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.  ; )