Blossoms on the Bloodwood

I know I have been a bit slack here lately, but I have been stitching, and we've also been away.  I will share the shopping trip in another post at a later date.   I wanted to make a little landscape so I could use one of the stitches from the latest TAST challenge.  This little scene has been named Blossoms on the Bloodwood, a phrase 'stolen' from the lyrics in a song I like very much [oh, and, we also have Bloodwood trees growing not very far from our house].  You can see the lyrics here.  I haven't always been a big fan of this Australian country music artist, but this is a little different for him.  I won't mention his name here, simply because my blog will come up every time someone Googles his name.  I used water colour pencils for the drawing, and enhanced it further with free machine embroidery, and lastly some hand stitching. 

I hope this close-up will show the little grassed area.  There are several layers to this - machine embroidery in a dark/light green rayon, running stitch in several different thread colours and weights, the wheatear stitch [in variegated silk] which is the stitch our group was given last Tuesday, as well as some Ghiordes' knot work in the foreground [thank you very much Shirley for your advice regarding this area].

I particularly enjoyed doing the long dry grass, and making the tree come to life using green polyester organza, distressed with my little soldering gun.  I can see things that should have been changed, but on the whole it's okay.  I managed to find the frame and several mountboards in the cupboard, so this is a 'finish', thankfully.  

This photograph will show some of the hand embroidery threads I've used.  One is from the Cottage Garden Thread range,  one from Needle Necessities, and the other is a Caron Waterlilies.  My goodness, things have come along in leaps and bounds in embroidery.  Years ago we would never have dared to mix so many varied threads and colours.   It is so nice to have this sense of freedom.  I think I have another mountboard and frame, so may indulge in more of this work soon.  I just loved every minute doing this!!!