First Finish of 2014!

Lookie!  I'm done.  I started this last month.  It's all yarn and it's all done by hand.  I've been debating whether to show you the source photo first or last.  I sent a sneak peek to a woman I met in one of my classes and she nailed it!  I was pretty happy about that!  Whew.  So I guess I'll show you the source photo last...

Where Sunlight Falls, 2014

* * * You can click on the image to see it larger on your computer screen.  It IS larger than most of my hand stitched work.  That was the point.  I wanted to get bigger with my work, but closer with the subject matter.  Where Sunlight Falls is 6x15" and it took many, many nights.  Sorry - it's not for sale.  This piece was made just for me on my downtime between shows and commission.  It was a good diversion and (what I think) is a step forward for my creativity.  I wanted to see if I could move away from copying.  I am good at copying.  Copying is easy.  I am not good at abstract.  So this is a step toward impressionism.  I am feeling so good about it.  I feel like I really pulled it off.  It turned out how I hoped it would, matching the vision in my big fat imagination.

Where Sunlight Falls, 2014 - detail.  This is nearly actual size.

So - the source... what inspired this?  G. totally guessed it.  It was from last summer, on my way to my mother's cabin.  I drove down that familiar old gravel road off the highway.  THE DITCHES!  Oh the ditches in July were just overflowing with teenie flowers.  It was hot, hot and super sunny that day.  The thing I loved about the photo I took was the height of sunshine and the intense depth of shade.

In my work, I increased the contrast to emphasize what my heart saw.  : )  I had some pretty intense feelings when looking down into this ditch.  Like I've said before, when I die please bury me in a ditch on the prairie. : )  Then you'd never have to bring me cut flowers.  hehe