This blog should be called "The Adventures of a Fabric Junkie!". I am passionate about fabric, threads, colours and textures. I can record my crazy quilting, sane quilting, embroidery and everything else that I consider important in my life.

Photo shows my block for the Hurricane Katrina fund-raising quilt "All That Jazz".

Friday, March 18, 2011

Stumpwork Koi fish on Japanese block



I have been thinking, drawing and finally stitching three Koi fish for the pond in the centre of my Hearts and Hands for Sendai block.  Here is the first fish and the five steps I had to take before I got there.  I am not particularly happy with the tail end which looks a bit thick and fat but that is due to the fact that I padded it with orange felt first.......maybe I shouldn't have done that???  Nevertheless, the other two will have to be done the same way as the first, I can't unpick him now!!  I stitched the fish in ONE strand of stranded cotton which had been dyed bright orange and bright golden yellow and used Blanket stitch, each row stitched into the one before.  The high-lights were sewn with one strand of Kreinik orange blending filament while his eyes are two black glass antique beads.
 Steps 1 and 2 in the top photo and steps 3, 4 and 5 in the bottom photo.






6 comments:

Bear said...

hewoo Viv
I am in awe your first Koi looks bewdiful- really it does I dont think his tail is al that big - you are to cose to him - He is gorjas cant wait to see the rest come up this is going to be a wondeful block
love n hugs bear xoxoxoxox

Josie said...

WOW! Viv, these are beautiful!!!! I don't think the fish has a fat tail......maybe it is just baby fat! :-) Your work is great!!! Josie in Texas

piney cq said...

I just LOVE what you're doing Viv! Absolutely gorgeous!!! Wish I could stitch with you! :)

Heikki said...

Oh my! You are doing something very special! Wonderful idea and the fish looks just great!

Ritva

Sharon said...

Wow!!! You are so clever!!! I love the Koi - don't forget that the Koi are under the water and the light on the water always distorts the way we see things UNDER the surface... I can see all that light... Magic stuff I wish I lived near you - you would give me inspiration!!!!

Lynn S. said...

Very cool and pretty! Love it!