Insects and other small creatures --embroidery

[Laura Connor]

Hi,
I could use some suggestions. I am new to stitchin fingers. I am a beginner at both quilting and embroidery but love the embroidery. I am making a crazy quilt to donate to a June, 2010 Moyer Foundation bereavement camp for children. I have finished piecing the 40 blocks I need, and the quilt is bright and quite busy. I intend to hand embroider a small creature on each block. I want to keep it unisex so I am avoiding butterflies and flowers. So far, I have a ladybug, a frog, a turtle, a bee and a dragonfly. i have plans for a grasshopper, waterbug, and caterpillar. I have photos of a variety of beetles. I will probably add an ant, one butterfly and a spider (a la Eric Carle). I prefer using a bullion stitch since it is so sturdy. I would welcome any suggestions, pictures, photos etc.

[Jennifer]

Hi Laura,
I looked at your bee- it is cute! and the kids will love them! is there anyway you could make the photos smaller for the web? My computer takes along time to download and I could not see the whole block at once
How about a fish, bird, snail, salamander-will you do pets-kitties, puppies-or farm animals- sheep, pig, cow?
Anyway I am just a nature lover, have fun!

[Laura Connor]

Hi Jennifer,

I deleted and reposted the pictures. They are now less than 25 kb

Laura

[Jennifer]

Hi Laura,
yes-now I do see how colorful they are!
Jennifer

[Barbara Morrow]

Lovely idea, Laura,

What about a nice bright caterpillar or two?

[Laura Connor]

Barbara,

Thanks. I did The Very Hungry Caterpillar in bullion stitch. I can't post photos because I am in a motel room in Boise but I think another bright caterpillar is a good idea. I will do a search for a good photo of a caterpillar and use that as a model. I brought my embroidery stuff with me, and last night I finished an insect that may be a water bug, not sure. And I started a worm in ceylon stitch with a head done in red-orange bullion. He is not a true worm since he will have antlers but I am not aiming for scientific accuracy.

Are you the Barbara Morrow who illustrated a book on embroidery?


Laura


Laura

[Hopscotch]

How I wish I could say yes, Laura,
Sadly, I am just a struggling textile lover, who likes to experiment :)
Best wishes,
Barbara

[Catherine Ronan]

Hi Laura,

I am going to upload two photos for you. I will remove them in a few days. This piece is not finished yet.
I had a lot of fun with metallic theads and beads when I stitched these bugs. You may or may not want that look for some of yours. I also tried some stumpwork on a few. They are each very tiny. The wasp is not much longer than a half an inch long. I looked at real photos of bugs on Google for many of these.

[Laura Connor]

Hi Catherine,
Please wait until Monday evening to delete them. I am visiting my father for the Thanksgiving Holiday and don't have any way to save or print your pictures. I do want to see them.

[Elizabeth]

I don't think you need to avoid butterflies. Men like them as much as women and I would say that they fascinate little boys as much as they do little girls. I also think small flowers and leaves would be OK too. I'm assuming your audience in small-ish kids, not teens? In that case, anything colourful and interesting will enthrall them!

We had an iridescent green scarab beetle outside our home the other weeks, perhaps one of those??=)

[Laura Connor]

Thanks Elizabeth,
An iridescent green scarab beettle would be perfect. I have done one butterfly. The children's ages range from 7 to 17, I think.

[Elizabeth]

I think you really can put anything on it - something for everyone.=) You wouldn't want to risk missing out the girls for the sake of not 'putting off' the older boys! A little bit of everything gets my vote and I look forward to seeing the finished piece.=) Good hunting and let me know if you need photos of the beetle - I took lots when it came to visit, (we live in Taiwan!)

[Jayne Coleman]

The Hand Embroidery Network *HEN) at http:/handembroiderynetwork/ning.com/ has a group just for people stitching bugs, butterflies, bees and other creepy crawlies. Take a look for some good ideas. I got linked up to stitchinfingers through HEN.