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Some of you may know that I've been commissioned to produce four pieces for an exhibition to be held as part of New College, Edinburgh University's celebration of the 450th anniversary of the Reformation in Scotland. It's to start in August, and will coincide with the big festival that's held every year. So far, so scary. The pieces are: a "spot sampler", an initial letter from the Wode Psalter books, and two pieces of blackwork charted from 15th-century portraits.

I thought you might be interested to see how it's all going. And if I'm to get this done, I'm certainly going to need folk on the magic bench, cheering.

Here's the sampler, so far:


And the capital letter:


And a trial run at some of the blackwork:

Very impressive, love it so far, I am sure that you are dedicated enough to finish them in plenty of time. What is the finished sizes of the pieces?

Rosemary

You've got some amazing details there Serinde! I love the blackwork especially.
I shall pull up the magic bench at once and settle down with some to sustain me!

RosemaryH wrote:Very impressive, love it so far, I am sure that you are dedicated enough to finish them in plenty of time. What is the finished sizes of the pieces?

Rosemary

The sampler is 18 3/4 in by 11 1/2 inches, the stitched area being slightly smaller inside the hem. I'm using 36ct Edinburgh (ha ha) linen over two, and trying to incorporate a couple of different stitches and techniques. It's done using (Pearsall's) silks.

The capital letter, which will eventually be a small cushion, is about 9 inches square, and I'm using 24ct Congress cloth. It's being worked in tent stitch, the same stitch used almost exclusively by Mary, Queen of Scots in surviving pieces attributed to her. I'm using Renaissance Dyeing marino wool, specifically their "Elizabethan range", apart from that scarlet... which was too good to pass up. (The original, painted onto paper, I think, is sort of dark terra cotta, but I bet it was originally red!)

The blackwork is tiny! What is that worked on?

I've heard of Renaissance Dyeing, that they're very good -- how are they coming on so far, living up to expectations? The "border" (case? box?) for the illuminated capital is gorgeous already; what colour(s) is the capital itself going to be, and what capital is it? An S to commemorate the talented seamstress?
I love the "outline" animals in the sampler, they have such character

Mabel, the trial was worked on 20ct something or other I pulled out of my stash. It will be done properly on 36ct linen over 2, so will be just less than an inch high. It was originally on a woman's ruffs and cuffs, so that's an appropriate size. The other blackwork sample comes from a man's portrait, used for the same purposes, and is about an inch and a half in height.

The wool for the Capital 'O' (for that is what it is) is working really well. The colours are wonderful, and the wool is well behaved.

This is what the original looked like:

Ah, got it now -- I thought the O was a border around the capital, which was a yet invisible

so beautiful works!

these are stunning pieces

You're doing so beautifully on all of these!

I'm on the magic bench watching this beautiful work. I have cocoa and cookies to share if anyone wants to join me. The cocoa is always the right temperature......it is a magic bench after all.

Great work

I love the capital letter, the colors are just beautiful a real tribute to the original design, and the spot sampler is lovely, again some really great and vibrant colors. Can't wait to see more of the blackwork, the trial looks great

Super work on these Serinde. What a wonderful honor for your work to be in this celebration.

Wow, these are amazing!! And what an honor to to have your work displayed at such a big event! How did they come to pick you to stitch for this, have they seen your work elsewhere? So exciting!

What a great project! The pieces are already looking terrific - love the blackwork.

And I'm in for hot cholocate on the magic bench!

Fantastic oportunity for you, and fantastic work you have done. We will be all so proud of you!

I brought some cookies for the people sitting on the magic bench. Expecting regular updates!!!

They are absolutely gorgeous all of them and I too love the blackwork one. I will push my magic bench over into the shade and get something cold to keep me going.

Great work and I am sure you will finish them in time. The small designs for cuffs sound really challenging. Good luck with it all

Sally

What lovely projects!

wonderful works!