A Learning Opportunity
Robin Stumpwork Kit
I’m a very lucky woman. Sometimes, as in this case, I have to say so through slightly gritted teeth…
In this case, I am expressing my good fortune in having a family that takes my embroidery as seriously as I do – and the gritted teeth are because my parents elected to give me a learning opportunity for Christmas.
Starting The Wired Leaves
Silk shading is something I know I should work at, but would be most unlikely to choose to do, because the naturalistic representation it tends to be used for is not really my forte.
All the more reason, of course, to make an attempt, at least, to get to grips with it, but I haven’t been able to convince myself to do so!
Beginning The Split Stitch
That said, Masako Newton‘s Silk Shading and Stumpwork Robin and Holly is really very sweet indeed, and I am sure I will enjoy working it.
Furthermore, unlike the Jane Rainbow kit my parents gave me for Christmas twenty years ago, there’s no chance of this one being finished quickly.
I will certainly learn a great deal from doing the Robin, and he is going to be classed as one of my New projects for 6 and 6 in 2018.
Good luck with this new endeavour!
I saw “silk shading” and thought “this is for Rachel!” sorry about your teeth!
🙂 Hope you will relax a little and enjoy the experience!
I know I say it every time you start a new project, but I am looking forward to seeing how this one progresses!!
You’ll be fine! Just make sure it looks like a robin when finished and not like a blue tit :).
I have the same feelings towards silk shading. I really should learn it, but I’ve avoided it so far. Maybe I should pick a project as well and just get it over with >.<
Hmm, from a quilter’s point of view he looks VERY challenging, but so sweet! It’s good to learn new things (ooh, that could be a mantra for you to use while working on him!).
We love it when family members and friends encourage us to pursue our hobbies, but when they choose the project, we might have to grit our teeth!
I love stump work and don’t do enough of it, so I feel a bit envious of you. I am sure you will have a beautiful robin one day. Just take your time!
What a gorgeous project to work on – good luck! xx
I bought a similar kit while I was in the UK but I didn’t have any family expectations to live up to so I ‘gifted’ to a friend. You are far braver than me, which means you will do a fantastic job on it.
Hopefully you will relax into it and enjoy it. I’d go into it without expectations, see it as having a go rather than mastering it.
This looks a real challenge, the design is beautiful and very realistic, definitely a slow project.
The little robin looks lovely.
He is a sweet little robin, and I am sure you will enjoy working him. Shading with silk is always a good technique to practice. It doesn’t *have* to be used for highly naturalistic designs. And it is something I am still learning by trial and (lots of) error. Getting the play of light on the silk thread to do much of the shading for you is the tricky-but-rewarding bit.
Lovely robin there is. Hope to see yours soon.
Oh, I hear you on the whole shading thing… I’ve done two bird stitcheries in the past year and a half and they exhausted me… I loved doing them, was fairly happy with the results (my happiness has grown as the stitching of them gets further away), and am so glad I took the time to do them… some day I’ll tackle another, but not just yet!
I smiled as I read your post. I don’t know whether it is better to have family support or have a family totally puzzled by what you’re doing! LOL It is a lovely design, and it will be beautiful when you finish.