When I was a child, my parents and I spent a lot of time in Mexico – they were both artists and were deeply inspired by the landscape and culture of the country. Naturally we brought back with us many examples of Mexican art and crafts, and some time ago I ran across a little decorative Mexican comb from that time, carved from (I think) some kind of bone or horn.
A little Mexican bone comb
I've always liked it and the other day I thought I'd try to interpret it in embroidery, making use of the vivid colours and simplified shapes of Mexican art
…and its embroidered version
It worked out very well, although the comb part of it didn't really make visual sense. It was too much of a distraction, and started you wondering "What's that spiky bit at the bottom?" So I changed it to a bowl shape and it worked much better
You are right, the bowl works much better than the comb would have. I love your birds and the lively color. Thank you for sharing your inspiration with us.
I love it! Two Mexican love birds bathing. It’s a happy design.
I always love your birds! All the different patterns in the body parts, the colors, designs…so intricate. These look like they’re both trying to fit into a small bird-bath or a bowl on the table. Especially love the flowers!
Yes the bowl looks better than the comb. But I just like it. Thanks for showing it.
Love it!
Hi Mia, I love your digitized version of the two birds on a comb. As usual your artistic color sense and your various pattern combinations using a variety of stitches has created a magnificent piece of Mexican/southwestern embroidered art. I agree with you and the other comments that were made that the bowl made a much better base for the birds than a comb would have been.
I must snarkily admit I am surprised you couldn’t replicate the comb so perfectly I could print it on my Epson printer and comb MY hair with it. 🙂 In truth, the pottery substitution seems to work just fine. Very pretty.
Wow how beautiful