Sunday 16 May 2010

Getting carried away?

Never one to resist a beautiful notebook, I recently treated myself to this gorgeous little sketchbook from Contemporary Embroidery.

Constructed from watercolour paper and filled with little mounted samples of Karen's embroidery it is delightful... and very precious.

I couldn't possibly imagine sullying it with drawings and scribbles of my own!

But then Karen challenged those of us who own one of her little books... she said we must use it. She has posted lots of wonderful ideas of how we might do this... and so I got brave...

and after my walk yesterday morning I came back and made a little watercolour sketch of some apple blossom, trying to match the colours to the embroidery.

Not perfect but enough to bolster my confidence.

So that this morning I came back from my walk and made another little sketch of one of the last of the cowslips (the conservation area behind our house is covered in them)


and another of some bluebells...

Do you think I might be getting carried away?


Will I know when to stop?

32 comments:

  1. Just beautiful - your watercolours, the embroidery, the notebook. Bliss!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think that is just delightful...... Did you find it quite hard to make the first mark on something someone else had produced? I think you will understand why I am asking, having read my latest post! :O)))))))

    The delicacy of your watercolour sketches sits beautifully against the embroidery.

    ReplyDelete
  3. you are a woman of many talents and your flowers are just beautiful and so is that delicious notebook.

    xx

    ReplyDelete
  4. I adore Karen's work too. I'm so jealous that you have one of her books but admire the fact that you've actually done something in it! Your watercolours are lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Gina, don't stop!!! It's gorgeous, I love it!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. beautiful little watercolour sketches, there's no end to your talents!

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a fabulous way of using such a beautiful notebook.

    ReplyDelete
  8. It's a lovely idea of matching the flowers to the colour of the embroidery. x

    ReplyDelete
  9. Is there no end to your talents? The one of the apple tree blossom is my favourite, that is just gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I hope you don't stop! All your paintings/sketches are beautiful and a lovely visual record. Lucy x

    ReplyDelete
  11. Just too lovely for words...

    ReplyDelete
  12. Exquisite - both book, and your entries in it

    ReplyDelete
  13. It's time to stop when the book is finished ... but oh my, what a gorgeous book :) x

    ReplyDelete
  14. You may be getting carried away but your watercolours are absolutely beautiful and very well executed!

    ReplyDelete
  15. So beautiful don't stop. I wish I had your talent.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Such a lovely way to use a delightful little book - your flower studies are beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  17. your watercolours complement Karen's embroideries beautifully - really brave of you to do it, but what a success!

    ReplyDelete
  18. That is going to be a little book to treasure - what a wonderful combination of talents!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Oh I would have been far too scared to use it. But I could never paint so beautifully! Your watercolors and the embroidery fit together perfectly.

    K x

    ReplyDelete
  20. Your painting fit perfectly in that beautiful notebook. I wish I could paint!

    ReplyDelete
  21. what a beautiful book, I would love one, please can you send me a link..Love H

    ReplyDelete
  22. Don't, don't stop - your floral watercolours are so beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  23. these are lovely - keep it up

    ReplyDelete
  24. Karen's work is beautiful Gina and so is yours. I love what you are doing. The floral watercolors are lovely.
    Dot xx

    ReplyDelete
  25. I adore Karen's work, too, and can't imagine actually 'using' one of her little books.
    You, however, have found a perfect way to accent the colors and delicate beauty of your new journal...well done, you!!! XXO-

    ReplyDelete
  26. I, too, purchased one of Karen's beautiful little books and have been gathering the things I want in it. You did a great job of embellishing. Her books are becoming collaborations of beautiful things.

    ReplyDelete
  27. karen sent me to look - and I'm glad I followed the link. I have one of her glorious little books too but am saving it for a later date. What you have done with yours is lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I love what you have done with Karen's book. It compliments the stitching beautifully

    ReplyDelete
  29. You are making the book into something even more special and beautiful so please continue, love your beautiful drawings! Wow!

    ReplyDelete
  30. I am such a fan of Karen's work and adore her little books. What you have done with them is just beautiful. You have taken something exquisite and made it even more so. Wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  31. oh, I love what you have done with Karen's gorgeous little book. Now it is a marriage of your art and hers, how lovely!

    ReplyDelete

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.