Figure embroidery has been on my mind a lot lately. It's actually one of my goals for this year, to work a piece of figure embroidery here on Needle 'n Thread. But you know those New Year's resolutions... I figure if I resolve it one year, I've got at least five to make it happen. Or at least, th
Gleaming or nué design of Christmas baubles worked over silver threads.
Today’s particular topic tends to put me into the state of Embroidery Frenzy. I always feel as if I’m singing the same song to all of you dear, patient readers! “I want to do this! … I’m going to start that soon …. I need to start this project, that project, do this, do that!!!! ...
Informationsseite rund um das Leben im Mittelalter in Tirol, mit Hauptaugenmerk auf das 14. Jahrhundert. Historische Darstellung weiblicher Lebenswelten im spätmittelalterlichen Tirol. Lebendige Geschichte - Living History. Display of women in the late Middle Ages in the region of Tyrol.
I have started on the detached petals for the Or Nué blossoms. I am not ready to attach them yet but am keen to see how they will look. I have used 30 gauge wire on the petals and couched them with a single strand of silk, the same silk used to couch the gilt passing thread. In Stage 1 I have simply couched down the wire in the shape of the petal. You may notice that the wires to not meet at the base of the petals. This is intentional for the shape of the petals. In Stage 2...
I have started working on my Or Nué Queen Bee - well actually I have started it three times. So much for thinking I wasn't going to do ...
... is finished. I have been meaning to share it with you ever since I placed the last stitch. I did share pictures on facebook b...
Introductory design to the goldwork technique of or nué.
Don't you just love that strangely satisfying but at the same time slightly empty feeling when you finish a project? I am quite h...
Introductory design to the goldwork technique of or nué.
Yesterday I took an Or Nué class by Brenda Kocher. The ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter hosted the event. The day was somewhat gloomy - a perfect day for stitching. We were all so excited to start on Brenda's Or Nué Star Lily design. Or Nué means "nuance of gold" or "shaded gold". In this technique, gold or silver threads are laid across the canvas and then held down with silk threads couched over the metallic. The silk threads are couched in a pattern that forms a design. At the ends, the metallic threads can either be "sunk" into the canvas, which is what we did in class, or turned on the surface. There are some excellent references on the Internet, including Jane Zimmerman's Traditional Technique of Or Nué. There is a magnificent collection of Or Nué embroideries in the Altar Room (Sala dell'Altare) in the Cathedral Museum (Museo dell'Opera del Duomo) in Florence. They were designed by Pollaiolo in the 15th Century and took 23 years to complete. We were able to visit there two years ago and the embroideries are breathtaking! Unfortunately, my attempts to photograph the embroideries were not successful. Our efforts yesterday were very basic and gave us a first taste of the technique. Brenda is a terrific teacher and the class was very enjoyable. It was so much fun watching the design emerge as we couched the Kreinik #16 braid that we were using as the metallic. Of course, we were all so absorbed in stitching that we had to be reminded to take a break every so often. By the end of the class, I finished about half of the design of Or Nué Star Lily. You can see that I have a number of needles going at once to avoid dragging threads across the back of the work. Or Nué Star Lily Progress as of May 18, 2013 And here is the what the design will look like when finished. Or Nué Star Lily Brenda E. Kocher Designs Completed Piece Since it's raining here today, I think I'll work on finishing this piece. Until next time, happy stitching!
We haven’t visited the goldwork iris in a while, and I left everyone hanging with the last post about it, when I asked what you thought I would do for embroidery thread! I never did answer that question, so now I will bat around the ideas in my head about this piece. First, I’ll admit ...
Here's a real treat: a beautiful example of goldwork embroidery, highlighted by a shaded couching technique called Or Nué. Margaret C. sent along a photo of this recently finished project, along with some information about it (and permission to share it with readers!). I think you'll be impre
Or Nue embroidery. Fine gold passing thread and filament silk.
In this kit you can make a stylish Barn Owl design, embroidered in 3 Metalwork techniques over two layers of craft felt. The Owl is worked Metalwork, a technique seen throughout history on pieces such as haute couture garments, ceremonial and military dress, and ecclesiastical furnishings. Its richness and opulence was a symbol of wealth and power, and fine examples can be seen on the Queens coronation robe as well as high fashion today. It is stitched with silver plated threads in a variety of stitches including Couching, Or Nue (couching with a colour) and Cutwork, all traditional skills in this beautiful style of embroidery. The design also has patterning created with sequins on top of the metal threads! The embroidery is then finished off with a laser cut oak branch on which the Owl is perched. Clear illustrated instructions will guide you through this hand embroidery project, which once completed can be mounted and hung in the little wooden hoop provided (optional). The finished bird embroidery measures approximately 8.5x7cm, and the wooden hoop is 11cm diameter. All the kits are designed by Becky Hogg Embroidery and produced in the U.K. Kit includes: Barn Owl design printed onto linen, White craft felt, Grey sewing thread, 11cm Wooden hoop, x3 Stranded cottons, Silver plated passing thread, Silver plated pearl purl thread, Silver plated wire check purl, Sequins, Oak branch, x1 Embroidery needle, x1 Chenille needle, Ribbon for hanging and Illustrated instruction booklet. Kit materials come in a hand screen printed gift box 16x24x2cm. This kit is suitable for all levels, but not advisable for children. Please do contact me if you have any questions!
I’ve been somewhat short on TIME this weekend, but even if you are, too, you’ll probably find the following (brief) online exhibit of a gorgeous piece of historical ecclesiastical needlework awe-inspiring… This cope is one of the vestments of the Order of the Golden Fleece, housed in a museum in Vienna. This particular cope is ...
This is the final entry for my lovely William Morris Illuminated Letter - we've come a long way since the first blog in July last year! Ti...
Adapted from a design in 'The Beginners Guide to Freestyle Embroidery'. Stitched with Kreinik Japan threads and Anchor Marlitt. It's very shiny in reality!
Yesterday was a somewhat productive day - well as productive as it can get with something as beautifully slow as Or Nué fitted in between lo...
Goldwork embroidery and more
Or Nue Daisy by Anna S. This past Saturday I took a class in Or Nue taught by Brenda Kocher. Had I liked my work I would have shown a picture of my progress but rather than chance discouraging anyone I thought it better to show what I think are some gorgeous examples of others Or Nue […]
