Friday 11 October 2013

my embroidery journey

I thought I would share an embroidery which got me into embroidery in 1989.   My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was little, unfortunately I was only 9 when we lost her but the love of creative crafts had been planted.  Nor much embroidery was done but I did start making my own clothes whilst as school and carried on making them for myself then my 2 daughters as they came on the scene until they got to the age when they were embarrassed about wearing what Mum had made. I continued to sew for myself and also made for a small clientele until I found the machine was causing me problems, spondiliitis in the neck which the hospital said was caused from too much machining.   That is when the knitting needles came out. Then I came across an old piece of linen in a shop with a picture on it which I purchased then put away for a few years in a  drawer. In 1989 I decided I would try and stitch it so went along to a class every week and the teacher would help pick the threads and told me what stitches to do,   I thoroughly enjoyed this project and even now when I look at the picture I feel pleased with myself,  the one part I would redo is the grave stones, they stick out like a sore thumb to me ,never mind .  After completing this project I started on a piece of hardanger (my grandmother`s mother was Norwegian) and from there my teacher suggested I take the city and guilds course which I started in 1992.
This taught me so many techniques, a lot I would never use again but on the whole enjoyed the course and completed part 1 in 2 years,   3 years away then a glutton for punishment I went back and took another 2 years to do part 2.  Sorry I have rambled on rather a lot,    will now share the photos of the embroidered piece that got me started and my first hardanger piece.

sorry about the reflection caused by the glass.

   Now a photo of the latest half metre lengths I have bought to add to the stash,  what a shock when I counted them today I have 153 half metre pieces,    time I got something worthwhile made with them!

these are a bit different,  camper vans, owls and tiny russian dolls.

30 comments:

Cattinka said...

I like the embroidery it is a timeless treasure.
KATRIN W.

Nana said...

Embroidery is something I love to look at alot. To me it´s real art.

Nana

CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

Your embroidery is exquisite in every way.. Love it. Hugs Judy

Gaia said...

I love your embroidery work, so many lovely details in there. How long did it take you to complete the picture? it is so pretty.

marianne harmann said...

Deine Stickerei ist einfach wundervoll. Hardanger-Stickereien sehe ich oft auf den norwegischen Blogs die gefallen mir gut. Bei 153 1/2-Meter-Stücken geht dir wenigstens nie das Material aus.
Lg Marianne

Grit said...

Both works are wonderful I love your house stitching. Looks fantastic.
Greetings Grit

Boud said...

I love the embroidery and the family history, too! has quilting taken over from embroidery these days? you seem to be busy with that.

Queeniepatch said...

I can see you fell in love with embroidery after working such a charming picture. Now I know, too, why you are so good at Hardanger; it's in your blood.
I guess it is now time to make a dent in that stash of fabric!!! Have fun!

Jane said...

It's lovely seeing the different journeys people take in their creative lives. What a lovely embroidery to have got you started

motidana said...

Lovely embroidery . Now I can see why you come up with such lovely pieces every time ! And I really loved reading about how you got started on this wonderful hobby . It will make your creations even more interesting to read about !
Keep it comming !

Starr White said...

I love your wonderful embroidered village, Margaret! I can see why such a pretty pattern caused you to pick up the needle; and I love the story that goes with it. I wish we had needlework schools here.

Manuela said...

Lovely embrodery. Your houses are very beautiful.

Greetings, Manuela

Sparklyjools said...

That is a fabulous piece Margaret - a real treasure! No wonder it inspired you. Thank you so much for sharing your story, it's lovely to hear stories about reasons friends began stitching. Your hardanger piece is really lovely, and how interesting that you have Norwegian heritage - I think our past effects who we are and you obviously have that wonderful ability of the fantastic Scandinavian stitchers.

Jillian said...

I really like your pieces-even the gravestones. It is interesting to read your story. 153 pieces is a lot!

Mary Ellen said...

Your journey has some parallels to my own. My mother didn't do much in the way of sewing unless it was fixing torn out hems on our school uniforms or sewing buttons back on shirts. But her sister, my godmother, Aunt Julie, was never without a needle in her hand. She taught me to embroider, starting with dish towels. Later it was pillow cases and huck towel embroidery. I tried to learn to crochet from my Italian grandmother, but she was not able to slow down her process enough for me to catch on. I taught myself later on with the little booklets that you could get with Coats and Clark crochet thread. So I guess we need to pass on our craft, too?

Annet said...

Love youir first embroidery, so many different stitches!

Vicki Miller said...

Wow, margaret, the embroidery piece will be an heirloom, I am sure!

Pippas quilts said...

You have a wonderful talent for the embroidery and now with the patchwork keep stitching.

Suztats said...

That's a beautiful embroidery, Margaret, and one to treasure! I enjoyed the story, and really like your hardanger piece, too. I haven't tried that yet.

Sandi said...

Wonderful to see how your journey started out. Love your first embroidery with all of its little houses.

shirley said...

Thank you for sharing your story Margaret, it was so nice to read. Your embroidery is wonderful, I love the bright colours it is a real heirloom.
you are a master at hardanger, your pieces are exquisite.

I am gladd to be part of your new journey with your quilting. You should be very proud of your achievements.

Createology said...

Trying to catch up after missing so much having company. Your embroidery story is very sweet and so is the beautiful piece you created. A true labor of love. Creative Blissful Stitching Dear...

Anonymous said...

What a lovely story you tell Margaret, your embroidery is beautiful and full of interest, do you have it hanging up in your house?

Claudia said...

I love the embroidery picture! You are very talented in Hardanger too but no wonder when your grandmother' mother is Norwegian :-)! Good to read that others also have plenty of fabrics on stash. Whenever you like you can start a new project. But the problem I have then I always miss one or two fabrics so my stash seems to stay the same.

Anita said...

Lovely embroidery and beautiful memories to cherish.You have Norwegian gene,Like Claudia said no wonder your Hardanger pieces are gorgeous!

Connie Eyberg Originals said...

So interesting to hear how you were inspired. It is interesting how things grow on their own and in their own time once the seed is planted. Wonderful stitched pieces have resulted. You do have a lot of fabric collected. I'll have to see how you find a way to use it (I may find a way to use mine then ~ lol)

Dianne said...

Lovely embroidery Margaret. The love of stitching was implanted in you by your Grandmother and I, too, was mentored by an elderly neighbour who taught me embroidery and fine crochet. It never leaves you.
The hardanger is also beautiful and I admire the work in it very much.

J Honda said...

just lovely Margaret - wonderful how He weaves our life, knowing it all comes together along the way :)

Bev said...

Good morning! Thanks so much for visiting and commenting on my blog! I love your embroidery! And to answer your question, my pesky "real job" is to write for companies that sell on line like Gap, Old Navy, etc. It interferes with my quilting for sure! I've just started doing embroidery. I'm glad to find your blog so that I can get inspiration!

Raewyn said...

Very interesting, great to see your first pieces!! Can you ever imagine life without stitching?!