Red Clover Sampler

This little sampler is an idea I have been working on for a while.  I like the idea of a little flower bed or tiny landscape interwoven with the sampler story. 

I used oil pastel to mark out the fields and the sky and then overworked them with machine embroidery with the tension loose enough to make raised areas for trees and hedges.  I picked the clover motif as it reminded me of my childhood home, we lived on Clover Road and were surrounded by clover in the pastures near by. 

I like the overall effect, I am particularly satisfied by the use of detached chain stitch to work the clover flowers.  I think that the space dyed thread used to make a satin stitch line works well.