Hoop Inspiration
I mentioned a few weeks back that I have signed up for way too many swaps on Flickr.
In fact I am so busy making stuff for them that I haven’t had a chance to tell you about them! I am going to try and do a few quick mini posts about 3 of them before I go away to Birmingham for a big trade fair at the weekend.
I must re-iterate the word ‘TRY’ in that last sentence…
So first up is the ‘Hoop Up! Stitch and Send Swap’ embroidery swap. In this swap you are grouped with 2 other sewers and we each make a piece for the other 2. We first have to make an inspiration piece so that they understand the ‘theme’ we are going for. The idea is that you will have 3 matching embroidered pieces at the end.
This is my first time with this swap and I am relatively new to embroidery, so I had to spend a lot of time researching before I found the direction I wanted to go with. This is my inspiration mosaic. I am hoping for a ‘magical forest’ vibe. With trees, flowers and woodland animals – but with a magical, surreal, slightly disturbing atmosphere.
I love the illustrations of Aya Kakeda. They are cute and disturbing in equal measures and a lot of them are set in forests. So this was my starting point. And along with lots of other inspiring illustrations and embroideries I found on Flickr, I drew this design.
I loved making this little picture and am so pleased with how it turned out.
I also can’t wait to see what my partners will come up with! I was very lucky to have been paired with Dolores and Leila, both such talented stitchers!
Now what do you think, is the bear type creature gazing lovingly at his chicken pet? Or is he about to tear him limb from limb and eat him?
Hummm – I thought it was lovingly gazing at the chicken until you mentioned eating him so now I am not so sure! It is beautiful however you look at it 🙂 I especially love the pink blossoms.
mmm … lunch! : )
Oh you are so twisted! Excellent xxx
this is so amazing! i love the design and colors- i think the bear is deciding!
This is exactly what you described in your vision! I love it so much. And it reminds me of this artist on etsy that I also love: http://www.etsy.com/shop/AshleyPercival?ref=seller_info
This is just lovely Jo and I love the slightly sinister twist. It also looks like you are a very experienced embroiderer to me.
LOVE your hoop! Your stitching is so lovely and I know exactly what you mean about slow colouring in.
Oh and that bear is about to scoff that poor chook!!!!!!!
"Slightly disturbing"…Bwhahahahahahaha!:)
Oooh, just love that embroidery
Cute!
Love it! The way his fur curls around his middle to emphasise his tummy. His tum is full. He's not going to eat it!!
this is really lovely!
Thanks for the nasty imagery at the end! The mean version hadn't entered my mind. If it is the later why would you want to stitch that? There was me thinking what a lovely design it was. One version is pretty and the other is ugly. Why create ugliness unnecessarily, when it is all around us. Why create in your mind and then for posterity when you don't have to? Isn't there enough real nastiness in the world?
Molto bello e ispira tanta tenerezza!
This is an amazing piece ~ for being new to embroidery ~ you're doing lovely work!
Thanks for sharing.
Lost my internet connection so I'm not sure where my comment is! Love your inspiration hoop and I can't wait to see what your partners make for you (and what you make for them!).
I like to think it is the nice version.
It's really cute, how could you "bear" to part with it?
Love your embroidered bear in the woods hoop Jo! He looks very pleased with himself but who knows what's going on in his head:-) Sounds like a great challenging swap.
Oh, that's adorable!