Sketchbooks at Night

AH the satisfaction of building new furniture and a completely organizing and decluttering my creative space!  I promised myself that I would only work while the kids were in school.  No more, "Mama is busy!"  However, tonight they were lying pretty low after an active day in the hot sun.  I relished in the moment of quiet and I sat down last night to contemplated the next commission.

I don't usually work at night any more, but the timing seemed right.  B requested a flax / canola field last spring.  My reminder note got misplaced... and I completely forgot.  She sent me a gently reminder via email.  I was so embarrassed!  She was so understanding.  (Thank you B.)  We talked once more and she gave me more details of what she was hoping for.

She loved the flax & trees in this one, but requested that the golden field in the distance be canola.  That's easy to swap a color.  I'll be adding more trees into the hills as well.  I sketched it all out, which is another thing I don't usually do.  This is a newer photo of mine and I haven't stared at it long enough to really know how I would stitch it out.

general preliminary ideas - the colors are suggestions

Sketching it out is such a good way for me to get to 'know' a scene.  As I draw each part of the landscape, ideas come to me as to what stitches I would use.  It becomes clear which aspects will be fabric, and with will be thread.  I end up knowing which parts will be done by machine and which will be hand embroidered.  I can't wait to start!  This feels good. 

I decided it was too late to blog.  I packed away the pencil crayons and looked around to find where my extremely quiet children were.  They weren't in the house.  It was 8:30 pm, and pitch black outside already.  I peeked into the back yard.  There they were.  : )  It was SO adorable that I grabbed the camera!!

Arwen in the garden at night - 8:30 pm in September : )