Thursday, April 1, 2010

Hand chain stitch appliques

Maureen Cox models my Rose Hughes' "Poppies" applique jacket. I own the lovely Poppy quilt and Rose granted permisssion for me to make an applique from the design. It was Valentine's Day at the bi-monthly meeting of the Surface Art Association.




Jon spent the month of July 2009 in Mongolia.  He was there for their special yearly festival highlighting the Gengis Khan legacy of horsemanship and archery.  He commissioned a horse head vest in gold for the event.  He had many positive comments when the festival goers spied the horse head - Tahki - in Mongolian.


In November 2009, Jon spent 3 weeks in SE Asia, touring Viet Nam, Cambodia, Laos, Burma (the locals prefer this name), and Thailand. It turns out that the peacock image is important to all four cultures. 

 As with all the applique motifs, they are hand embroidered in a tight chain stitch, appliqued onto the garment (I sew the vests, and buy the jackets), and are framed with hand braided Kumihimo braids. 
A labor of love for sure!

Jon is heading to Borneo in July 2010 and has already asked about his Orangutan vest.  The hunt is on!