Hi and welcome 😊 I finished the Mindful Stitching project that I mentioned in a mid-July post. At that time, I had completed the tree and its roots. The background is an eco-printed linen fabric from a while back. When I shared this project, it was pretty traditional - now it's more metaphysical.
Mercury Retrograde - Strong Roots Required!
I love the picture below - the light behind the piece makes it so dramatic!
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| Mercury Retrograde - Strong Roots Required is finished |
The photo below, taken on the cement deck, shows some of the details better. The very top of the piece is a pocket made of white and sparkling tulle and contains a variety of thread. It was meant to be ethereal.
The next section in orange-brown is embroidered using chain stitch. The yellow section coming out of the door includes many different yellow thread in running stitch layered with tulle. The rays of light end at the heart located near the top of the tree.
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| Mercury Retrograde - Strong Roots required! |
As I mentioned in my original post, "I used a double and single chain stitch for the tree, and the feather stitch for the roots. I chose these stitches after watching Mirjam Gielen's branching video on Patreon. She's a great teacher and uses stitches in a very creative and organic manner."
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| The beginning of my Mindful Stitching piece |
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| Sketch of the branching of the tree and roots |
What I learned
- I found it difficult to keep going after finishing the tree and the roots.
- Part of it was that I loved it and didn't want to "mess" it up!
- I knew that I needed a door with light streaming through...but what else?
- After using tulle in the stitching of the light, I thought that it could be used at the top of the piece to give it an ethereal quality.
- I don't often use my sketchbooks but drawing the branching of the roots and the tree really helped me get a feel to embroider it.
- It's been a real joy to embroider on my eco-printed fabric. I have quite a large piece that I'll be able to cut up and stitch on.
Related links
- Hexies and a Mindful Stitching Project, July 17, 2025
- Mirjam Gielen on Instagram and Patreon
Linking parties
I'll be linking up to many fun linking parties. Why not check some out after linking below? Monday Musings, Sew & Tell, Put your foot down, Beauties Pageant, 15 Minutes to Stitch 2025, Off The Wall Friday, Patchwork & Quilts, Slow Sunday Stitching,
Great news! Mercury Retrograde - Strong Roots Required was featured by Denise at Put your foot down!
Free Motion Mavericks
Welcome to week 550 of Free Motion Mavericks! I hope that you'll be linking up below. I'm on vacation so I'm sorry that I can't feature any of your projects this week. If I can, I will be visiting but it depends a lot on whether or not my data works as promised!😉
Please party without me 😍. I'll be back soon! 😀
Your art quilt is so lovely, the tree and roots are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Gretchen. I really loved embroidering on the eco dyed fabric.
DeleteI can see why you'd hesitate to add any thing to the tree and roots because it turned out so well. But it did need something light at the top, the open door worked well for that.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Kate. The good thing about embroidery is that you can always take it out! I'm happy with it - which is what counts :-)
DeleteYes, I totally understand the worry of messing up something. I do love the picture of the piece with the light...and I have to admit I was afraid Mercury was in retrograde, glad it was just the piece!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kathleen, Mercury was in retrograde but it was over before I finished the piece! We're good until the next one :-)
DeleteYour embroidery is beautiful. It's really interesting to see how a piece of art evolves :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Janine. I never know how it will end up :-)
DeleteThe way the light reflects through that piece makes it stunning. I just love this creative piece of yours.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Jocelyn. I was so happy with those photos.
DeleteI absolutely love this, Andree! The light behind it in the first photo really makes it glow! So pretty and creative. Have a great week. Thanks for sharing with us at Monday Musings.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Brenda. It was an amazing photo. I would love to hang it out on the window where it would get the light but I''ve seen what effect that the sun has on fabric, so I'll just treasure those photos!
DeleteEt bien tu ne l'as pas du tout abimée, au contraire, ces points et ces pièces de tissus ont du sens et complètent bien l'ensemble. Quelle créativité, bravo !
ReplyDelete