Saturday 19 July 2008

Home again and the 'Pool' finish

Well, here I am, back from doing about 3500km across Central Europe. I was going to post a picture from each country we went to in this post, but that would take a lot longer than it sounds going through all the photos and choosing one etc!! So, I'll be uploading them to my new Webshots travel album soon and will post the link when it's done. We went to France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and Austria though, which was all great, although I was disappointed that we couldn't drive the way the SatNav first suggested from Germany to the Austrian Tyrol - through Switzerland and Leichtenstein, but there are tolls to pay on many European motorways, so we tried to avoid those as the budget was a bit tight.

Here's the completed Ornamental Pool embroidery. MIL said she would rather have it as a framed picture than as a cushion which might get damaged with all the kids she has charging around her living room. She was toying with the idea of a rectangular frame with glass and put glass over it to see how it looked, but we persuaded her to a square frame with a light mount, wooden frame and no glass as the glass really dulled the sheen on the rayon and metallic threads. So has this photo actually. DH took it in strong light and I'm a bit disappointed with it as the shiny bits have all but vanished from sight and the right hand leaf is so affected by the light that you can't see the stitches anymore, (well, you can now somewhat, after auto focusing several times with Photoshop, but it's not as I'd have liked it). So, don't try taking embroidery photos in too strong a light or you'll miss a lot of the textural effects. Won't be able to get a photo of the framed piece until we next visit there and I don't know when that will be.

One of the things I got in the post when I got back was a flyer for the 2008 Fashion, Embroidery and Stitch show, which will be the first weekend in October up at the Great Yorkshire Showground. They advertised this year's Madeira Embroidery competition, theme being 'Glimpses of China'. Well, I wish I'd known about it before, as now there are only about 6 weeks to get the pieces worked and entered and I'm not sure I'll have the time and umph for it. I haven't finally decided againsgt it, I want to look through all my Taiwan photos etc first to see if there's something that might make a winner, but as I'm not that fussed for the prizes, if I'm honest, I wouldn't hold my breath. I think I'd be most interested in the prestige of winning than the goods!!!! We'll see about that one anyway.

Thinking about developing my language learning through blogging, I'm seriously considering opening parallel stitching blogs in Chinese, German and also one in romance languages - basically Spanish with some parts also 'duplicated' in any or all of Italian, French and Portuguese. Spanish and Portuguese speakers, how can I roughly translate Sew in Love so that it will work in both languages? 'Bordar/labores de amor'?? Any ideas from anyone??

14 comments:

Love to Stitch 99 said...

Ornamental Pool has turned out very beautiful and your MIL must have been very happy with it.

It has been a very long time since I have traveled from one European country to the next.

We used to rent a car and just go and visit as much as we could. We did not even made any hotel reservation. I guess we have been lucky to always having been able to find a nice hotel to stay in at the end of each day.

What will be your next project, an inquiring mind wants to know (lol)?

Pierrette =^..^=

NCPat said...

I agree--this is lovely! Hope you are well rested from your holiday and look forward to the pictuers!

Nic said...

Your embroidery is lovely - and I think it deserves to be framed and cherished :o)

Terry said...

This is really lovely and you must be delighted with it

Keep up the good work

Veronica said...

You might be complaining about the quality of the photo but trust me, when I saw it, all I can think of is "WOW". Stunning work as usual.

Carmen said...

lovely pool,i always enjoy your stitching :)

Doris said...

:)i think in both languages work : "labores de amor" or "labores con amor" both say that in every thing that you do, you put a lot of care and feeling.

Anonymous said...

This is so beautiful!
I love it.....Job well done.

Kate said...

Welcome back! It sounds like you had an amazing trip. So many countries! The Tyrolean Alps would have been amazing, but I can understand how tolls are a pain. Maybe next time. :)

Ornamental Pool looks stunning, even in the harsh light. That little heron is just too cute. I like the kinda distorted perspective too.

Kucki68 said...

I am always incredibly impressed by free embroidery. I am more a counted and squared girl at heart.

Veronica said...

Another comment just to let you know that I've nominated you for a blog award. Check it out over at my blog ^.^

Anonymous said...

You love comments? Well, I can only say that I love your blog and the absolutely wonderful works that you do!
Miriam (I come as anonymous because I do not have a blog - sorry.)

Dani - tkdchick said...

That pool is just gorgeous!

Von said...

Stunning embroidery as always, Elisabeth! I awarded you the Brillante Weblog for your excellent work. :D
http://onthedryside.blogspot.com/2008/07/sweet-rewards.html

Play along if you'd like, but don't feel obligated. Hugs!

 
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