X for X-ray fish, a whitework alphabet (hand embroidered by Mary Addison)
X is always a problem for alphabet illustrators , especially those aimed at children who can be the fiercest critics should you fall short in their expectations. I found this out to my cost when I appliquéd a patchwork alphabet hanging
Animal alphabet quilt in cotton, appliquéd in stranded embroidery cotto thread
and chickened out of X standing for anything, opting instead for X as in Fox. This was much derided by my family as a real cop out and I came in for much stick for this at meal times, not only from family but also from visiting children as for many years the patchwork hung on the wall looking out over the kitchen table. In recent years the quilt has migrated first to my grandson’s bedroom and then to his sister’s. So far, there have been no criticisms as to their grandmother’s inadequate vocabulary.
X for X-ray fish, a whitework alphabet (hand embroidered by Mary Addison)
The X-ray fish (latin name Pristella maxillaris) is naturally at home in the exotic waters of the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers but, being a peace loving and tolerant species it is often to be found in domestic aquaria, where many of us have probably seen it without ever stopping to make an identification. The tiny body is fairly see through and the bones in particular are clearly visible. The skin’s translucence has a gentle golden sheen (the fish is also known as water goldfinch) which is especially successful in confusing predators where water lit by the sun shimmers and vegetation sways in river currents. As well as being well suited to its habitat, the fish benefits from particularly good hearing. A group of tiny bones known as the Weberian apparatus is good at transmitting sound waves and functions in a way similar to those 3 little bones in the human inner ear, the hammer, anvil and stirrup. The only real colour on these fish is found on the fins which have bands of black, white and yellow – and this you certainly wouldn’t know from a little piece of whitework embroidery.
Sketch for X for X-ray fish, a whitework alphabet (hand embroidered by Mary Addison)
I am hooked on embroidering alphabets which, advancing by a letter a week, usually gives me the opportunity to get on with a bigger project as well. Should I do a blackwork alphabet next, or perhaps one devoted to insects which I could make up into a hanging for my grandson for Christmas? One minute I’m inclining to the blackwork, then I feel the pull of using bright colours for insects!
