We've started our project at college this week and I've decided mine will be based on coastal pebbles I've collected at Westward Ho! beach. I've always loved the simple beauty of these pebbles / stones and have wanted to do something in stitch using them a s a design. I've taken lots of photos and used these to develop some sketches to encourage me to look more closely at their shapes and colours.

This was done using charcoal so I could attempt some shading in a neutral colour range but also rubbing out line patterns with an eraser.

Watercolours looking at colours and tones.

The first thing I did was to make a sample of a selection of pebbles translating it into stitch and using about eight shades/tints of grey.

I drew out the shapes onto calico and placed it in a hoop and filled in the shapes with free motion embroidery. I quite like this but the shading in the central pebble is perhaps too sharp but it's a learning curve!

I'm now attempting a finished piece so here's the progress so far......

Lots of spirals with a very loose tension to bring up the thread from below.

Not so sure about the black background - think I may have to tone this down a bit.

See you soon!