Birch tree class sample, The Wave

I've been busy organizing, sewing and packing things for my workshop on Monday. I've gotten the class sample as far as I would like it to be in order to show the different stages and to be able to do a little stitching as a demo as well.
The background has dark grey spots and branches added with fabric paint.

Shading and spots added with paint to the fused foreground trees.

Some free motion stitrchwork begun.

I'm almost ready. I confidently assured my students that they could do the trees in this method without 'artistic background'. I had a friend who is taking the class over for lunch and a preview to see what she thought. She's excited. Do you think you could do it?

Later this afternoon, I squeezed out a bit of time to do a little more thread painting on the Wave. I've only just begun. Also, I made some needle lace by free motion stitching tiny spirals onto stretched netting in a small hoop.

I've laid it on to see what it will look like, but there is much stitching to be done first.

In the detail, you can see some of the stitching so far.

For supper, I've thawed sole filets which I plan to bake in parchment packs along with some veggies. I like doing a bit of creative cooking, but sometimes it's hard to pull away from my art work to get it started.

The Wave and prepping samples for a workshop

I'm so anxious to get some stitching done on the Wave, but I'm giving a workshop on my birch tree method. in a week and I've got to get the samples and supplies ready.

At least, I ironed all the little bits that I added yesterday so I could clean of my ironing board.There are a few small changes that I made even since I took the picture. Now, it's laying next to my machine with some thread colors picked out. Also, I just ordered some colors that I'm missing. Hope they come soon.

While it was up on my design wall, I added some cheesecloth in the area where I want the white frothy water to go. I'm not going to use it; I just wanted to see how the white will look.

My workshop is on the shibori tree method that I wrote about in Quilting Arts magazine , April/May 2013. Even still, Im in love with this method.

After wrapping the can with string and some marbled batik,fabric which is scrunched down as I wrap, I dab on the grey/white fabric paint.

Removing the string right away prevents the wrinkles from getting too permanent. After drying, I heat set it and then add some grey shadows, some grey branches here and there, and the  black marks which are so indicative of the birch trees.

I've done the right side only to show the difference.

Here I'm auditioning some fused tone on tone white fabric for some foreground trees.

Before I fuse them down, I will add stabilizer to the back and do a little free motion stitching on the background.

It's been a pretty productive Monday, as I've got bed sheets on the line, I was snow shoeing (probably the last day before it rains) before noon, and I've thrown together a blueberry rhubarb crisp which is in the oven now.  I am tired, but a good tired as the saying goes.