Falling leaves.

 I have been struggling on with this piece of falling leaves. Back and front shown here. whew too much stitching for one small piece and I should not have put so much on the background so now I am taking some out. It is a reminder to work all over a piece rather than finish one section at a time. Richard Box said on a workshop years ago - you wouldn't finish the eye on a whole body portrait and then go on to the head body, arms etc. work it all up together. So looking at this small piece I can see so much wrong with it. Better leave it for a bit I think and come back after Christmas with fresh eyes.

Dark,wet days here- to cheer myself up I have been working on my meditation circle and back to winter colours and border circles. These are lovely to do because the cloth changes under my fingers as the small circle is worked. The colours are restrained but that is lovely too. And I am getting into the corners of the large circle back to the winter colours. I have taken out stitching on this piece too- some of the heavier wool - it is better in silk and cottons. Hope to get the bottom border done and start thinking about Spring.
I hope your Christmas preparations are going well, it all gets a little crazy and I am waiting for that big hush when it all settles down and there is time and space to relax. Shortest day soon and then we turn the corner.

work in progress.....

 I am enjoying my nature journal but it does take up time. Sometimes I am happy sometimes, well i know i will improve.

 So work in progress (wips on instagram! I know it confused me too) Stitching is happening- more detail as I work out the problem solving.

Remember the old mans beard from my journal? - here it is in stitch - like a hairy spider or sea star. Lots of chiffon makes it fluffy and the beads give it a glint of sparkle.

Leaves underfoot - finished!

 This piece finished at last! It seems like a long time because I have made other things between.( 24 x 30 cm)

 The photograph, taken at Newark Park on our Autumn visit, that I worked from.

And these are some of the sedimentary samples mounted onto pages for a book or a beginning at least. It always feels good to make a little progress especially when the days are short and cold. The bird cafe is very busy outside my window and that is good company when I am stitching.

Back to Autumn leaves.

After a hectic weekend in London, I sat quietly with my Autumn leaves stitching calm and peace into the fabric. I have put a snail shell as the focal point for fragility and the spiral could also be a symbol of the turning of the seasons.

Leaves underfoot continued.

 Getting more sketched in now. Beginning to take shape, form, a life of its own. Autumn is a time of change and fragility. I have put in a snail shell today. With the feather and twigs it is a reminder of that.

Leaves underfoot 2

So I did add colour! Don't know if this is all going to work out but you have to take risks and try sometimes even if it doesn't. Otherwise you end up producing the same thing over and over again. I think I should try new things but always difficult when producing work for an exhibition. After this next exhibition I want to work on some more textural abstract things for a change. Ho, hum, just got to finish these first!

Leaves underfoot.

 So I just started stitching! Sometimes you just have to try out things and see what works.I like the simplicity but it may develop and have colour added. See how it goes, this will be a slow piece, lots of stitching.

And here is the other end of the Autumn concertina book- a female sparrow. Just 3 little pages to finish now.