Chainstitch Embroidery on Dyed Linen
18” x 18”

I have been too terrified to even attempt a Lady Slipper because of their intimidating glory until now! I have two of them where I live, standing alone in a very dark part of the forest. Their quiet majesty seems too lofty for any of my artistic pursuits. Recently, though, I went to the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and hiked around the edges of the boreal forest there. The Lady Slippers were numerous and hanging out under tall ferns and hemlocks. “Try us,” they seemed to smirk at me.

So try I did, and here we are! To my surprise, the bulbs were easier to stitch than I thought, and I think I am on the right path with these. 

I’ll continue to develop my representation of these gorgeous wildflowers. The stitch sketch is meant to be an early exploration of a concept or subject, and I’m happy to share this one with you. :)