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Monday 21 January 2013

New Blog, New Art.

Welcome to my newly face-lifted blog.  Do you like?  I'm not sure yet.  It's my favorite color, but I'm wondering if you find it hard on the eyes?  Check out the new tabs at the top: About Me (including CV and artwork links), Tutorials (including links to Tips on Tuesdays & the Saturday Stitches series), and Calendar of Events for the next six months.  I also took all the clutter off of the sidebar and loaded up a new tab called Published where the images are linked to different places you can find my work in print.

Here's what I've completed as of now...

hand stitching in progress - ribbon and thread

This is turning out so great since dying all that silk.  I still felt it was a little cartoon-y, and not wild and whispy enough.  So I walked away for a day and came back to it knowing just what to do.  Here's the rest of it, now complete.  I cannot tell you how many hours of hand stitching with regular weight thread I have done on this.  I's glad I did though.  It added SO much depth and life to it.  Look back and forth from the last picture to the next.  Can you see the differences?

Early One Autumn, 2013 - NOT for sale

That's right, 'Not' for sale.  I just can't bear to let this one go.  There are so many layers and I managed to make it feel just like the day I was standing there.  It was my first day at Beaver Creek.  We were all at the top of the valley, looking down at the water and the changing trees on the other side of the creek.  I turned around and saw this.

my photo of Beaver Creek, fall 2012

There was something that I found so pretty about all those whispy layers.  All I could see were things to stitch.  I looked at this and saw all the greens, blondes, greys, chartreuse, brick red, even deep yellow.

Hooray!  I feel like I'm getting much better photos of my work since wathcing youtube videos on the subject.  Seriously, the new camera makes a HUGE difference.  Here's an example of my set up.  I try to do this the same each time and under the same lighting conditions.  SO far, so good.

natural light, no flash, evenly lit, tripod too!

It faces the big window, so there's natural indirect light.  I have a styrofoam piece inside of a white box that I use to pin up my work.  Sometimes those oddly colored pinheads help the camera properly set it's colors when adjusting the the picture I'm about to take.

Oh!  I must thank you all for the feedback on the silk ribbon.  I have some on order and some that I hope to pick up locally - both left over from another stitcher's stash.  I can't wait to dye more!

Have a great day,

18 comments:

kathy said...

this is just lovely and I can see why you don't want to part with it. I think your colors are better than the real life photo!

B J Elder said...

What a difference the added stitching has made! I'm glad you are keeping it for yourself.
As for the blog update -- I really like it and find it calming/soothing, not loud at all. Of course the picture you chose for the banner is PERFECT!

Dahn said...

This is so fabulous I have no words. The colours are superb.

I would keep it too!!! :-)

It is 'almost' enough to make me want to try handwork. Almost...

Dahn said...

PS--the colour on the sidebar I checked on 4 computers, different setups, etc. It shows true on all computers. :-)

HollyM said...

I like your new look! Did you do it yourself? I've been thinking mine is due for an overhaul but its nit a job I relish. It seems I have to figure out how to do everything again.
Glad you found some a ribbon source.
It's a beautiful piece. I can see why you'd want to keep it!

CitricSugar said...

So gorgeous! I can see why you wouldn't want to part with it.

And thanks for the insight into how you set up your work for photographs...

Kitchener Quilter said...

OMG This piece takes my breath away! When I look at the photo, then look at the stitching, I am amazed at how you capture the spirit of the place. Your work just gets better and better all the time.

carol said...

Truly gorgeous work! WOW!

Poppyprint said...

The blog looks great and your new work is just stunning!

Threadpainter said...

Everything looks great !! ... wouldn't expect less from someone so well organized !

Becky said...

WOW! Your new piece is incredible!!

Mertie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mertie said...

You are so right! The additional stitching adds so much dimension to the piece! Its gorgeous!
And your websites new look is wonderful and colourful!
Just as a side note, I have a Nikon D60 and like you, as much as i LOVE making things, photographs come first. I have an old olympus digital that has unfortunately faired a bit better in the cold temps than the Nikon has (I'm in PEI). I failed to put my camera in a sealed plastic bag before entering the house when i've been out taking photos on truly cold days and am now having problems with the Nikon. So, special cold weather care is needed with the cameras. And you may already know this and I am the only delinquent one! Thank you for sharing!

Ellie said...

Hi Monika, I'm loving your new look :))
I also love your new piece it does look like your photo only a lot nicer, much brighter and more lifelike (I hope you know what I mean). No wonder you don't want to sell it.
You are clever :))

Patti said...

You should be able to keep one of your own pieces once in a while. lol!
I really like you updated blog page too. Something very soothing about the green.

Melissa said...

That finished up beautifully, It looks so realistic. Also your blog colors are nice on the eyes, i usually find the darker colored blogs harder to stare at for long periods of time.

josette.272@gmail.com said...

BRAVO C EST SUBLIME J AIME BIZ

Unknown said...

Amazing work!!

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