May finished

Well, it was all kept a secret but not intentionally ..... May has been hectic but I have made the deadline. As you will see I opted for the bulrushes and the truth is it all came together over the last 24 hours.... hence not previous postings.

Background dye cloth and the leaves in the top left hand corner added with an ear bud. The foliage is made up of paint straight onto the background; fabric and painted lutradur.  The bulrushes are made out of a bamboo stick covered with batting and then some woolly white 'stuff' I had on a cone that worked perfectly - coloured it with Shiva sticks.  I have added more leaves as the bulrushes are quite chunky and I felt it needed it for balance.  Quite pleased!

May possibilities

........ a simple feather

........ farm signs on a dusty road

......... bullrushes

Posting them here I now have a different take on the one it will be.  I was keen on the farm signs but I think I am now leaning towards the bullrushes ..... as simplistic as it is it has more focus.   Could always do the other another time.  Hmmmmmm!

APRIL - FINAL

Done it!  Finished on time, lets hope I am able to keep this up. 

Mixed feelings about the out come.   I think I should have had less background to the mushroom and brought the tyvek at the top down a bit and had the mushroom overlapping - would have improved my depth.  Truth being I ran out of painted tyvek and was too lazy to make up some more!  Could change later if it continues to bother me.

In place

Stitched and fused in place.  Taking shape!

The bronze paint is a bit strong for my liking so will knock that back a bit.   The rest will be the beads and maybe some loose thread.  The mushrooms sprang up amongst the dropped bird seed so I need a lot more texture behind.  I need some shading on the mushrooms as well.  Tomorrow!

Materials all sorted!

This could be a first, although I should not tempt fate.

As you an see I have got all my materials prepared .... painted applique paper, painted and heat zapped Tyvek and painted local batting , Loomtex.

This also confirms the picture I have chosen ...... the 'mushrooms'.   The paint is still wet on the batting and the tyvek, added some more after heating.  I am using a black piece of cloth as the 'background' and have ironed the painted applique paper in place.  Because of the materials there will be very little stitching on this piece. Shape will be portrait.

april possibilities

The Three ........  Fungi appeals to me,  my garden ornament could be a challenge and the Iris beautiful but is almost too predictable for me so I think it is going to be the Fungi ! 

march - finished

Overall quite happy.   Probably went to town on the water droplets but I am sure some will drop off in time as they are only stuck on.  Will still keep my eyes open for something a tad better than the 'jewels' I have used. I have also dabbed a bit of glue on top of the jewels as they had too much bling to them...... gives them a slightly matt look which is better.

Back to portrait position in the end as well.