I've just updated my DeviantArt account with some more pictures of my embroidery. You can see it HERE

Wow, Maddy! You are one talented lady! And patient too. I can happily do cross stitch and tapesty, but not embroidery - I don't have the patience to get it right. I love, love, love that Assissi work towel. I've always been fascinated by the monotonals, but have never considered my own project. I only give them up after a couple of days... *sigh*

The problem with the embroidery I do is that so much of it is for other people! And until recently, I didn't scan or photgraph it so have no records. My Guild Mistress is constantly smacking my fingers over that! I really need to get a hustle on and finish the piece I'm doing - it was supposed to be done for the end of January this year!! Is doubly important as it will be my final piece I need to move to Journeyman (I can't move to Master with is because it's not my own design). As for embridoery - I love surface and freestyle - it was what I first learned. I didn't actually learn counted cross stitch until I was in my mid-20's and I still find it harder than surface. Glad you liked the towel - it's actually a 15th centuray pattern.

I'd be smacking you over the fingers for that too! Make sure that when you do finish this piece that you post it so we can all see it!

That's a lovely collection you have, Maddy! Your embroidery and tapestry skills are so refined! I like the "Woman Reading" a lot and the Elizabethan bag is so cute! You're very talented! I hope we'll see more of your work in the future!

Maddy...your work is absolutely AMAZING! I am always in awe of those who can sew...you must have an amazing amount of patience!

Oh wow, babe! they are gorgeous.. I remember trying out tapestries when I was a teen -- but never had the patience to get a full piece done. I have totaly respect and awe for you!! Gorgeous stuff! Perhaps you can try a G-Force one, eh? I love the linen one ... I want one for myself, now!! Totally talented baybee you are! Love it

Great work, Maddy! I love the "Woman Reading" one. So, what's all that about Journeyman and Master? We don't have any equivalents here in the US (at least, none that I know of)... Your Guild Mistress (am loving this title!) is right -- it is VERY important you take photos of your work -- my mum and I do. It is a good remembrance, plus there have been times when we've needed the pics for reference on projects we were currently working on. Very beautiful, all of them!

Thanks, everybody. Funnily, it's not so much about patience as the fact that I fiddle - and I can't just sit and do nothing. So, embroidery keeps my fiddling fingers busyso I tend to do it when watching anything (TV, tourneys, etc). My Guild is with Worshipful Companie of Broiderers of Lochac. It's part of the re-enactment group I belong to (SCA - Society for Creative Anachronism - it's worldwide and you will all have groups near you - we're that big!). Australia and New Zealand are a "kingdom" called Lochac (pronounced Lock-ack). I've been a membr for nearly 20 years now, and some of the research I do in there involves historical embroidery techniques. As for a Gatch-themed piece - I've been trying to plan one for a few years.

Actually, Maddy, I have heard of the Society for Creative Anachronism, believe it or not. There was a chapter of them that used to meet when I was attending the University of Rhode Island and my two next door neighbors were members. Because of conflicting schedules, though, I was only able to go with them to a meeting once. Hard to believe that was over ten years ago, now...where does the time go...? As for the re-enactments -- what do you re-enact? The biggest thing around here for us is the Revolutionary and Civil Wars...yeah, you haven't lived until you've heard a cannon being fired in the field just down from your house! My first thought was...Spectra attacking...ack!...wait, where's G-Force?

Maddy, they're beautiful! I used to crossstitch and crochet before my RA got to my hands. I miss them as a calming influence.

Becky, I learned to crochet so that I could do the outside of the doylies etc., that I stitched. My grandma (who taught me both embroidery and crochet) insisted. RIgirl - the SCA re-enacts from the Roman Empire to 1601, and et look at mostly lifestyle. Tourneys, feasts, etc. We don't tend to do specific battles. If anybody lives near Pittsburg, you may have heard of Pennsic - that's the big SCA even every year around late July/August. Goes for 2 weeks and thre are 20,000 or so people who attend. My own period is the Italian Renaissance as far as the clothing I wear goes.

Those are beautiful, Maddy. It never ceases to amaze that for such a small community (we are comparitively small for a web-based community), that we have so many similar hobbies and interests outside of the Gatch universe.

Originally posted by Becky Rock I used to crossstitch and crochet before my RA got to my hands. I miss them as a calming influence.

That's what happened to me too! I so miss those times when I used to sit down next to my mother and do some crochet, embroidery or tapestry! I've still a huge scene of Arabian Knights on horses (approx. 1 metre wide) to finish, having only been able to crossstitch about a fourth of it! I so wish I could have some extra time to finish it ... I've always imagined it framed up and hung, but I think I have to pass it on to my daughter!

You do lovely work, Maddy! My grandmother liked knitting & crocheting, crossword puzzles, Scrabble, and card games like bridge and canasta. My mother inherited all four of these tastes. Me, I like crossword puzzles and Scrabble, but somehow missed out on the other two.

It never ceases to amaze that for such a small community (we are comparitively small for a web-based community), that we have so many similar hobbies and interests outside of the Gatch universe.

You're right, Amethyst. It's a source of astonishment to me as well - and I've not come across it in any of my other fandoms on such a wide scale!

Mailed the patterns off for you today, Maddy. Priority Mail they should be there in 6 - 10 days depending upon customs and postal services. Some of them have dark backgrounds from colored or yellowed paper (I'm going to have to clean those up for publication if I get that far with them).

Thanks, Amethyst! Look forward to receiving them!

Wow, it all looks so beautiful! You are truly talented, Maddy!

Thanks, TJ - and welcome back!

Thanks, Maddy! And it's just in time to go away again for Comic Con... Say... I was wondering... I don't suppose you could make an income off of your embroidery work? You're certainly good enough! Someone of your talent should be doing this more than as just a hobby!