Teddy before and after the weekend. Not entirely happy. I don't seem to be getting the hang of silk shading. It's probably just practice, but how long does it take? I think I should have started at the bottom as it looks like his fur is layered that way. I think when I restart I'll start at the bottom. I spent some time on Tanya Berlin's website to see how she does her fur. She draws a lot more on her silk and has a pattern to follow. I'll try this I think.

At the end of my first week with Tracy in Durham, the Lace Maker is now finished and ready to mount ready for assessment. We will start mounting on Tuesday and I will finish in the evenings.

Tracy started me off again on Teddy on Friday, so I can work on him over the weekend.

Also hoping to get started on Whitework next week, so I will have two projects to finish before next summer!

Nearly there! Just need to soften the shading on her face. It is a bit too sharp. Then I 'm adding some embellishments to reflect those in the painting. Tracy will help me next week, when I'm in Durham for my 2 week intensive.

So the plan is to finish The Lacemaker, mount it and submit for assessment, re-establish contact with Teddy, my silk-shading project, so that I can finish him over the next year, and start a whitework project. Gosh, what a plan!

Nearly there!  Just need to add 'slanted blanket stitch' to the bottom edge and tidy up the right hand edge.

Ready for "fine tuning" when I go up to Tracy in Durham for this year's intensive.

Now for the cap.

Well, after 18 difficult and not very nice months, I feel ready to return to my Blackwork and the RSN Diploma. I still have quite a bit to do, but I'm feeling confident that I will finish in time for my trip to Durham in the summer and another 'intensive' session!

I need to sort the shading on her chin, which isn't quite right.

The cap will have some blackwork patterns, so I need to practice how to achieve it.

All is positive at the moment.

Day 7 & last day for Teddy in class

Well, this is as far as I got! I need to buy some fine Piper's silk for his tufty fur. I think I know how to continue.  We'll see.  Watch this space!