Page 35 of 50

Re: Mabel's designs

Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2017 9:37 pm
by richardandtracy
Mabel Figworthy wrote:...the artist is a Dutch painter and illustrator called Rien Poortvliet, and these images come from his book about Noah's Ark...
Thank you for the introduction to his work.
I have always thought of David Shepherd as one of the best wildlife artists I know of. At the very least he was as good as David Shepherd, quite possibly better in his detail. DS could be a bit sketchy at times, giving an impression of the animal rather than the portrait given by RP.

I will investigate further, his paintings bear scrutiny with ease, even if he had occasional attacks of kitch - honestly, what else do you call an owl standing next to two Santa faces instead of eggs?

Once again, thanks.

Regards

Richard.

Re: Mabel's designs

Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2017 8:53 am
by Serinde
May i say, Mabel, that the elephants are darling -- especially the little detail on their tails... :P

As for the cats, I think you have really struck on something here. The (padded?) satin stitched paws are a stroke of genius, too. :applesauce:

Re: Mabel's designs

Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2017 10:37 am
by Mabel Figworthy
Serinde wrote:(padded?) satin stitched paws
Thanks Serinde - I must say I am rather enamoured of my elongated cats :-). Yes, the paws are padded satin stitch; they are a lot less even than I would like, but I pretend that adds to the hand-made rustic charm...

Re: Mabel's designs

Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2017 6:31 pm
by rcperryls
The serious question (and I could just go look but I'm being lazy right now) is are those kitty patterns on your website? I know someone who would be interested in stitching them. :roll:

Carole
:dance:

Re: Mabel's designs

Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2017 9:53 pm
by Squirrel
Mabel they are adorable, just love the one on the right - such a smarty cheeky expression on his face. They would be so much fun to do too - have you thought of putting them on your web site?

Re: Mabel's designs

Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2017 10:44 am
by Mabel Figworthy
Thank you Carole and Sally - yes they are, here :-)

Re: Mabel's designs

Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2017 12:34 pm
by Podolyanka
I love them all- the elephants and the cats. :applesauce: Especially how you used their paws to make your design perfect. Happy creating/designing!

Re: Mabel's designs

Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2017 2:30 pm
by craftysarah
Beautiful stitching

Re: Mabel's designs

Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2017 4:04 pm
by rcperryls
Mabel Figworthy wrote:Thank you Carole and Sally - yes they are, here :-)
Thank you Mabel. Done already. Going to make a lovely gift for Laverne's Vet!!!!!!

Carole
:dance:

Re: Mabel's designs

Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2017 4:18 pm
by Mabel Figworthy
On its way to you :-)

Re: Mabel's designs

Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2017 8:01 pm
by wendywombat
I liked those cats before......but I have to say they are even nicer in the New version. :whoop:

Re: Mabel's designs

Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2017 10:30 pm
by poppy
The cats are gorgeous and fun. I love the elephants too. Beautiful work!

Re: Mabel's designs

Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 12:01 am
by fccs
I love your elephants, but the cats!!!!! Oh, the cats!!!!!! :wub: :wub: :wub:

Re: Mabel's designs

Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 9:20 am
by sina28
Both versions of your cats are adorable, Mabel! I like the counted cross stitch one a bit more, as I've never done freestyle embroidery before.

Re: Mabel's designs

Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 9:36 am
by Mabel Figworthy
I did think of combining them into one chart pack, sina, but then realised people enjoy different styles of embroidery so it would be better to make them available separately.

The cross stitch one was originally done on 36ct fabric so it would fit the ATC (Artist Trading Card) which had to be 2 ½ X 3 ½ inches (63 mm X 89 mm) but can of course be stitched on any counted fabric (I find the partial stitches are easier on evenweave, but I remember Rose, a great lover of Aida, saying she had no trouble at all with partial stitches on Aida)

Re: Mabel's designs

Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 11:16 am
by kingfisher68(2)
:applesauce: :applesauce: Well done more Mabel Mini Marvels with the cats. So lovely to see more of your wonderful designs.

Thank you for telling us about the artist. I had not heard of him before. David Shepherd pictures were very popular at one time but I never liked them enough to want to hang one on my wall although a lot of people did. I always felt something was lacking but I do not know what. I kept my opinion to myself as many people marvelled at his pictures, so best to keep quiet.

Re: Mabel's designs

Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2017 6:04 pm
by Mabel Figworthy
As many people here know I am not very good at "finishing" finished pieces, but I did want to do something with the Elegant Cats - and looking at its rectangular shape I remembered that some of the satin boxes I bought from Viking Loom some time ago were rectangular, and probably about the right size.

Looking through my box of boxes, I found a dark green jewellery box which was indeed the right size for the cats, and here they are - in one case accompanied by Lexi trying to strike the same pose (and not quite succeeding :-) )

Image

Image

Image

Re: Mabel's designs

Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2017 10:42 pm
by kingfisher68(2)
Really pretty Mabel, they just suit the jewellery box to finish it off. :applesauce: :applesauce:

Lexi looks a lovely cat :D He/she seems to be looking really intensely at something in your garden A lovely photo

Re: Mabel's designs

Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2017 11:01 pm
by Squirrel
What a great idea and they look awesome on the jewellery box for sure. Lovely to 'see' Lexi again, she is very elegant too. :whoop: :whoop: :whoop:

Re: Mabel's designs

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2017 8:19 am
by richardandtracy
Had that been in my house, the photo would have been impossible, the cat would have been perched on the box, not next to it!

I do think that is a great way to use the cat image, almost as if the box was made for the design.

Regards,

Richard