Lady Slipper Pink
“Lady Slipper Pink,” from the Tropical Garden Series, harmonizes tradition with innovation, offering a captivating blend of nature’s beauty and artistic expression. Intricate needlework, tambour stitching, and goldwork come together in this panel to create a rich tapestry of textures and colors.
The orchid rises from a tranquil pond surface, formed using ancient embroidery techniques. The incorporation of cord setting and embellishments with glass and natural stone beads enhances the composition’s depth and texture.
The tactile richness of the piece is further enhanced by sequins, velvet, lace, and French wire, while hand-dyed slips and silk ribbons add subtle nuances. With “Lady Slipper Pink,” viewers are invited into a world where craftsmanship meets beauty, evoking admiration with every detail.
Concept and Craftsmanship
The creation of Lady Slipper Pink began as a focused study in needlework, exploring the potential of threads and yarns. However, it soon became clear that limiting the approach to a single technique would restrict the possibilities for achieving the rich textures and complex depth essential to this piece. To bring a couture-level sophistication to the work, I introduced a combination of embroidery methods, including tambour stitching (Luneville embroidery), traditional needlework, and select goldwork details. This interplay of techniques allowed the orchid to take shape as a sculptural centerpiece against an intricately designed pond-like surface, resulting in a cohesive composition that embodies the fusion of traditional and modern couture embroidery.
Technique and Texture
This piece combines the tactile richness of stumpwork with tambour embroidery, allowing the central orchid to almost lift off the surface. Each petal is hand-stitched with controlled variations in stitch type and tension, achieving a naturalistic quality that feels sculptural. The surrounding ‘pond’ effect is achieved through layers of Luneville stitching and fine goldwork accents, contrasting the floral elements with a smooth, reflective backdrop. Together, these techniques form a harmonious play of textures that bring depth and interest to the overall composition.
Materials and Finishing Details
Every material in Lady Slipper Pink contributes to its visual and tactile appeal. The orchid itself is crafted from a mix of cotton, silk, and synthetic threads in a spectrum of pinks and complementary shades. To further enrich the composition, flat 3mm and 4mm sequins, glass and natural stone beads, and hand-dyed silk ribbons introduce subtle reflections and variations in texture. Velvet, French wire, lace, and mesh provide additional layers of interest, ensuring each glance reveals a new detail, a new facet to appreciate in the intricate composition.
Creative Heritage with Cord Setting and Embellishments
This piece interprets traditional pearl embroidery through a modern lens, using cord setting in a way that enhances the dimensionality and color profile of the scene. Hand-twisted cords, made from carefully chosen cotton and chenille yarns, create structure while subtly enhancing the color transitions around the orchid. Glass and natural stone beads punctuate the design with delicate highlights, integrating seamlessly with the embroidery to echo both the richness of heritage techniques and the freshness of contemporary artistry.
Tropical Garden Series
The project aims to represent objects from various design areas. Currently, there are interior and fashion design products.
