfect.

While watching, I stitched.

 Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Yesterday's WIP is now completed.

Worked on antique French linen.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

There is one area in which I have a lot of patience -- I say this because patience isn't my strong suit -- and that is when I leave a piece of cloth alone until the right time. This 35-inch-long table topper has been draped on the back of a chair for a long time. I knew I wanted to embroider it with words, but the words didn't show themselves until yesterday.

I mounted it à la Sibella Court -- with masking tape. Ideally it would be pinned in place.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

This piece was ambitious, stitching a portrait, free style, on a 15x16-inch vintage napkin. I went at it slowly, adding to it whenever something came to mind. A package of vintage goodies arrived from Montreal, and a piece of lace from that parcel was the finishing touch. I'm not sure I would make a habit of this. It was arduous, which I don't mind, but I wasn't thrilled with the result. Still, that's how I find out what I want and don't want: I try it.

Arduous is what I would definitely call these fabric baubles. Hours of patience were needed just to turn the strips inside out, then to create the "beads", just for starters -- but I was thrilled with the results, so I will be making more.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

When vintage linens are too good to cut up.
Arrange the pieces and stitch them together, carefully if, like me, you're not used to navigating big pieces in your sewing machine.
Hang as a [small] window covering, Japanese-style door curtain, or pin to the wall.

Available in my Etsy shop.

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb