Madeleine (n.) something that triggers memories or nostalgia - Goldwork Dragonfly Embroidery
£550.00
As I was stitching this dragonfly, I remembered sitting on the swing in my garden 2 summers ago when I was visited by a dragonfly. In the still of silence hovered beauty of a smaller kind, the type you want to hold, to keep for all of time. It poised over my freshly planted hydrangea, refracting light off its wings and eventually settled on a blade of grass. Having flown the earth for 300 million years, dragonflies teach me that the secret to change is to focus all my energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.
My dragonflies are embroidered over 60-70 hours using an array of individually cut specialised metal wires, leathers, cords, metallic threads and beads. The metal wires come in a variety of textures and thicknesses. Thus making them perfect to stitch creatures like dragonflies which are composed of several juxtaposed patterns.
To begin, I carefully construct a thin tapered body using felt fabric. The felt body provides a 3-D effect and acts like a cushion for the metal wires which are placed on top.
I subsequently measure metal wires against the felt body, cut them to size and stitch them on using a cotton thread which I coat with beeswax first. This is a painstaking process which requires precision. If the metal is cut even a millimetre too short, the felt will be visible and there may be lack of symmetry.
The thorax of the dragonfly is created using an iridescent crinkled gold leather. Stitching with leather requires specialised needles and waxed cotton thread. I cut out the desired shape for the thorax and stitch it over the felt. The head is then covered with several individually cut silver metal wires. These are placed very close to each other to cover the felt with a cluster of sparkle
The wings are created using the same technique as the head (known as cutwork chipping). I individually cut hundreds of tiny sparkly metals in roughly 2mm pieces and sew them on using a waxed cotton thread.
To finish, I stitch on 2 large antique gold beads for the eyes. The antenna are stitched on using metallic threads and forelegs/hind legs are stitched with more metal wires.
My dragonflies are stitched on a cotton navy fabric. I am more than happy to embroider them on a fabric of your choice so kindly send me a direct message.
Each of my embroideries are with care instructions. Each piece is carefully wrapped with tissue paper, brown paper and finished with twine, a wax seal and handpicked dried flowers
Kindly allow 12 working days for me to complete your order. Hand embroidery is a time consuming process and I would really appreciate your patience 🖤
As I was stitching this dragonfly, I remembered sitting on the swing in my garden 2 summers ago when I was visited by a dragonfly. In the still of silence hovered beauty of a smaller kind, the type you want to hold, to keep for all of time. It poised over my freshly planted hydrangea, refracting light off its wings and eventually settled on a blade of grass. Having flown the earth for 300 million years, dragonflies teach me that the secret to change is to focus all my energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.
My dragonflies are embroidered over 60-70 hours using an array of individually cut specialised metal wires, leathers, cords, metallic threads and beads. The metal wires come in a variety of textures and thicknesses. Thus making them perfect to stitch creatures like dragonflies which are composed of several juxtaposed patterns.
To begin, I carefully construct a thin tapered body using felt fabric. The felt body provides a 3-D effect and acts like a cushion for the metal wires which are placed on top.
I subsequently measure metal wires against the felt body, cut them to size and stitch them on using a cotton thread which I coat with beeswax first. This is a painstaking process which requires precision. If the metal is cut even a millimetre too short, the felt will be visible and there may be lack of symmetry.
The thorax of the dragonfly is created using an iridescent crinkled gold leather. Stitching with leather requires specialised needles and waxed cotton thread. I cut out the desired shape for the thorax and stitch it over the felt. The head is then covered with several individually cut silver metal wires. These are placed very close to each other to cover the felt with a cluster of sparkle
The wings are created using the same technique as the head (known as cutwork chipping). I individually cut hundreds of tiny sparkly metals in roughly 2mm pieces and sew them on using a waxed cotton thread.
To finish, I stitch on 2 large antique gold beads for the eyes. The antenna are stitched on using metallic threads and forelegs/hind legs are stitched with more metal wires.
My dragonflies are stitched on a cotton navy fabric. I am more than happy to embroider them on a fabric of your choice so kindly send me a direct message.
Each of my embroideries are with care instructions. Each piece is carefully wrapped with tissue paper, brown paper and finished with twine, a wax seal and handpicked dried flowers
Kindly allow 12 working days for me to complete your order. Hand embroidery is a time consuming process and I would really appreciate your patience 🖤
