Who's up for a Challenge?

Me.

I took on the task of embroidering a “Puzzle."

The outline is done first with double cross stitch and then all the shapes filled in with whatever stitches and colours you choose. As I’m new to embroidery I chose the colours I had most of.

Cream, variegated cream and fawn, white and brown.

I darted all over the place filling in random shapes. It was fun to pick up and complete a small square.

At the end I added the lighter green as felt it needed that with some black and sparkly thread I bought.

This way it became more balanced with the colours spread out. I’m not one to plan a process. I make it up as I go.

The sparkly threads don’t show up well in the photo but in real life they dance across the canvas.

Sheaf stitch, Amadeus,sprats head, triangles, diamonds, Rhodes, Jessica’s, eyelets, smyrna’s, double cross stitch have now been handed to my vocabulary.

I used various thicknesses of thread from single DMC to Perle 8 and 5. Any thread works and can be layered for a special effect with texture.

The basic pattern can be found here but as I say I made up many other patterns.

https://www.stitchers-paradise.com/Canvas_Embroidery/JHI/JeanHiltonBooks.html

Are You a Onesie Maker?

When I did my Diploma of Visual Art and Design at the Eastern Institute of Technology, it was all about the process. Take one stage at a time and develop that with drawings and once you have achieved multiple drawings choose one to develop into an artwork.

My brain works in a different way. I’m more an intuitive maker and don’t like the idea of a ‘onesie.’ 

To make many, is to give strength in numbers. A large picture of many parts that the viewer needs to keep visiting to understand and see the progression of my work. If it’s cohesive it flows and therefore there is more understanding about it. Most of my ideas come as I'm making one. The next idea develops and this progressive approach gives the collection. There is no distraction and the high level of focus and engagement usually results in a successful body of work. That's my goal anyway. Maybe its called obsessive art but for me its enjoyable.

‘Cushy Numbers’ are a collection of pin cushions that make craft into art. I was aiming for 20 but have produced so many more.