I’m happy that I managed to finish the goldwork project I’m planning to give to my niece as a wedding gift. In fact, I think that’s the only worthwhile thing I accomplished last weekend!! I’ll show you a few photos…
…but unfortunately, no “complete” photos! I’m dying to show you the whole piece, but, as I mentioned before, we need to wait until the design is published in January!
I hope you understand and will enjoy instead these little up-close “mystery” photos.
Here’s a close-up on some chipping inside an outline of pearl purl. A friend commented the other day that the close-up photos always make the piece seem as if it is much larger than it really is; then, when you actually see the piece in real life, you’re surprised that it’s much smaller and delicate looking. So, even though this looks large, it isn’t – it’s about half an inch wide, and half an inch high at the tallest point.
I think my chipping is a little too crowded. I need to work on that. When I do chipwork, I either end up with chipping that is too spaced, or chipping that’s too crowded.
This project includes a little bit of everything – I think that’s one of the reasons I liked it so much! Here are some beads and pailettes for you.
And another bit of chipwork.
I love finishing a project. But I don’t love the “let down” at the end. There’s nothing quite like finishing and stepping back to look at a piece. It’s so satisfactory! But then… gosh. The end is bittersweet, because now the fun’s all over!
To avoid the let-down, I moved very quickly into the baby booties, but it isn’t quite the same, you know! On the bright side, I am planning an ornament for a swap, and I do believe it will include many of the techniques on the project I just finished.
So, here’s a question: can you guess what the goldwork design depicts, just from the photos you’ve seen so far? You can find a couple more pictures of this project here. Just curious!!
As always, your work looks gorgeous. I’m guessing it’s a pomegranate, from the color and the shape of the red pieces…
Hmmm, quite a mystery. I’m going out on a limb here and guessing some kind of pineapple design because it’s a wedding gift and pineapple is a symbol of hospitality. But that’s a lot of red for a pineapple. I love the goldwork. So sparkly! Can’t wait to see the finished product.
MGM
Last photo reminds a butterfly ou a dragonfly…
Mmmmm. Sumptuous.
The third looks a bit like dragonfly.
But I must admit that pomegranate’s more probable:-)
I was thinking the same thing as soon as I saw that second picture! Only I wasn’t going to tell. . .
Awesome symbolism for a wedding present!!
This looks absolutely incredible. How on earth can you keep your stitches so perfect?!! The chipping looks great, just a different look than if it were less “crowded” (as you say). Wow and yum.
What is the thread and color number of the pomegranite color?
Christiana
WOW! I can’t wait to see the whole thing. You are an artist! ~LindaW.
It’s absolutely stunning. Close-up pics are my fave and I am very patient so I loved this post!
Absolutely beautiful, though I no nothing about gold work I thinking the chipping looked wonderful. If anyone says otherwise remember these two words, “Artistic License”. My first guess is the bride and grooms initials, though I would like to put in a second guess of something with a bow.
The little glimpses look like pieces of butterflies and dragonflies. What lovely work you do, the beading is especially nice.
Can’t say anything, I’m speachless. So breathtaking these pictures are, I want to see it all!!!
I also thought about butterflies from the last picture, but I don’t think that’s it, so I’m stumped.
But I would like to know what thread you used for the red silk embroidery. It looks like silk and it’s a stunning colour.
Beautiful work, as usual.
CA
Hi, everyone! Thanks for your very nice comments, as usual! There are some notable mistakes on the piece, – but I decided not to show those !! 🙂
Within minutes of posting this article this morning, I moderated Michael’s “I think it’s a pomegranate” comment. And I had the same sensation as when someone steals a punchline! But I won’t hold it against you – it was a very observant piece of logic there. It IS a pomegranate!
I’ll post completed pictures in January – I promise! And that means you even get to see it matted and framed!
Oh, Carol-Anne – sorry – yes, it’s silk. Soie d’Alger (twisted, spun silk), and I don’t recall the color numbers. I’ll look them up and let you know. I LOVE the colors, and want to use the same colors on an ornament. They’re very rich!