Today I would like to introduce you to the happily married couple on the Marriage Pillowe; Issac and Harmony. Issac is on the left, Harmony on the right. Issac had a run in with a wall, hence his squashed nose. Harmony has a thick head of hair and eyes that are a really lovely shade of blue/green. For the wedding Issac has gotten himself a new hat, of which is is very proud.
They had a long day getting ready for the wedding and, as you can see, they still aren’t dressed! But they have eyes with which to see, noses with which to smell and mouths with which to speak and maybe give one another a chaste kiss after they’re married.
It’s difficult to stitch people without imagining them as someone who might have lived complete with a rich life, his or her own history, a family or having come from a specific place.
The faces were the most time consuming even though there is very little stitching for each face. I worked all the facial features using Appleton’s wool but I think my stitching isn’t advanced enough because I wasn’t happy with them. Out they came. I then matched the colors of the Appleton’s to a finer wool and restitched the facial features using the finer wool. I was much happier and think they look pretty good.
Just like real people, they look a bit odd without all their hair or, in Issac’s case, without his dapper hat. His nose really is a bit wonky and looks like it’s been broken, but he has character, doesn’t he? And he has the most beautiful blue eyes. (Just like my husband!)
His hat is worked in padded satin stitch and I love the little curves at each end. His smile is a bit crooked…I think he’s a bit shy. All of his facial features are worked in stem stitch except his eyes which are short straight stitches. His hair is done in satin stitch.
I just love the satin stitch bow in Harmony’s hair. Her hair is all worked in stem stitch and looks nice and thick. She looks quite serene and not at all nervous. Maybe it’s because Issac is reaching out to her.
Working the fine facial features took longer than I expected. Phillipa is very clear in her instructions : “The facial features are very important to the whole design. Use short, firm stitches throughout to create a result that is as precise as possible.”
I loved the Marriage Pillowe design before I brought Issac and Harmony to life, but now I really love it! They’ve add life to the design and I can’t wait to see them dressed.
Would you like to have to dinner with them? I would.
Such tiny stitches! I like that the faces have personalities.
I like Harmony’s smile.I’m waiting for them to get dressed up soon
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My mom’ use silk threads for the face and the rest in stranded cotton .She adds 1 small fly stitch to lips and 2 tiny straight stitches on either side of the stem stitch lips. I know in this project you can’t use silk ,but just wanted to share that with you.
Anita.
They are very cute, and obviously very much in love. I wish them well for their lives ahead.
Were the facial features printed on the design or did you make them up? They look pretty good to me, although it is a bit of a shame you covered up all those pretty little ‘things’ in Harmony’s hair with actual hair. (I mean of course all your starting threads, lol.)
Hi Christina, Yes, it was a shame to cover the multicolored dots on their heads!
Hi Anita and thank you for the tips from your mother. When I stitch a design I’m working on now with people I’ll follow her advice about using silk. The tips on the stitches is really helpful! As you pointed out, this is an historical piece and I wanted to be true to the design.
Liebe Grusse.,
Kathy
I know how hard it is to embroider a face to look somewhat like a face.
You did a good job.
They are looking lovely – but you wouldn’t want to have dinner with them, because around that period it was not good etiquette to talk during meals. You’d want to spend the whole day with them…
They look happy! I love the fact that he’s tickling her head!
Love Isaac’s wonky nose, and Harmony’s abundant head of hair! He looks proud and cocky and she seems to be full of happiness…
Spendid – well done
Harmony looks sweet and demure. Issac looks proud and rather pleased with himself, but so should he on his wedding day.
The facial features make such a big difference to the charecter of the piece. You have created a very pleasant young couple.