Here is a machine embroidery piece that I have started today. It is loosely based on the photo of the California poppies that I posted about here. I am using canvas as a base and then I fused down various hand painted and hand dyed fabrics which I am stitching over. The canvas is stiff enough that I don’t have to use a hoop.

Here’s a close up of the background trees. I’ll show you more once I get it stitched. I am debating on whether to do some poppies on dissoveable fabric to put in the foreground. I guess I’ll decide once I get part of the foreground done. Thanks for all the positive comments on the jelly fish!

Sorry it’s been so long but I seem to never get time to play with fiber in July. I always have company, we’re busy with tourists at work and I’ve been out and about boating, hiking, going to festivals and fairs. Hopefully, I’m now back on my regular schedule.

I did manage to finish this felted jellyfish lampshade. I wanted to make my own base for it and I still plan on doing that but I made this for the Felting Forum July mixed media challenge so I wanted to post it today. It’s done with wet felting, machine embroidery, machine needle felting and then sewn on to an acrylic lamp shade. My hubby suggested that I put wire in the tentacles so that they would sway out to the side as if it was really underwater. I’m not thinking I’ll do that but I have to see how it looks once I have the lamp base made. Hope everyone has been having a wonderful summer (or winter if you’re on the other side of the world) and you’ll hear more from me in August.

Here are my California Poppies this year. I took the photo from a low angle. It makes it look like there is a whole field of them. The way they spread, that may be true any time now. They grow like weeds but for me that’s great and the deer don’t like to eat them.

This is the close up of the second bag I made. This one is for my MIL. It again uses Vicki’s hand dyed fabric. Her fabric works so well for the stained glass effect.

Here’s a photo of the entire bag. It as another of those canvas give away bags that companies advertise on. I just covered up the advertisement. I had to cut the square down a bit because of the way the handles are constructed. Next time, I think I’ll just make my own bag as it was kind of a pain to sew the design panel on after the fact.

This is the gift I made for my Mom. (I have ironed this bag although it appears to have never been touched by such an implement.) It’s one of those give away bags that we seem to get so many of and never seem to use. So I dyed it black and made the “stained glass” cut back applique with more of the fabric from Vicki (thanks again!). I have a second one started but didn’t have time to finish it. It is done in the same pattern but with the colors opposite to this. It will be for my mother-in-law’s birthday.

Here’s a close up of the applique. I really like how Vicki’s hand dyed fabric makes it look like glass. We are having company all this coming week and then my sister is here for the month of July. I hope to get some fiber work done but we’ll see how I do this summer. Last summer I did very little.