Each year the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation distributes posters and bookmarks to commemorate Arbor Day. When Stephanie saw the 1997 bookmark which depicted a view looking down a woodland path strewn with wildflowers, she became intrigued and began to think about turning it into a piece of needlework. She is a fan of British needlework designer Sue Newhouse and her books on 3-D landscape embroidery. Using techniques from Sue's books, Stephanie interpreted this bookmark, stitched it, and made it come alive.

This piece is stitched on Chinese Habotai silk which was first painted to create a murky background. Next, threads of burlap were twisted and then frayed and couched down to create the tree trunks and branches. Layers of chiffon were placed over the silk as the stitching progressed to create the illusion of distance. Straight stitches were used to create the forest floor. French knots, in various colors of silk pearl and pearl cotton depicted the wildflowers. Finally, 3-D flowers were stitched on Solvy. Grasses were done using buttonhole bars on pearl cotton and stiffened. 3-D flowers were stitched with a running stitch at the base of the design. The mat covers the attached flowers and grass.