Playing with paint

Playing with paint
abstract art

22 January 2012

Feather Stitch

At first I thought feather stitch was not going to be very inspiring but as i kept fiddling and finding more ways to interpret the stitch it began to seem a never ending project.   So now it finished.   I am pleased with it, and it  will make a nice page in my next stitch book.  i wonder what next week will bring.

I thought I would be so good this week, and do a design in my journal...well as you can see the stitching is completely different...  I really have to have a needle and thread in my fingers before I can "design".   Maybe someone could invent a needle that was also a pen!  lol.

Anneliese can you see where the "bow" is? :)

Some of the threads I used were House of Embroidery variegated perles, and some other overdyed stranded cottons that I bought at the Textile Fair from Threads r Us.   I also used up some pieces of the lovely laces that my neighbour gifted to me too.  Unfortunately for some reason I did not keep the labels off the overdyed threads....just know where I bought them.

I also dyed the background fabric (which I bought  at the op shop), and used burnt sienna, alizarine and  a golden  yellow from my acrylic paints mixed with lots of water and some fabric medium for the dye.  

To change  the subject, I was disappointed to have two diagnoses this week that have thrown me a bit and so that is probably why I went a bit overboard and stitched like a madwoman possessed.  

The doc has told me I have diabetes type 2.  Damn... Dianne took my ice cream home with her...and the cones and wafers too...sob sob! which may make everyone guess that I am addicted to ice cream- well just a little bit!  Haven't had a lolly for days either...more sobbing....although there is some chocolate left in the fridge....but dont tell Di.  Noooo I am not going to eat it I am keeping it for the children who come to visit....The weird thing is that I have not lost weight with a different eating pattern I have GAINED!!!

It has also been discovered I have an eye  disease  but will know more about that when I see the surgeon about removing  the cataracts in both eyes  which I only found out about on Friday as well...double damn!  (Although this mild oath is not what has been passing through my thoughts over the last few days)

To read more about the Tast Adventure go to Sharon's page here

24 comments:

  1. This is lovely and I adore your beautiful colourful book cover in the last post!!

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  2. Hello Shirley, Your feather stitches are very pretty and I really like your design. Not to worry about the Type 2 diabetes. Follow a good diabetic diet and you will be fine and live a very long time. VBG Cataracts surgery is a very easy and painless surgery and you will see so much better afterwards soooooooooooooo your stitches will even be more grand. Hugs Judy

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  3. The feather stitch page is lovely. I want to pick it up and touch it.

    Sorry to hear about your diagnoses. My hubby takes a spoonful of vinegar, a spoonful of lemon juice and a spoonful of ground cinnamon, and watches the starchy carbs (bread, potatoes, etc) and he keeps his sugar down very well that way. Maybe it would help you, too. Tastes awful, though!
    I hope the eye disease is as easy to take care of as the cataracts. Mom didn't need her glasses for several years after her cataract surgery, and only needs them sometimes, now. I suppose the surgery is an annoyance, but really well worth it.

    Take care of yourself.

    I don't buy ice cream very often, because if I do, I eat it ALL. I certainly don't need the calories.

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  4. Oh, Shirley! Such mixed news! Your feather stitch piece is very interesting. Yes, yes, stitch like the wind. The Type 2 can be manageable, but I know how tough the transition can be, till your body gets used to the idea. Also, exercise more if you can. And an eyesight challenge too...I will keep that tricky business in my prayers!

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  5. That's a gorgeous sampler for the feather stitch, Shirley. I love it. It feels so earthy, yet also feminine. Maybe it's the pretty lace....
    Gee, can you eat sugar free ice cream? What about frozen yogurt? Hugs to you my friend.

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  6. All I can say is that if you can stitch like that with cataracts...I am gonna be very excited to see what happens when you get new lenses in your eyes!!! Geeeze!

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  7. Welcome to the Diabetes type 2 club Shirley--it gets easier as you go along believe me -it just take a little getting used to in the beginning.
    Hang in there my friend.

