How I go about making a picture...in detail...!

The Baby name canvas for NEW Grandmother Caroline.....


First off all it starts with a conversation...talking with a new grandmother (very excited...first grandchild!) about having something made to celebrate. Together we decide a name canvas would be good...can be hung on a nail on the wall or propped up on a mantelpiece...something to keep forever. It is the season of meadows and we decide the design will have a meadow and butterflies and bees...I then spend time looking at one in my local park...

Then I make a rough sketch on paper of the flowers and work out the layout...3 names in total...I decide to make them small and coming out of the meadow on flowers...

Stitching in reverse onto Medium weight untreated artist canvas I follow the design...pretty much! Here is the real side..

Now to printing the names onto an old vintage tablecloth...this bit is fiddly and I had many attempts before deciding on these ones...I have appliquéd some flowers cut from some old Jonelle (*John lewis 70's ) fabric and an old shirt I picked up at a friends clothes swap.

Printed the date with my new stamps bought in the lovely Wickle shop in Lewes...

Then off the the painting table..

With this one i want to keep to naturalistic colours..so it is like the meadow as much as possible. I tend to paint in big batches using watercolour pencils and paints..more delicate colours ...if i am working on a big piece them i will use acrylic paints and sometimes stitch into them.

I decided i wanted a button on this one...so to the button tins to choose a small pink one. I love old buttons..

Then to add the canvas to a frame with a staple gun...fiddly this bit!

Tada...all done ready for Caroline to come and collect tomorrow and give to her daughter...what a delight to make!