Stitched Sunflower

This week our #26 challenge for you at Twist of Faith Cards  is STITCHING! 

And of course your creation is to include a scripture, quote or verse (that is positive... words of cheer,  healing, encouragement, or support) Our sponsor is the wonderful Robyn's Fetish! 

In finding a scripture, quote or verse to share with the challenge post, I found these words from Oliver Wendell Holmes...

Take your needle, my child, and work at your pattern; it will come out a rose 
by and by.  Life is like that - one stitch at a time taken patiently and the pattern
will come out all right like the embroidery.

 ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes ~

I found this piece of wisdom encouraging, and comforting. It cast me back to seeing my grandmother stitch ... she would often sit at her workbasket and stitch when she was worried or had "the inclination for hash words". She said stitching (any sort or style!) set her focus, and calmed her (in my words, 'diversional therapy'). And it worked for her.  It does for me too!  Thanks, Nan!

For this creation, I used our sponsor's image Sunflower 1 ... when I saw the criss-cross lines in the flower centre, I fet the stitches happening!  I created a CAS card ... although I felt I had placed the scripture 'not quite right', once I had coloured the image with markers and glitter pens, I felt that if I could frame it the right way, the bold image on a plainer background would be pleasing.  In choosing to stick with green and gold, and brown, I chose green textured card for matting, sandwiching a layer of yellow paper that echoed the pattern of the flower centre. Once fixed to the white cardbase, it looked balanced, but not finished or 'polished'. I added golden yellow pearly chalk, just to 'blush' it.   

Oh the flower centre?  I pricked holes on the outer and inner, and stitched long stitches stretching toward the centre.  Then, stitched clockwise the two  inner lines, in single running stitch. Leaving the centre unstitched (there are clearly and inner circle, and and outer) I used a running stitch along the inside and outside of my other stitches.  

I'm also sharing this card with the #68 Challenge at Word Art Wednesday.

The design team has created some marvellous designs in the showcase at the Twist of Faith Cards blog, so I we can entice you to join in our STITCHING Challenge!  Thanks for peepin'!