Artistic Gardens

 Some days ago, I joined Kathy Seaman Shaw 's Artistic Gardens course. Few years back, I had done a couple of her other courses and I really enjoyed the new learning and finishing each task and there by gaining knowledge and confidence.  Needless to say, this course too was fun and packed with new learnings like trying out freezer paper, art supplies on the fabric, painting the background, weaving techniques, burden stitch, embroidering wee little garden creatures, narrating a story through painting and embroidery, embroidering hair.  Thankyou Kathy for offering this course.  Without this course, I would never have tried out these new things.

Task 1 was organising the supplies.  I had most of them handy in my craft shelf apart from the freezer paper, which I ordered and got it in few days time.

Task 2 involved using art supplies on the fabric.

This one was done with crayons

This one was done by using water colors

This one was done with oil pastels.

This one was done with fabric paints.

This one was done with color pencils.

Task 3  involved playing around with fabric paints and freezer paper masks.

Task 4 involved stitching on these painted backgrounds with feather stitches.

Task 5 involved simple garden scences.  To pique the interest of the viewer, I added a small snail in between the bushes. 

Here, I added a tiny spider busy weaving its web.

Task 6 involved a weaving sampler followed by the creation of Topiary with weaving stiches and burden stitches.

Task 7 included a garden visitor.The hair is embroidered with  the Turkey stitch .  For the dress I used fabric glue and stuck the fabric in place and a couple of straight stitches for the belt. The little girl is very careful not to step on the tiny lady bug, patiently waiting for the lady bug to cross the garden pathway. :)-

Task 8 involved creating flowers with simple straight stitches and French knots. 

Squirrels bury nuts to prepare for the cold weather, as the availability of food is limited during winters.  If this squirrel named Ojoe forgets the hiding place, Would you be kind enough to remind him that he buried it in between  the plants Kumquat (orange flowers) and Chinese Forget-me-not (blue flowers)?