Elizabethan Blackwork Embroidery
Custom dog show trophies and individual projects
by BlueMoon Creations
Elizabethan Blackwork Embroidery, simply put, is a type of counted
stitch embroidery utilizing a continual running stitch to outline a shape
or silhouette.  That silhouette is then filled with any number of simple or
exquisitely complex patterns of stitchery.  The pattern of stitching can
be fine and lacy or heavy and dense depending on the desired effect.  
Most blackwork is then trimmed with gold or silver or copper thread.  
Any breed which has a strong identifiable silhouette is a candidate!
At left is a wall hanging, or "bell-pull" made for Wynjamr Afghan Hounds
comprised of six different Afghans in a variety of poses, filled in with a
variety of stitches and trimmed with gold, silver and copper highlights.
The top image is an embellished head study done with both blackwork
and cross-stitch.  See below~Kennel names and breeds can be worked
into the design.
At right is a wall hanging which was made for Camton
Kennels.  There are a total of seven silhouettes, 2
Siberian Huskies, 2 German Shepherds, 2 American
Cocker Spaniels and 1 Havanese.  This wall hanging
has a border running from top to bottom on the left
side of it, something which can be added to customize
a project even more than the choices of silhouettes.  
The border is flowers done in color.
As those of us who do this type of embroidery will tell
you, "blackwork embroidery is black........until it isn't"
Wall hangings such as these two have been done for a
number of kennel clubs as trophies, some specialty
clubs which have ordered wall hangings with their dogs
in silhouettes and personalized with their club name,
date of show etc.  All breed clubs have ordered them
with a silhouette of each of the seven groups and their
kennel club name and date.  They have been done in
purple and gold for Best of Breed at specialties, red
and silver for Best Opposite Sex, and red, white and
blue for BIS trophies at all breed shows.
Because these
projects are so
individual in
their design,
costs vary.  I
can guarantee
that the cost for
these are very
competitive with
other art pieces
which have
been given as
trophies.  If
your club is
interested in
commissioning
some please do
not hesitate to
contact me
Standard
finished length
on hangings is
48"
Standard width
is 8", but every-
thing is
adjustable!
Above and at left is an example of a banner which hangs
from my grooming arm at the shows and hangs in the
entryway of my home when I'm not at the shows.  A
framework of blackwork taken from a medieval stained
glass panel and "colored" with cross-stitch.  The lettering
was first done by printing kennel name in the chosen font
on graph paper which gives me the proper spacing and
balance.
At left is the back of a camp chair
done on a background of blackwork
with my kennel name lettered on top
and filled in with cross-stitch.

Personal projects are as individual
and unique as the people who want
them.  Contact me to talk about the
one you want!
Here's the project I want!