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Project Updates: Boutis and More!

It's that time of the year, and we're on the road again. Well, we're almost on the road again. By this time next week, I should be sitting at my desk in Montpellier and posting my blog from there. Hopefully the sun will be streaming through the windows with a warming hug, welcoming us back to the clear blue skies of the south of France. After a winter of oppressive dark clouds and of unusually heavy rains, the blue sky will be welcome.

For the flight over, aside from the usual books and magazines to keep me occupied and entertained, I like to have a further variety of options to choose from.

My hummingbird boutis has seen some progress and will come along with me. Cording does not require the same precision accuracy as stitching does, so it's a good project for travel.

As you can see, there is still quite a bit of cording to do.

Because redwork is easier to see when lighting is less than optimal, it is also a good project for travel.

These four little embroidery pieces will find themselves as part of a bedding ensemble, or perhaps set into some natural linen and made into a cushion for the couch.

Redwork works together well with the red and white toile de jouy that is so popular all over France.I like the muted white of muslin as a base for redwork.


This redwork goddess is inspired by another piece of toile de jouy that I have since used up, but I think she will partner just fine with this piece of toile de jouy as well.

I have not yet decided what her final destination will be.

Last summer, while I was taking classes in boutis from Madame Francine Born, I purchased several of her designs, preprinted onto cotton batisite. She sells her kits as well as the required materials for boutis on her website. www.boutis.fr

This one, titled "Le Mireille", is coming along to France and will provide many happy hours of stitching.

Sadly, my whole cloth quilt did not get nearly the attention this past winter as I had hoped it would. It will stay here and wait for my return in late summer.


When in France, I tend to focus on boutis because those resources are readily available there. For that reason, I am not taking a lot of other work with me. There is a small stash of quilting fabrics waiting for me there as well, so hopefully some traditional quilting will take place over the spring/summer. I will continue to post my progress as well as any new, fun finds.

 Talk to you soon!



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Comments

  1. MonicaMarch 17, 2013 at 8:18 PM

    Have a safe journey! Your redwork pieces are beautiful. So much detail.

    Le Mireille was my favourite project on Madame Born's site, so I am looking forward to seeing it progress. I may yet be tempted on that one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seams FrenchMarch 20, 2013 at 11:05 AM

      Hi Monica. With all of the beautiful hand work that you do, I'm sure that you would like working on boutis and Mme. Born's designs are very traditional to the art. I hope you try it.

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