July - Aurifil Artisan project...Tick!

I managed to do it by the deadline! Well ..sort of I didn't quite finish, still needs binding but the first project is otherwise complete.

Meet:

'Close to Me'

All but the binding is done here...I will still crop it too. He's a baby Mountain Gorilla in Rwanda being cradled by his Mamma.

As an Aurilfil Artisan I need to complete at least a minimum of four projects over the 12 months of different genres. Showcasing the different threads. I love these threads and the colours are just perfect nevertheless the quality.

I already had a plan to do this, so easy choice for project one.

From my photo and although not perfect it carries memories of that time in 2017 that my husband and I got to hike, then spend over an hour with a family of Rwanda Mountain Gorillas.....absolutely sensational.

For this artwork as per usual I either trace from a drawing or a blown up photo of the subject onto a base fabric. Then I can start the collage with the scraps of fabric onto the drawing, back it up with stabilizer and can't wait to get it under the needle of my awesome Bernina Q20, which to me is an extension of my vision, this is no different to me as my paint brush and the Aurifil threads are my paint with a fine brush to give the detail.

Collage in black and white to make sure values are correct.

Picking my beautiful threads to go with my baby.

Thread sketching starting with the eyes. Something I was taught only a few years ago by 2 wonderful artists....if you mess these up you haven't wasted your time on the rest to start again.

Thread sketching continues...there is a lot in this piece and it's hard to stop.

Ooooh how did my initials get in there?

Now once all that stitching is done....I layer up, spray baste, then cut some holes....very scary.

So this is how I stitch the holes back up! An extremely enjoyable part after the precise stitch in the thread sketch.

For stitching up the holes I actually used Aurilfil's 28wt thread. Thicker of course but perfect for this purpose and again I have a great colour match.

Another wonderful part is free motion quilting. Love the Bernina Q20 and again the Aurifil threads here with 50wt makes this an absolute breeze. So with the holes I thought it was too busy so I put on another backing fabric to make the holes less contrasty.

Pondering over it at the end, I rather like it cropped back a bit. What do you think?