A good deal of my time lately has been devoted to finishing a particularly complex piece of embroidery in time for the display next Sunday.
This was a study of two geese in a snowy landscape, and I’m not sure I ever want to see a goose again after finishing this design. It was full of fractionals (half or three-quarter stitches) and with more backstitching than I’ve ever seen on a design before. I don’t mind fractionals or backstitching — in fact, they’re essential in most designs and too often skipped –but a lot of either or both is very slow work. Add to this five different shades of grey thread and two different whites, and my eyesight was protesting, especially at times when the light wasn’t good. So, I’m really over the moon now at having finished this design.
Another very time-consuming job finished this week was an order for more mounts. The companies supplying mounts send enormous catalogues, and then you can reckon on spending several evenings or more sorting through the vast variety of different types of mount. Is it to be with aperture or plain ? What size aperture is needed ? What shape ? — square ? circular ? rectangular ? oval ? What type or thickness of card ? And do you need a deckle edge ? What colour ? You can’t find the size of aperture in the colour you want ? Go back to Square One. You forgot to order envelopes to fit the size of your cards ? Start again. What type of paper do you want for the envelopes ? Ordinary or heavier quality ? Coloured envelopes ? Gold or silver ? Do you need interior sheets with wording on — ‘Seasons Greetings’, or whatever ? I copped out at this stage, finished my relatively simple order and mailed it, much to my relief. I won’t get the mounts in time for this display, but should have them for the next.
Maria and I discussed the music to accompany the display. I’ve now made a list of the cards and pieces I intend to show and talk about. When we meet again next Saturday, I’ll have the list finalised and arranged in three or four sections. She will then organise Advent and Christmas music to play in between each section.
We sense that people are getting excited about the display. Embroidered Christmas cards are not well known in Poland, so we hope the examples shown will inspire other people to try this exciting art form for themselves.
