Batman Imagined: Embroidered portrait for Batman Day

Did you know that Batman Day is July 23, 2014? Well, it is. & one of our local libraries decided to do something about it. Crandall Public Library in Glens Falls, NY has a bunch of cool events lined up for Wednesday. Checkout the schedule on their Facebook page HERE.

OK, so what does this have to do with me as an embroiderer? Glad you asked. The Folklife Center sponsored a Batman art contest called Batman Imagined. I decided to enter an embroidered portrait of a Batman character. I chose Batgirl (aka Barbara Gordon, Commissioner Gordon's daughter) because 1.) she's a woman & 2.) she's a librarian (just like me on both counts).


My co-worker Dan thought this image would be great for an embroidered portrait. So, Using my typical method, I figured out the best lines & created my pattern.

Batgirl embroidery pattern

Next up, tracing the pattern with plain ole pencil onto white cotton muslin.

Tracing Batgirl onto white cotton muslin with pencil

Once the embroidery was complete, I tired a different technique for framing in the hoop. Using a 14" embroidery hoop, I backed the embroidery with purple felt & placed the entire fabric sandwich into the hoop. I like the effect much better than my previous method, however the felt is a bit thick. Maybe I will use flannel next time.

Finished portrait off to the show

Here is Batgirl, Superhero Librarian on display with some of the other artwork submitted to Batman Imagined in the Folklife Center Gallery of the Crandall Public Library. I went to check it out today with my daughter & a friend. Apparently, my piece is rather popular with the librarians!

Batgirl, Superhero Librarian in Batman Imagined exhibition

I didn't do it for the art contest. I did it to have one of my pieces on display in the exhibition. Awards will be handed out on Wednesday during Batman Day. I wish I could go, but I have to be a superhero librarian at my own library that night. (I'll let you know if I win anything..)

Happy Stitching!

Reblogging things of interest...

I found a couple of things on Facebook that I thought some of you might also find interesting...

From Mastered blog. Find the entire article HERE.

There are always going to be people who don’t understand the amount of work you’ve done and one of the most important lessons I’ve learnt (and am still learning) is that if someone doesn’t see or respect the value of my work they’re not the right client for me

This is so true. I think we all could use a bit of thicker skin when it comes to our creative endeavors. I love my embroidered portraits & if I never sell another one, that's OK. I still love making them. I still envision new designs in my head. I'll just keep creating...


From Design Boom: matthew cox: embroidered x rays. Find the entire article HERE.

The above article is from 2011, but it is a fresh & interesting idea, even 3 years later. I definitely appreciate the creativity of embroidering on x-ray film. It's an intriguing compositional idea that I never would have thought of. 

 I've been thinking, & I believe my sistar is right. I need to create a website to showcase my work in a different way. Etsy has gotten so large, that it's difficult to be seen. If anyone has any suggestions on web hosting, please feel free to post in the comments.

Happy Stitching,

La Catrina for me!

So, I LOVE my La Catrina pattern so much, I decided to embroider it on something for myself. I bought this shirt at K-Mart & thought it would be a good candidate for my embroidered shirt. So much easier tracing this pattern out on white cotton, than the turquoise jeans from the charity project.

Pattern traced out on ready-made white shirt

This year I kind of got in to watching the FIFA World Cup. So that was my #MovieToStitchTo for most of this project.

Embroidering while watching the World Cup Quarter Finals

The wrong side of the embroidery

Oh, floss! I used black DMC #310, red DMC #321, & turquoise DMC #3846. I love how this came out. I want to wear it all the time. LOL

Me modeling the finished product

Happy stitching!