Sigmoid Social

virtuosewAethelflaed's horse now has four legs! <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/AethelflaedEmbroidery?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#AethelflaedEmbroidery</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/OpusAnglicanum?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#OpusAnglicanum</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/SilkThread?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SilkThread</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/SplitStitch?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SplitStitch</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/HandEmbroidery?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#HandEmbroidery</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/MedievalMoversAndShakers?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#MedievalMoversAndShakers</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/LadyOfTheMercians?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#LadyOfTheMercians</a>

virtuosewAethelflaed's horse is now properly shod... <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/AethelflaedEmbroidery?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#AethelflaedEmbroidery</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/LadyOfTheMercians?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#LadyOfTheMercians</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/OpusAnglicanum?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#OpusAnglicanum</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/SplitStitch?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SplitStitch</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/SilkThread?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SilkThread</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/HandEmbroidery?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#HandEmbroidery</a>

Rachel WrightI only attempted one rendering of <a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/faience" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#faience</a> - beads from a broad collar described early on in <a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/NefertitiLivedHere" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#NefertitiLivedHere</a>, in a report inexpertly typed by the director then on site, the year before <a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/MaryChubb" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#MaryChubb</a> joined the expedition to Egypt. As I've said, embroidery has such strong textural and visual personality that something like a direct rendition of a broad collar as you see in the watercolour would be terribly congested, visually confusing, and probably rather dull. The spiral of embroidered beads is lighter, more playful - more fun!<a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/DreamsOfAmarna" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#DreamsOfAmarna</a> <a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/HandEmbroidery" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#HandEmbroidery</a> <a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/FaienceNecklace" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#FaienceNecklace</a> <a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/SilkThread" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SilkThread</a> <a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/watercolour" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#watercolour</a>

virtuosewMaking a start on Aethelflaed's horse. It's going to be a grey, so the shadows will be blue. Of course they will! It's probably been a month since I worked on her, so I need to build stamina again. Twenty minutes and I'm beginning to feel clumsy and make mistakes. Time to stop. <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/Aethelflaed?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Aethelflaed</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/OpusAnglicanum?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#OpusAnglicanum</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/SilkThread?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SilkThread</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/MedievalMoversAndShakers?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#MedievalMoversAndShakers</a>

virtuosewMaking more progress on Aethelflaed's Walls of Chester. I have to do this in the morning before the sun comes around and starts dazzling and casting shadows. Er - on those days when the sun shines at all! <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/MedievalMoversAndShakers?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#MedievalMoversAndShakers</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/Aethelflaed?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Aethelflaed</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/OpusAnglicanum?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#OpusAnglicanum</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/SilkThread?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SilkThread</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/SplitStitch?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SplitStitch</a>

virtuosewI made some progress on Aethelflaed this morning, a few more blocks in the Walls to be rebuilt. The fairly close colour tones aren't as strong as Cheshire sandstone can be, but I keep telling my students that they are creating a new thing, not a dot-for-dot copy, and that a bit of colour tweakery is entirely justified. So I'd better remember to do that myself, hadn't I! <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/Aethelflaed?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Aethelflaed</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/OpusAnglicanum?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#OpusAnglicanum</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/SilkThread?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SilkThread</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/HandEmbroidery?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#HandEmbroidery</a>

virtuosewI spent the morning reinstating the portion of Chester's walls that runs behind Aethelflaed and her horse. The tones are paler and closer, so I hope the walls will settle back now. <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/OpusAnglicanum?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#OpusAnglicanum</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/Aethelflaed?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Aethelflaed</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/SilkThread?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SilkThread</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/HandEmbroidery?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#HandEmbroidery</a>

virtuosewMy heart is sinking a little here. Some time in the middle of the night last week, I thought that Aethelflaed's wall is all wrong and I need to either unpick or stitch over it, outline included. Cheshire sandstone is hard to render in any medium, and I knew that before I started. But it's still causing me a bit of uncertainty, and I'm struggling to get started again. <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/Aethelflaed?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Aethelflaed</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/OpusAnglicanum?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#OpusAnglicanum</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/HandEmbroidery?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#HandEmbroidery</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/Embroidery?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Embroidery</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.art/discover/tags/SilkThread?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SilkThread</a>

Alun KirbyHere is the quilt I just finished, titled 'Because She Changes', inspired by the monumental public sculpture 'She Changes', by Janet Echelman, in Matosinhos, Portugal.Selvedge denim both sides Vintage silk embroidery threads Cotton sashiko threads Red linen border2m x 1.5mEvery stitch hand-sewn.<a href="https://zirk.us/tags/sashiko" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#sashiko</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SashikoQuilt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SashikoQuilt</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/silkThread" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#silkThread</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/quilt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#quilt</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/quilting" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#quilting</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/QuiltingArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#QuiltingArt</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/hitomezashi" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#hitomezashi</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/littleStabs" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#littleStabs</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/An%C3%A9mona" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Anémona</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/JanetEchelman" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#JanetEchelman</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/matosinhos" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#matosinhos</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/porto" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#porto</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/PortoPortugal" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#PortoPortugal</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SheChanges" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SheChanges</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/embroidery" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#embroidery</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/BecauseSheChanges" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#BecauseSheChanges</a>

