Thursday 20 November 2008

Something Lovely.

I'd like to share with you my latest favourite obsession. Something I'm amazed I haven't discovered before now. Ok, I've seen it but it didn't enter my conscious brain, if you know what I mean. And now, I have dragged myself away from my couch and the complete addiction that is Redwork. I'm sure a good number of you are familiar with it, but I will be forever grateful to my friend Joan who casually mentioned it to me the last week whilst looking at something I am working on. It was like someone handing me a very large light and saying 'Here! Look where you're going!'
Magic. That's all I can say. When I googled it later I nearly fell off my chair with excitement. You know that feeling? This is what I was looking for and didn't know it!
The best description of it is that it is a form of embroidery that uses only red thread. For a potted history of it, look here.
There is some incredible stuff to be found on the internet, and on Flickr, and I particularly love the vintage pieces. Just look at these.






Isn't this last one adorable?

I do find a lot of the contemporary work is very traditional, and I'd love to see people who are being a bit more adventurous with it. I have so far completed one little piece which I will show in a day or two when the person I've made it for receives it, and then I will have to warn my family to all stop checking in to Milkmoon until Christmas day...!

Edit: I pulled theses images from the internet, or Flickr maybe, and I can't remember where exactly. I'll keep looking to see where so I can properly credit them.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, very adorable!!

Paddy said...

Intriguing. I note one of the sites is called 'Cartoon Critters'. One of Chris's illustrations would make an interesting contrast.

Rima Staines said...

Ooh, how exciting!
I like the idea of that very much.. had never heard of it before tho. Being a bit of a mudgy girl, I'd have to go for a sort of brick/autumn red on a dirty oatmeal background :) Bet it's nice to find a thing :) xx

marta said...

i love that felling!!!
i thought the last one was from your kitchen!
love it! cant wait to see your work
xxxx

marta said...

sorry i meant feeling...

Deirdre said...

I have seen lots of examples of ' Black work ' which is done in the same way but with black thread of course. I had seen one or two examples of ' Red work ' but did think to bring it to your attention, sorry.... I have been doing some 'Black work' but using the sewing machine as in free machine
embroidery. Even as I was doing it I was thinking I must try it with coloured thread but not necessarily red thread.

Ciara Brehony said...

Interesting to note that there is Redwork, Black Redwork (done in black thread obviously) and then Blackwork proper which is done in the finest thread I have ever seen. Joan had an example of Blackwork her mother had done. It is incredible. You'd need a magnifying glass!

AMI said...

oh ciara its sooooo vintage - i love it... I think I have seen some somewhere... it would make you want to don a circle skirt and stand smiling broadly showing off a pie straight from the oven...

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

I can't wait to see what you create via your new found love!