I am a little late in getting this post out, but I have just picked up my computer.
I did a very silly thing. A friend supposedly sent me a message, via Messenger, about a video I was in. I am usually very wary about clicking links and I am far more likely to delete a message/email/link than click on it. The message didn’t seem my friend’s style, and I couldn’t image that she would have a video I would be in, but instead of the warning bells going off, I thought “Oh well, let’s see what it is”. Click!
Of course, her Facebook account had been hacked and the message sent to everyone. So, caution finally kicked in, and I took my laptop to the computer shop…just to be safe. Everything is okay. Phew! I am a couple of days older, much wiser and far more cautious, and a little bit poorer, as peace of mind costs money.
So, I haven’t had the computer for a few days and this Stitch-a-long post is a day or two late.
I have been working. My wild, freeform work is progressing well.
As you can see I have worked on the bushes in the foreground. (The photo I am basing it on is the feature photo at the top of the post.) I used the same yarn, a variegated merino wool, as I used for the tree canopy. The stitches are random cross stitches. I wanted to keep them small to look like the small leafed foliage, and to make them different to the canopy. I enjoy the challenge of working the tones with the variegated yarn. Often the effects are quite serendipitous.
I left parts around the trunk. I can fill them in after I work on the trunk, as then I will be able to tell where the tones need to be.
I am moving on to the sand and cliff face next, and am really looking forward to working all those nooks and crannies in the face.
Thanks to everyone for your very encouraging comments on the last couple of SAL posts. I am part of a supportive group of embroiderers who regularly post about their personal stitching work. Do have a look at the others involved in the group, hosted by Avis, and be prepared to be amazed by their beautiful work! A welcome back to Connie.
Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Linda, Heidi, Jackie,Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Jenny, Carmela, Jocelyn, Sharon, Daisy,Anne, Connie
(Apologies to those of you who blog at Blogger. I would love to leave a comment about your work, and I have tried, but I can’t. Is it something between Blogger and WordPress?)
Anne Lawson Art 
50 replies on “SAL #4 ~ Portsea Cliff”
So beautiful, Anne! I also love that you write about your creative process and the choices you’re making as you stitch — thanks for sharing!
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I am glad that you like it. I wanted to say a bit more about the process, but also wanted to get the post published. Maybe next time!
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That’s so annoying about the virus! The creative work, however, is beautiful. I love the colors and the textures in equal measure!
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Even more annoying to know that it was my own action! (Well, really the fault of the hacker….but I should have known better.) I am pleased how it is coming along. Thanks for your feedback.
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This is looking lovely Anne.
I got a similar email about a video but, unlike you, was immediately suspicious and didn’t click on it. I’m not being smug though because I did put my card details into a very plausible looking site to cover postage for something I’d won. As soon as I realised my mistake I had to contact the bank to stop the payment and have a new card issued. I was so embarrassed I didn’t even tell my husband – I’m a very seasoned online user after all and could never understand how people got scammed by these things. Obviously these things can catch us all off guard especially as the methods are getting cleverer.
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I was embarrassed too and only told my partner because I had to explain why I was going to the computer shop. And quite anxious too. I am glad there were no serious repercussions for me. If there had been my levels of anxiety would have been through the roof.
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This is looking amazing. I keep looking at all the rich tones in the sky. Beautiful!
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Those tones are why I love using variegated threads. I can get such a range of tones…although I sometimes have to unwind quite a bit to find the light/dark tone I am wanting to use!
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Yes, I’ve used variegated threads on the Ink Circles designs and they work so well. Luckily it didn’t matter about shading so it was a joy to stitch with one thread on whole projects.
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amazing how the variagated thread gives such texture!
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Isn’t it? I love using it. And this merino wool is beautiful to use, and doesn’t get worn as you stitch. (Does that make sense?)
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Love the work, it’s coming along beautifully! As for the rest, I should think we’ve all been scammed at some time or other. So annoying…
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I think we probably have been scammed, but there is a shame in admitting it. As I said to Lyn in a comment before, I only told my partner because I had to explain why I was off to the computer shop. As it turns out, he was more outraged by the money I had to pay the shop to check the computer!
And thank you for the reblog, and your very kind words. 😘
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Reblogged this on Letters from Athens and commented:
I’m useless at sewing and embroidery , so I thought I’d give everyone a peep of Anne Lawson’s beautiful work. Just look at those colors!
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Sorry to hear about your hacking scare. 😦 I’ve become absolutely ruthless with links and attachments in emails. They are sooooo dangerous, esp. the ones the utilities companies send: ‘Click here to pay your gas etc etc quickly and conveniently’
They seem to have no idea that hackers can counterfeit their logos with ease so conditioning people to click those links is just asking for trouble. grr…sorry, it’s a sore point with me.
Anyway, it’s good that your pc is okay. Have to say the tapestry/embroidery? is really starting to come along. Well done. 🙂
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I have had the utilities scam bill before too. It was very realistic, and I only picked up on it because the amount to pay was unusual, and it came at a time when I wasn’t expecting it. Speaking of utilities….we have started to use the washing machine after 11:00, thanks to your post n using off peak electricity. I will be interested to see our next bill.
