Sunday Snapshots

Out for a walk with my doggie to capture some more evergreen trees to stitch.

hanging, lush. soft new growth on a 30+ yr old tree. : ) 

in the park by the duck pond

That one above was edited to bring out the edges & depth of the foreground since it really blended with the background.  The next one is just too perfect - not edited one drop.  : )

across the road - not an evergreen, but so similar with needles & cones

As I walk, I say 'wait' and I stop to take a photo... then keep walking until I say 'wait' and take another few photos... Buddy is so used to it he just pauses instantly until I'm ready to keep walking.  He's such a great puppy dog! xo

whooooooooooo's a good boy?  WHOOOOOSE a good boy!?  lol

Have a terrific day folks!

More Stitching Needles

I have been working on this one for a long time.  I got a commission to make the evergreens from Gardenscape.  I had a big 8x10 one that sold as it was being set up for that show.  Then I got an email from someone else asking for it via facebook.  Gotta love Facebook.  So away I went to stitch this.  The first time I did the evergreens, it just happened quite effortlessly and it turned out perfectly lovely.  This second one?   I have been stitching this out for a long time on and off.  It went through the longest ugly phase I have ever had to endure.  I was so close to throwing this out and restarting.  I think the problem was that I began with such drastically different colours of thread - brassy orangy green and blueish emerald.  It was a lot of thread colours before I felt I had it appearing blended properly.  Usually I start with medium tones and then add the deep shadows and highlights.  I'm not sure what possessed me to start the way I did this time.  I think I may have just picked my favourite colours first.  (never doin' that again!)

But - I am SUPER HAPPY.  This is done.  It has so many colours in it and it's all done free machine on straight stitch.  There's no zigzag used.  That's all manually manipulated.  It's a lot of threadwork.

9.5" x 7" commission

This will be heading to Alberta - an old friend from highschool has purchased it.  I haven't seen her in years but she's been following my art on FB.  We used to sit in art class together waaaay back in the early '80's.  I think I have a sketch of her and a couple friends still from those days when we had to do some continuous line drawing samples.  (Waving - Hello Mrs. Deptuch!)

: )

Here is a detailed part of the threadpainting cropped square.

And here is the same portion in black and white.  VERY interesting!

A friend of mine is having her art in the paper for Weyburn ArtWalk & Join the Thread.  She had to see which have the most variation in value so that they are still appealing if printed in black and white.  That makes me want to view all my work in black and white to ensure it's not blaaaaah.  Smart.

Okeedokee.  Off to frame & box it up.  I'm so excited for her to get this!  It's awesome - I've been shipping a lot of work to Alberta lately.

linking to TN&TN and yes - I will be stepping away from that if anyone is interested in taking over that blog.  : )

Have a good day!

Sunday Snapshots

The last of winter...

This untrampled snow drift lies on the edge of our local skating pond.  For as long as we've lived here, this is the first winter that it was not used.  It was just continually too cold.  If it wasn't too cold, it was snowing.  Sad... but sure is a pretty find in April!

click image to view larger

I love all those dips and swirls.  It's like soft serve icecream!  ; )

The last photo I want to show your is once again of the evergreens.  It was a really clear, bright morning.  I tried to get as many intersting views of the trees as I could.  This one amazed me - look at all the different greens!

morning shines on the evergreen boughs

Lovely isn't it!?
Happy Sunday to you.

Things I Love Thursday

I love getting back out for my morning walks... this time with my new pal Buddy the Border Collie.  ; )  He had never been on a leash before coming to us so this was the first time I ventured out with him tied to me AND a camera in hand.  We went to walk in the local park.  Today, I happened to really enjoy the trees.

I love the way all the trees gently lean toward the sun.

I always notice bare spots on the ground at the bases of trees in early & late winter when the snow is minimal.  It's because the are WARM.  They are warm because they are ALIVE.  Had you ever noticed that?  It is wonderful.

This lamp post is not alive.

But look at the the bases of the trees!

I love that so much.  Doesn't it make you want to go hug them all!?  Well... except for the evergreens.  : )  Check out this nice little family, so neatly placed by humans.

I love being under evergreens.  Their energy is SO strong, fresh, and rejuvening.  I don't know how to explain it.  This is my favourite view of my favourite trees...

Don't they look so wild from underneath?  I love the morning sun in the rough branches, and how the branches look like they are 'arms open wide'.  Oh - and the smell.... mmmmmm.  I always feel so nourished under an evergreen.  It feeds all my senses.

I'll save the rest of the best for Sunday Snapshots.  See you tomorrow, and enjoy your day!  ; )