Two princesses
Two Princesses Fresco
There’s a fresco of two of the daughters of Akhenaten and Nefertiti, which is quite well known, and indeed, was mentioned to me by the speaker, when I went to a lecture at the Egypt Exploration Society about the textiles in Tutankhamun’s tomb. I decided to have a go at representing this fragment using my embelllisher, to provide a companion piece for the three Amarna Geese I worked a while back.
Children in ancient Egypt – of whatever rank – appear to have run around naked much of the time, and with shaven heads. I’ll just have to get the outlines right….
Starting Two Princesses
I bought some more of the pre-felts I used for the Amarna Geese at “Sewing For Pleasure” in Birmingham, on the day I met up with Sue of Tortoiseloft blog.
Then I printed out the image I found online as large as I could and started planning my variation. It won’t, of course, be an exact reproduction of the fresco. It will be a sort of inlaid felt version of what I think might have been the real life inspiration for the scene.
Embroidered Detail
Long-time readers may recall that I discovered with the Amarna Geese that embroidered details help to bring a scene to life, and at least if the embroidery is worked in wool, responds well to being needlefelted.
So after cutting out my two little princesses, in a single piece, I started to add details – lines to make sense of the bodies, the delicate eyes and eyebrows, the lips, and the necklaces. I’m very pleased with how they’ve turned out, because the felt doesn’t take pencil, so I was on my own – drawing with my needle.
Now I have to work out how to create the impression of the fabric backdrop and bench my two little princesses are sitting on….
This looks good so far. Don’t forget the left-hand princes’s gleaming toenails!
This is going to be so good! I love the Armarna period with its everyday lively scenes.
Very clever, those details, and I love the turquoise chips. Good luck but work faster! I am dying to see!!!
They are going to be a wonderful addition to your collection of the Armarna period!
You are embarking on another interesting project. Embroidery on felt can be tricky, I have made a collection of greeting cards and sometimes I felt frustrated when the thread disappeared in the fluffy fibers of the felt. You have managed vey well, though.
Isn’t it amazing how the stitching brings the figures to life!!
It looks great! I love your interpretations of these Armana period ‘designs’. Felt is a tricky thing to handle but it looks like you have it well tamed!
Good luck! It is going to be lovely.
This is going to be interesting to follow along. xx
I can’t imagine ever being able to create such beautiful, life like figures Rachel. Well done, I am in awe….
Love the fresco and can’t wait to watch the progress of your two figures!
Looks great!! Glad that you’re enjoying the process. Really strange that they deck themselves up but wear no clothes!!
You come up with the BEST projects. I really like this one and look forward to watching it progress.
I clicked on the photo of the girls after you’d added details and you have done an amazing job as always… and those eyes!!
Thanks so much for linking up to last week’s Stitchery Link Party. Aloha hugs!
I love these 2 little princesses. They make a agreat project.
looks great! It’s amazing that a couple of lines can do wonders.