Rockpool

This was my entry for the New Plymouth Embroiderers' Guild's Patricia Dow Challenge. The theme was 'water'. I was inspired to create an entire underwater environment with rocks, seaweed, tiny starfish, anemones, sea urchins, worm casings and barnacles.

I did most of this work on a camping trip, stitching in the shade of a tree near my tent.

Items are trapped between 2 layers of fabric, with the excess fabric pleated up to create the rivulets on the sandy bottom of the rock pool. The rock pool is then populated with colonies of French knots, lazy daisies, seed stitches, needle-woven forms, etc, that work together to form a little underwater world. The embroidery uses hand-dyed calico, cotton & metallic threads (including hand-dyed threads), glass and plastic beads. Trapped items include beads, buttons, curtain rings, washers, polystyrene and bubble-wrap.

I was inspired by Jennifer Rochester’s encrusted calico-covered beach pebble in Stitch magazine No. 15 March/April 2002.
For more information about this piece, please see the challenge discussion: http://stitchinfingers.ning.com/forum/topics/who-dares-to-rush-into-a-pebble-adventure?groupUrl=handembroidery&groupId=2105845%3AGroup%3A1861&id=2105845%3ATopic%3A400271&page=48#comments

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Tags: Embroidery, More…rockpool, anemones, barnacles, calico, More…hand-dyed, seaweed, starfish, thread
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Comment by Michele Crow on May 9, 2012 at 11:26: This is so beautiful I can't stop looking at it. You are very creative and your stitches are perfect.

Comment by Meg Mackenzie on May 9, 2012 at 11:03: Thank you, Anita. The pleats are formed using the fabric left over/loose after the forms are fitted beneath it. The fun part is pleating it to form rivulets. You can use the same technique to form the pleats in spirals, or any other pattern.

Comment by Anita on May 9, 2012 at 10:41: Meg, This is so.. pretty! I love the pleats and french knots.

Comment by Meg Mackenzie on May 9, 2012 at 9:17: You're such a supportive friend, starr. Thank you for your kind comments.

Comment by Starr White on May 9, 2012 at 8:49: Meg, your work is extraordinary! I don't know if I'm most impressed with your creativity or your stitching skills. Just wonderful!

Comment by Meg Mackenzie on May 9, 2012 at 8:37: Thank you for your kind comments, Margaret, Connie and Judy. It's funny, because I loved making this. It was such an enjoyable process. I liked being a "creator". But now I feel that I am just an "owner", and I don't enjoy that so much. I think it's time that this was rehomed to someone who would enjoy owning it more than I do. Then I might feel the impetus to make a smaller one ot keep. Do you ever feel like that with your work?

Comment by Meg Mackenzie on May 9, 2012 at 8:33: Obrigada, Algecira. Você é muito amável. Eu estou feliz que você gosta d.

Comment by Margaret on May 9, 2012 at 8:08: have ticked the like box, but no it is more thsn liking I think it is wonderful,

Comment by Algecira Castro on May 9, 2012 at 6:48: Meg, belíssimo! Muito criativo, chama atenção. Abraços, Algecira

Comment by Judy on May 9, 2012 at 6:45: Hello Meg. Your Rockpool is very creative and innovative. Your stitching is truly beautiful and I especially love your Seagrass and all your sea creatures are wonderful. Lovely Artwork indeed. Hugs Judy

Rockpool

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