The last two nights I have stitched ears: needlewoven ears, detatched buttonhole ears, even just slanted stitch ears. You can see them all along the side of my canvas. They all were done in the roughly triangular shape of the ear on the dog I'm stitching using the same two strands of Burmilana that I'm using to stitch the body of the dog.
I also worked on the dog's face which is mostly finished. The eye and mouth are unstitched (and the mouth is likely to remain unstitched as I like the effect) and I have not done the compensation stitches at the top of his head or at the neckline above the collar.
Looking at Van Gogh (yes, the dog has a name now) I can see that his ear needs something but I am not sure it is one of these ears. I am hesitant to use an ear like these. Looking at the stitched models (done with various slants, various methods, etc.) none of them look exactly what Van Gogh's ear needs....
I'll have to think about this some more.
I meant to mention yesterday that Amy Bunger is starting work on her seventh DVD this fall so it'll be ready for the January 2010 TNNA trade show. It is going to be about woven stitches and stitches that appear to be woven but aren't. So you can see why Amy Bunger and Robin were so helpful this week--they too are obsessing about ears!
Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow
Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow
IMHO...I think an ear that extends from Van Gough's head woud be super...perhaps even stitched seperately and attached to his head only at the top. I'm not saying I could do such a thing, but I think YOU could!
ReplyDeleteI think the ear needs some volume or lift to it. I needs to be elevated some how. Could you do a little stump work or a detached button hole ear? Gail Sirna had us do a detached buttonhole for petal on Tribute to Vincent that might work, as long as you shaped it like an ear and not a petal. I like the name. You are very clever Miss Jane.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the ear needs something but these stitches aren' t doing anything for me. I had terrible trouble with detached buttonhole for the ear. That's the mess I didn't even finish!
ReplyDeleteI use buttonhole a lot for finishing but the thin Burmilana just doesn't work well for this stitch.
I have some ideas that I'll be thinking over this weekend. Stay tuned....
I think the ear needs something raised, but the needleweaving is just not right for this. It looks odd to me. I have other ideas, though. We'll see what I come up with!
ReplyDeleteJane the ear looks too pointed at the end. No lab I have ever known has had ears quite that pointed. Maybe that is what is throwing you off, also. You could pad it a bit.
ReplyDeleteYou may be right that this is a Golden Retriever. I just thought lab due to the body colors. But not every designer is accurate in the details.
ReplyDeleteI really don't want a 3-D ear, just a slightly raised one. I think that's why none of these stitches are working for me. They look "wrong" to my design sense.
Maybe not 3-d, but it needs to stand out, be distinguished from the rest of the dog. Sometimes it's hard to tell what it needs until you finally find the right thing. Then you know that is what it needed. I think it is a lab, because if you turn it into a golden, then you'd have to make the hair longer. Then it will shed all over the bar and the bartender will kick it out. The mermaids would follow after the dogs and the bar would be empty
ReplyDeleteNancy, your last comment cracks me up!
ReplyDeleteI think the dog is a lab, too.
Jane, snicking here in CH while I try to find Van Gogh an ear
The story gets more interesting - Van Gogh cut off his ear! LOL Maybe you just let be the way it is.
ReplyDeleteMy two cents worth: Add another layer of stitches to the ear by doing long and short stitches right over what you already have. Add more at the top so that it is raised more and thins out as it goes to the bottom of the ear. I don't think it has to match the stitches on the rest of head. This would give you the separation and dimension I think you are looking for.
ReplyDeletePat, these are great tips! I hadn't thought of doing long and short on top of the ear, I was more or less attempting wrapped stem stitch and bullions. Both failed. sigh
ReplyDeleteBut I am pretty happy with the loosely needlewoven ear I did yesterday. Naturally I didn't find your message until after the ear was done!
Odette, I did think about just leaving the ear as it was but it's in the focal area of the canvas (the dog facing the mermaid) and I felt it needed something.
ReplyDeleteOk, the dog is now Not Van Gogh. LOL
I am sorry I got behind due to our travels but I am catching up now! And....I like his new ear!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pat. I'm glad you like how Van Gogh's ear looks. Now the other dog in the background needs an ear....
ReplyDeleteJane "glutton for punishment" in CH
Since he is receded so far in the picture, try doing the one layer of long and short and see if that might work??
ReplyDeleteI think the floor dog will be a non-issue, because Van Gogh will catch everyone's attention. My guess is that whatever you do first will work.
ReplyDeleteI imagine you are right, Nancy. The smaller dog, like the sailor and the smaller mermaid, are window dressing. The main focus is on Van Gogh and the tarty mermaid he's chatting up.
ReplyDelete