Needlequest Progress Post - 3 Feb 2014

 It's Monday again and it's update time!  I did hope that I would get this piece finished at least in time for this post, if not by the end of January, but it's still not complete.  It's coming along quite well, but I expect I'll only be able to show the finished thing next week.  Feels a bit bad being behind on my own challenge, but that's life, huh?

This month we're looking at Japan as a design inspiration theme.  This is the piece that I'm using as a rough pattern.  It's 'Hanako's Dream' from 'Inspirations' issue 48 (I think).  I won't be doing it anything like as in the original as that required having to buy the printed silk outline and a great many fancy beads and buttons as the embroidery is mostly beading trims.

What I'm thinking of doing is creating the kimono from some pieces of Japanese cotton fabrics I've had for a while and using appliqué to 'fix' them in place, then do the rest of the figure in simple embroidery stitches and trim up as and where feels right when I see how the piece is working out.

Of course, it might not work out well at all, but the idea is to give it a try and see what happens.  You don't grow if you don't take risks!

What about you?  How are you getting on with your Needlequest work?  Do leave a link in the comments section on this post so we can share what you've been doing.  Of course, other comments are most welcome too!  If you're creating a post to share your work so far, please try to include a link back here so that your readers can find out about the challenge too and, if anyone else would like to join in, feel free to add your sign up as a comment on the challenge page.=)

PS Update on Mum:  She's improving slowly and should be off the High Dependency Unit and back onto a normal hospital ward as soon as a bed becomes available. She's feeling much better than a week ago and was able to chat a bit on Saturday.

Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2014