Right – back to my occasional series on Scottish Birds in Scottish Places. In the winter, anywhere in the country you can see great flocks of the tattered black shapes of crows blowing in the winter gales on bare fields and around old, leafless trees, and the sight and the sound of their cawing almost defines winter for me. This work was just a response to a gaggle of noisy crows flocking around an old tree on the road to Banchory, but it could have been anywhere in Aberdeenshire.
The Crow Tree
The tree and all the crows are done in a combination of stitching over applique. It’s a big piece, but technically it wasn’t difficult to do. The tree itself fitted into just two hoopings, and the only part of the design that extended from one half to the other was the single branch stretching out to the right. And after the first hooping (of the left-hand side) it was easy enough to align that branch in the right position with the aid of the machine’s video camera. Finally the left-hand bird on the ground was stitched over the “join” of the two halves in a third hooping
I love this one! From colour scheme to expression on the birds’s faces. And I think the most I love intentional size disballance between tree and birds sizes. Somehow tiny tree still looks mighty and it makes all of the composition this one step more special
I like this. We have many crows here in Wisconsin also. In the winter, they do acrobatics over the barn. I love watching them. I think they are a very intelligent bird. Thanks for sharing.
Awesome piece! Thanks for discussing the hoopings. It turned out fantastic. The birds are wonderful and the painted fabric makes it just perfect.
We have lots of noisy crows here in North Florida also. I really enjoy watching them fly from tree to tree and listening to their caws. You have produced yet another piece of amazing embroidered art. Love it!!
Mia, I love it. You have captured the crows doing what I have seen them do numerous times. Thank you for sharing how you hooped to get the large design. You are indeed a very talented artist.
What a wonderful job you did on these crows. I love crows.
Everyone here thinks they are pests but I think they a very striking bird. And they they always help out when we have BBQ and people and kids are dumping food all over the lawn. Go away for a couple of hours and when you come back all you have left is paper which is easy to scoop up. I trained them that way 🙂
I am just in awe of your work on this piece, “Winter Crows”…it is snowing heavily here at the moment and the 5 crows that seem to live in our yard have taken to the trees. Are you sure this is not our front yard, it looks so much like what I see each day. Our 5 crows have been with us for the past 2 years. You amaze me with your skills and embroidery techniques. This is an awesome piece. Well done. Thank you for sharing it with us…
We have crows here in Chilliwack BC Your crows look like the crows I watch . Your skills are amazing.
It’s awesome! So interesting to read about your work to.
You have created another piece of art work in this winter crows scene. The fabric and techniques that you used on this scene is so realistic and you gave each crow its own personality. Thank you for sharing another magnificent embroidery.
I love this design, the detail in the crows is amazing. I would love to have this design. I think this design really shows off your amazing talent. Great Job!!!
Mia, your crows are amazing! You nailed their body language. We have many crows that live in Washington as well as eagles, hawks and other birds of prey. The crow on the ground in the center with its head down and wings up is exactly how “our” crows look when they are trying to get the eagles or hawks out of the trees. You are amazing with your talents! Thank you for sharing. Deena