The first image is a detail from an embroidered illustration I made for a class in 1974. The assignment was to make an album cover for a made-up band. Mine pictured a kind of folk/rock/ renaissance musical group with a landscape and castle in the background. I think this was the first totally stitched scene I made. I found a stitching how-to book at the library and followed the directions. Before this all of my embroidery was embellishment on blue jeans and other clothing.
- detail of embroidered scene, 1974
A couple of decades later, I made this sand castle for the book, You and Me. The beach sand is made from raw silk that I dyed with a spray bottle. And yes, those are real beach stones glued to the fabric.
- detail from “You and Me” 1997
- detail from “George’s Chair” 1998
This castle is from a royal scene I made for a doll magazine in 2000. The fleur-de-lis on the castle door is a nail head. The project was in The Cloth Doll, Volume 14, number 2.
detail from a royal scene, 2000
The next 2 closeups are from my newest picture book, Pocketful of Posies.
- detail from title page in “Pocketful of Posies” 2010
In this one from Old King Cole, I use a combination of clay beads and wool felt to make the stone wall. And the fiddle is made from felt.
detail from "Pocketful of Posies" 2010
How lovely to see where your style evolved from all those years ago. My favourite is the sand castle, the detail is wonderful.
As usual……Simply Fabulous !!!!
The chain stitches in your 1974 album illustration give a cool Vincent van Gogh look to it. Your work is always a visual feast.
Beth
I am new to your work, saw your link on the cottage smallholder site after she had reviewed your book. Your work is a visual treat.
Indeed, your first “castle in the sky” from 1974 does evoke a feeling of Vincent Van Gogh’s “Starry Night”. Love seeing the evolution of your work since it continues to give me hope about what I attempt to do! I have such a LONG way to go! Thank you again for helping me to get where I want to be.
George’s Chair is one of my favorite pieces of yours!
Really wonderful “retrospective.” I love your earlier work. Was wondering if you ever revert to your earlier style of embroidery? In the 70′s I loved abstract/crewel and embroidered on jeans, too. Sometimes I think it would be fun to try crewel or free style embroidery again. (I was big fan of Erica Wilson.)
Love the clay beads on the castle wall! What a nice texture that makes with the felt! Thanks for the eye candy, Salley.