Wordless Wednesday on Thursday

Why I live in Maine

Yesterday was a day full of snow with a fire going in the fireplace and the aussies laying at my feet (or laying out in the snow, which they love just as much).

Today, the sun is bright and I have always meant to get a picture of this stream, which is on my way home from Bangor. Today was the day.

  

 My *new* sheep are not so new anymore and fit right in.  They still let me handle them and pet them and it is such a sweetness I cannot describe. Thorin is the big one and Merry is one of the newbies looking at me.  They all have a coat of snowy ice on their coats.

All of the above and much much more...this is Maine to me and I am in love.

 

Winter Barrens

While I have been working on the Barrens in my spare time, I just discovered another Maine artist doing the same.  Check out Kathy's beautiful barrens scene here: http://www.studiointhewoods.blogspot.com

For the large boulders found in the barrens I tried something new.  I flamed the edges of a brown sheer to make it curve or *poof*.

 Then I put a little extra sheer inside the poof and stitched them down.

 My background is a piece of synthetic type of velvet.

 Below is my version of the barrens in winter.  Two different approaches; two beautiful creations. (in my opinion. :)

Burning of the Barrens

This piece is long in the coming.  Several years ago when I first discovered free motion stitching, thanks to a book by Ellen Anne Eddy, I thought I would try to depict a picture of the blueberry barrens when they are burnt.  It did not turn out.  I had neither the skill nor the understanding of the barrens that I have today.

I am somewhat obsessed by the barrens and for those of you who have seen them, for good reason.  Vast areas of wilderness Maine are covered in wild blueberries.  In the spring they blossom and summer finds them loaded with berries and during that time they are harvested in a back grueling method old as...well, old.  In the fall the fields are burnt for purposes of bugs and proliferation (this was done by native Americans long before the first European came along)  and in the winter they are a deep scarlet red - all winter long.

I cannot describe the vastness of the barrens in the downeast area of Maine.  One could become lost easily; they seem to go on and on.  I am not the first artist to attempt to depict the barrens, nor will I be the last.  Below please find my latest attempt (and best thus far) of the burning of the barrens.

What Inspires You?

While rummaging through a box of indispensable stuff/junk, I discovered this card which my brother sent to me several years ago.  I noticed the simplicity of the pattern and how appealing it was.  Thinking to see if I could freehand draw this with my machine, I gave it a go.

  

You can see below I did freemotion stitch the bottles and stem.  I used french knots for the seeds of the flower.  I placed a sheer to the right and stitched.  I had a bit of trouble with my tension as you can see, however I like the way this turned out.  I placed it on card stock and it is now ready to be sent to my brother.  :)I am posting this on OTWF.  Check out others inspirations!

          http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-plan-is-established-off-wall-friday.html

 What inspires you?