framed version
Above: experimental no mat version
Below: original matted version
About 11" high, including the white border.
I often just start stitching without a plan, then have to figure ways to fix misteaks.
Not this time! I made a meticulous plan and followed it. Up to a point.
The plan was a simple, kind of realistic monkey; I couldn’t find a single image I liked, so I cobbled together several, making my own frankenmonkey.
I didn’t have a background fabric I liked, so I paint-dyed a fat quarter of beige to a nice jungle green.
I often embroider over applied felt, but wanted some pattern, so I used my new pack of iron on applique stuff. Oh, my. Very difficult to stitch through, so I started over, including paint-dyeing a new piece of background fabric.
I’d seen some coloring pages with animals filled with flowers, and decided to floralize my monkey.
Partway through, I got the idea of revealing bones and skull, and ripped out a bunch of stitches I wasn’t happy with anyway.
I started with very muted shades of green, coral, and gold, but added brighter tones and pink when it felt too dull.
Stitches used:
Chain, outline
Lazy daisy
French knots
Spiderweb roses
Bullion stitch and bullion roses
Satin stitch
Fill stitch
Sheaf stitch for the tailbones.
I’m not thrilled with the brown mat, any suggestions? The color is a good match for the outline stitching (more paint-dyeing), but overall it’s blah.
