Hydrangea cluster

The flowers remind me of the other JEC Phase VII piece - Pansies. They are highly reflective and starting to look "holographic". It's a good thing the flowers are small - else they will be overwhelming. However they may work well with the striking ichimatsu border. I will have to step back and meditate on it when I'm ready to work on the borders.

Next Hydrangea cluster

Started on the second cluster.

Hydrangea leaf

One flower head done. Stitched one leaf, with short stitch holding, and veins.

Hydrangea central flowers

The small central flowers of the hydrangea macrophylla were represented with circles and fuzzy effect, and the large bract like outer flowers (tetramers) were done with random realistic technique.

I was able to do some stitching using a small Ott light, during the recent wind storm that knocked out power for about a day. Not having access to the internet saved a lot of time!

I started on the round knots around the centers of the tetramers. I used the "single hand technique" that Mary Alice taught me (and she learned from Midori) for doing the round knots. These turned out very nice and consistent.

Hydrangea petals

I re-read the descriptions for Japanese scrolls, and realized that top flat gold section should be twice the height of the bottom flat gold section. I think the best proportions would be 3 rows at the top and 2 rows of checkerboard at the bottom. I will wait till the stitching is done before correcting the flat gold. Bummer!
Did a few more hydrangea petals.

The non-business end of my glass laying tool functions very well as a burnisher!

Summer Hydrangea scroll

Just got out of a four day class with Mary Alice Sinton. I worked mostly on the Hydrangea scroll as Camellia was well described in the French book. Mary Alice figured out what the ichimatsu (checkboard) pattern is that constitutes the chi (earth) section of the scroll (ichimonji-ge?). I made three rows of 7 mm grid squares with couching thread, to be filled with flat gold. Even though the ten (heaven) section of the scroll is not shown in the color chart, I think I'll do it with two rows of flat gold checkerboard - even though the ten is supposed to be half the height of the chi. I hope my interpretation is not too far from the true Japanese tradition. I looked at the JEC's Hydrangea piece again, and it is truly a scroll - it is listed as being 36 inches long. Fortunately I only got the 15 inch, so I don't have to (can't) finish it as a scroll.
As the fabric is translucent, I have to be careful not to let the threads show through from the underside.

I used about 2.5 strands of flat gold so far - and only wasted less than a quarter strand. It turns out really really nice!

I also did a few hydrangea petals and the flower centers.

Going on vacation in the next 2 weeks, so taking a break from stitching!

Mottled Camellia Petals

On to the second petal.