2010 Landscape Challenge Winners

I'd like to thank those people who entered the 2010 Embroidery Club Challenge - Landscapes.  People who accepted the challenge admittedly learned a lot and, I think you will agree, did a fantastic job. 

Here are the entries:

#1  This was done by Jean.  She took a Snippet Landscape class and this was her first quilt.  She found it quite a challenge and is planning on making another landscape in the near future.  She embroidered butterflies and applied decorative buttons to the corners.  The landscape wall hanging is also Jean's first attempt at machine quilting.  She used invisible thread and embroidery thread to quilt the piece and did a great job.  I am a proud teacher!

#2  Mary created this stunning seascape.  I like the way it is set off center and this piece has wonderful eye appeal.  Mary used many different techniques to create this seascape and included applique,  piecing, serger decorative stitching, 3-D rouching, machine embroidery, and other techniques.  This a wonderful piece and I think she should enter this it into formal competition.

Linda created this lovely pillow.  Linda has only been embroidering for a short time and already embroiders like a pro.  She does everything with great enthusiasm and her joy of life shows in this piece.  She used piecing, applique and machine embroidery to complete this lovely piece.  To me, this pillow is the most creative used of a landscape and shows that landscapes don't have to be just wall hangings and can be used in home decor or even on a garment.  Way to go Linda!

Trudy submitted this joyful piece.  I like she used layers of fabric to create the distance and perspective in this piece.  She used the following techniques to create this wallhanging:  pieceing, applique, couching, machine embroidery and quilting.  I love how she machine quilted a face in the middle of the rising sun.  I like how her embroidered elements are so proportional and allow the wonderful composition of the piece shine through.  Just beautiful!

Carol created this beautiful wallhanging.  Her attention to detail is wonderful.  I see something new every time I look at it.  I like the way she used denim in the border to give it that down home country look.  What's amazing is that Carol hand quilted this piece.  Carol is so very talented and I think she should also enter this piece into serious competitions.  She used applique, machine embroidery, surface embellishment (beads or buttons), hand and machine quilting, and couching to create this lovely piece.  It is a shame that you can't see the detailed hand stitching that Carol did.  Her stitches are so perfect and even.  I'm jealous!

Cynthia created this unique art piece.  This piece is just chock full of texture.  She used all types of fabric from cotton to felt.  She even created the pebble walkway by free motion stippling with shrinking thread on cotton.  She has 3-D embroidered flowers that pop right out of the piece.  She fringed felt to create the look of bushes and the night perspective makes this garden a magical place. 


OK--NOW FOR THE WINNERS -- drumroll please.

1st place - #5 Carol

2nd Place - #2 Mary

3rd Place - #1 Jean

Congratulations to all our winners.  Thank you to all who entered and all our Embroidery Club participants to who the time to examine the pieces and had the difficult task of selecting the winners.  As far as I'm concerned, they all should have won first place.