New massive embroidery project

Sofia

We are so excited! We have recently started up a new massive embroidery project and are eager to share the progress with you guys.

The motivation behind is to fill a huge, empty wall in my (Sofias) living room. And of course that we recently finished our previous big project, the yellow headboard. Read more about it here, here and see some detail photos in this blogpost.

So, how do we start up a project like this? It depends a lot from time to time, but the driving force is always that it includes something new that excites us. It is a big project to pull through, and things tend to get less and less exciting by time so it is very important that it is very exciting in the beginning. At least for one of us, as we usually alternate in dragging each other throughout the project. The first big embroidery we did, called Herrejössesbroderiet (in english something like: the Oh my Godness-embroidery referring to its chocking size) was exciting because of its size. It is 1.2x1.2 m. herrejossesbroderiet Another one - the Blue ameoba pouf was exciting because it was 3D. We then started making more things in 3D. blue-ameobaamoeba-and-pouf A third example is the yellow headboard that was exciting because of its new color scheme yellow/gray, since we usually use jewel tones. Further on

This time we are very excited by the theme and new color scheme. For me personally I am also very excited about having it on my wall. The theme is underwaterworld and it feels like such an creative, organic and inspirational theme. We need to avoid going to figurative though - our style is abstract and by experience we do not enjoy too much figures, faces and "correct" perspectives/scale in our embroideries. We like it a bit messy and ruleless. We are not working with realism.

A lot of inspiration now in the beginning is taken from Judith Baker Montanos book (Transforming Traditional Stitches into Fiber Art Paperback) and from our swims in the ocean this summer. We also see the project as good a way of getting rid of tons of scrap yarn we have in the storages... A lot of brown tones that we do not usually use (because of myself, I have hated brown until this project, now it is my favorite color to use).

Okay - lets get technical. People are always interested in knowing numbers like sizes, time limits and costs when we talk about our art. The final size will - as the plan is now - be 2x1.2 meters, divided into 12 pieces (0.5x0.4 m each). 12-pieces It could also grow as we go, maybe we want to add more or a frame around it or something else - no idea. Perhaps we want it 3D? Nothing is ever decided. It has happend several times that our embroideries get deassembled and made into something new, bigger, new shape. Time - no idea. Depends on life, work, what textile projects that feels fun at the moment. Probably it will take more than 6 months but less than a year. Cost - no idea and don't really wanna know........

As can be seen in the picture of the 12 pieces, we have drawn some lines to indicate reefs, glades in the ground where there will be ocean. We have not really planned more than that at this point, but will add stuff throughout the process. Usually we come this far and then are so excited to start so we do not detail plan anything. That is what creates our style, to not know from the beginning. That makes it very easy to start and then evaluate throughout the process - do we need more of any colors? Do we want more consistent background anywhere? We need to add something fun - where should we put it? underwaterwolrd A benefit of working with big embroideries is that if something you do is ugly...it will not show in the end because the piece is massive.