I know that it takes me a while to get back to projects that I've started, but this one more or less goes back 13 years, which seems kind of crazy. I posted about our trip to Ireland back in 2009 (!) and the day trip I took while we were there to Mountmellick in County Laois. The purpose of the trip was to take a class on Mountmellick embroidery at the Mountmellick Development Association and it was wonderful. I'll let you go back in time to that old post if you'd like to read a bit about the class.
After finishing up the project I started in the class (it only took a year to finish it) I intended to create my own "Mountmellick" project. In 2019 I created a design that I had hoped to submit to the Mountmellick Embroidery Competition, but, as often happens, I cut it a bit close and didn't finish. The project I intended to submit is a purse. I finished one side, then put it away to work on some Christmas crafts and didn't take it out again until now.
Looking back through the blog I realized I didn't write anything about the design, what my plan was or how it relates to the traditions of Mountmellick embroidery or the class I took back in 2009. So, as I'm picking this project back up, I'll try to remedy that now.
Essentially, in reading about Mountmellick embroidery and in my discussions with the instructor, I learned that the motifs used are usually inspired by nature. I wanted to create something that, while referencing the Mountmellick embroidery designs I saw in Ireland, incorporated the flowers that are distinct to my region. So my design is daffodils and cherry blossoms - with a few leafs and berries thrown in for effect.
I managed to finish one side before packing this away and "past me" did "future me" a solid by making a stitch guide I could use when I picked this back up again.
I wanted to use at least one of the stitches that is specific to Mountmellick embroidery, so I've used the Mountmellick stitch here along with stem, satin, french knot and coral stitch.
I've got the first few stitches going on the second side. It actually stitches up pretty quickly which is great, but doesn't really explain why it's taken me so long to finish it in the first place. I think it's primarily the never ending list of projects I want to work on and the battle to focus on them one at a time.
For this one, once I'm done with this side, I'm hoping to line it with a fun fabric that will give it a pop of color when you open the bag. As I'm working on it, I'd like to focus on some history of Mountmellick embroidery and provide links to some great resources. Look for that next time when I update on this project.
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