I’m so pleased Lily @thewunderkammeroflily on Instagram chose my oil to go on her profile and site. I love working with her and the creative process of sharing sketches and contextual photos so she can create her creative writing response, here’s the link.

Here’s the painting

It was made in 2013 after a visit to Bruges in Belgium.

This embroidery has now become a cushion cover. I didn’t use oil paint on this piece so decided it could become a textile response as a cushion cover. I like the idea of people being able to touch the embroidery, and a cover like this lends itself to that notion. It works well as this and is now on a red chair in our living room. The soft pre-washed Lithuanian linen is ideal for soft furnishings and I really enjoyed working with it. I never know if a piece wants to become a mixed media painting or textile response until quite late in the making process, and just remain open to wherever it may take me. I was inspired by some applique cushions I saw at Blackburn cathedral Textiles Biennale last week but have already been making cushions with flanges. It must be in the air! The nomads tent at the Biennale was stunning. Here is one of the cushions

Here is the soft 6B pencil study I used to refer to for my embroidery, not slavishly copying but being inspired

Well, am sewing away on this piece and it is taking me a very long time as expected. My hand keeps hurting due to the fine work, but I keep stretching and resting it. The yellow seems to be working and am seeing where it all takes me. I won’t cover this piece in embroidery though, there will be space to breathe!

Have started developing sunny arcs of yellow backstitch on my current embroidery of Blakeney marshes. My embroideries don’t seem to mind being shared as I go along, unlike drawing and painting sometimes. This is going to take me a long time I have the feeling. That’s ok it is glacial in pace this one, and takes new directions almost having a mind of it’s own! I will leave space too and be guided by the embroidery itself. I would love to see the Bayeux tapestry which is an iconic embroidery in fact, but worry about it being transported to this country and being damaged. Embroidery is so mindful and reflective as a practice, I am so happy I came to it albeit late!