It’s just the tiniest bit of goldwork, but … it’s goldwork!
Last time we visited the Mission Rose project, all the felt foundations for the goldwork frames were finished. Next step: the goldwork on the rose. Once the goldwork on the rose is finished, then I’ll tackle the frame!
So here are the first bits of goldwork. They aren’t too fantastic or earth-shattering, it’s true! The center ring of the rose is outlined with pearl purl twisted with red Soie de Paris. This technique is nothing new – I did exactly the same thing on the goldwork and silk Tudor-style rose from the Medallion project. So if you were hanging about here on Needle ‘n Thread last year, you probably recognize it.
If, however, you weren’t here – no worries! You can see how the pearl purl was wrapped and couched here.
Around the inside five petals, I used check thread, which is a crimped goldwork thread that is couched onto the fabric.
After finishing the center petals, I moved to the outside leaves – the little green ones set in between the rose petals – and starting outlining those with gold tambour thread #7. This is the same thread I used on the outside petals of the Tudor-style rose. I like it – it’s a nice, flexible gold thread, perfect for little details.
This is as far as I got – I haven’t quite plunged the ends of those threads. But today, I will make more progress. I really can’t wait to outline the outside of the rose petals and work the curly-q’s that stick out from the side of the rose. Once the rose is finished, I’ll tackle the big leaves. I have an idea brewing. It may not work, but it’s brewing, nonetheless!
It’s been a while since I’ve done goldwork, and I felt rusty when I started working on the gold. But goldwork can be Really Addicting and it doesn’t take long to get back into it. Right now, I’m doing nothing more complicated than couching threads, so although “goldwork” always sounds very advanced, the fact is, if you know how to couch threads, then you can do this stuff with no problem!
Here’s my goldwork thread collection, laid out and ready for rummaging! During this part of the project, I keep the drawers out on a little side table next to me, covered with towel between rummaging sessions.
Finally, on a completely different note, I’m having computer problems, so if I disappear for a brief bit, it’s because I didn’t write articles far enough in advance to cover the trip to the Apple clinic. Just a heads-up, just in case!
If you’d like to follow along with the other articles relating to the Mission Rose Project, feel free to stop by the Mission Rose Project Index, where you’ll find all the articles in chronological order.
