EGA Challenge First Piece

This year's challenge is a set of 3 related designs. Unlike the Master Craftsman program, there is no "fail" - well there may be, but it doesn't hurt like the MC program. And I can get some feedback for improvements. My three pieces are sea and shore related, as I want to try out some representations of the sea, waves, water and reflection. I painted the background on Dupioni silk:

I decided to cut off the top, as the distant hills make the scale of the foreground all wonky. There are 3 gulls, and two of them are partially reflected on the wet sand. The surf was done with deconstructed flair thread.
Not perfect, but definitely has possibilities. I think if the sea and wet sand were painted darker, it would look better.
I plan to put some rocks on the bottom right to balance the picture.

Details:

I have the second piece painted, but have not started on it yet. These are anemones (without the tentacles) among rocks and seaweeds.

Big Goldfish Tails

Both tail fins are done; and I have to shelf this for a while. I over subscribed myself for the next 6 months: 3 pieces due for EGA Challenge program, and 2 pieces plus paper for the EGA Master Craftsman program Step 5 (almost there!)

Wonder when I'm ever going to get back to Antique Mirrors...sigh..

Second Goldfish Tail

In addition to shell powder and tissue transfer for superposition, there is a third alternative (probably unsanctioned by traditionalists). The instructions for this piece call for shining a light under the fabric that allows the underlying stitch lines to show through. That was how the right tail veins were stitched. Here's the jury-rigged set-up. The photo was tilted to show the lamp being clamped to shine underneath the fabric.
It takes some getting used to; as the light bulb interferes with my knees and the needle when the needle is underneath. But it is much easier than either shell powder or tissue transfer. And of course this technique only works on thin fabrics, i.e., not on my Antique Mirror piece. (sigh!)

Today's progress:

Tail Veins

One tail fin done.

Starting on the second one.

Tail Veins

I decided not to follow the instructions to leave the gold veins for last. I want to make sure it works; also if I don't put the veins on, I'll have to do temporary holding to hold the satin stitches in place. After some trial - and using just a needle to stitch the #1 gold per the instructions does not work for me - the beading koma technique from Mary Alice is the way to go. However I have to hold the gold thread in place with my fingers - to make sure all 4 strands line up. I am washing my hands every 20 minutes to make sure my hands stay clean.

Goldfish Tail

It looks a lot better today. For the first shading, I used 6 sugas orange and 6 sugas white. For the next one I used 4 sugas orange and 8 sugas white. Then it should fade to all white.

Back to Goldfish

Before I shelved the piece, I realized that the tail was bad. Fortunately Mary Alice has the extra silk so I can re-do it.

Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!

The reason for the mistake was that the silk, being somewhat thin, has stretched and the satin stitches became looser as I progressed, forming a bubble. So I had to re-stretch the piece before starting. The moral of the story is - always check for tautness before starting.

I also prefer the tail fin to be more delicate; so that instead of using all 16 sugas I will be using 12.

Onward: