About Blackwork Embroidery - Gallery 1
Blackwork is an embroidery technique that goes back at least seven centuries to the time of Chaucer. It is a graphic embroidery classically done with black threads on white ground. The small counted patterns used for shading and value are its most outstanding characteristic.
Most of the work done by SK is silk threads on evenweave linen with a thread count of between 28 and 32 per linear inch. Occasionally she works on a smaller grid, where noted.
This work is framed without glass. Putting glass over embroidery shortens its life by not allowing the antural fibers to breathe and glass makes it hard to see the fine details.
Please inquire about a 10% order discount for purchase of two or more pieces.
Desnudo, Blackwork, 10" x 12" piece, 13.25" x 16" framed, $2,000
From a live model class in drawing, this piece is unique in SK's work as the only human figure. On the left, the name of the piece in an ever-changing veil.
Grotesque, Blackwork, 6" x 8" piece, 11" x 13" framed, $1,000
A grotesque is a gargoyle without a waterspout. This piece was inspired by European medieval architecture. Like most of SK's works, this piece was free-stitched without graphing or drawing out before stitching.
Stonehenge, Blackwork, 11" x 15" piece, 14.5" x 18" framed, $2,500
When SK lived in England, her home was 45 minutes from Stonehenge. The uprights are done in a non-counted pattern.
Winterdown, Blackwork, 6" x 7" piece, 11" x 12" framed, $1,500
Inspired by winter on the Hampshire Downs in southern England, Winterdown has a cloudy winter sky that is entirely stitched in pattern darning. Done on 45-count linen.
Bittersweet, Blackwork, 5" x 7" piece, 10" x 12" framed, $850
A companion piece to Redolent, this piece is a tribute to the poet Edna St. Vincent Millay.