Peacock Project - in progress

[Sarah J]

I had some lovely reactions to my 'Peacock of the Raj' embroidery, so I thought I would show you some step by step photos of another peacock project I am working on. I want to show that sometimes things aren't as hard as they seem when broken down into bite size chunks!

I am currently very interested in beadwork, goldwork and shisha mirror techniques and combining all three. The inspiration for this piece came from a present I was given of some beautifully sparkly stones (see picture, right)! I just wanted to use them in something!

I had a design in mind to use for inspiration that I have wanted to do for a while and thought that these would be perfect.

 

The design:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is part of a textile design from Gujurat

 

I usually like strong colours so I thought I would try this design in something unusual for me, white and silver. Whether it is still white and silver by the end remains to be seen! I framed up some white silk with a calico backing and drew an outline of the design. I used the prick and pounce design transfer method to put the design onto the silk, drawing up the dots with a pale coloured pencil:

I don't really have a plan for this design, I'm going to work it quite instinctively. The only part I am sure about is the sparkly stones, so I have put them on first!

Keep checking back to watch the piece develop and see what happens next!

[Heather Grover]

I can't wait to see the rest of this.I sure it will be gorgeous.

[Kelly Casanova]

This looks really interesting, peacocks are such a wonderful subject.

[Barbara/Hopscotch]

Sarah,

I really like the placement of your stones, they will be a lovely focal point and the design is very elegant.  Hope to see more soon.

Barbara 

[Sarah J]

Decided to gather together some materials. I always get out too many so I tried to limit my choices! It turns out that I don't have many bits and pieces in white and silver (it's obviously not a favourite colour choice of mine!) so it wasn't too difficult. This is what I've got to work with:

I got a few beads out of the pots and played around with them for a minute. I was quite instinctive about this part and decided I liked the twisted bugle beads to represent the feather structure. I laid them on the silk first but decided they needed something to join them up so I added a large pearl effect bead in the centre. I stitched all of these beads down with white nymo beading thread:

I found some lovely clear drop beads and again after laying them down on the silk, decided they made a nice edge to the tail feathers. Again they needed something to break them up so on went more pearl beads inbetween each one:

I don't want to use only beads for this project, so I worked long and short stitch in one of the peacocks legs...

The outline was getting hard to see, so I worked split stitch around the whole shape intending to work more long and short in the body. Now I have done it I might change my mind! I'll see when I get there.

 Went back to the tail to add in some hand stitching. I mixed one strand of stranded cotton with one strand of silver ophir and worked eyelets inbetween each bugle bead:

That's it for today! The body is next and I have a few ideas....

[Salmah Salim]

I enjoy watching the development. So far so good and thanks for sharing.

[Deborah-Anne Odendaal]

What a lovely beginning Sarah! It's great to be part of a 'work in progress' without all of the hard work (LOL).  This second part is super.  I love the cleanness of the white and silver. And even though there is a 'bling' it looks chic!

[Elaine Wilding]

I love this and the pics too everyone loves to see the process thanks bunches hugs 

[Elena]

Hello Sarah,

This design is very lovely, I love the way you embroider it.

Would you allow me to use this design too ? I would like to try to stitch it too maybe in goldwork. This would give a totally different look, and would be interesting to see that from the same design, embroidery can be very different ! What do you think of it ?

[Barbara/Hopscotch]

It is lovely when someone shares their thought process and ideas for the design, thank you :)

Barbara