Furry and Feathered Friends

Do you remember the report on our Summer School last year where we worked on the owl and squirrel designs by Nicola Jarvis?
Another member of our Lytham St Annes Embroiderers Guild Group has also been busily working on Nicola's kits so I just have to show you these wonderful finished Silk Shading pieces worked by Shelagh T.

Shelagh's work is so neatly worked - just look at the detail on the cute squirrel face! And he has fluffy bits :-)

And here is a close up of the flower on his upper leg. Nicola has taken inspiration for her kits from the work of William Morris and his daughter May Morris. Read about more about Nicola Jarvis, here.

Love those acorns!

You can also view Linda's finished Squirrel, here.

Another of the designs from the Hillwood Collection by Nicola is this regal looking Owl. Here he is worked by Shelagh.

His furry face and crown detail, above, and below shows his floral wing and lattice details of his feathers.

Beautifully stitched flowers on his stomach (this is a close up, the flowers are very small in size and a stitchers magnifying tool is very helpful).
The wavy edge of his tummy is a puffed couching effect that is not widely used and was demonstrated to us at the last summer school in Clitheroe by Nicola.
Hope you enjoyed viewing these gorgeous 'creatures' and many thanks to Shelagh for being so kind in allowing photos of her fabulous stitching. 
If you would like a kit of your own which comes complete with all materials, DMC stranded cottons, beads, needles and extremely detailed instructions, then click this link to Nicola Jarvis website where you can order the owl, squirrel, robins and various other lovely kits and merchandise or book on one of her workshops where you will learn the techniques from Nicola herself. You are sure to have a lovely time.