WOW 13th Jan

Hi Everyone,
Where is Jan going. This post I started on Sat 9th and by the time I link on Wed 13th to Esther's WOW the month will amost be halfway over. Since New Year our days have been a mix of cloud, showers and sun and very humid. so ideal to spend time in my sewing room.
I have made good progress with my Gecko and all my mosaic pieces are now in place.

Very happy at this stage as this replicates my metal original well.

 I did change my gold and deep red over on the lower back leg this morning after making the other 3 the other way. Don't know why but light to the front of the leg just feels better to me.

The next stage is outside my comfort zone by several miles!!! I want to free motion stitch all over my Gecko to make sure the applique pieces stay in place and also give another texture.

My stitching doesn't show up very well, probably a good thing as I have some pointy turns and some crossing of my lines LOL.
 However I love the extra layer of texture it has given, I used a Wonderfil metallic copper thread, first time I have tried it and it sewed beautifully

Have also decided I want to create a real 3D effect to the head so went out this morning and bought eyes - several of them.LOL.

Not sure which is my favourite but am leaning towards the copper haf button at the bottom.

I want to create an eye hood that sits over most of the button which will be fun in itself!!!

Now to cut my Gecko away from the backing fabric and add some padding.

Traced the outline onto iron on Pellon batting then cut it out a quarter inch inside my trace line.
Had to fuse it from the right side with baking paper to protect my "skin" so it took a while but it is in place  - but - I want more  padding to the body!!!!

This is the third layer, underneath is a a smaller layer and hopefully when stitched to my background the body will really leap out. I don't like waste so these layers have been pieced from my off cut of pellon.

Decided on my background fabric after trying several and ruling them out as either too dark, too light, too busy etc

An offcut of curtain fabric which I am using horizontally as feel it gives the look of trellis work that my Gecko is climbing up. Fabric is textured which will give another dimension.
Realised this morning I needed to make my eye hoods before I place my gecko as stitching them   afterwards will flatten my head.

Very happy with the result as it was just trial and error. Steve redrew my pattern as I wasn't sure how much to increase it by to get the lift I needed. I cut it as a double shape so fused in half I had a sealed outer edge. Trickiest part was FMQ those tiny pieces but holding tight to my starting threads got the fabric moving. I then pinned an eye in place to judge what line I needed to follow for my curve to get the lift. Haven't decided which eyes to use but have to stitch him down first anyway.
 Now to get him onto my background.

Linking shortly with Esther's Work on Wednesday and looking forward to the 15th when she releases Hazel and Little Hazel which might be the one for me to make.

This week having been a long term member of Esther's BOM group I have been spending time exploring Facebook as Esther has advised members she is moving her group there.

I have been a member of Facebook for several years but guess I was what is called a "stalker" as I never posted about myself but used it to catch up on what my friends were doing. 

It was only a few weeks ago through using help that I discovered that to post a comment you push the enter key, I had been clicking here there and everywhere and my comments never posted. LOL

This week I added a profile picture - Gracie not me at this stage- so slowly I am moving with the times. I have been surprised how easy it is to navigate within Esther's groups and even managed to post photo's of my Lily Rose. Learning is a real pleasure however you do it.

This year I intend to finish my LE, only the final border to complete. One day soon I will take the time to edit my album of my LE progress and add it to Esther's group but I have taken sooooo many photo's of my journey it will take a while.

Enjoy your Wednesday Everyone, Cheers Jenny