False start.

This was my next sample to show tone by spacing of stitches but it does not work so I will use this to show what not to do.

Some stitchery.

This is the first sample of using stitchery with tone.It took an age to do ,I cannot see how the Elizabethans made the front and back the same, as try as I might there was no getting away from crossing over or having to finish off the thread,in the end I gave in so will not be showing the back of the work!They must too have lost their sight very rapidly.

This sample takes away a part of the motif every two rows.Despite it being time consuming I can see the attraction of the delicate stitching and contrast against the light ground.

Tone .

I'm doing things a bit out of sync.Spent some time at the machine Sunday morning creating these samples.First one was not brililiant as the tension was out.Cured it by changing needle and using same thread in top as in bobbin.Some I think need more stitching to create better tonal value but I had fun doing them.

I went over to Bath this morning to deliver a birthday present so took the opportunity to visit the Costume Museum.Was rather taken aback at the £7.00 entrance fee and disappointed to find the blackwork smocks were not on display.I could have saved myself the fee and gone straight to the shop to purchase a 15p postcard of the smock instead!

Tonal stitch.

First try at using tone in stitch.Sample used canvas 10 to inch and machine threads rayon and polyester as well as stranded cottons.

The stitching wouldn't take too close scrutiny but I think the graduation from dark to light is successful enough.

I have collected several animal texture images and am looking forward to playing around with interpreting the shapes and tones.At the moment I am not concerned at the module being monotone ,it quite appeals.

My tonal exercises.

All these were produced on A3 paper.Bottom image from left graphite stick used on side,graphite pencil hatched lines,aquarelle pencilsimilar then washed with brush,fineline pen hatched lines.

Next up-tissue paper ,black crayon rubbing torn and stuck,black crayon diagonal lines,black acrylic with inceasing amounts of water,edge of card printed.
Next to top-Black ground silver pen,flat brush acrylic paint,card tube used as print block,white tissue torn and stuck.
Top-candle rubbed then wash applied with addition black paper and crayon,wash applied salt sprinkled over,cling film used to print,

black,white paperand newsprint used to collage tone.This page I used some left over procion dye as the wash.I mixed blue and brown to see if I could find a near black equivalent for the fabric samples further along in the module.It shows navy but on fabric is more sludgy .

Module Two.

Blackwork embroidery in evidence on a portrait of Queen Elizabeth 1(c.1575)by Nicholas Hilliard.A copy of a partlet by Sue Kirkby (1995-8) Close up of blackwork showing use of tone(V&A).

There are some excellent links for Blackwork embroidery on the V&A museum site:- www.vam.org

New camera.

My husband has a state of the art digital SLR camera so I pressed him into service to capture my resolved piece.After some experimentation we used drafting film against a window and blu tacked piece to it ,he did wizzy things with flash and this is the one we decided on.I am very pleased.