This piece is absolutely amazing! I know I say that all the time but it is truly unique! Take a look! Thank you wherethewild-you rock!
1. Tell me a little bit about the project.This is a stumpwork piece, which is an old English technique used to create 3D embroidery. Actually it's only mostly stumpwork... I've been a bit carefree with the methods I've used. I love tattoos and really wanted to do some embroidered ones but wanted to create more than "just" a picture in thread- hence the attempt to give it some dimension. Stumpwork ends up looking kinda hard, but actually it isn't - there are only four different stitches in this project and they're all basic ones anyone can do.
2. Tell me a little about yourselfI'm a 33 yr old Australian expat who lives in Berlin, Germany. I've been here almost 10 years, have a mongrel dog and a German husband who is slowly developing a sense of humour. I was a research scientist, but am now more in the business side of pharma. A few years ago I decided to try and set up an stitching business called Stitchalicious, then didn't do much about it. The amazing response about this project has made me get off my butt and actually start it now. I also write - blogging about Berlin for PlanetEye, and am trying my hand at fiction. So far I pretty much suck at it, but I guess that means I can only improve!
3. What/who inspires you?In terms of embroidery itself I'd say
Jane Nicholas and
Tracy Franklin. Jane's an Australian stumpwork expert whose work is fantastically executed and she's been the driving force behind bringing stumpwork back in vogue. Although most of her designs are slightly old fashioned for my taste, just check out her amazing beetles and dragonflies! Tracy's an English goldwork expert who does beautiful things with gold covered threads and does more experimental work as well.
In regards to art inspiration... I really don't know. I don't have any set tastes, preferred genres or styles. Caravaggio to Banksy.. it's open season there.
4. How long have you been stitching and how did you get started?I have no idea when I started... somewhere around the age of ten I guess. I was pretty much a pure cross stitcher until I started getting into other techniques about eight years ago. My mother was a sewing teacher, so that's where I learnt it. I'm only a very average sewer (and don't even try me on knitting -terrible!), so it's just as well I can embroider a bit or I'd shame her totally.
And a final question......
What is your favorite childhood memoryWhen I was younger we lived on a sheep farm. When Dad would corral the sheep for drenching or tailing etc, he'd inspect them one by one and let them out though a narrow corridor, but before letting them go he'd put one of us kids on the back (I was about 5 yrs old). We'd then go rodeo riding on a sheep for about 5 metres, fall off and run back to do it all over again.
