Laurel Creek

Copyright 2005 Susan Brittingham
31" x 42"
If you want more detail, from larger graphics, go to Laurel Creek

I live in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia in a woodsy spot that lies between a river and a creek. When I walk down to the river in summer, I can see across the river, the pasture and the big trees, sometimes even a cow or two. Often the river bank is reflected in the water so distinctly that it is hard to tell where the bank ends and the river begins. Trees along the creek cast shadows on the water and on the sandy creek bed.  The canoe waits for long evenings when we go out and drift along the river with fishing poles dragging along behind. It's more about the slant of the light on the trees and the slap of the water against the canoe than about catching fish. 

This quilt was made in answer to a challenge from my Fringe Benefits Group.  We were doing a Four Elements Challenge in which we could pick one of the four elements, Earth, Air, Fire or Water as our topic.  My original idea for a water quilt was something completely different from this piece.  But I thought of the old adage that you should "paint what you know", so I made this quilt.  It is made using machine applique and thread work, and not really painted at all.

Below, a detail of the canoe.