Stitcher:

Designer:

Stitcher's comments:

This piece was commissioned by a friend as a Christmas gift for his wife. It is from a photograph that was enlarged and traced on 18-count mono canvas. The needlepoint piece is 11-1/2" x 9", and it measures 20" x 17-1/2" framed.

I painted the canvas so the canvas would not show through the threads, and because as I paint, I am formulating ideas on what threads and stitches I will use in different areas of the work.

After painting the piece, I went to my local needlepoint shop and chose many variegated wools and silk/wool blends such as Dimin, Burmilana and Impressions, in shades of gray-green, rust, charcoal, green and gold. I chose some silks for the sycamore trees and floss for the fence and weeds. I also used Bouclé for one of the trees.

I ripped pieces of netting and basted them in place with sewing thread, making several layers of stitching and netting to give the appearance of depth. I have used Jerusalem cross variation, brick, Nobuko, Byzantine, Smyrna, tied oblong cross, fern stitch, French knots, stem stitch, random straight stitch, padded satin, buttonhole and giant diagonal mosaic.

When I first took the job, I didn't think this piece could be much fun. I was really concerned that I wouldn't be able to get all the textures and depths I wanted, but as I started stitching I got more and more excited with the results I was seeing come out of my needles (I had to use many loaded needles at once to get the shading I wanted). I was very satisfied with the end result and enjoyed the process of getting there. But more important, and certainly very gratifying, my friend and his wife were delighted and enjoy having "Elysian Fields" hanging in their home.