Samples 2015: Week 30, “Olive ebola”

Running stitch in doubled fine wool on a piece of birch bark.

 

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From this article in the Saturday Guardian 25/07/15:

“Olive oil prices surge due to drought and disease in Spain and Italy. Producers say this year’s harvests are worst they have seen, as consumer demand begins to outstrip supply.”

Red crosses painted on olive trees that need to be cut down to contain an outbreak of ‘olive ebola’ in Puglia, southern Italy. Photograph: Max Frigione/AP

Sample design

I’ve never tried stitching on real bark, so this was my chance! Even I wasn't going to try this with the Bernina though, it had to be hand stitch. All I could find was birch, and it was a bit tricky – both tough and brittle. The little scar marks pop right out if you try and push a needle through so I had to stitch between those. A bit of fun but once is probably enough.

Samples 2015: Week 29, End of capitalism

Strips of sheer fabrics, fused to white cotton using Bondaweb

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From this article in the Saturday Guardian 18/07/15:
“The end of capitalism has begun. Without us noticing, we are entering the postcapitalist era. At the heart of further change to come is information technology, new ways of working and the sharing economy. The old ways will take a long while to disappear, but it’s time to be utopian.”

Welcome to an age of sharing. Illustration by Joe Magee

Sample design
Only one solution here, to get the colour mixing effects where bands of colour cross.
I dug out my meagre collection of brightly coloured sheers. The first layer of strips touch, the second layer cross them at an angle and have gaps between them to get both pure and mixed colours with no white left showing.
To stitch or not to stitch? I was going to, but I liked it without so decided not to risk spoiling it!    

Samples 2015: Week 28, Greece

Automatic machine embroidery patterns. Rayon 30 thread on Kunin felt.  

 

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From this article in the Saturday Guardian 11/07/15: 

“Going to Greece: a guide to the country, its islands and the best deals. Despite the economic storm, the sun is still shining in Greece, and the tavernas, beaches, ancient sites and vineyards are open for business. The country needs your help – so get a fistful of euros and go and have a good time with the help of our in-depth guide to the best deals, hotels, food and wine. 

Photograph: Alamy

Sample design
Wonderful patterns, but tricky to do a small sample in a short time!
So I chose built in embroidery stitches to give the impression of them rather than reproducing the precise patterns. At least the colours are about right.

Samples 2015: Week 27, Dune

Embellisher felting and hand stitch. Two layers of fine wool mix felt meshed together by using the embellisher on the purple side only, in the dune pattern.

Then stem stitch in stranded cotton.

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From this article in the Saturday Guardian 04/07/15:
“Dune, 50 years on: how a science fiction novel changed the world. It has sold millions of copies, is perhaps the greatest novel in the science-fiction canon and Star Wars wouldn’t have existed without it. Frank Herbert’s Dune should endure as a politically relevant fantasy from the Age of Aquarius.”

On the desert planet... Illustration: Robert Ball/Review

Sample design

Love that tangerine and purple – reminds me of my teenage bedroom! Needle felting (using the embellisher) seemed the best match for the soft dune pattern, but I wasn’t sure if it would be enough… it wasn’t. Running stitch didn’t work on the thick felt, so I tried stem stitch – and really enjoyed it! The slowness didn’t help my post-holiday catch up, but I think it was worth it.