Wednesday 10 February 2010

Stitched Landscape .....

Well, the first picture is another watercolour (from the 30 Minute Watercolour Book)!
It is a 'wet afternoon' although it does look a bit snowy I must admit. The clouds look quite stormy though and the hedgerows are decidely soggy! This is the stitched landscape - first of three I am doing for the Kindred Spirits 2011 Calendar.
The background is painted on cotton, the fencing is painted fusible web and there is some sheers laid down first for the background hills. The hedgerows are various types of silk waste, some are embellished and some stitched, and the tree itself is some dyed pieced cotton ('cos the bit I had wasn't big enough and I wanted to use that colour! The tree branches are stitched from the back, with a thick silk thread in the bobbin.


This is the same piece but I scanned it - the difference in the colour is amazing! The real thing is somewhere between the two. All three pieces are to be 12" x 8".


I recently went on a wonderful five day Retreat with South West Quilters to Beer - a beautiful little fishing village on the south east coast of Devon. Our Tutor was Barbara Weeks and we all had a fabulous time with her. The Workshop was Bonded Impressions, and working with silk, we all painted silk first, then stitched our pieces using various inspirations we had brought along. Above is my inspiration (a Christmas Card I kept) ................



and this is the piece I created. It is nowhere near finished, in fact it has only just started. I painted the background onto the silk, then painted a much finer silk with which to create the water refections. The foggy/snowy piece at the back of the trees is white silk chiffon. The trees are stitched using an embroidery hoop direct onto the painted background, then it was sandwiched and I have started to stitch the water. The piece is about 14" x 21", or will be when finished. I have to leave it now, as I have pieces I need to finish for the Kindred Spirits Exhibition in April, but I will post this one again, when I have quilted it.
Till next time ............

12 comments:

Mandi said...

Lovely Val, the landscape piece is lovely and I really love the sky on your retreat piece.

Doreen G said...

Beautiful Val --I love where you are going with your watercolour work.

Sandy said...

You've been busy creating wonderful pieces.

Maggi said...

The stitched landscape piece is superb. I did a workshop with Barbara Weeks many years ago - she was a good teacher and obviously still is if your piece is anything to go by..

LOVE STITCHING RED said...

Lovely, lovely work Val

Carolyn x

Julie said...

The watercolour is lovely, as are the stitched pieces. You have handled the watercolour beautifully. I envy you the Barbara weeks workshop/retreat.

Margaret Hall said...

Simply, simply wonderful! I am very envious of your talent, Val..It is always a wonderful trip to your blog, as there are always new things to ponder...Love it!

maggiepatch said...

Your retreat piece has turned into a magical picture Val. Quite stunning!
Maggie

Jeanette Nord said...

Wow Val your watercolors are BEAUTIFUL and so are your stitched pieces. Very inspirational, made me want to try something like that out! Wish I could paint though....

Lots of love to you dear blog friend!
Jeanette

Ela said...

The landscape piece is lovely!Beautiful your blog!

Sophie said...

I love these landscapes Val!!! So real - just beautiful!!

~*~Patty S said...

Oh Val! I have been enjoying your beautiful blog and amazing creativity. You do so many things SO well!
Thank you for sharing and for inspiring me!
oxo