Thursday, August 27, 2015

Birch trees again


    After lunch, I completed the zig zag edge around my tulip hanging following a tutorial on line that I remembered, stitching a narrow zigzag the first time round while loosely couching down a pearl cotton. Then, I did 3 more rounds, increasing the density and the width of the stitches each time.

 Finally, it's finished!

 It seems that I often walk into my studio intending to do one thing and ending up doing something else. After I finished up a few of my odds and ends for some pieces that need to be mailed, I was ready to get onto another project.

 Over the past week or so, I've been thinking about what I'd like to do next. A few ideas are circulating in the grey matter. My paints have been calling to me to do some fabric printing. Something 'beachy' maybe.

There didn't seem really to be time to get everything set up this afternoon, so I pulled out a scrap box containing birch tree forest colors and decided to put together a small crazy patch for one  idea. I've been considering as a border.  It's a fall project but if I opted for them for one of my shibori birch tree pieces, it could take a while to get enough done.





I'm also contemplating a plainer border.


I would do a branch with some thread painted leaves for either version. The pictures are really different sides of the same piece. The birch tree scene is not done yet. So, I'll work on the borders off and on in between other projects. I think I will need more crazy patch blocks before a decision can be made.


It seems I made a good decision not to get into the paints because a friend dropped by on her bicycle and I decided to join her. She came in to take a look and went right for the crazy patch side. One thing she noticed were the obvious verticals repeated in the border of the second version. The strip is actually a scrap from another piece. If I were to use, I could break it up with some diagonal branches.


I just made it back and brought in a line of clothes before the thunder storm hit.


My husband is off for the day golfing with his dad, so I get to eat what and when I want! I just ordered a take out seafood chowder from a nearby restaurant and made it back here before it really started to pour.

I'm wishing you a nice evening/morning depending on where you are. I'm heading out for my bowl of chowder and some quiet stitching time.









4 comments:

Marjorie's Busy Corner said...

I love those birch trees!!! It rained very hard here most of the day.

Mystic Quilter said...

Well I have learned something new from your post re the couching perle cotton first off. Love your silver birches!

Jo Ferguson said...

Fist let me say that I love it when my husband is out and I get to eat what I want. I love the idea of using pearl cotton under the edging. Thanks for that tip. Your tulip piece is striking and I love you ideas for the border. I'll be curious to see what you decide.

Mereknits said...

Love to get a bit of take out just for myself. I used to get shrimp miso soup with noodles at my favorite little place but it has closed down now. Love your amazing projects Holly.
Meredith