Enjoy Cup Day! We are so close to the racecourse that we hunker down at home to avoid all the traffic.
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Oh! So glad you didn’t get caught on that one. The hackers really are getting much too sophisticated.
I’m thrilled about the electricity but…in daylight savings you’ll have to put the timer on to midnight. The off peak start times apparently don’t follow daylight savings changes. I’m pretty sure that applies to all retailers but it might pay to check!
Didn’t even listen to the Melbourne Cup. Probably the first time in 20 years. The plight of those horses just sickens me. So very wrong.
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That’s not good news about the off peak time moving to midnight. I am not sure that our machine has a timer, and I don’t need anything else that encourages me to stay up late. 😉
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Check, but I’m pretty sure they pushed it back. Or maybe just my retailer did?
I agree, it’s much too easy to stay up late.
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Anne, I am able to comment on Blogger posts.
All you have to do is follow their Blogger blog by email. They will send you a ‘Feedburner’ activation email to the same email address.
Then you can comment using that email address you supplied to Blogger.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thanks for that advice, Pete. I do follow some by email, so I will have to check that out. Also, Avis has sent me an email with details on how to do it through using a website address, so I will try that too. It is annoying that these platforms don’t allow easy communication.
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It’s looking beautiful Anne, I love how you are using the colours. Phew for your computer, it’s such a shame that we need to be so cautious these days. Jenny xx
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It is a shame. The internet has given us so many wonderful ways to communicate with so many wonderful people, but we have to be so cautious. However, for me the positives far outweigh the negatives. Thanks you for your thoughts on my work!
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The texture you are getting with that variegated yarn is just wonderful. The sky colors are so vivid. It looks wonderful!
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Doesn’t the variegated wool work well? Last night I started the sandy cliff face and I am loving using the variegation to create the nooks and crannies. Thanks for dropping by, Kathy.
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As Kathy said, the texture you are achieving is amazing and interesting. All these hues appeal to me too. Happy Stitching!
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Thanks Jocelyn. The cliff face is a very different colour, very creamy. It should be a good contrast to the more somber tones of the greens and browns.
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It´s looking great! So now you´ve learned to NEVER ever click on posts you don´t recognize! It´s a hard lesson and I have been there too! Also, I think you must have a gmail account to be able to comment on Blogspot. Silly, isn´t it!
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And even then with the google account, Blogger doesn’t always receive the comments…just sayin’…
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You know, the silly thing is that I knew I shouldn’t click on it, but did anyway. Fortunately it wasn’t as awful as it could have been. Avis has sent me a lovely one email with instructions on how to comment on Blogger, so I will give that a go!
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Oh if only I could just reach out and touch that canvas! WOW.
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It is very tactile. It would be a shame to frame it and have all the texture sitting under glass. Still, that’s a way down the track!
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Your project is coming along really well. I love the texture you are creating and the vividness of the colours. Gorgeous.
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Thank you! I am pleased with how it is coming along. However I am quite happy to rework any parts that that don’t work first time. That’s reassuring somehow.
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The number of times I have had spoof emails – have been lucky so far but I have been pretty close sometimes! Glad to hear that all is now well. Loving the canvas work and the colours and textures you have achieved in your tree branches.
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You are right, you have to be very careful. It is so easy to click on the wrong thing and no wonder people get scammed. Thanks for your thoughts on my work. I am enjoying it immensely.
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I love the texture you’re building into the piece; it’s an additional dimension you don’t get with a flat image, and it really works.
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Thanks Kate. While it is not super 3D, it is enough to create interest. BTW, how is your eye now?
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Still a little blurry, but not swollen, gungy or sore any more. Yay!
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😊
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I love variegated threads too. I enjoy using them “as is,” but I’ve also spooled off lengths to get just the right color for the area I was working on. Your piece is growing wonderfully. It’s going to be fun to see it in a couple of weeks.
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Yes, sometimes you need just the right shade, which seems to be quite a way into the unused thread! I am working on the cliff face now, and I think I am happy with how it is coming along.
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That is so beautiful!!! Can’t wait to see the finished product!
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Thanks Jill. The painting/drawing side of my creativity doesn’t seem to be working for me at the moment, so I am enjoying how this is evolving.
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I fully understand that … my writing creativity dries up from time to time, though it usually comes back in a matter of days.
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Wow, I love the texturing on the trees!!!
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Thanks Tammie. The vegetation is rather dense, but I think it is working. It is good to get your feedback.
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I love seeing the progress.
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[…] In my last post I wrote about an issue with my computer, explaining that I had to leave it at the shop for a few days, a few internet-free days. Did I miss Facebook? No way, especially as that is where the hacked message came from. However, I did miss this blogging world. I missed finding out what you were up to, catching up on the news. […]
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It’s looking great !
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