"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort."
Jane Austen
One of my first thoughts when the new theme was revealed was of Southern Comfort liquor. How much of that did I consume in my younger years?!!?? But I can’t say that it gave me much “comfort” – in fact it often gave me discomfort in my college days! My home provides me great comfort - family, mementos, pictures, quilts and quilting are centered there. These compose my nest where I am most comfortable. I was inspired by the plantation label of a Southern Comfort bottle but added my home and tweaked the design to portray my new Southern Home Sweet Home.
Using a black and white copy of a picture of the house, I drew a pattern on my background fabric and embroidered the piece with embroidery thread. Black beads and shading with a fabric pen were used to complete the scene. A black bias strip of fabric encircles the home and trees. Hand quilting was done in the background in a grid design. The piece is gallery wrapped on a frame my husband constructed.
Fabulous! Love the simplicity of portraying your comfort in black & white, but really love all the personal "connections" that you have incorporated.
ReplyDeleteI am determined to be concise in these comments this time, but I could very well rave on and on about this striking quilt! I say "ditto" to Andrea, but I want to urge all our readers to "click to enlarge". Your embroidery is absolutely exquisite; you even included a person walking in the door! Oh, and the lovely hand-quilting.....
ReplyDeleteAlice, I had to look back at the close-up as I was not that clever to include a person at the door! It does appear to be someone but it actually is just one of the posts of the railing surrounding the porch!!! Thanks for your kind praise though. :)
DeleteHilarious! I went back to look, and it STILL looks like a person to me!!!
DeleteIn my attempt to be concise,in my posting, I forgot to mention a very important aspect. Coming from a traditional quilting background, I find hand quilting and stitching very comforting. I love snuggling in one of my chairs and stitching away, so that is the reason I chose to portray my theme with "black-work" embroidery and hand quilting!.
ReplyDeleteYou are the queen of hand embroidery! Praise to the Queen! Beautiful work and I am glad someone gave tribute to Southern Comfort of all sorts! How correct was Jane Austen! Soooo true. Thank you :*)))
ReplyDeleteYou stopped my husband in his tracks with your quilt on my computer monitor. He said, I want to meet this lady! lol Such a great solution, and I am in awe of your embroidery, and would not even know how to begin doing hand embroidery, Your embroidery is always fabulous fabulous fabulous! I never learned to hand sew. My grandmother was always trying to teach me, but I would get so frustrated. I had a vision problem as a child that was diagnosed till I was 30, I needed glasses for close vision and reading. It's a shame because she was a master at handwork, and I could have learned a lot from her, but trying to force my eyes to focus made me nervous, and frustrated. It's amazing what glasses do!!!!!! Always fun to see your work.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Lois. I have embroidered since I was about 10 years old. My mother taught me and I stitched many pillow cases and table scarfs for her when I was young!! My mother had 6 sisters and they ALL did some form of handwork - smocking, tatting, crocheting, and embroidery were their specialties. I couldn't help but learn to do it properly!! I started sewing when I was young too starting with Barbie doll clothes. In fact I found the original patterns I used when I was in Louisiana recently looking after her.
ReplyDeleteYour Black Work embroidery is wonderfully detailed and executed. I learned embroider at age 9 from a surgeons daughter and love embroidering to this day. I was wondering if one of you southerners were going to do a Southern Comfort theme. Great piece Nedra!
ReplyDelete... forgot to praise your beautiful hand quilting too. And yes Alice, post or person, I see them both. :D
ReplyDeleteNedra I enjoyed meeting you and I can clearly see why you didn't wait for the last minute as this was a time consuming labor, I totally agree with you, hand stitching is so comforting an act
ReplyDeleteThanks and I really enjoyed meeting you too.
DeleteGreat idea, Nedra, and so beautifully executed!! Love your design, embroidery and beadwork. And it was so good to see you again in Houston!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Judy. Great to see you in Houston too.
DeleteBeautiful work, Nedra ! I'm in awe of those who are accomplished with hand work techniques, and your hand work...the embroidery and hand quilting ...is exquisite.
ReplyDeleteGreat take on the "Southern Comfort" theme !
I love everything about this beautiful quilt. The embroidery is exquisite and the black and white color way is perfect. Southern Comfort it is!!!
ReplyDeleteSouthern Elegance is what you have created in this quilt! Your excellent handwork and design tell the story well. The simplicity of just using black, white and a touch of red is perfect.
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