Tuesday 4 October 2011

If you don't like flowers, don't look!

I grew these little zinnias from seed and they have flowered for weeks on end. The plants had begun to look really scruffy and have now been pulled up, but I just had to save these last few flowers and enjoy them a little longer. I love their bright yet soft colours and have taken off one or two dried heads to save the seed for next year. I hope I get the same colours again.

Don't faint with shock - I have been drawing!! I was looking at Frances Pickering's book - she creates the most delightful little fabric and paper books and is a very talented artist. I was thinking as I admired her work what an advantage she had in being able to draw so well and then I thought 'It's no use sitting there wishing you could draw, just have a go'. So I did and above is the first thing I tried. I copied it from a Gardener's World magazine and think is is a cone flower - echinacea - but mine isn't 'coney' enough. I drew directly onto a piece of the coloured paper left from the transfer dyed papers I did a little while back. I have heard that colouring pages before drawing takes away the terror of a blank white page and wonder if this is what helped. I then coloured my drawing with water soluble pencils and crayons before bonding the paper onto thin fabric. I used the fabric from my less desirable leaf prints so nothing has been wasted. Then after being so thrifty, I stitched simple running stitches to accentuate the petals using Stef Francis silk threads. I have a small box of silk threads which I look at from time to time and then decide not to use them in case I waste them on something that doesn't turn out well. This time I went for it and used them - because I'm worth it!!



I copied this little daisy design from our Portmerion dessert bowls. It looks rather flat as it is waiting to have stitching added to it, and there are more designs in the pipeline.


I think these little pieces are a breakthough and hopefully will see the end of my artist's block, which is a great relief as it has lasted nearly two years. During that time I have dabbled at various things but they have all been projects set out by someone else and not original ideas thought up by me. I am hoping to make enough of these 'pages' to become a fabric book. The title will be 'Earth laughs in flowers' and I have plans to use the flower stitcher foot to decorate the cover.

My tutor's computer is back in working order again so I have just posted another batch of work on my other blog 'Inspiripedia'. Poor Viv - it must have taken her days to reload everything and get set up once more.




13 comments:

The Bug said...

Love love zinnias - they're one of my favorite flowers.

Your drawings are amazing! I love how you stitched around the coneflower.

The Weaver of Grass said...

There is only one word for these, Heather, - exquisite.

Heather said...

Oh Pat - what a lovely comment - thankyou.

Jackie said...

What an altogether beautiful post. I love those Zinnias, having only recently come across them, and your drawing and embroidery is super.

Carol Q said...

Aren't those zinnias lovely Heather! I think your drawings are wonderful and I very much like your stitched echinacea. It hadn't occurred to me to try drawing my portmeirion bowels. hmmmm - and you're definitely worth it! lol

Anonymous said...

Well done, what a marvellous piece to have created. Nothing will stop you now I feel!

Julie said...

You've done really well with your drawings Heather, your flowers are excellent. I hope you go on to do lots more.

Robin Mac said...

Ah, zinneas bring back wonderful childhood memories, we always had them growing in summer. Your artist's block has very definitely vanished - those flowers are beautiful. Cheers

Penny said...

Beautiful drawings, glad the block is over.

Jane said...

Glad to see you have found your mojo again - love your flower drawing.

Ro Bruhn said...

The zinnias are gorgeous Heather, they always remind me of Mexico. Your drawings are very good too, they'll make a great book.

Val said...

The zinnias are lovely Heather - such beautiful colours. Your drawing and painting and stitching is just sooooper - what inspiration you have found! I have Frances book too and I love little books!

Maggi said...

Wonderful work Heather. I find Frances Pickering's book so inspiring.