Billabong Creek/Southern Lands

I have finally finished a machine stitched piece- I can't tell you how relieved I am to be finally stitching on a machine again. My friend Christine Moulin lent me her second machine for  the month whilst I am using this studio and it happens to be the same machine as the one I used back in Australia- so the machine is getting a working out!

I needed to make two more works for Southern Lands- and this one i s inspired by one of the creeks in Jerilderie where we used to swim before  they built a swimming pool. The waters were always dark in summer because  of the tannin  from the gum leaves. I was always worried about snakes in those dark waters!

Thi spiece measures about 50 cm by 135 cm- and it took a lot of stitching. In a sense I am beginning to wonder is it a quilt or is it an embroidery?

The entire piece was stitched with Aurifil threads- who have been kind enough to sponsor me with threads whilst I am in Europe.

 The image above is of the studio space in which I am working at the moment. I need to work really hard these next four weeks- there is a lot of work to make!But as you can see it is a really light space with little clutter.