The Evolution of the Peppered Moth

  

Not the most dramatic of pieces, is it?!

 

Maybe I’m being too literal here, but I felt it had to be subtle. You see the Peppered Moth is a lovely example of natural selection. Before the Industrial Revolution, the pale variety survived best as it hid from predators on light coloured trees. When the trees were darkened by soot and pollution, the darker moths flourished as the pale ones were now more easily picked off by birds. And today, with cleaner air again, it’s the pale ones who are becoming dominant again.  

 

So – most of my embroidered moths don’t show up much. On purpose. Perhaps not the greatest idea for a piece of art! But hey, Darwin is my hero, this idea has been driving me crazy for ages; I’ve got it out of my system now.

It’s machine embroidery on Lutradur and soluble fabrics.

Sample Diary - June

A bit of a struggle to keep up this month, with five samples to do and a week away, but I’ve just finished – and that means I’ve completed half the year!

Week 22 – flooded rice fields and greenhouses. FME on black sheer over white background, zapped before adding turquoise satin stitch.Week 23 – sea slug spines. Bundles of Tencel fibres, partly zigzagged over, joined at base by embellishing.

Week 24 – St Paul’s Cathedral, renovation unveiled. Flower stitcher, several patterns and colours in one (tiny!) motif.

Week 25 – Obituary of weaver Tadek Beutlich. FME on Romeo to imitate weaving, plus grass stalk.Week 26 – Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone. Wool fibres embellished onto Lutradur 30.