Winter into Spring- birds fly in.

 Wrong time of year I know but .............. the swallows fly into Spring.

 Winter end.

 Middle,

Spring end. I have spent days on these tiny birds. They are a symbol of hope flying into the spring, migratory creatures flying in from warmer climes. I love our different seasons but the Winter can be long wet, cold and gloomy and the birds and splash of colour signals summer to come.

Stitching in the shadows.

 Hours later, more stitches, slow progress, working on the Winter end.

Stitches now spilling onto the background silk and french knot drifting into the branches.
A strip of calico painted with gesso or white acrylic paint to prepare ( it is stiff but I can still stitch into it), then mixed media- silk dyes, water colour paint, water soluble crayons and hand stitched with a variety of threads. Appliqued onto a white silk background. Painted strip is 14 inches x 4 ins. I am working it stretched onto a wooden frame.

Patches of colour between the trees.

Slowly adding hand stitching, enjoying the colours and ripples of shade and light between the trees.

Brighter Spring colours on the right, colder Winter colours on the left. The long thin format creates a story line. The slow change of the seasons.

Winter into Spring.

 Early morning in the studio, a tangle of threads and 'Winter into Spring' on the worktop. Misty morning. I have dangling bits of glass in the windows to try to stop the birds flying into the glass- always distressing.

Trying some stitches on this piece to see if they work. I painted this in March so about time I got down to working on it. Note my daylight lamp next to it, very necessary now and good to sit by for extra light ( especially if you get S.A.D. this time of year.)