Georgian cross part 2

 I finally managed to finish the purse with a Georgian Cross motif. 



 Making the lining was infuriating, with threads from fraying edges all over the place. Melting them slightly with a candle helped. Another difficult part was to get the size right for the lining – it came out too large first, so the purse looked like in was stuffed with brown fabric, and nothing else would really fit. But eventually it was all put together, and I am very pleased with the result.

An overexposed photo to show off the lining - my pride and joy!

  Now I really have to keep myself away from any crafting activities and from the computer (which will take some self-restraint) and get on with preparing for Anastasia's 6th birthay party tomorrow. Normally, we draw with the girls as to who makes the most mess in the living room, although I tell them off, but they don't tell me off – life is unfair, really!

                                                                                                                    

Georgian cross

A friend went to Georgia recently, and brought some beautiful souvenirs for his daughters: a bag and a purse made of hessian fabric embroidered with traditional Georgian crosses. The hessian was darker brown than what I've seen for sale here, and the colours of embroidery were also dark and earthy. My first thought was – I want one of those! But then creative process strayed, as usual. I had a piece of plastic canvas lying around, so used that and acrylic yarn in «autumn» colours. Here I found a collection of beautiful patterns of Georgian traditional embroidery – thank you to Natia! http://fotki.yandex.ru/users/natikodiz/album/76500

And this was something to help creative process along

After one pattern was ready, I couldn't decide for some time what to do with it. A coaster? Or a bag? Finally, it progressed into being a purse. I had to make another large side and the three narrow strips to add width. Now I have to dig up leftovers of brown lining fabric, which I know I have somewhere, and find a suitable brown zipper. Will post pictures when it's ready!

Brooch "Life stages"

Inspired by my previous work - the life stages of fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, a view under a microscope. A GFP-tagged and, let's say, an mCherry-tagged nuclear proteins - pick your favourites! Some dirt in the field - let's be realistic. Charcoal-grey felt, green and red seed beads and embroidery.

Embroidered jewellery box

I found plastic canvas for sale in the local sewing shop and wanted to give it a try. The embroidery  took ages, but I finally finished it - what a relief! Acrylic thread (dark green, pale yellow, dusky pink and lilac), dusky pink cotton lining, purple glass bead and green ribbon to fasten the lid. The size is 9x9x4.5 cm.

Dark-red "Silver deer" brooch

Silver deer is painted with acrylic paint on the dark-red background, decorated with silver embroidery and seed beads. Diameter 6 cm.

Green, silver and charcoal "Deer" brooch

A third "Silver deer" brooch. A deer is painted with silver acrylic paint on the charcoal-grey felt background. The brooch is decorated with embroidery and seed beads. Diameter 6 cm.