Persephone's Bodice

...by the skin of my teeth!

Tonight I'm talking to the North Herts and Beds Embroiderer's Guild.

My talk is called "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly"

It is about five women, real and fictional, the stories and myths associated with them and about the five bodices I've created as a result.

I finished Persephone's Bodice about 10 minutes ago. I always work well under pressure when I've got a deadline but even for me this was cutting it fine!

Fortunately I'm happy with the result because it would have been a bit late to start again. The bodice is based on the Greek myth of Persephone and in particular it was inspired by the pomegranate.

The twisted leaves and pomegranate brooch show how Persephone is tied to Hades for four months each year because she ate the pomegranate seeds.

And the entire bodice, including the leaves has been made from these nets that fruit and vegetables come in. Even though I prefer to buy my fresh produce loose, I have been known to buy large quantities in these nets just to get a particular colour (I've just used my entire stock of green nets!)

I will also be talking about Marie Antoinette's woolly vest!

A bodice for Anne Boleyn

A corset for Cleopatra

And a bodice for Miss Havisham



Of course as a result of stitching like some demented woman for the past two days my studio looks as though a bomb has hit it. There are scraps of fruit net everywhere not to mention the bags that remain unpacked from teaching on Wednesday so I'd better get off the computer and tidy up because it is Open Studios again this weekend.

Full details can be found on www.camopenstudios.co.uk

Would love to see you... and of course, I'll  have a new bodice on display!