That moment when you decide to try stretcher bars after four years of embroidery using the classic hoop.

Should have migrated years ago. No matter what I did, I couldn’t get the fabric for the owl project, and many others, sufficiently tight in the hoop. For me, the big challenge with thread painting embroidery is keeping the fabric from puckering. That great horned owl design, by the way, is Trish Burr, who’s embroidery has to be seen to be believed.

By contrast for my current project, a sweet little swirly floral thing designed by artist Hazel Blomkamp, the cotton is tacked down on wood stretcher bars as taut as I need.

Digging on the ease of it all.