Thursday 26 March 2015

wild blaeberries and wild sewing


Most people are familiar with blueberries, today they are recognised as a superfood, packed with health giving antioxidants. Made into delicious smoothies and indulgent muffins they have so many uses. 
Fewer people  would know of its smaller cousin the bilberry or blaeberry.


As a child I was brought up on the north west coast of scotland. The land is windswipt and heather clad. Heather made a great playground, I remember making dens in the springy mounds. In amongst the heather mounds we would often find wild Blaeberries. I think the word is just used in Scotland, but I may be wrong.


Shiny garnet/ black jewels.


Smaller than blueberries and difficult to find as the bushes are low growing and mingle with the heather.


Artistic licence means my version are crimson with black stems. I also added gold flakes before stitching which shimmer as if in the sunshine.


The Blaeberry panel was made with paper cloth sewn and fixed to a wooden panel.

Another of my wild sewing series.

Linking to Paint party friday


26 comments:

  1. Beautiful, I like how you have adapted the colour to crimson, looks lovely with the rest of the colour palette. I was thinking it would also look nice as a journal/diary cover :) x

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  2. Gorgeous piece..and love the story about the bilberry and blaeberry. My mom always raved about a Saskatoon berry, exclusive to Saskatoon a prairie province in Saskatchewan. I'd never tasted it and then Cupcake went there and also raved about the berry. Just recently Canada Safeway came out with a Saskatoon berrry sherbet...although rather sweet soooo delicious. My daughter like her grandmother is a real berry freak...she will pay a little extra to buy them out of season!! I love this beautiful textured tribute to your berries... stunning, with so much depth!

    Hugs Giggles

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  3. Absolutely gorgeous work! My eyes run all over this relishing the detail and beauty, your mixture of stitching into your pieces really adds something special! I love your wild and beautiful art reflecting all that Scottish beauty I love so much!

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  4. Wow, a berry delight! I love it - what gorgeous, sumptuous colours and textures. I've never heard of Blaeberries - I wonder if we have the same plant down here but call it a different name.

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  5. Absolutely stunning! I love the colours and detail. :)

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  6. rich detail, lush and joyful, fine work!

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  7. Love the rich colours and texture, a wonderful piece of stitching! Happy PPF, Valerie

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  8. I've never heard of these but I'm going to start looking out for them now! I'm sure you've told me before but where on the north west coast did you live? I love heading west the landscape is so much more dramatic than the flat landscape of Caithness although it's still very beautiful. I love your wild sewing series - the detail you get into each piece -they're always such eye candy!

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  9. Superb stitching and colours, love this and love the shape of it too. Enjoyed reading your words about blaeberries and instantly thought of the Highland Fairy Lullaby which I'm sure you know.

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  10. Beautiful Morag! I'm always inspired by your work.

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  11. I love all the colours and textures in this, Morag. 'Wild Sewing' What a great title for a series.

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  12. Yes I never heard anyone say blaeberry down South (but I am from London) - I think we say bilberry. Love your cheery and vibrant red berries. Like rubies they glisten and shimmer. Happy PPF!

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  13. gorgeous! That stitching is awesome!! I have never seen nor heard of that variety of berries here in PA.

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  14. Oh this is yummy, love the stitching as an element. We have a similar berry in Idaho called huckleberries. They are tiny but sweet like blueberries. They are a lot of work to collect and expensive to buy but so tasty. If so inclined I would love to have you link on my site too.

    Kate

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  15. I so love all the gorgeous color and texture - so rich and beautiful!

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  16. Gosh - This is just fabulous! Gorgeous piece!
    We call it HEIDELBEERE in german.
    Happy PPF!

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  17. Beautiful again! love seeing the details.

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  18. Morag, your cloth art is wonderful. So bright and beautiful. I don't think we have blaeberries. We have huckleberries and deer berries, which I think are kin, probably. I once visited Durness. Is that anywhere near where you grew up? Barren and windswept areas up around that part.

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  19. Absolutely beautiful! I love all the colours and texture. So amazing!

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  20. That's a a gorgeous piece.I love all the colors and texture. I never heard of blaeberries- but how interesting.

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  21. What a wonderful piece of fabric art. There is so much to see there - it just draws you in.

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  22. what fantastic work!! Thanks for passing by my blog - sorry not much new there - been ill but will be updating later today :-)

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  23. what beautiful creations these are. I love how you wrap them around a board for hanging. I enjoyed hearing about blueberries and your childhood memories. All so beautifully shared - thank you.

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  24. that is simply stunning... truly gorgeously textured and the colours... I love it

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