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  8. Lovely journal page Shirley! So sorry to read of your health issues. But diabetes is manageable, and they do wonderful things with eye surgeries these days.. will be thinking of you. Wishing you the best.....

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  9. You know how much I love your feather stitch piece. Your diagnoses this week has been a blow - but onward and upward. You will beat the diabetes with diet I am hopeful of that and the other eye condition still has many questions to be answered. As long as you can continue stitching your masterpieces then all is good. xxx

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  10. Very nice work Shirley and I am happy you are taking care of your health.

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  11. I am sorry to hear of your health problems, fingers crossed for good news about your eyes. Hopefully you will get your diabetes under control.

    Your feather stitch for Week 3 is AMAZING. Congratulations on a brilliant interpretation.

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  12. What a beautiful stitched piece! Adorable!
    Hope your health problems would not be too serious and would not affect your creativity and mood!

    Hugs,
    Tatyana

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  13. The stitch book is a great idea and good luck with it and I hope you get better new soon. Take care.

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  14. I am sorry for the diagnosis', but I am glad you had your stitching to distract you. Good for you for changing the way you eat. The weight will come off and then you will really feel good.
    Deb

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  15. What a beautiful page you created! I like it very much.

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  16. Oh Shirley, so sorry to hear what the Doc said -
    you are very controlled with just a double damn about things, my thoughts, and often spoken words, are ususlly much stronger!
    But I know you will cope and medications and treatments are so good these days - I do so hope all goes well for you.
    I am impressed by your design book even if the end result moves on in a different direction in places. Like you my designs seem to wander off with the needle and thread - though mine don't always turn out as good as yours do!!
    I love this one, Connie, x

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  17. Shirley, your feather stitch sampler is really lovely, and I love the background fabric colour. I find it quite amazing that you still manage to put together such pleasing colours, despite the presence of cataracts. I have been told by many that after said cataracts are removed, it is surprising how great colour look again. Boy, look out when you have them removed. Sorry, don't mean to be flippant about the whole nasty business. I am so upset for you, I know I would be devastated too with one of the problems, but to have the lot all at once, I do hope you will get them sorted out and soon. Take care.

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  18. You made a very special sampler. I hadn't realized there were so many variations of feather stitch. I'm sorry to read your health gives you problems, I sure hope everything will get better soon.

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  19. Hi Shirley, thank you for visiting my blog & leaving your nice and encouraging comments. So sorry to hear about your 2 diagnosis & I sincerely hope that everything will work out for you and you will be as healthy as ever. My life changed drastically after being diagnosed with breast cancer 5 years ago & I try hard to take care of myself, exercise and eat healthier. I also stitch a lot more than I used to!! Your feather stitch design is so creative. Love it!

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  20. great sample !
    the husband had cataracts removed a month ago.it's a simple operation so dont fret about that. and diabetes under control is no big deal.have 3or 4 friends + mom who are sufferers. so don't fret about that either. bottom line don't fret :)
    ps. there's diabetic chock ice cream, cakes and all kinds of goodies.

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  21. Shirley, I love your feather stitch projects, fantastic!
    Sorry to hear about your health problems:(, it does get in a way, doesn't it :)I hope you'll get some good news on the eye front, you have a lot of stitching to do!

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  22. Sorry to hear of your health issues Shirley. Take care of yourself please. Your feather stitches and dyed fabric are wonderful! I love the color. I sketch my stitches first too (at work when I'm not busy :-)) and somehow my stitching never looks like my sketching either. Your invention has been discovered...remember the embroidery pens?

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  23. Your Feather stitch sketch is beautiful and the actual work fabulous.

    So many of my stitching friends have lately been told they have diabetes 2 and all are getting over the transition of food intake and feeling much better.
    I too have to have cataracts removed but keep putting it off. Must do it soon.
    Good luck with your health.

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