May update 2020

Since diving into the world of hand embroidery in 2012, I have been given many opportunities to learn more about this beautiful, and rather addictive, craft, which has given me so much joy through some very stressful times.

Every time I finish a project I feel a great sense of personal achievement and grow a little more confident in my own ability to learn new techniques and stitches.

Each year I try to learn something new and set myself one or two goals to consolidate what I have been learning. Much of what I have learned since 2012 has been thanks to the wonderful ladies at my local Embroiderers Guild who are always so willing to show me, and teach me, the different elements I strive to achieve.

More recently, with the restrictions of social distancing due to Covid-19, I have found inspiration and guidance through some Flosstube videos on YouTube. And it is from there that my newest goal has been set --- Portuguese Whitework. Many thanks to Yvette Stanton, from Vetty Creations, for inspiring  me to try this technique. More on that in a later post once I make some progress.

But before I move onto my newest goal, there have been some other achievements this year that I need to record in this post.

First, my embroidery goals for 2020 --
1. Learn Hardanger -- this has been something I have wanted to learn since I first joined the Guild, but never had the confidence to start. So in January, a Guild member, June Lederhose, offered to teach me and so began my love of Hardanger. We started with a small design and it just grew. By the beginning of April my first project was finished.

My first hardanger project

It's not traditional white on white but it's "me" and I was very proud to say "this is my first hardanger project".

Embroidery Goal number One achieved, and my second Hardanger project is currently underway.

Hardanger project number 2

2.  Then onto Goal number 2 -- Pulled Thread and Blackwork.  I have this particular project waiting to be started. Inspired by the work and designs of Elizabeth Almond at Blackwork Journey, this is another form of hand embroidery that intrigues me. I was introduced to Blackwork last year by a member of my Round Robin FB Group. Her project in the Round Robin was one of Elizabeth Almonds designs and I quite enjoyed stitching on that project. But I wanted to progress a little more and decided the Pulled Thread and Blackwork sampler would be another challenge for me. More on that goal in future posts -- I Hope!!

Round Robin Blackwork

3. Mountmellick --- about four years ago I "dabbled" a little in the world of  another Whitework technique called Mountmellick. I found the different stitches of this form of embroidery quite challenging at the time (maybe because I was teaching myself from a book!!). However, I did enjoy the Challenge and took my interest a little further by designing my own project. The inspiration for this project originated from my Welsh background as can be seen from the photo below. So Goal number three -- make some more progress on this project. I don't expect to finish it but some progress would be good.

My Welsh heritage in stitch

A Welsh harp in Mountmellick

In addition to my embroidery goals, I also set a few goals to complete some UFOs that have been needing some love for quite some time.
The first is my Oriental fabric quilt which I designed quite some time ago and promised hubby I would finish it this year!  Pleased to say there has been some progress on that one with the machine quilting finished and the binding added. Just have a little more tweaking to do on the hand quilting and hand stitch the binding down so that project is on target for a 2020 finish.

Quilt for hubby