Love Those Trees!

I just about finished yet another piece from the turnaround at Grasswood Road where the gas station meets the highway.  This will be number ten.  I've stitched out this little gang by the slough in spring, autumn, summer, and late summer.  I have my winter photos too but - well - I've had it UP TO HERE with snow, so I am not at all inspired to try that any time soon.  Take a look at this!  It's a bigger piece that will be framed 16" x 13".

almost done... Trees at the Turnaround

Do you see what I did?  I did it all by sight as usual - you know I never trace or print or transfer with my landscapes...  I think that's cheating if I plan to sell it as art.  BUT - never say never.  I cheated!  I printed the water!  I did.  I had to.  I feel weird about it, but doesn't it look great!?  lol  It was really windy that day and I didn't know how I could make ripples effectively in on the surface, especially since I am not great at dyeing fabric.  See the top of the young reeds being bent to the left by the shore?  That storm cloud was leaving after a good hard rain.

Okay - well there you go.  What do you think?

Happiness is... Prairies & Thread.

I'm pretty excited about this one!  I think I say that all the time, don't I?  I can't help it.  It amazes me what you can do with thread.  I find this such an exciting process.  Here is the little piece that I showed you yesterday, after an afternoon of machine stitching.

Work in Progress (currently in the ugly phase). 

I always have to laugh at the messiness of this phase.  It looks ratty and a bit plain without handstitching.  I'm ready for that now!  The trees worked out just how I wanted them too.  I had all the right colors of sewing thread on hand (oh thank you Jane Evans!).  The only reason this piece is so small is because of that sky.  Heather Lair sent me a piece of her fabulous hand dyed sky.  I used it up in another piece last spring.  I had a 4" snippet left, and noticed immediately that it was the perfect mood for that photo I took once the tornado warnings were lifted this summer.  Here.  How about I show you my progress in reverse?   : )

Here is the initial fabric placement:

Here is my initial loose sketch, just to figure out placement and stitch options.

 

Finally, here's one of the photos that inspired this piece.

So there you go!  I'm linking to The Needle & Thread Network.  Pop on over if you would like to see what other Canucks are up to.  ; )