Alun KirbyI've been quiet but busily working on this sahiko quilt. I'm yet to get good images, but here's where I am...Yesterday and today I designed the final part, an abstracted mist pattern. We get a LOT of mist here. I stitched it in vintage embroidery silk. And with that, the front piece is DONE! Sashiko means little stabs, and after all that stitching, my fingers know why.<a href="https://zirk.us/tags/sashiko" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#sashiko</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SashikoQuilt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SashikoQuilt</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/silkThread" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#silkThread</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/quilt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#quilt</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/quilting" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#quilting</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/QuiltingArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#QuiltingArt</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/hitomezashi" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#hitomezashi</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/littleStabs" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#littleStabs</a>

Alun KirbyJust a quick update on this quilting project.I have finished all the major defining lines.I ran out of the vintage deep blue thread, so had to improvise, and blended it into a soft purple-pink (top left) to represent a sunrise opposing the moon.To come - <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/hitomezashi" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#hitomezashi</a> patterns in segments of each circle, detail to the waves (bottom left), make the moon waxing gibbous...And sorry for the poorly stitched image! <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/PanoramaFail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#PanoramaFail</a><a href="https://zirk.us/tags/sashiko" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#sashiko</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SashikoQuilt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SashikoQuilt</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/silkThread" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#silkThread</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/quilt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#quilt</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/quilting" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#quilting</a>

Alun KirbyCouldn't resist starting this quickly!I have started with two vintage embroidery silk threads... and when they're gone that's it! I'm ...fairly... sure there will be enough to do the initial lines.The waves (bottom left), circles (centre) and moon (upper right) will be with modern Yokota sashiko thread.I'm also using Yokota needles. My William Whitely scissors are looovely! A special treat when I made a previous 5m x 1.5m quilt.<a href="https://zirk.us/tags/sashiko" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#sashiko</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SashikoQuilt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SashikoQuilt</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/silkThread" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#silkThread</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/quilt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#quilt</a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/quilting" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#quilting</a>

Rachel WrightThe combination of a <a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/Screenprint" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Screenprint</a> with <a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/HandEmbroidery" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#HandEmbroidery</a> is not one I'd ever used before. The turquoise linen fabric brings the gold and silk threads alive, and the subject allowed me to play with stitches.This one is very much a pattern of colour and stitch. We don't, as far as I know, have any idea how the original headdress that Nefertiti wore was made, so I tried to create textures that distinguished those elements. There's a suggestion of a smooth browband, so I used straight stitches in gold for that element. The profile means that most of the ornament at the front isn't visible. Hungarian Braided Chain stitch suggests something ornate, but imprecise.In the second photo,  you can see the decorative bands, rendered in gold Ladder Stitch with whipped bars in silk thread, tightly packed to create strong colour, reminiscent of gemstones. I'm particularly pleased with the corded effect here! In the third photo, you can see my solution for the faience broad collar - radiating gold straight stitches, connected by a pattern of herringbone whipping in coloured silk.Finally, <a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/Nefertiti" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Nefertiti</a> in all her glory!<a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/DreamsOfAmarna" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#DreamsOfAmarna</a> <a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/HeadOfNefertiti" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#HeadOfNefertiti</a> <a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/Goldwork" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Goldwork</a> <a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/SilkThread" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SilkThread</a>

Rachel WrightDetail 8/n, n=8One entire corner sprig and the largest expanse of <a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/UndersideCouching" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#UndersideCouching</a>. Readers of my blog may recall that creating the sprig design took much experimentation with my paints. The distribution of shades of yellow is subtly different in each corner.<a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/WilliamMarshall" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#WilliamMarshall</a> <a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/OpusAnglicanum" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#OpusAnglicanum</a> <a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/SilkThread" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SilkThread</a>

Rachel WrightDetail 6/nAnother detail of the border. I chose quite deliberately the order of the edging colours bracketing the blue. This shot shows dog rose and rose leaves (for the garden the Victorian renovation of Temple Church reburied William in), and gives a particularly clear view of the trellis couching. The stitching in the border is not classic opus anglicanum - I've used <a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/FishboneStitch" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#FishboneStitch</a> for the rose leaves, <a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/LongAndShortStitch" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#LongAndShortStitch</a> for the rose petals, and <a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/FrenchKnots" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#FrenchKnots</a> in their centres.<a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/WilliamMarshall" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#WilliamMarshall</a> <a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/OpusAnglicanum" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#OpusAnglicanum</a> <a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/SilkThread" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SilkThread</a> <a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/TrellisCouching" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#TrellisCouching</a>

Rachel WrightDetail 5/nClose up of part of the border - trellis couching over surface satin stitch, edged with couched borders in William's heraldic colours, and showing the sprigs of broom, referring to the five Plantagenet monarchs he served.<a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/WilliamMarshall" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#WilliamMarshall</a> <a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/OpusAnglicanum" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#OpusAnglicanum</a> <a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/SilkThread" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SilkThread</a>

Rachel WrightDetail 4/n...Stitch direction again, square spirals (?) for the dressed stone of the gatehouse, round ones for the dapples on William's destrier (war horse).<a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/WilliamMarshall" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#WilliamMarshall</a> <a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/OpusAnglicanum" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#OpusAnglicanum</a> <a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/SplitStitch" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SplitStitch</a> <a href="https://mathstodon.xyz/tags/SilkThread" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SilkThread</a>

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