Catching up ... Scottish Thistles

Another current commission - here is the sky, in progress.  This one is not stitched yet, but when I add thread it will lighten the darker, shadowed portions of the clouds so that they blend in more.

cloud highlights, traced, cut out, and laid in place

blue sky and shadows beginning to blend in

the full width of the sky, ready to stitch!

catching up... Winslow Homer

Ok, so here's a taste of some of my recently completed work... the woman this one's for had a really long week at work, and I was happy to finally hand this off to her and put a smile on her face.

My commissioned version of The New Novel by Winslow Homer is complete!

Paradise City update - Day 2

The weather was soooo much better today!  We all felt cooler.  Had lovely chats with so many people!
The show runs from 10-4 on Monday.  If you haven't been yet, please check it out.  This year's art is amazing. 

Blueberry Moon # 10 - part of the American Beauty:  From Landscape to Dreamscape special exhibit at the Gazebo in the main building

Paradise City Update - Day 1

A warm thanks to everyone who came out the the Paradise City Arts Festival today despite the 95 degree heat in the buildings!  Tomorrow promises to be a bit better.  Here's my booth this year, and two of my neighbors.  Everything is gorgeous as usual, and the mango smoothie generously supplied by two friends was much appreciated!  Oh, and this first shot is of what we found in the yard Friday after getting home from setting up my booth at the show!

Double Phoenix

This is the finished Double Phoenix quilt that I did several years ago.  It now hangs in our entry-way.  I had so much fun using all my favorite autumn colors from my stash!  Some day I'll play with this block design some more.

Kestrels

I'm almost finished - just need to stitch the bird into place.  This is an American Kestrel - a species that we sadly don't see as often as we used to.  This year, Paradise City Arts Festival, over Memorial Day weekend, is donating the proceeds from their silent auction to benefit the Kestrel Land Trust.  I will be donating either this piece, or a similar one, to the auction.  It should be a wonderful weekend!

Kestrel #3:  Summer Haze

Workshop Update...

A dozen wonderful ladies met today for six hours to learn about landscapes, layout, and design.  Here's what they worked on!  All the small white and yellow dots are pin heads - these pieces are pin-basted and ready to stitch.  The hours just flew by.  We shared fabric and turned out some amazing pieces!  All are in progress.  Many will be at our guild meeting tomorrow, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church.  Meeting details are here:  http://www.handsacrossthevalley.org/

I'm so proud of everyone - they we very brave and jumped right in!

everyone brought LOTS of fabric to share!

look, faeries!

desert with yellow flowers coming into bloom!

don't you wish you were on this beach today?

sky, mountains, fields..simple lines can be dramatic.

wonderful purple desert shadows

I love dark, mysterious skies!

sky, mountains, lake/river with boat - the white spot in the foreground just isn't filled in yet.  Love the gold sun and purple clouds!

and just look at what you can do with batiks!

wonderful rocks!

dryer sheet clouds!

can you spot the frogs?

look, architecture!

adding tulle on top

stitching away!

my studio, after prepping for the workshop, getting ready for Paradise, and working on commissions!